One of the fastest, if not the fastest, girl in Canada, 17-year-old Kennedy Lutz brought a national title home to Yorkton, Saskatchewan after winning the Canadian Women’s East MX National Championship. I was able to catch up with Kennedy and get to know this national title winner a little more.
Hi Kennedy, thank you for being willing to meet with me today. I’d like to start right back at the beginning of your career in order to give our readers a bit of a background. When did you first get started in Motocross? And what first influenced you to start in Motocross?
Hi Mallorie, I first started in Motocross when I was four years old; initially my Dad bought a little Yamaha PW50 for me to ride around on at the farm. I think Dad got me the bike because he wanted to give me the opportunity to experience something he never really did. The motocross sport was something he was always interested in, but he never really did it; I’m grateful that he gave me that chance. I started racing around the province when I was five and soon fell in love with the motocross sport—I also happened to be really good at it too!
[Laughing] There must have been a little more than “just happened”, what were some stepping stones that brought you from a little five year old girl racing around to winning Canada’s national women’s championship?
One huge stepping stone is the competition that I have raced with. For example, I have raced with and in boys and boys’ races from the very beginning until now. I believe that has made me the rider that I am today as racing with the guys is always a battle and increases the level of racing.
Racing at big provincial or national events also helped me to chase big dreams and realize what I needed to do in order to keep up with my peers. So in 2013, I connected with Rob Buckhart in order to pursue that training, which I think is a big impact on my success now. Rob trains me on the bike and keeps it in great condition, while his wife, Shay, coaches me at the gym and helps me to eat nutritional meals.
So what kind of training do you do?
I will work out and then ride for three or four hours, five days a week, so it’s definitely an intensive style of training. My day might look like stretches first thing, then riding on a track with several other trainees and then back to the gym again for strength, cardio, and endurance training. Strength and cardio building exercises are huge assets during a race, so I will do a variety of things to build that discipline in my body.
I do take this training seriously as I have to be able to keep up with the level of the kids down in the states where they can race all year long. This is also why I come down to South Carolina during the off season in Canada, just so I can still get my hours of practise in.
Did you experience any challenges along the way?
Oh yes, injuries have been a challenge for me during my motocross career. Like back in 2015 I tore my ACL, a major ligament in my knee, as well as damaging other parts of my knee. I had to stay off my bike for some 9 months.
It was a struggle to come back from that injury, I basically had to start the whole training process again and fight to get my mental game back. It was just one of those things where I had to decide to push through it—and I did.
Good for you! When you say that you “pushed through” parts of your training after your injury, you are certainly not acting on mere feelings, but instead sheer will-power. With such a struggle and hard work involved, why do you do this, why do you keep going in spite of these challenges?
I think one thing is the feeling you get on the good days. That feeling you get when you make a good corner, or master a jump you have been working on. It’s also seeing the marking posts of success, winning those races or championships and making those improvements. That satisfied feeling I get makes it all worth it. I have always been a motivated and dedicated person, and so that has just carried into the motocross sport. I am basically willing to do whatever it takes in order to reach my goal and accomplish my dreams.
Also, the dedication and help from family and friends has helped me to make it through. My dad made a lot of sacrifices in order for me to do this, and he has put a lot of work into my pursuit of motocross racing; he has always believed in me, so he has played a huge part of it. My motocross coach and gym trainer, Rob and Shay Buckhart, have been amazing as well. I’ve been coming down to live with them during the winter, and I’m so grateful that they have taken me in like their own daughter. There are many others who have helped me with my bike, sponsored me, or just been there when I needed them. I have had great support.
Wow, it’s incredible to hear how individual and group dedication can influence a career direction so much. Thank-you for letting us see how you’ve become the woman you are today. Speeding up to this past year, how has it been and what have you been able to accomplish so far?
This summer I decided to race in the national women’s races in Canada, and wound up winning the eastern series and earning the title of Eastern Canadian Women’s MX Champion.
Congratulations!! How you feel about earning this title?
Since I was little I knew I wanted to become Canada’s fastest female, so which I achieved that, it was amazing! It was so rewarding to see that dream realized.
After all your hard work you certainly deserved to enjoy that reward! I have one question; technically your hometown of Yorkton would land you in the western series, why did you decide to go in for the eastern instead of the western league?
You are right in saying that the women’s national in Canada splits up the competition into the west and the east. I have raced in the west in the past, but I wanted to experience new competition, so I signed up for the eastern rounds this year.
And it turned out to be a great decision this year! How does this win compare to the other wins you have had in the past?
It’s rather tough to try and compare the national races in Canada to the races that I have done in the states. This summer wasn’t my first national racing experience, as I have done it before in the states, but that doesn’t make this win any less of an incredible experience. I still feel honored and proud to have raced, and very grateful to the sponsors who have supported me through the summer.
And you brought another championship home to Saskatchewan! Shawn Maffenbeier brought home the men’s national championship, and you’ve brought home the women’s eastern championship!
Yes! I think it is super cool for two racers from Saskatchewan to gain national championships, especially since Saskatchewan isn’t thought of as a huge motocross province, like Ontario. But this year will not be the only year hopefully; I look forward to more championships to come.
Ah! So what are your goals now? It sounds like you are not ready to stop!
I am not intending to stop. I would certainly like to contend for the national title in the pro women’s class here in the states. I would also like to eventually get to the point where I could contend for the Canadian men’s pro national level and race against guys like Shawn Maffenbeier. I have been racing with guys since I was a tyke, so I feel that with practise I will fit right in. Everywhere I go I compete with guys and gals, so I feel I have a good background for it.
I wish you all the best as you pursue those goals! Thank you Kennedy for giving us a glimpse into the trials and triumphs of your motocross career; I look forward to watching it grow!
Images Submitted by Kennedy Lutz
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