First Time On The Race Line!
Meet sisters, Sara and Amber.
Sara Zellers, 30, 2019 Honda CRF250F.
Amber Deitzler, 29, 2020 Kawasaki KLX140G
Lebanon, Pennsylvania.
HOW DID YOU GET INTO RIDING DIRT BIKES?
Sara: I got hooked on watching Monster Energy Supercross! That’s when my love for riding was planted. The more I watched, the more it grew, and I knew one day I was going to want a dirtbike of my own.
One Saturday morning I woke up and told my husband it was time. We went to the local off-road shop before I could change my mind, and I was determined to bring home my very first dirtbike. I signed the forms, and I was officially the owner of a Honda CRF125F. I practiced riding in driveways and backyards until I got the gist of it. My husband then bought a quad so we could go riding. My first taste of dirt!
Amber: As a city kid I was never really exposed to dirt-biking growing up. I had wanted to buy a motorcycle for several years but never had the guts to pull the trigger. Sara picked up her first dirt bike a year before me, a nice little CRF125F small wheel. She outgrew that one pretty quickly and wanted to upgrade so she convinced me to buy her first bike so we could start riding together.
Sara taught me the basics in her little back yard and I did a bunch of circles until I got the hang of it. I was honestly terrified but it was so magnetic for me. I immediately said yes and hopped online to buy some boots because I kept hitting my leg on the pegs.
HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT OVER AND OUT WOMEN’S EVENTS?
Sara: Monster Energy Supercross!! Over And Out was featured on Toyota’s Makeup2Mud. Watching those clips was one of my favorite parts about watching Supercross!! It was so inspiring!
Amber: I don’t know if Sara really wants me to share how often she talked about wanting to go to Over And Out and that I needed to go with her.
WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO COME TO OAO SO BADLY?
Sara: Riding is typically seen as a male’s sport. I thought it was the coolest thing ever that there were other women out there as passionate about riding dirt bikes as I was, and I wanted to meet them.
Amber: The idea of riding with a bunch of women like me was super intriguing because I had a hard time riding with the guys. It was so intimidating! Before OAO, I had only ever ridden with Sara and her husband because I wasn’t confident at all and didn’t want to hold anyone back on the trails. I also wanted to take a class and it was the perfect opportunity.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR OAO EXPERIENCES!
Sara: We both attended Over And Out Moto-X 2019 as our first OAO event. We took intro-to-dirt classes together, and in our free time rode in the woods loop and moto track. Then we went to the OAO Enduro, Woods and Dual Sport Campout in 2020!
We both had different experiences as we branched off on our own a lot. By this point I had found my passion for woods riding and really wanted to push myself to learn more and get better. I rode the trails, working my way up from easiest to more challenging. And what an experience that was! Riding with more experienced riders was DEFINITELY more of a challenge but I LOVED IT.
Amber: I had been doing a lot of trail riding, but I was still working on a lot of techniques. Since we made a lot of new female riding friends through OAO at the prior event, we now had more people to ride. It felt great to ride with a group of people my own skill level. I had a blast!
I tried a few harder trails last time, and there were a lot of times I wanted to give up, but the other women and our OAO Trail Support sweep were all fantastic with encouraging me and helping me through a lot of technical areas where I normally would have said “Nope, not today!” That encouragement helped me really push past my fear and tackle a lot of new obstacles.
WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST LESSONS YOU LEARNED FIRST-HAND THAT YOU COULD SHARE WITH NEWER RIDERS?
Sara: First and foremost, learn proper technique and body positioning. It really makes a world of a difference. SEAT TIME is your best friend. The more you ride, the more comfortable you’ll be. You’re going to mess up and fall, it happens even to the best of riders.
Amber: It’s ok to be afraid, but don’t let that fear stop you from trying! Laugh it off if you mess up, we ride to have fun! If you’re newer, don’t apologize if you drop your bike or go a little slower than other people. Every rider has been in your shoes before, don’t be intimidated just learn from them and embrace any advice they offer. Also, how your bike runs can make or break your day. If you feel like something is off, check it out!
