Out of the Blue: Cassee Quantz
By Jeff McConkey
Name: Cassee Quantz
Birthday: November 10, 1987
Hometown: Calgary, AB
Occupation: Business Manager @ GQ Consulting Ltd.
Number: AMSA #335, Ladies CMRC National #15
Bike: 2015 Yamaha 250F
Race Club: Canadian Women’s Nationals, AMSA Provincial Series & Wild Rose Super Series
Classes: Ladies A
Let’s get to know Calgary’s Cassee Quantz. – Bigwave photo
How did you get started in racing?
I got into racing through my husband, Greg Quantz. When I met him almost 6 years ago, he previously raced Cross Country, Hare-scrambles and Ice Racing. I hated sitting on the sidelines watching. I’ve always been the athletic type of person, so to sit and watch was something I could not do. One winter, he taught me how to ride his 250 on the ice. I did a few races on the ice and just fell in love with riding. That following spring, he taught me to ride on the dirt and he hasn’t been able to get me off the dirt since!
As a little girl, did you ever expect to be this deep into a sport like motocross?
Not at all. Honestly, I didn’t really know anything about this sport or dirt bikes in general until I met husband. My dad used to race when he was in his 20’s but never spoke of it until I hopped on a bike.
Do you think motocross is harder for a female to compete in?
Sometimes. The rivalry between girls is definitely more aggressive. So, at times that can be tough to deal with, but in the end we are all friends. The most awkward part is having parents screaming at their boys because they are being passed by a girl or lose to us. Most guys are okay with that and there are some who aren’t and they aim for the pony tails in front of them. However, I’ve had some really, really fun races where I’ve battled hard with some of my guy friends. If anything, it makes me push myself harder to show that I do belong on the track just like anyone else.
Who is your favourite rider and why?
Ken Roczen and James Stewart. They’re both amazing riders with such great talent. Always fun to watch them. They have good days and bad days just like us common folk (Laughs).
Is there one lady racer out there that you think has paved the way for other girls to be successful in the sport?
I don’t think you can really nail it down to just one lady. There have been so many who have paved the way for other ladies and have brought so much attention to women’s racing. The one that stands out currently is Vicki Golden. She’s not the first lady to tackle Supercross and probably won’t be the last but she’s putting herself out there to pursue a goal of hers.
What Canadian Pro do you look up to and why?
There are a lot of really good Canadian Pros but one that really stands out for me is Jared Allison. He always looks like he’s having fun out there, and boy can he ride! I remember one moto at the Calgary National last year: he went down or got caught up in a crash of some sort and was really far back in the pack. He put on this crazy charge and made it all the way up into the top 5. It was insane to watch. Crazy talent runs through that guy!
What is your favourite track and why?
Man, I have a few favourite tracks. Calgary for sure – it’s our home track and always so much fun to ride. Drumheller and Kamloops are definitely up there for favourite tracks to ride. But I’d have to say my ultimate favourite track that I wish I could ride everyday would be Starwest in Perris, California. It has some really awesome sections and really fun jumps.
Who is your hero?
Easy. My husband, Greg. He’s a really amazing person and gets along with everyone. He’s a really awesome racer! He’s got a bit of natural talent on the bike. I love working with him on the track and watching him race – he teaches me a lot. He makes everything look so easy. But being able to just go to the track together and have fun days together is the best.
Cassee gives ‘hero status’ to her husband Greg Quantz. – Bigwave photo
What are your goals for this season?
My goals for this season…well, I’m almost 9 months pregnant and just about ready to pop! I’d say just to be healthy and make as many races as I possibly can to cheer on my husband and some of my friends who will be racing. But you can bet that once I’m cleared to ride again, I’ll be back on my bike. I’ve had a few offers from some really stellar friends to babysit my kid so that I can go ride (Laughs)! But I’m hoping to race the WRMA Fall Series at the Blackfoot track.
What are your biggest accomplishments?
A big accomplishment for me was when I won the Southern Alberta Ladies B Championship in 2012. That was huge for me because I’d only started racing the year before. But my biggest accomplishment was finishing 15th overall at the Women’s Pro Nationals last year. In 2013 I finished 31st and wanted to do a lot better at the 2014 Nationals. All my hard work and dedication paid off and I did better than I even expected to do. If I was racing the Nationals this year, I would have tried really hard to make it in the top 10, but I’ll have to save that for another season.
What is your favourite part about going to the races?
Everything (Laughs)! But I’d say the road trips to all the tracks and seeing all our friends. Our racing friends are our moto family, which makes everything about going to a race a lot more fun. I love all the battles that take place on the track. I mean, Amiee Carter and I have the most epic battles that leave her boyfriend, Braden Bury, and my husband shaking their heads. Always leaving a race knowing that I had fun is awesome!
What do you like to do when you aren’t racing?
When I’m not racing, I’m usually just training at the track with my husband and hanging out with friends. We try and get a few golf games in and hit up some of our favourite vineyards in BC. In the winter we stud up the bikes and ride out on Ghost Lake.
Is it important to have a motocross racer as a boyfriend/husband, or just a bonus?
Definitely a bonus. It makes it a lot easier to head to track and spend weekends there if your significant other rides as well. Then you don’t feel like you’re always ditching them to go riding (Laughs). It’s also great when they have more experience than you, because they can always help you out and give you that extra push to do something on the track that you couldn’t do before. To have Greg out there helping me with sections on the track is awesome. He gives me really good advice and pushes me to be a better rider.
If you ever have children, will they be motocross racers?
Considering I have one on the way, she’ll definitely be on a dirt bike as soon as possible. This sport is very family-orientated, so to bring up our daughter and future kids in this kind of environment is a no-brainer.
Cassee and Greg are expecting their first daughter and they are looking forward to being ‘moto parents.’ – Bigwave photo
Who do you want to thank?
A HUGE thank you to husband, who’s been extremely supportive and for all the help/advice he’s given me throughout the years of racing. A lot of this wouldn’t be possible without him. Also, a big thank you to Bow Ridge Sports in Cochrane, my awesome riding coach Mike Federow with SoCal MX Training in California, GQ Consulting Ltd., my mechanic – Jason Williams – who always has my bike in tip-top shape, Sosa Original, Matrix Concepts Solutions, O’Neal Racing, LimeNine, Big Dog Performance, Ryan Lockhart at Atlas Braces, Don at ProAction Suspension, VP Racing and everyone who takes pictures (Big B Moto Photo, Martin Hansen with MotoFoto and Teri with Epic Photos)!
