Twenty-two-year-old Courtney Langford of Edmonton, Alberta, simply loves powersports—and all the dirt, dust, snow and mud that goes along with them. An avid and eager rider, she started her journey as a small child snowmobiling with her father and brother.
In the summer of 2011, Langford branched out into a whole new world—the world of dirt and ATVs.
Discovering a passion
Snow and Mud.com hosts an organized ride each season based near Rocky Mountain House, Alberta. Outwest Campground is the gathering site, and this is where Langford found her love of ATVs as the pilot of her dad’s Yamaha Grizzly. Through exploring the endless backcountry, sharing fun with her friends and snapping pictures, Langford realized this new type of motorized adventure had captured her heart.
Martin Motorsports, a dealership in Edmonton, further fed her addiction, letting her demo Outlanders and a Maverick 1000 XRS, her favourite by far.
Knowing her thirst for dirt was not leaving anytime soon, Langford bought herself a fun little ’92 Kawasaki Bayou that she packs along from adventure to adventure. A great beginner ATV, the Bayou is compact, yet powerful enough to navigate a variety of terrain. It’s a wise choice for a starter machine for sure.
Favourite places to ride
The area around Brule, Alberta, is among Langford’s favourite places for riding; the sandpits and dirt tracks can entertain her and her friends for hours.
Understanding that venturing forth into powersports can be daunting, especially for a woman, Langford had this to say: “Always remember you can do anything. The experts in any activity were once beginners, so keep that in mind. Never say you can’t.”
Langford now enjoys travelling to B.C. to ride with her boyfriend, Craig Davis, and she is transitioning yet again—from ATV to dirt bike. The Kootenay Motocross Track 20 minutes east of Castlegar, B.C., has dealt her many a bump and bruise, but Langford keeps on, true to her tenacious personality.
A newbie to dirt riding, she learned some lessons quickly.
“It is important to know where your own personal limits are,” she said. “Don’t push too hard at first, for you could get hurt. Understand your machine’s abilities and limitations as well.”
Langford quite often ventures forth without her boyfriend, meeting riding buddies all over Alberta and British Columbia. As she demonstrates, female riders do not need to be dependent upon their male companions to take a trip.
A great resource for new and/or single riders is your local ATV club. These clubs quite often offer safety classes, and have organized rides to help everyone enjoy the fun of the great outdoors safely and responsibly.
Advice for newbies
Courtney Langford offers these helpful tips for new ATV riders.
» Surround yourself with responsible, skilled people who understand your abilities.
» Listen to their words of wisdom.
» Wear the gear. Even though you think you may not be travelling at the speed of light, body armour, proper footwear, a helmet and goggles are all necessities for riding.
» Be conscious of your energy level. More accidents happen when riders are fatigued than not.
» Stay hydrated.
» Be a steward of the environment, adhering to regulations and property boundaries, and always pack out what you pack in.
» Listen to your spidey senses. If you feel insecure, scared or overwhelmed, stop and tell your mentors.
» Loading and unloading your machine at the staging area can sometimes be the most dangerous part of your adventure. If you aren’t confident, ask for help.
» Do not let adrenalin or peer pressure push you past your comfort levels.
» Speed is not cool. Set and keep a responsible pace that accommodates your skill level and respects other riders on the trail.
» Have fun!
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