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GIVE US SOME BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON YOURSELF AND HOW FIRST GOT YOU STARTED IN THIS THIS SPORT.
We used to ride as a family, woods riding mostly, and then the kids wanted to go to a local race. That was the beginning of the end. Haha
We then began finding places to practice, like the orange groves, and back trails around our house, and the cow pasture in our back yard. Anyone in the sport knows where it went from there.
WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO PASS ON YOUR KNOWLEDGE TO OTHER RIDERS?
Not sure I would put it like that, but what we do feel is important, is trying to give as many kids, early in their riding careers, the basics that we think will help them stay as healthy and safe as possible and have an overall better experience with motocross.
WITH MANY DIFFERENT OPTIONS ON WHERE TO START YOUR FACILITY, WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO HAVE YOUR FACILITY AT IT’S CURRENT LOCATION?
I had wanted to move my family from the Orlando area for quite a while to North Florida and after a bit of riding one summer in the South Georgia area things just seemed to fall into place. We bought 100 acres in Cairo and that is where my kids and many other boys found home for many years to come. It was the single best thing I ever did for my kids. Wide open space, fishing, swimming holes, tree houses, no neighbors and the freedom for them to be creative with their free time.
DESCRIBE THE MENTAL ASPECT OF BEING A TRAINER, AND HOW IT AFFECTS A RIDER.
I think the best part of working with young boys and girls is figuring out what it is with them individually that motivates them. Sometimes a boot will work with one kid and not with another. Balancing positive encouragement with honest criticism is very important and something that takes a long time to get the feel for.It keeps us in a constant state of adjustment.
WALK US THROUGH WHAT A FULL TIME RIDER WOULD GO THROUGH AT YOUR TRAINING FACILITY.
Every full time rider must first go to a camp so we can evaluate how they are as a person on and off the track. Once they become a full time rider we do different testing to see how they are physically and mentally. They come to the gym 5 days a week and we do about 4 hours of riding each day. Depending on what they have coming up in terms of races is how we adjust what they do on and off the track. Each rider keeps
an online daily log so that both they and trainers can monitor their heart rates, weight, hydration, effort and other things that are very important. The trainers also provide feedback for the riders. It’s great too because parents can follow the progress of their riders even if they are half way around the world.
TELL US HOW HAVING A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR RIDER REFLECTS ON THEIR RESULTS ON THE TRACK.
Trust is the most important thing between a rider and his or her trainer. They need to trust that they are prepared both mentally and physically when they show up to race. They also must feel able to come talk to you about anything that is on their mind even if it has nothing to do with racing because if something is bothering a rider it can really show in his or her results.
BUILDING CHAMPIONS