This time last year, the idea of attending the X Games was just a dream.
Now, just one year later, Chantelle Bykerk has returned home with a bronze metal.
Bykerk, 20, has been competing in various forms of motocross races since she was 13. For her, competing in the X Games has always been the ultimate dream.
In an interview last year, Bykerk explained that for extreme sports, the X Games is the equivalent of the Olympics.
Bykerk had always wanted the chance to compete in the Games, but she decided to make it her official goal last year.
The young athlete was able to solidify her place in the X Games Enduro Cross race after the first round of qualifiers held in Las Vegas. A total of only 10 competitors were allowed to advance to the Games, ranging from age 15 to 40. Bykerk, the third youngest, says that as long as you are fast enough, you can compete.
Enduro racing requires competitors to use a variety of skills and balance to compete.
“I race off-road, enduros and enduro cross. Enduro Cross is definitely the hardest, because it is the most physical out of all three,” she says.
Bykerk comes from a racing family. She got into the sport after going to many of her brothers’ competitions.
“My parents just decided to get me a bike as well,” says Bykerk.
It was her boyfriend, however, who got her into enduro racing.
“He raced in them, and I would always watch him practise, so at one point I started to practise with him as well. Eventually I started going to the competitions to compete instead of just watch.”
The track used in the X Games is a manmade obstacle course.
Bykerk describes how complete trees are laid across the track which bikers are forced to jump over, as well as large boulders and other rocks scattered around the corners.
A concrete pool area is built and then filled with water, creating a makeshift pond.
Bikers must make their way across a ‘fallen’ tree trunk to get over the body of water. Bykerk also describes other obstacles such as tractor tires laid out around the course.
Despite the many difficulties hidden within the track, event officials say on their website that Bykerk put in an outstanding effort, and was definitely a worthy contender.
The race was tight, with Bykerk coming in a close third behind U.S. riders, Maria Forsberg, who came in first, and Louise Forsley, who took second place.
The young athlete is happy to have made it as far as she did.
“It was so overwhelming there because there were so many people around. It was just an amazing opportunity to even compete, and then getting bronze was just super cool.”
Winning third automatically gives Bykerk a chance to compete in the 2013 X Games.
Bykerk has set her sights even higher and is aiming for gold. However, for the time being, her goal is to defend her Canadian title.
Bykerk is in the middle of a Canadian series, the winner of which will be named national champion.
At the first competition in Vernon this past weekend, Bykerk came in second in the first race, followed by an excellent win in the second. She will be competing in two more races this weekend in Blairmore, Alta.
The overall winner of these races will determine who will take home the Western Canada plate.
