While most kids were just learning to ride a bike, sophomore Abby Todd was mastering the basics of driving an all-terrain vehicle when she was 5 years old. By the time she was 12, she was riding dirt bikes.

“My dad races dirt bikes, so I just kind of started riding too,” Todd said.

Now, Todd rides a KTM 125 dirt bike competitively about once or twice a month during racing season, which spans from May to October.

“I like the challenge,” she said. “It’s hard, and it can be dangerous, but it’s fun.”

Todd races through dense woods. She said a typical race is about six hours, adding that the racing is a combination of endurance and speed. Two weeks ago, she won first place in the women’s class of a dirt bike race held in Lansing, New York.

Todd’s father and his friends still actively compete as well, and have been since they were 20 years old, she said.

Todd hopes to continue dirt biking for many years in the future, just like her father. She also aspires to win the national competition one day.

“In nationals, there are 10 races, and they combine your scores to find the winners in each class,” Todd said. “So I’ve been to a couple nationals’ [races], but I’ve never done them all.”

Todd explained that it is difficult to compete in all of the races because they are all over the country. She has competed in North Carolina, Georgia and Florida.

Though Todd is a competitive racer, she prefers just riding for fun.

“I really enjoy riding with a couple of friends, trying to pass them,“ Todd said. “You can’t race if you don’t ride.”

Published on October 12, 2015 at 12:01 am

Contact: moberger@syr.edu