Out of the Blue | Mélie Murray (de Jonge) | Brought to You by Schrader’s
This week, we feature #75 Mélie Murray (de Jonge) from Chilliwack, BC in our ‘Out of the Blue’ WMX column brought to you by Schrader’s
Name: Mélie Murray (de Jonge)
Date of Birth: October 2nd, 1984
Hometown: Chilliwack, BC, Canada.
Occupation: Landscaping business owner/ operator/ Tree Faller
Race Number: 75
Bike: Husky 350 FX
Race Club: PNWMA
Classes: Women Pro
Who/what inspired you to get onto a dirt bike and how long have you been racing/riding?
My ex-partner inspired me to start dirt biking, I was about 31 years old. At the time I was a mountain biker in Whistler (XC and Downhill) and I remembered he showed me how to use the clutch etc. on his dirt bike, I think it was a KTM 250. He bought me a Honda 100XR which was an awesome little bike to learn on. I remember doing my first race on it, The Monkey Wrench in Lytton, BC and finished the women’s B loop! I didn’t ride very often at the time (maybe 3 times a year) but in 2018 I got my first big dirt bike, a KTM 200, and started racing the whole BC race series with the PNWMA. I was hooked! It’s been now 8 years I ride dirt bikes regularly and 6 years I race.
When not on a dirt bike how do you keep yourself busy? Are you involved in any other sports or extracurricular activities?
When I am not dirt biking, I look after my 11-month-old baby and I work a lot, as I own a small landscaping business. I go for hikes with my baby and dog, we ski in the winter with my husband as I still teach snowboarding and skiing part time in Whistler.
As a racer, are there any obstacles you feel a female racer has to deal with that maybe a male racer does not?
I remember when I started racing the BC series there was only one category for women. Now there are 4 to choose from and the bikes have come a long way with suspension and lowered seats. It’s still a big frame for ladies so maybe a slightly smaller frame dirt bike with as much power and as much clearance as a normal bike would help the “petite” ladies like me. But other than that, I think women can own the sport as much as men and they have proven it!
From your first ride to where you are now what is something you never thought you would be able to overcome but have?
I never thought I would be able to ride a 4-stroke, just the noise used to scare me and now my Husky 350 is my favourite bike, even in harder terrain, it just goes. But I am happy I started on smaller bikes and learned to move the bike around before getting on a bigger bike. When (if) my son starts riding, I will probably get a 125 2-stroke for the fun of it, quieter and easier to go slow.
Who has been your biggest inspiration/hero on and off the track?
My husband, Tyler Murray, is my biggest inspiration because he never gives up, on and off the bike. He started riding at 2 years old so he is not scared. Haha. (Starting a sport like dirt biking as an adult has its challenges). People think he is gifted as he used to race professionally along with Trystan Hart in his debut, but I know he put in a lot of work and effort, hurting himself many times, never giving up in a race even if he started dead last. Definitely, I look up to him because when things don’t go my way, I am always thinking: “Am I going to sit here, cry and blame it on external causes or suck it up and keep going even if the bike doesn’t run well or your body just wants to give up,” and the second choice always wins. Same goes with life choices and work, he’s always been super-supportive of my carrier choices and dirt bike racing goals. I am one lucky woman 
Do you have any pre-race rituals?
I like to be on my own, quiet and calm. I do a bit of yoga and stretching, I like to go ride a few trails to warm up the bike and I try breathing. The mental game is my biggest barrier in racing so I am working on it to overcome the obstacles and I think breathing exercises are great for that.
What are your plans for this upcoming season? Any specific events you’re looking forward to?
The biggest plan is to keep racing and it is not an easy task as a mum with not much family around to help. My husband has been amazing at letting me race, as he knows I am not getting any younger (haha) and he got to do it in his early 20’s. I want to show other mums that it is possible, because the community is amazing and they should also be supported by their partners so they can keep doing what they love. And I am a firm believer that, as a woman, if you can keep doing what you love, you will be a better mum in the end.
I am looking forward to travelling to the Dirtastic Main Event in the spring where I will help with clinics and rides, Kalyn Benaroya has done an amazing job at building the women’s community and working along other women’s dirt bike associations, like Trailbound Ladies in the US or Mudhunniez and Girls with No Limits in Canada.
What are your biggest accomplishments to date?
I haven’t won that many races, honestly. I haven’t raced that much as I started in the sport really late. Having a small landscaping business and now a baby is pretty time-consuming, but I was particularly proud to be part of the first-ever Women’s club team for Canada at the ISDE 2024 in Spain. Along with 2 other women (M-C Boudreau and Kathleen Tobin) ranging from 38 to 46 years old, we competed against those young, promising American and British talents which was very humbling. I had no plan to be part of the team, taking that I just had a baby a few months ago, but one of the girls injured herself and they asked me to step up. I thought, “You know what? I am 40, I might not have the opportunity again so let’s do it!” I went into it very little prepared, I had 3 months to learn what was grass track racing, sleep deprived from feeding my baby at night and training once a week. But I made it, I finished, always on my minute, no penalties and injury free! What people don’t know is that I had a huge burn out after the race and had to take a 3 month break from any activities.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
In the winter of 2023, I raced a 300kms loop in Baja California (Los Barriles East Cape 300). I just loved it and I hope to do more racing over there because I like the speed and also the fact that it’s relentless. I have good stamina and endurance so the longer the race is, the better I feel! I would love to race the Baja 1000 as a team, hopefully an all women’s team. Any takers in the USA? Other than that, my little guy will be 5 years old, so I see myself running after him on a Stacyc or small dirt bike! He already makes dirt bike noises all the time at 11 months old.
What kind of track/dirt/terrain do you feel you excel at most and why?
I excel mostly at single track, fast riding, medium to hard terrain, and hill climbs because this is what I mostly ride and train on in BC. I just started riding the track when I was training for the ISDE and I really like it, but man it is scary to get air!
If you ever have children will you give them the option to race as well?
Definitely would love if my little guy wants to race dirt bikes, it’s such a great community. But if he prefers something else, it’s all good as well. I will not force him to ride or race.
If you could give 1 piece of advice to a female of any age who wants to start riding what would it be?
Have fun and smile under your helmet. If you’re not having fun, it’s hard to improve and ride well. Make it playful and know that sometimes things don’t go the way you want. Take a break and do something else and come back to it. But never give up!
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