Ed Masters is the public relations co-ordinator for the Campbell River Motocross Association, and he spends his free time covering Canadian Motosport Racing Club events. As such, his five children have spent their younger years racing. Masters is proud of all his children and their accomplishments in the motocross world. He holds a special spot in his heart for his only daughter, Chelsea, who is ripping up the track as one of the only girls in the industry.
“She rides around (Vancouver Island) with 10 girls in the ladies class,” said Masters. “She is what I call the pioneer. When she was four years old there were only a couple of ladies and she brought out some younger girls that started riding in the 50 class and now it is growing and growing.”
Behind the pink bike
From a young age, Chelsea loved dirt bikes. In fact, her father said the sound of an engine was one of the first sounds that Chelsea heard. She started out with a pink and white Yamaha PW50 and is now racing a TM 125. Currently, Chelsea is in grade nine and spends a lot of her free time racing around the track in Campbell River and at competitive races around Vancouver Island.
“I do it for the fun of it,” said Chelsea. “If I get a lot better then I would like to do it for a career. The girls in my (150) class are really good and when I am around people like that I try to push myself to do better.”
The community of Campbell River has been very supportive of Chelsea’s passion. Quality DeSigns in Campbell River and Barker Bros Cycle in Abbotsford have sponsored her, as well as TM Canada. Masters said the support that Chelsea has received from the community has been utterly moving.
“Her bike is made in Italy by TM Racing,” said Masters. “She is the only girl that I am aware of in B.C. who rides for TM Canada, and I don’t even know of any girls in Western Canada that ride those bikes. It has been a fabulous bike and we have had great luck with it.”
Making strides
To improve her skills, Chelsea sets goals for herself every time she rides. She can still remember the first time that she got air off of a jump, and she said this is a memory she holds close to her heart when she is attempting new tricks and jumps on her bike.
“The first time that I got air on a jump was my favourite memory,” said Chelsea. “I love it, and now I like to go even higher. I used to be afraid of that stuff but now I am not.”
Chelsea’s early racing days have been a learning experience for her and Masters. In a predominantly male sport, Chelsea has to work even harder to get to where she wants to be. However, she might not be too far behind the guys. In fact, one of Master’s favourite memories is when Chelsea was racing against the boys and beat all of them.
“She races against the boys too,” said Masters. “She had them all in tears and that was a big thrill for me to hear that.”
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