Personal History
Raised in the San Luis Valley in Colorado, surrounded by the San Juan and Sangre De Cristo mountain ranges, I have developed a desire to ride off road on the single track trails as much as time allows. I started on a used Suzuki 50 at the age of seven, riding for hours with my dad and older brother checking sprinklers and crops on our farm. The canals and reservoir banks provided challenges to improve my skills rapidly. We started riding the mountain trails as a family and then at the age of 9, I started racing a few hare scrambles.
Two years ago, Brett Craig, WEBE RACING, hired me as his assistant to set up and take down race courses. This helped finance my racing and riding habit. I have gained lots of friends and learned to work as a team with the crew. This job has allowed me to see the management side of racing and realize all the hours and commitment that it takes to put on a safe race on a well-constructed course with a dedicated, well trained sweep crew.
In 2010 the WEBE RACING Series started providing riding clinics for youth at the races. I have enjoyed helping with clinics for youth riders at the hare scramble races. This opportunity has allowed me work alongside pro riders to help kids interested in motorcycles, grow their skills and interest in the sport of Off-Road Racing and racing. Youth entries at the races have increased dramatically, largely due to this service. The students in the clinics varied in ages from 4 to 16 years of age.
My dad and I together with a few local friends established the Boot Hill Motorcycle Club in 2009. The Boot Hill Motorcycle club puts in hours of volunteer trail work each year in cooperation with the Rio Grande National Forest Service. Chain saw certification, EMT training and Forest Service training to correctly maintain Forest Service trails to proper specification i.e. trail widths, water bar construction, log clearing are all a part of the club's activities. We also schedule group rides in the mountains.
During the last two summers, I have had the opportunity to guide for the members of the Colorado 600. It was special privilege to ride with Chris Dennison with Dirt Rider Magazine. He was able to use some pictures and information from the rides for articles and promos in the Dirt Rider Magazine to help preserve our rights to ride and keep our trails open.
In November of 2010, I competed in my first Enduro Cross in Denver, Colorado. I missed qualifying for the finals by one position, but it was still an opportunity to meet and watch some of the top competitors in the sport. I enjoy a variety of terrain and race experiences. Last summer, I started training on a trials bike and entered a few competitions.
Four years ago, my father and I came up with the idea to develop a hare scramble race site on the Terrace Reservoir property, of which we are partial stockholders. My father and I mapped the property lines and designed and built a 7 trail which was used for round 7 of the WEBE RACING Hare Scramble Series. Because of the steep mountain terrain, 6 water crossings on the Alamosa River, and sand bar riding, the site is one of the most popular in the series. The race has been held there for 3 years now.
The site has become a popular practice site which has taken some pressure off of the local forest trails. Members of the Boot Hill Motorcycle club who help with the trail maintenance projects are allowed to ride at the site free of charge.
Having this private practice site along with endless forest service trails for a training ground are invaluable resources for off-road practice.
Riding Goals
This January I am going to Arizona to ride with Steve Hatch for a week where I will work on everything from race preparation and conditioning, safe riding, riding skills, endurance and consistency. This will give me lots of mental energy and training goals for the season's preparation.
I intend to move to the Pro Class in the WEBE Series and also race more of the Rocky Mountain Enduro Series.
In order to improve by balance and technique I plan to train for and compete in Trials Events.
I believe it is important for all riders to act as ambassadors of the off-road community to educate other riders as to the importance of "Treading Lightly", and becoming involved with local groups to adopt trails and help maintain our public trails and riding privileges. This year I intend to recruit more members for our Boot Hill Motorcycle club to have more manpower to work on this goal.
Competitive Highlights
2009 WEBE RACING Hare Scramble Series, 1st Overall B, and 1st 250 B for the Season
2010 WEBE RACING Hare Scramble Series, I earned the #9 Plate for the Series.
2010 WEBE RACING Hare Scramble Series 2nd Overall A, and 1st Open A for the Season
During the off season between the 2010 and 2011 seasons I broke my wrist and spent a large part of the off-season recovering. The start of my 2011 season was spent regaining strength and endurance in my wrist which greatly affected my race performance; I was not able to reach my goals for the season.
2011 WEBE RACING Hare Scramble Series 4th Overall A and 3rd Place Open A for the Season
2011 Rocky Mountain Trials Association, I competed in the Intermediate Class in Rounds 6, 7 and 8, placing 2nd, 3rd and 2nd respectively.
2011 Rocky Mountain Enduro Circuit, Snowshoe Enduro, 2nd Place Open A