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Canadian and US bike champion has Creston connection

A just-turned 8-year-old BMX bike-riding champion in both Canada and US, Piper Graaten, lives in Lantzville on Vancouver Island, but is a visitor to Creston on her summer vacations.
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Piper Graaten (Photo credit Piper Graaten)

A just-turned 8-year-old BMX bike-riding champion in both Canada and US, Piper Graaten, lives in Lantzville on Vancouver Island, but is a visitor to Creston on her summer vacations.

“I have no idea where she gets this from,” says Piper’s grandmother, Ann Cook, of Creston. “Her mom and dad ride bicycles, but nothing like Piper does!”

While in Creston, Piper visits both Jan and Jan’s sister, Susan.

“You can only imagine what her room looks like,” says Piper’s mom, Lara. “She collects trophies, not toys.”

In 2017, competing as a 7-year-old, Piper won 14 national competitions in Canada and the US. She is, of course, the BC provincial champion, as well as the Canadian Grands winner in her age class. As she did as a 6-year-old in 2016, won both the US and Canadian championships.

On the USA BMX American Bicycle Association web site, Piper is currently ranked at the top of female competitors in her age group with 2,324 points earned in competitions, nearly 200 more than her nearest competitor. She is one of only two BC girls listed in the top 50.

“I have been racing BMX since I was 3,” Piper says on her resume. “I love riding my bike and the opportunities it has given me to meet people from all around the world.”