Erin Hammontree
Published: October 26, 2005
It’s hot, humid, and the overbearing heat from the sun has taken its toll on your body. You feel the sweat billow and run down your face from the inside of your helmet. No worries though, as you throw the gear into third, you spot a murky cesspool of water to cool you down. Like a plane on a crash course with the ocean, you hit the water at mach speed and ride away with a smile, feeling relieved of the sun’s burden; covered with mud.
In life, individuals are inspired to become cheerleaders or football players, and for those who live on the edge, dirt bike riders.
“The excitement and danger that surrounds the sport really appealed to me when I first started riding,” Sarah Roar said.
Although dirt bike riding is defined as an extreme sport, few actually realize the physical strain a day of fun on a dirt bike has on a person. Some professionals even recommend than riders warm up before riding, and cool down afterward.
“You use your leg muscles when you stand to do tricks, the muscles in your hand to brake or give gas, and your back almost always hurts,” Jason Ward said.
Whether racing on a track or tearing it up in the pit, there is one common thread than links every rider: the constant search for competition.
” You can turn anything into a contest,” Roar said. “You can race from one point to another or see who can do the best tricks.”
While riding seems exciting to many, the majority of beginning riders fail to properly educate themselves in the art of riding. The most important thing to remember is to always ride to your abilities; do not try to impress people.
“One of my first times on a dirt bike, I flew over the handle bars and the bike ran me over,” Mason Forbush said.