When she was four years old, Kennedy Lutz hopped on a dirt bike for the first time. The bike was a gift from her father, Ken, who enjoyed the sport himself.听 Little did he know that 13 years later, his daughter would win a national women鈥檚 motocross title.
This summer, the 17-year-old girl from Yorkton won the Canadian Women鈥檚 East MX National championships.听
She has competed, and won, at big events in the States, but the eastern Canada title was Lutz鈥檚 goal for a long time.
鈥淚t鈥檚 something that鈥檚 been a dream all my life, so when you reach that it鈥檚 obviously very rewarding,鈥� Lutz said.听
Although she鈥檚 from Saskatchewan, she decided to compete in the eastern nationals this year. The women鈥檚 nationals are split between the east and the west, and racers can only pick one series.
Her national title certainly didn鈥檛 come easily. Lutz splits her time between Yorkton and 麻豆传媒AV Carolina, where she does her motocross training at Real Deal MX. While there, she lives with her trainer, Rob Buckhart, and his wife Sherry.
鈥淲e work out and ride bikes like five days a week,鈥� said Lutz. 鈥淢ost of the year I鈥檓 training, just because of the level that I鈥檓 at now. I鈥檝e got to keep up with the competition. And got to be at the highest level.鈥澨�
Lutz said she believes it鈥檚 her dedication and independence that helps her succeed in the sport of motocross.
鈥淚鈥檓 just willing to do whatever it takes,鈥� she explained. 鈥淚鈥檝e always been good at my school work and getting it done on time, and I鈥檝e always been a try-hard. I鈥檓 just motivated to get to work.鈥澨�
Her coach of three years Rob Buckhart said it鈥檚 that, and more, that makes Lutz so good.听
鈥淥ne of the most interesting things about Kennedy is that she鈥檚 a hard worker. For the most part, she鈥檒l outwork the boys,鈥� said Buckhart. 鈥淚 think overall, Kennedy is very much so an ambassador of the sport. She鈥檚 well spoken and she does her work. I think she鈥檚 the fastest girl in Canada, and I think she鈥檚 top five in the States.鈥�
Buckhart explained how difficult the training can be in 麻豆传媒AV Carolina, where it鈥檚 hot and humid. They spend hours training each day, between being on the bikes and gym workouts, but he said Lutz does a really great job on those exhausting days.听
The trainer said that winning a title is very difficult, and Lutz should be proud of her recent victory.
鈥淚 think it meant a lot to her 鈥� I think more than we know,鈥� he said. 鈥淪he鈥檚 a Canadian girl and to hang up that number one plate up, and to know that all your struggles - to fight through all the ups and downs and to be able to stand up there on that box 鈥� my wife and I are very, very proud of her.鈥澨�
One of those struggles that Lutz faced was a torn ACL last year. The injury kept her off of her bike for nine months. Buckhart said he saw Lutz have some doubts about returning after her injury, but she pushed through and came back strong.听
After her big win, Lutz took some time to relax at home with her family. But she鈥檚 already looking forward to what鈥檚 next.听
鈥淔or the future, now that I鈥檝e won the Canadian women鈥檚 nationals, I鈥檇 like to do the U.S. women鈥檚 nationals,鈥� she said. 鈥淚n the next couple of years I鈥檇 like go pro, and race the Canadian men鈥檚 nationals.鈥澨�
Although Lutz is an independent athlete who is self motivated, her success wouldn鈥檛 be possible without a strong team backing her. Both Lutz and Buckhart agreed.
Lutz said that Schrader鈥檚 in Yorkton has been a huge part of her success.
鈥淩ick Bradshaw at Schrader鈥檚 has done a lot for me since the beginning, and has done a lot for me along the way,鈥� she said.听
Buckhart gave credit to the man who handed Lutz that small dirt bike when she was just four years old 鈥� her father.
鈥淜ennedy has a good team of people around her. But her dad does a lot,鈥� said Buckhart. He explained that there鈥檚 a lot of sacrifice to get Lutz to where she is, especially when it comes to bouncing between Saskatchewan and 麻豆传媒AV Carolina.
鈥淗er dad has a lot to do with that, and where she鈥檚 at, and what she鈥檚 doing.鈥�听