YOU BOTH JUST TRIED YOUR FIRST RACE! WHAT MADE YOU DO THAT, AND HOW WAS IT?
Sara: I was intrigued by the challenge. I am constantly wanting to learn more and better myself. I knew if I could get the experience of a race under my belt, that it would change my riding for the better.
I lined up for the first time in the Women’s C class at a District 6 race. It was nerve wracking to actually be sitting on the start line! I couldn’t comprehend anything anyone was saying. I kept asking myself why I was doing this. There was even one point where I was holding back tears because of the fear.
When I heard the “10 second” countdown, I told myself to stop. I reminded myself to treat it just like any other ride, and just do my thing.
My goal was to get in one lap for my first race, and what a lap that first one was. Riding new trails, the slick coal, people passing me. It was scary AF. By the time I came around to the finish line, I felt good and knew I wanted to keep going. So I pushed myself through another lap. This lap was the WORST. I fell a lot, ping-ponged off of trees a lot. Had my bike laying on me, A LOT.
When I came around to the finish line again I was HOPING and PRAYING to see the checkered flag (last lap) so I could call it a day. When I saw the white flag indicating one lap to go, my heart dropped. I wanted to be done. I was so tired, but a little voice inside of me said “you made it this far, what’s one more lap?” So I pushed.
I pushed myself so hard even though I felt I had nothing left in me. That last lap was a blur, but I remember one moment clear as day. I fell and was so tired, I didn’t want to get up. My bike laid there in the middle of the trail. People passing me left and right as I sat in their way, but then one rider slowed, asked if I was okay, then said “Let’s go, last lap.” He waited for me to get up and get my bike running. Then off we went. I didn’t even know this man, but his kindness was what I needed. Next thing I knew.. black and white checkers! I cried- I was so happy. I did it. What a rewarding feeling!
AND TO THINK, YOUR INITIAL GOAL WAS TO GET IN JUST ONE LAP. YOU CRUSHED IT!
Amber: I knew a few people who have raced in the past and that had always made me interested in doing a hare scramble but I definitely wasn’t planning on giving it a go this year. I literally decided to participate in a women’s only/newer-rider race about 24 hours beforehand thanks to two very persistent people pushing me to live a little and try it out. I gave every excuse there is about how I couldn’t do it and they always came back with a reason I should. So through some very excellent peer pressure, I showed up, anxious as ever.
Sitting on the line, I got a fantastic pep talk about how these were all women who were just like me and this was just gonna be another day on the trails but instead of follow the leader, I needed to pass the leader. Once the green flag flew, we were off and I became laser focused on getting through those laps as fast as I could. I never thought I had a competitive side but it came out during that race!
It was so much fun and the perfect way to try out racing before hitting more technical terrain as a C rider. At the end, I was so pumped and genuinely happy. The feeling of conquering a fear and the rush of a race was worth every minute of anxiety I went through.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE OR MUST-HAVE PIECE OF GEAR?
Sara: Uhm. Everything?!! For real though, I think my favorite pieces would be my EVS knee braces and chest protector. Those items have saved me from a world of injury so far.
Amber: I’m a big fan of Fox gear, and my 2021 180 set is my go to. Protection wise, my EVS knee pads have kept me from injuries more often than I can count and I never ride without them.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOU LADIES?
Sara: Over And Out 2021 obviously!! As well as the OAO-sponsored Megs Griffith clinic in August. I am SO excited to meet one of my riding role models and learn from her!!
Amber: I have both OAO events for this year and the Megs clinic in August booked and ready to go! Within the next year I want to visit some friends and ride the dessert! I also have never ridden a 2-stroke before so that’s also something I want to try out.
WELP, AMBER, WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED BECAUSE YOU CAN TEST RIDE TWO INCREDIBLE 2-STROKE MODELS FROM BETA AT THIS SEPTEMBER’S EVENT! CHECK OUT 2-STROKE RIDING TIPS FOR RIDING THE X-TRAINER AND 200RR AT OAO!
