Out of the Blue:California Girls

Apr 5 2010 - 12:38pm - Angie Parker

Denaye Giroux joins PerformX in California

Out of the Blue presented to you by Schrader's Motors! Thanks to Schrader's Motors for their ongoing support of the Out of the Blue column here on DMX! And now this from Schrader's Rick Bradshaw:

Spring is in the air big-time here and Millstone Raceway (Yorkton's MX Track) that is directly across the highway from Schrader's is open and ready for spring practice (that means unprep, still slightly wet in places but better than snow). Even after getting all of our 2010 racers up and running we still have a few new mx bikes left including YZ450's plus some used which can be viewed at http://www.facebook.com/l/f8139 or www.schradermotors.com.

A big thanks to all of the staff at Schrader's. Spring is the busiest time of the year and we have enthusiastic personel who want to enjoy their time at work and away. The extra effort it takes to get the showroom changed over is very much appreciated.

Thanks Rick!

Can you find Denaye?

Photo by Todd Schumlick

Schrader's Motors' Denaye Giroux

recently returned from her PerformX training program in California. Here's what she had to say:

Hey Angie!

So I just got home from my trip down to California on Sunday, it's a little depressing actually getting off the plane and making the drive from Regina to Yorkton. I never realized how flat Saskatchewan is! We still have a little bit of snow here, but it's drying up quick so we will be riding here in no time.

My time in Cali went by way too fast, I was staying at Todd Schumlick's (PerformX) house in Canyon Lake, there were about eight of us in the house at a time, depending on the week. It was awesome being in the house with everyone. We had all put in the hard work at the gym prior to going down there, which paid off big time because we could get right into working to get better on the bike and not have to worry about whether or not we could stay out and ride for 30+ minutes. Todd always had a set plan on what we were doing for the week, we would usually ride four days a week and go to the gym two days.

I was there for a month and it seems like it was only a couple days, but now that I am home I feel more pumped about the nationals then ever! I feel really comfortable on the bike, and I know what pace I am capable of. For the first few weeks we really worked on getting flawless technique. I have my bad habits, but I feel I have broke a few of them. My fitness is at the highest it has ever been so I am feeling good, I am definitely not going to get tired out there that's for sure!

My favorite part of Cali would have to be...... Coldstone ice cream after the fitness challenges! I am looking forward to seeing everyone at the races! The count down is on... Kamloops, June 6!

Denaye

Thanks, Denaye! I checked in with her sister Amber and she's still in California riding.

Awww Cali. The view from the backyard of the house Denaye stayed at.

Photo: Denaye Giroux

Denaye amongst the boys in Cahuilla Creek, CA. (l to r): Zeb Fellows, Jaimie Nagy, Peter Swanwick (331), Steven King (981), Lucas Bachman (Honda in the back), Kyle McGlynn (KTM), Shawn Maffenbeier (Yamaha), Kyle Murphy (76), Brendan Arnett (Suzuki), Aaron Homie (68), and Denaye Giroux (57).

Photo: Todd Schumlick

I checked in with 2008 National champ Jacqueline Ross. She informed me that this summer she “plans to get a tan.” Apparently she’s not thrilled with the “pigmentation of [her] skin”. She said that it “is getting a little too white for [her] liking.” Maybe next time she’ll talk bikes…

Another Eastern National contender this year is Ontario’s Isabella Poncia-Myre. She’s been getting in lots of riding in the indoor track at X-Town in Quebec. Her schedule is almost full already for the summer and she’s planning on going to the Loretta Lynn qualifier at Broome Tioga in a couple weeks. After that she’ll be racing MMRS or CMRC Quebec until the Ontario provincials start. Isabella also plans to race the ECAN at Sand del Lee again this year as well as doing all the Eastern Women's nationals. Her goal is to get a top 20 national number this year. Last year Sand del Lee was her only stop in the National series.

Jessica Malaknejadorangi raced Riverglade and Sand del Lee last year, finishing 27^th overall, however she will wear her #33 for the 2010 season.

Photo: Paul Jordan

Jessica Malaknejadorangi is another racer in for the eastern nationals. “I am hitting the gym and getting ready for some racing that's for sure.” The Atlantic 19-year-old might be at the Walton finale, depending how she finishes in the eastern leg.

DMX: Where are you from? Where's home?
JM: I am from Quispamsis, New Brunswick, but I am living in Fredericton for school right now, going home for the summer though.

Where is do you do most of your riding?
When I do ride (rarely the last few years) its either at Fox Hollow or a random sand pit about 10 minutes from my house, Johnny Montes rides there to and puts the whip down if we are there together!

Jessica's 2010 goal is to place top 5 in the Eastern Nationals.

Photo: Paul Jordan

When did you start riding?
Well back in the day the old man bought my little brother a YZ50 when he was three (1997) and he basically couldn't ride it (HE WAS THREE!) so I begged and begged to see if I could take it for a ride and dad finally let me and it was a fit I could ride a dirt bike!.. and now almost 13 years later i'm on a big bike CRF250!

Everyone calls you Jessica "Longname". What's your "real" last name?
Longname, of course! Just kidding its Malaknejadorangi.. Longname is just easier (laughs).

