A Vernon athlete has been selected as part of the first ever inductee class in the bicycle motocross (BMX) Canadian Hall of Fame.

Pete Zablotny was selected, as he was one of four races, two freestylers and five sport builders inducted.

Zablotny grew up in North Vancouver and started racing BMX in 1978, when he was just 13-years-old. Seven years later, he became the first Canadian to earn a full factory sponsorship from a U.S. team and was ranked a the top amateur in the country in 1982.

Zablotny took up downhill racing in the '90s, and raced in the World Cup Finals in 1994. 

The Canadian BMX Hall of Fame was founded in 2023 by Kevin O'Brien, who has been involved in the sport since 1980 as a rider, organizer and Olympic commentator. 

Canadians have had success nationally and internationally over the years in BMX, but never had a place to call home.

After spending years compiling results and stories from years of history, O'Brien and a formal selection committee chose the inductees for the Hall of Fame, who were all primarily from the 1977-87 era.

The awards event was hosted in Langley on B.C. Day weekend (Aug. 2-3), held in conjunction with a national BMX event hosted at the Langley track.