Berkeley, California, has a long history with cyclocross. The first-ever United States Cycling Federation (USCF, which later became USA Cycling) Cyclocross National Championships was held in the Berkeley Hills, in Tilden Park, won by Mary Ann Alan and Laurence Malone. Malone would go on to win four more National Championships, and Alan another.
UC Berkeley, the prestigious public university that headlines the town, has also been a magnet for cyclocross student athletes. Cyclocross pro Andy Jacques-Maynes claimed a silver medal in the collegiate race at the USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championships in Baltimore in 2001, while most recently, UC Berkeley engineering student Justin Peck claimed the 2024 Collegiate Club title in Louisville.
Laurence Malone won five U.S. national championships, his first at Tilden Park in Berkeley, CA. photo: Malone in Pacifica. © Cyclocross Magazine
Now, five decades later after that historic Nationals, cyclocross is making a triumphant return to Berkeley with the debut of the “Shoreline Shredder” on October 4, 2025.
This time, the action shifts from the hills to the waterfront—César Chávez Park—offering racers and spectators jaw-dropping views of San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge, the Bay Bridge, and the skylines of Berkeley and Oakland.
Organized by Nathan Powell and the Bear Race Events team, the race takes place at a venue where an infamous underground cyclocross races series attempted a race, but got shut down quickly by authorities. Now racers, in costume or not, can officially line up between the cones at this venue with some glowy history:
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Because the park sits atop a landfill, Powell notes that racers must preserve the surface cap—meaning no course stakes and no skidding. (Tracklocross fans, consider yourselves warned.)
The Shoreline Shredder launches the 2025 Bay Area Super Prestige (BASP) Cyclocross Series with a bang. With over 8 million Bay Area residents within an hour’s drive, the event promises a high-energy kickoff to the season. The BASP series has hosted the top cyclocross racers in the country over the years, awarded UCI points, and gave out cyclocross bikes to winning C (novice) racers.
Cyclocross curious? Wherever you live, cyclocross welcomes all, and you don’t need a cyclocross bike. Riders with gravel bikes and mountain bikes will typically appreciate the advantages of higher-volume rubber on early-season, bumpy courses. If you’ve been shredding fire roads or singletrack, you’re already halfway there. The varied terrain, tight turns, and short punchy climbs of cyclocross are a natural playground for anyone who loves off-road riding and wants to test their skills in a fast-paced, spectator-friendly format.
The Shoreline Shredder is just one event of the six-race BASP series, which also includes the two-day Surf City weekend, the return of the Mare Island Urban CX, the VSRT race in Livermore, and Nutty Cross.
See the Bear Race Event’s press release below.
The 2025 Shoreline Shredder brings cyclocross back to Berkeley, CA
Welcome To… BASP!!
October 4th we are kicking off the cyclocross season with the Shoreline Shredder at the brand new venue this year—César Chávez Park in Berkeley, California!
The race venue sits on an island in the middle of the bay that is either a cyclocross paradise or a cruel wind tunnel, depending on the direction you are riding. Either way, it’s going to rule!
We are excited to introduce a new venue to the Bay Area Super Prestige!
Jutting into the San Francisco Bay, Berkeley’s César Chávez Park delivers panoramic views, dirt trails, and just enough elevation to keep racers honest. It’s the ideal backdrop for the adrenaline-charged season opener of the BASP Series!
Berkeley’s Cesar Chavez Park is set to kick off the 2025 Bay Area Super Prestige (BASP) Cyclocross Series.
It’s a stunning spot and an incredible opportunity—but we need your help to make sure it stays part of the Bay Area Super Prestige series.
Some quick history: From 1961 to 1983, the site was a 90-acre Class II landfill. It was sealed with a clay cap and officially closed in phases by 1989. In 1991, it reopened as North Waterfront Park, now César Chávez Park.
Fast forward to today: As of June 6, 2025, new rules prohibit any superficial soil disturbance within the park.
That means:
- No stakes in the ground—we’re using cones and delineators to mark the course.
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No berms or skidding—please ride clean and smooth to protect the surface.
These details might seem small, but they’re everything. Following these guidelines is what will determine whether we get invited back or not.
We believe this park is a dream location for cyclocross. Let’s prove it. Respect the land, ride smart, and help us lock this venue in for years to come.
Click the link below to head over to the BASP website to find out more about the series and register for Shoreline Shredder at bearraceevents.com.
Follow BASP and Bear Race Events on Instagram to stay in the loop all season long.
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