Frid’Eh Update #3 | Shawn Maffenbeier
Week #3 of the DMX Frid’Eh Update is a walk down Memory Lane with Shawn Maffenbeier as well as a chat about all things Motocross.
By Billy Rainford
Welcome to Week #3 of the DMX Frid’Eh Update. This was another week that I had a little check mark beside because I was looking forward to talking to the rider who currently owns the career number. It’s a lot of fun to catch up with riders after they’ve stepped away from the sport at the Pro level and have had a year or so out in the real world, and that’s exactly what we have this week.
First off, I’m back in Ontario after spending last weekend in California for round 1 of the 2025 SMX World Championship/Monster Energy AMA Supercross. I wasn’t able to stay there for the entire month, so I’ll have to watch the racing from my couch this week and leave the coverage up to someone else who is actually at the races.
Last week was great and I want to thank Brown Dog Wilson for letting me crash at his place. I also want to thank him for getting me out for my first-ever games of pickle ball. I’m not sure we won any games, but it was all about learning the nuances of the different game for me and I think I made some improvements over the 2 days of playing.
This week, I’ll be home in the deep snow in London, ON watching on TV using the International SX Video Pass. If you haven’t got yours yet, click HERE.
A couple weeks ago, we took a walk down Memory Lane with Colton Facciotti for Week #1. I hope you all had a chance to read our interview and the comments by a bunch of racers and industry people who were kind enough to answer my request for a sentence or paragraph.
If you missed that interview, click HERE.
Career numbers have changed things as far as our weekly order goes, and we don’t have a #2 so last week we slid through without an Update. I was down in Los Angeles for Press Day at Angel Stadium, so I didn’t really have time.
This week, we’re going to take another enjoyable walk with someone who I’m sure you already know the name of. Shawn Maffenbeier made #3 his own but left the sport after the 2023 season. He’s got a lot on the go these days and is one rider who I’ve spent a ton of time with over the years. Heck, James Lissimore and I used to sleep in the cab of their transport back in 2009!
I’ve stayed at Shawn’s dad’s (Randy Maffenbeier) place in Swift Current many times, we did our Canadian MX Weekly show from their shop as we passed through Saskatchewan, and I’ve been on a bunch of cycles with Shawn in different places across the country. I know Shawn pretty well and have always enjoyed his dry, sarcastic sense of humour.
I remember when Shawn turned Pro and raced the 450 class. Everyone thought he was wild and reckless out on the track. I wasn’t out there riding with or against him, so I can’t really comment on that, but I do know he was always fast. He moved back to the 250 class and smoothed things out. He even won the 250 title in 2017.
We took a similar walk with him last year for Week #3 and had some different people ask him questions. It was fun and you can check out that column HERE.
OK, let’s get to another look back with Shawn. Here’s what he had to say this time:
Direct Motocross: Hello, Shawn. You have this one last year to run your #3 career number so we’re going to have to give you the Memory Lane treatment in this Frid’Eh Update Interview. First off, can you tell our readers how old you are, where you’re from, and how you got into the sport of Motocross in the first place?
Shawn Maffenbeier: Billy, one last guaranteed #3 spot on the Frid’Eh Update. I’m 32 years old, born and raised in Swift Current, Saskatchewan. Like many, my old man was into racing and he’s the one that got me rolling on two wheels. There wasn’t much else to do on the flatlands as a kid. Thankful that I got into the sport young and chased it for as long as I did.
You haven’t updated your Instagram page in like 17 weeks! Where are you living these days? I know you were couch surfing for a while, right?
Did you miss me? I will say that many years of sponsorship requirements to post things got really old for me. The social media side of my life is pretty non-existent right now. It’s nice to step away and just do me and if you want to know what I’m up to, just give me a call! I’m pretty all over the place as far as where I’m living nowadays. Lots of BC, and a good chunk back in Saskatchewan. The next couple years will be spending quite a bit of time out of a suitcase gaining some more hours in the helicopter before I settle into a city full time again.
We’ll get to this new chapter in your life in a minute, but let’s first take a quick look back. I remember shooting a short video of you cooking us all a healthy dinner at Todd Schumlick’s place in Pemberton over a decade ago. Are you still a healthy chef? What’s your go to meal nowadays?
