Out of the Blue | Mikayla Morden | Brought to You by Schrader’s
This week, we feature Mikayla Morden from Alberta in our ‘Out of the Blue’ WMX column brought to you by Schrader’s.
Name: Mikayla Morden
Date of Birth: July 11, 1995
Hometown: Springbrook, Alberta (Actual Hometown: Blackstock, Ontario)
Occupation: Cattle Nutritionist
Race Number: 986
Bike: 2020 YZ250FX
Race Club: AMSA Off-Road
Classes: Ladies Junior
Who/what inspired you to get into the sport of motocross and how long have you been racing/riding?
My brother, Kyle, got a RMZ250 in high school and I wanted to ride with him so bad. I eventually bought myself a KX 85, rode it about 3 times and the engine blew up…
After moving to Alberta and seeing all the trails and areas to ride here in Alberta, I finally decided, in 2021, to jump back into the sport and got myself a trusty old Yamaha TTR 230. So, consistently riding into my 4th year, with a knee injury and surgery in there as well.
As a racer, are there any obstacles you feel a female racer has to deal with that maybe a male racer does not?
I think I got in at such a good time, the sport has really changed. I feel just as included as the men racing around my skill level. However, I know the pro ladies probably feel differently!
Off-road wise though, there’s always a class for me at my skill level with all girls and really shows how the sport has grown!
From your first ride to where you are now what is something you never thought you would be able to overcome but have?
Literally everything. Even just going over a root can be hard when you’re first learning, so I’d say now I’m just so happy to be back on my bike after ACL/Meniscus surgery and I’ve been working on popping my tire up and hitting logs better recently!
Do you have any pre-moto rituals?
Mac Miller & Starbucks.
What is the biggest lesson that motocross racing/off-road has taught you so far?
The biggest lesson racing has taught me so far is “Do Hard Things.” Nobody likes those pre-race jitters, but it’s like a cocktail of adrenaline, hype, and courage, and as soon as you start moving, it’s all good from there.
Are there any females out there who you feel have paved the way for other girls to be successful in motocross or off road?
Big shoutout to Danika White, Lexi Pechout, Jessica Longname, and all the crew at Surfin’ Berms. They are the most encouraging people I’ve ever met, and if you’re new to this sport, you need these women in your life and the events they host are so amazing!
I also loved Crystal Levesque‘s clinic in Nelson, BC. She is an amazing teacher and extremely passionate about it.
What kind of track/dirt do you feel you excel at most and why?
I love the fast, flowy, off-road trails. For this reason, I’d also love to try an SOR race in Alberta as well. Being on a 4-stroke, in a 2-stroke off-road world, this is the only place I think I can really excel and be a little faster than others, and my bike loves this type of terrain being the FX.
What was your first race number and how did you choose it?
986 – Still my number and hopefully will stay! It’s my hometown phone area code and I’m old enough to remember only dialling 7 digits to call my friends on the landline.
Who would you like to thank?
My man Brayden for letting me go do these races and be free to ride whenever I’d like too, he’s so supportive with it. Also, my bike mechanic, Adam Morrison, who started 403MX, wouldn’t know a single thing about my bike if he didn’t teach me things along the way. Also, every single person who has ever helped me pick my bike up, get over an obstacle, and teach me small but super helpful tips each time I ride – how to stand, attack position, feet position on the pegs, etc.. It really does help and goes a long way!
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