ARCOLA - Jordan Weber is a 17-year-old young man in Grade 12 at Arcola School, and he loves to race dirt birks.
Weber lives with his dad Michael Weber west of Carlyle.
At the age of seven, Weber received a small dirt bike. He enjoyed ripping around his dad’s place on the two-wheeled machine.
Around the age of eight or nine, he entered his first motocross race in Weyburn. Weber does not remember how he placed, but he does remember that it was a lot of fun.
Weber began to do full seasons in the sport and has competed ever since.
Each track consists of hills and tight turns. The dirt can also be different.
According to Weber, each turn needs to be carefully calculated and each jump maneuvered the same way to avoid a crash.
Special gear is required to ride, covering the participant from head to toe, with a helmet, durable leather suits and gloves.
One needs to learn how to ride in all kinds of weather conditions, from sunshine to rain.
Weber explained the suits are hot to wear so riding in the heat of summer can be a challenge and something the body needs to adjust too.
Being in good physical shape is extremely important, especially strong arms.
“It is constant moving and adjusting the body around bends and jumps,” said Weber.
A race can have as few as 10 riders, but Weber has ridden with 42 bikers, with them all starting at the same time. With a group this large, it is usually at the beginning that the crashes happen.
Weber competes in Carlyle, Oxbow and Estevan, but has also traveled to the United States.
In 2019, he entered the C-class in Rapid City in South Dakota. He won the division but has not been able to return.
At every event that Weber attends, his father is there to offer guidance and support.
Weber has two bikes that he uses in the races. Both of them are Husqvarna’s.
Weber had an exceptionally good year on the South Corner Racing Circuit, which has a series of races in the southeast. He placed first with high points, second in the A division and second in youth. He placed the same last year and was incredibly happy with this.
“It is a fun event, with a community feeling and I’ve made a lot of friends,” said Weber.
He hopes to continue with the sport even after he graduates and attends college in Olds, Alta., where he plans to become an agricultural mechanic.
Weber’s season is now over, and he is playing hockey for the winter for the Arcola Combines. He looks forward to next season in the dirt.
