Out of the Blue |Tamara Jurkiewicz | Presented by Schrader’s
By Jeff McConkey
Name: Tamara Jurkiewicz
Birthday: July 24, 1996
Hometown: Pierrefonds, QC
Occupation: McGill University – Teaching English as a Second Language
Number: 43
Bike: KX 85 2016
Race Club: I will start racing in the Challenge Quebec series in 2017.
Classes: Women B
This week, ‘Out of the Blue’ features Quebec rider, Tamara Jurkiewicz | Samuel Gosselin photo
How did you get started riding?
In 2015, I spent the entire summer watching my boyfriend ride and considering I’m an adrenaline junkie, I couldn’t resist to not try. To be honest, I bought my first motocross before even ever trying to ride one. I just knew I would love this sport. I started riding in September 2015 and I learned extremely quickly the basics to the sport.
During the winter, I watched a lot of videos on riding and started my 2016 season with a lot of new knowledge. From there, I quickly got better and started jumping within the first month of riding. A few female riders even told me how surprised they were on how fast I had learned to ride. Every ride allows me to build up my speed and to reach my goals.
As a little girl, did you ever expect to be this deep into a sport like motocross?
Honestly, if you were to ask me two years ago if I knew anything about this sport, I would of answered no. I was a competitive figure skater for 13 years, did gymnastics for 10 years and also did cheerleading, therefore never did I imagine myself being on a motocross. It all happened so fast and I’m actually extremely happy to have discovered this sport.
Do you think motocross is harder for a female to compete in?
Not at all. I believe that any female can accomplish great things, even things that are perceived as being hard or “a sport for men.” I’ve been a competitive athlete for years and to be honest, females are as competitive as men, even fiercer in some circumstances. Therefore, all I’d like to say is: for all the female riders out there, continue to be strong and show everyone that even you, a female, are capable of doing a crazy sport like motocross and being a badass while doing it.
Who is your favourite rider and why?
My favourite rider is a rider who is retired but I find him amazing because of his accomplishments. Ricky Carmichael, a racer known for his success in motocross. He was an amazing racer, one of the fastest and ever since he stopped racing, he invested a lot of his time in to giving back to the sport of motocross. It really shows that he cares about this sport and the athletes that practice it.
“What I am most excited about going to the races is to show everyone what I am capable of and from there working on getting better for each race.” | Selfie!
What Canadian Pro do you look up to and why?
I’d have to say Eve Brodeur. I don’t personally know her, but I’ve been following her on social media for a while now and she is amazing! She’s one of the strongest female racers in Canada and she’s only 16. She has really inspired many and she has inspired me.
What is your favourite track and why?
My favourite track is X Town because it is the track where I practice the most and it is a track that has really allowed me to surpass myself and reach my goals during every ride. The staff is super sweet and helpful, if someone has a bad luck, their staff is always there right away to help out.
Who is your hero?
I’d have to say that my hero is my boyfriend, Samuel Gosselin. I really look up to him when it comes to this sport. He is the one who taught me how to ride and ever since, he has always been there to push me to my limits. I still remember my first time on a track, he spent almost the entire day right behind me making sure I was ok. He could of easily left me behind and enjoy his day riding, but he stuck with and I really appreciated it. He is always giving me tips on what to correct and encourages me to do my best. He recently broke his wrist this summer while riding and that same week he still came out to the track with me to watch and support me. It is really thanks to him that I have gotten to where I am today with this sport and I am extremely grateful.
What were your goals for this season?
My goal this season was just to start jumping and to increase my speed in my turns.
What are your biggest accomplishments?
Considering I did not get to race this season, my biggest accomplishment I’d have to say was when I had a really bad crash and after getting help, I got back on and rode for the rest of the day, even if I was in a lot of pain. I flew over my handle bars and my bike had landed directly on me, leaving my handle bars pressed against my throat, so I couldn’t breath. But at that moment, I told myself that if I was in a race, I’d have to get up and continue, so thats what I did and I gave it my best for the rest of the day.
What is your favourite part about going to the races?
My bike broke three times this season, therefore I did not get to opportunity to race, so I am extremely looking forward to racing next season. What I am most excited about going to the races is to show everyone what I am capable of and from there working on getting better for each race. I’m also excited for the races so that I can meet a lot of new people and spend time with the riders I already know.
What do you like to do when you aren’t racing?
I work in a gym called Amenzone Fitness, therefore, most of the time I am at the gym training. During the season and off season I train approximately 5 to 6 times a week.
Tamara is teaches English as a second language at McGill | Valérie Éthier photo
Is it important to have a motocross racer as a boyfriend/partner, or just a bonus?
Having a boyfriend that does motocross is a bonus but a sick bonus. It is always fun to share a passion with the one you love. We help each other out and we are always supporting one another. We are always talking about motocross and about our future plans with it comes to the next season, so it is a passion that keeps us occupied in all times together.
If you ever have children, will they be motocross racers?
Obviously, they will. I would love to have my future children practising this sport and to have them learn responsibility at a young age. I am a risk taker and eliminating fear is what makes us successful in life, therefore I would love my children to follow the same path.
Who do you want to thank?
I would like to thank my friends and family that have had my back since the start. At first my parents were nervous about me doing this sport but they quickly got on board and encourage me to reach my goals, so thank you for supporting me. Thank you to my boyfriend Sam for helping me with everything, including taking care of my bike to keep it top notch. Lastly, thank you, Jeff McConkey, for this interview.