Describe your 2009 race season?
Tragic. I didn't really do anything special. Riverglade nationals weekend was rough: two ambulance rides, and no good finishes. Atlantic didn't go too bad; got a few wins and what not...had some good battles with Alex [Josey] and Morgan [Gillis]. Having epic battles with Alex...she's super fun to ride with and always high five at the end no matter who wins! Sand del Lee, just didn't do good at all. But at the end of the year I got the Kyle Elliot Memorial Sportsmanship award which made my season!

Who is your moto idol?
So many! The obvious is Heidi [Cooke] just cause she is a local and is amazing...done so much for Canadian women's moto. Tarah Geiger for the states; she's got awesome style! And Chad Reed.

What does your training consist of?
Well I have never trained until this year. I been hitting the gym lately and loving it...feel good when i leave. 35ish minutes on the bike, 2000m on the row thing'er, and some random arm stuff. I went out to Ontario to ride AX for a week and stopped in at X-Town on the way back for March Break it was good to get riding. The goal this year is to ride a lot!

Bad habits?
Riding wise, I look back a lot! My parents hate it. They don't get why I do it. And I don't shift...I'm gonna work on that one this year [laughs].

Is there anything you like more than motox?
More? No, love moto! Snowboarding comes in a close second and filming third, but nothing is like moto!

Plans for 2010?
Get some top fives in Eastern Nationals! I feel I am fast enough. It is just to last a whole moto, and stay healthy.

Who has been helping you out?
Eldridge's Honda has helped me a lot since I've been on 85s so they get a big thanks, and most of all my Mom and Dad, they do it all and can never thank them enough that's for sure!

Jessica was the recipient of 2009 Kyle Elliot Memorial Sportsmanship award.

Photo: Paul Jordan

In 2007 I met up with Newfoundland’s Megan Ring at Cycle Ranch in Texas for the WMA Cup. A few weeks ago Megan got the itch to ride Cycle Ranch yet again and headed to Texas with her boyfriend Jason Callahan. I hope to have her story in the next Out of the Blue.

Megan back at the Ranch.

Photo: Jason Callahan

Looks like Motocross Newfoundland and Labrador will not be running a ladies class again this season. The association was able to run a ladies class a few years ago with five girls on the line. So far only two girls, Megan Ring and Ashley MacKinnon will be racing.

Off-road racing sensation, Victoria Hett made the cover of Inside Moto-X! Check out the Fearless Females story I wrote for Inside Moto-X here: http://www.insidemotocross.ca/images/901/60_Victoria_ous.pdf

And don’t forget to check out Tory’s website: http://www.victoriahettracing.com/

Tory is racing her first race of the season Easter Sunday in Kamloops. I spoke to her Friday before the race. “I might race ladies class there if some of the fast MX gals show up; otherwise I'll enter in the intermediate class and bash bars with the guys!” Saturday she'll be competing in her first ever trials bike competition. “I'll enter the beginner class and see how that goes, it should be interesting!”

Here’s her update on the progress of the ISDE national women’s team: “ISDE team is coming along. Jill Bolso and I are 100% committed and will throw all of our resources into the team Canada effort once the team is confirmed. We found out that we can have a Canadian women’s trophy team with just two girls which is good seems how we haven't had any girls offer to be the third member of our team. It means that we won't have a throw away time at the end of each day, so Jill and I will have to ride our hearts out to make every minute count because we have no safety net!

"We are planning on having ISDE shirts for sale soon to help raise money to get us there in the fall. We're both working on some individual fund raising as well, but we need a lot of help. It's so expensive, and we're struggling. I think I'm going to have to drop the Eastern CEC rounds out of my schedule because I just can't afford to fly there and do them if I plan on going to the ISDE. Unless I win the lottery or find a sponsor that wants the eastern coverage!”

DMX photographer Sean Bowker spotted Ontario's Kirsten MacDonald riding Countyline in Florida, March 20.

Are you a fan of Ashley Fiolek? Kicking up Dirt, an autobiography of Ashely Fiolek will on sale in bookstores April 27. Here’s the press release:

ASHLEY FIOLEK BIOGRAPHY TO BE RELEASED APRIL 27

April 2, 2010 (Pebble Beach, CA) – Kicking Up Dirt, a book written by the 2009 X-Games Women’s Moto-X Gold Medalist and two-time AMA Women’s Motocross Champion Ashley Fiolek, will be available for sale in bookstores and online outlets nationwide on April 27. Published by Harper Collins, this biography written by Fiolek and co-written by Caroline Ryder reviews Fiolek’s amazing accomplishments as a deaf, female, professional athlete.

Originally misdiagnosed as “mildly retarded,” the profoundly deaf Fiolek was a shy and introverted child until her parents introduced her to the world of motorcycles. Riding helped her escape the silence and connect with others who shared her passion. She began racing at seven, and ascended to become the best female motocross racer in America.

In the book, Fiolek discusses the challenges faced during her rise to the top, including serious injuries and her battle for women’s equality in sport. The 19-year-old star also reflects on becoming the first female to have secured a full factory contract in motocross, signing with the Honda Red Bull Racing team.

Kicking Up Dirt is available for pre order now at http://www.harpercollins.com/book/pre-order.aspx?isbn13=9780061946479. Fiolek kicks off her 2010 season this weekend at the first round of the Women’s World Motocross Championship at the Gorna Rositza Circuit in Bulgaria, April 4.