Over the past decade, female involvement in the powersports world has been gaining in popularity. Usually mentored by a father, boyfriend or husband, many women gain insight in to the world of motorized recreation. This was not case for 26-year-old Cynthia Prefontaine of Montreal, Quebec.
At the age of 15, while watching the ATV super cross races in Montreal, she was hit by a lightning bolt of adrenaline filled inspiration: “I want to do that. I want to race.”
Doubts never crossed her mind. Prefontaine, a determined, energetic and positive young woman, just jumped in with both feet. Fuelled by her passion, she purchased her very first sport quad, a Yamaha Blaster 200cc, and started her journey into racing.
There were no women’s classes for racing at that time, so Prefontaine was thrown into the deep end. Her very first race was humbling.
“Watching the pros race it looks so easy," said Prefontaine, "but my first lap, and hitting my first ever jump on a quad, I had a real eye opener.”
Beginning the journey
Determined to be a success, she looked for mentors to help her as she practised for hours on end. Watching the men ride, she started to develop skill and style. Her skill and confidence soared. That was only part of the equation, she soon found out, as her machine started to break down.
The mechanical aspect of racing was something she didn’t account for. With no mechanical skills, Prefontaine felt frustration set in. True to her determined style, she learned how to wrench as well as ride.
Her first race was a drag race. It was fun at first, but soon she knew she wanted something more out of racing. Prefontaine purchased a Honda TRX 250R to take her into the world of ATV MX racing. In this new race class, she found women’s events to compete in. This was a relief and inspiration for Prefontaine, as many of the world's top female athletes mentored her into success.
“Racing with women is a wonderful experience," Prefontaine said. "We help each other, grow, learn, and encourage each other along the way.”
Helping other riders
This is a concept Prefontaine has paid forward, and she now spends much of her time mentoring and coaching other women. Understanding how a woman’s mind works is a huge benefit for a coach, she said.
"We understand each other, so we can help each other grow.”
Knowing how hard it is to do it all on her own, she wants to do everything in her power to pave the way to success for other riders in the ATV race world.
A new challenge
Prefontaine's world of racing expanded into a whole new sport when she was approached by Southside Polaris. At first she was confused by the call. Southside wanted Prefontaine to represent them racing, not on an ATV, but on a snowmobile. Having no experience whatsoever on a snowmobile, she was hesitant at first. But true to her tenacious and determined personality she jumped in with full force.
In her first heat ever she placed fourth. Her second heat, she placed third. Coming from behind in the final heat, she came in to win the final. Prefontaine is now a snocross champion. This season, after a mere four months of riding, she place first in two East Coast snocross events in Malone, New York, March 21 and 22.
Prefontaine works as a public relations representative for world-renowned Elka Suspension, whose headquarters are in Montreal. Elka is one of the leaders of aftermarket suspension products for motorsports enthusiasts and one of the key supporters for Prefontaine’s race career. Her Elka Stage Five shocks, one of their premiere shock set-ups, were completely dialed in, adjusted perfectly for her weight and ride style. This helped her tremendously as she ventured forth into snocross racing.
To follow Cynthia Prefontaine's career, you can find her at www.prefontaine27.com, twitter.com/prefontaine27 and on Facebook as prefontaine27. Prefontaine is the owner of Mx Girls Calendar, proceeds of which go to support women racers.
Her sponsors include Twice Production, Scott Sports, Fasstco, ITP Tires, Blingstar Products, Projekt, CM Fitness, All Sport Dynamics, Mons Royale, Waslsh Race Craft, Sunstar, Pivot Works, Hot Cams, Fourwerx Carbon, FMF, Nano Services, Mxgirls, Twenty7 Promotions and Team Southside Polaris Snocross.
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