Local BMX athletes are packing their bags and bikes and heading to Rock Hill, South Carolina to represent Canada at the BMX World Championships in what could be a once in a lifetime experience.

Ten members of the Cochrane BMX Association qualified at the nationals last season, held in Calgary, and have been preparing for the world's ever since. Club volunteer Rhonda Laurell says the club thought perhaps a few of their elite racers would qualify but the youth exceeded all expectations.

"When we went into nationals last year we were hoping for a couple of entries and a couple of our best racers to do well. But they blew us out of the water with how well they raced that weekend and really throughout the whole season. They all qualified by the end of last year and we've now been gearing up for this since mid-September last year," says Laurell. "The whole club is excited that we've got 10 kids that are headed out to race the best racers in the world.and having it held in North America was a major incentive."

It's been 10 years since Victoria. B.C. hosted the world championship and the last time it was held in the States was in 2001, so there was a push across Canada to send a big team. In total, 286 Canadians are wearing the maple leaf in a field of about 3,000 amateur racers and 300 professionals from 40 countries around the globe.

The team is leaving today on various flights and Friday will be all about reassembling their bikes. Saturday they will meet with all of Team Canada, receive their jerseys, plates and race itinerary. Then they get two days of practice on the acclaimed Novant Health BMX Supercross Track that is part of the world cup elite circuit. At the end of the trip they'll be able to watch the Olympic-quality professional racers competition.

Six of the Cochrane racers will be competing on July 26 and the balance race the following day.

Laurell believes the youth don't fully fathom just how special it is to represent Canada and they are hopeful it will stink in.

"They have an opportunity to race the best racers from all around the world and it's a pretty special experience that this group is getting to take part iin. Regardless of how they finish and what the results are, they will all come back to Canada and Cochrane as very different racers because of this experience."

One elite Cochrane BMXer participated in the 2007 world's and works with the group regularly.

"He went the last time it was in Canada and he hasn't been back since. He's been telling the kids that this is a big deal, you're getting to do it this year but this isn't something  that necessarily is  going to happen again. You really have to soak it up, enjoy it and have fun and just race your heart out.because now 20 year olds would love to be back there but it gets harder and harder the older you get."

Qualifying to represent Canada are: Haylee Laurell, 7; Nathan Vlahakis, 8; AJ Laurell, 9; Caleb Carey, 9; Jaxson Ross,; Brock Foster, 11; Sam Scott, 11; Luke Christensen, 12; Riley Carey, 12; and Katie Scott, 14. Unfortunately Brock Foster broke his collar bone while training this week and won't be able to compete.

"Our hearts are all broken for him," says Laurell.

The world championships were established in 1996.