That video still comes up in conversation today when I meet people. Who knew it would be a hit?! I absolutely love cooking, and I also love eating at good restaurants. I made myself a deal last year when I retired that I would eat what I wanted, when I wanted for about a year. It didn’t take me that long to get sick of eating junk and get back to some good foods. I like to stick to the 80/20 rule – 80% of what I’m eating needs to be somewhat healthy. I have medicals to pass every year now, so we can’t be getting to upside down on the diet.
You’ve had a few injuries over the years, but what’s the one you look at in horror? Is there one? I remember the leg in Kamloops wasn’t nice.
I have had my fair share of hits to the ground. More in my young and reckless years. I’d say one that haunts me that most is my foot that I broke in Montreal Supercross in 2009. The crash wasn’t super horrible, because I don’t remember it, but that aftermath of just about having my foot amputated haunts me a bit. Thankfully, I got to keep the old club foot!
You were always a fun interview for me over the years. Looking back, what’s the best racing memory that pops into your head?
I have a few that pop into my head. Calgary 2017 was a wild and exciting day for me. The entire 2017 year was absolute blast. It was full of challenges but I felt like that day in Calgary was the best version of myself. I also have another random race that pops in my head. I can’t remember the exact AX race, but it was an east coast race in 2019. Myself and Cade Clason went back and forth probably 10 times for 4th place in the main event. I have a ton of great memories, with a lot of great dudes over the years.
In all your years, what are your most and least favourite tracks?
Makes me sound old when you say it like that, Bill. Favourite tracks were always on the west coast. Calgary and Kamloops were always my favourites. I loved racing on my own turf/coast. Least favourite track would have to go Deschambault. I always thought that track raced terrible. But I think I just sucked there.
Well, you have looked 40 since you were 20, so… Who was your biggest rival; someone you would bang bars fiercely with? Are they your friend still?
I think that changed over my career. It really depended on the year. Cole Thompson and I had a couple years that seemed to provide good entertainment. I had a year where T Dags (Tyler Medaglia) was a pain in my ass on 450’s. Dylan (Wright) in his early 250 years was also a little bugger to deal with. I don’t think anyone really talks to Cole, but everyone else I raced against I had a great relationship with in the end. I always felt like we respected each other enough and enjoyed the battles with one another.
Speaking of friends, are your best friends ones you made racing MX?
I for sure have a ton of great friendships that came out of racing, Keylan Meston probably being one of my best friends. Also, Erik Dubé from RTR in Kamloops is another really close friend. I do find now that I’m out of racing I’ve put more effort back into friends that I grew up with.
If you could do it all over again, is there something you’d change to make it better?
I really don’t have a lot of regrets. I was always pretty calculated in the decisions that I made. Now that I’m out of the sport and I look back on things, I think I would have retired after Covid hit. Both for personal reasons and for financial reasons. In the end, I left the sport exactly how I wanted to, though, with my best foot forward. The path that I took brought me exactly to where I want to be today.
OK, you’re now a helicopter pilot. How did you decide on this career path?
It’s been a journey. After going through a divorce in 2022, I had a lot of life changes to think about. I originally was going to step away from racing and be an electrician at the end of 2022. With my personal life being flipped upside down, I decided to take some time to rethink the future. That included another year of racing in 2023. It was at that point where I decided that I was going to continue down the path I wanted to pursue as a kid: to be a Pilot. I signed up for flight school and the rest is history.
Who’s the cooler helicopter pilot, TC (Magnum PI) or Cody Allen (Riptide)?
You got to remember I was born in the 90’s bill. I have no idea what you’re talking about.
The correct answer is… hmm, I’m not even sure! What’s next in your journey to become a commercial pilot? What is your actual dream pilot job?
That’s the number one question I get, “What do you want to do?” To be honest, it’s going to take some time to build some hours and get some experience doing different jobs. I think thats one of the things I like the most, is the amount of growth ahead of me. I’m going to start out crop spraying in Saskatchewan for now. As I build some hours I’ll make my way back to BC, fight some fires, get into some heli skiing, and maybe some EMS stuff.
Where will you put down roots?
Hoping to put myself back in BC soon. I love Kamloops, so maybe back there or somewhere in the Okanagan. We shall see.
Is there a bike in your garage and if so what is it?
