Defining Athletes: Moms who Participate in Motocross

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Category: Hawaii Womens, Girls Xtreme Sports

Published on 07 October 2010

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Defining Athletes: MotoCross What do you think about when you hear the word Motocross? Fast flying bikes, crazy stunts, the flash of a million camera's, the oh's and ah's of the crowd maybe? What you probably don't think of quite as often are the mothers; the cheer section, the one's that don't care whether you as a rider come in first or last because they are proud of you just for doing what you love. Every visit I make to the Kahuku Motocross Track amazes me; there are always a large number of women there. That got me thinking about the role of mothers who go to support their children by also gearing up and hitting the trails with them, helping them practice, building their confidence and strengthening their motivation, competing in events. Now I know what you might be thinking, “what has this got to do with female sports?” and the answer is, everything. If it weren't for these women, these mothers, who dedicate their time, their effort, everything they have to helping their children succeed, then what? Women who hit the trails, compete, and work side by side with their children, are just as much an athlete as anyone else. It takes the same amount of strength, commitment, determination and athleticism to do what they do, as it does any man doing the same thing. As with many sports, motocross is much like a cross-generational activity. When you introduce, or a child becomes interested in, a sport it is shared and passed on to other members of the family, and together families become involved. Mothers are like the back bones of any sport a child becomes active in. They show up rain or shine, they bring their enthusiasm, their team spirit, and their desire to help their child do better. In an environment like the motocross track, this has definitely proven to be true, as there are so many mothers geared up, bike parked next to their child’s bikes. When the children compete mothers are on the track or in the stands taking pictures, cheering, following from one end to the other, and when it's over, they hit the trails together, the perfect example of a dedicated athlete.