I’ve got a Yamaha YZ 450 in the garage. It’s the last bike I rode for Kev (Kevin Tyler) in 2023. Doesn’t get ridden that much nowadays but it looks good!
What keeps you active sports-wise these days?
We’ve been into snowmobiling quite a bit this winter. Little bit of snowboarding as well. Lots of mountain biking in the spring and summer.
This is Maff’s current plan and future career:
What do you miss most and least about racing professional MX for so long?
I miss the people and the traveling. You don’t really realize the yearlong schedule you have till you take a year off from things. The trips down south for the winter to prepare and the traveling in the summer had its own little flow in life. The only thing I really don’t miss is having to ride that edge to try and hang onto that pace out front. It got stressful pushing that edge for that many years and putting that expectation on yourself to win. It’s nice to slow down a bit!
OK, we’ll save anything longer than this for a “Where are They Now” podcast in the future, this is too mush typing! Thank you for taking the time this week and over the past 15 years of your career. Good luck with everything and is there anyone yo’d like to thank while we’ve got you?
Always just a big thank you to everyone in the industry that put time and effort into my career. Always blessed and appreciate what everyone has done for me. Thanks for checking in, Bill. Keep that hair of yours on the wild side!
The 2025 Motorcycle and Powersports Shows
The Motorcycle and Powersports Shows start this weekend in Vancouver, BC. Here’s a look at the schedule:
| Vancouver Jan 17 – 19, 2025 Tradex in Abbotsford Read More | Calgary Jan 31- Feb 2, 2025 BMO Centre, Stampede Park Read More | Toronto Feb 14 – 16, 2025 Enercare Centre, Exhibition Place Read More | Montreal Feb 28 – March 2, 2025 Palais des congres de Montreal Read More |
WMX Vet Class Attention Growing for TransCan at Walton Raceway
It seems the addition of a Vet class for WMX at the 2025 TransCan at Walton Raceway was a great idea because we’re hearing it’s getting the attention of some former fast racers. From all across the country former riders are starting to send texts and make phone calls to others. Let’s see if this new class can fill the gate and we can have as much fun with the Vet WMX class as we do with some of the other Vet classes this coming August.
2025 Canadian Triple Crown Series MX Nationals Schedule
We’re still waiting for an official schedule to be announced for the 2025 Canadian Triple Crown Series MX Nationals. It sounds like there are a few moving parts that are affecting the decisions being made, the loss of Parts Canada and the current situation at KTM Canada being 2 of them.
This indecision has a ripple effect because not all teams have a finalized roster and the location and number of events will make a significant difference in the amount of support being offered from team supporters.
I spoke briefly with Justin Thompson this afternoon and we had a pretty lengthy chat about everything that’s going on behind the scenes to pull it all together for a successful 2025 season.
The bottom line is that we’re going racing for sure and at this point we’re heading west. Those were his words. He added that they basically need one of the 3 possible title sponsors to pull the trigger and then they can solidify the schedule. Yes, it’s all coming down to dollars and cents, of course.
We’ll let you know as soon as we know.
Because a few decisions are yet to be made, it leaves room for some rumours to be floated. Let’s have a look and some fun:
- Is Phil Nicoletti coming back to Canada? He’s definitely in talks with the WLTN Kawasaki team. However, with the number of rounds still to be decided, it means funds haven’t been allocated just yet, so nobody can pull the trigger. But, suffice it to say, there is still a chance we see the grumpy old man back north of the border and going for the 450 title.
- 2025 schedule. Is it possible we drop down from 8 rounds to 6? It sounds like we’re heading into a year of uncertainty. I’ve even heard an all-east schedule has been floated. Someone go check on Al Dyck, please.
- Is Lars Van Berkel coming back to race here full time? If the answer is yes, look for him to be a title threat. He’s a professional beach racer and grabbed 3rd at Gopher Dunes a couple years ago on a borrowed bike on no sleep!
- Dylan Walsh to WLTN Kawasaki. This one sounds like it may be a done deal and it will add a world class talent to our 250 class. Dylan is a British-born New Zealander.
- Adrien Malaval shopping his skills around Canada? The rider from France was set to ride for the newly-formed MX Deschambault team, but we’re hearing that there have been messages sent to various other teams.
We’re to San Diego for Supercross. Have a great weekend watching all the racing as well as the playoff football games.
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