Shane Cuthbertson is an individual who does it all in this sport. From racing, promoting, and teaching, Shane is a very busy guy. This summer, he not only helped to organize the successful Red Bull Outliers event in his home Province of Alberta but drove across the country so he and his son could compete at the Walton TransCan. Along with those endeavours, Shane also started the all-new Rad 2.0 Electric Academy, which offers exclusive training to our youngest riders using innovative GASGAS E-Bike motorcycles. With the summer now coming to an end, we decided to sit down with Shane for this week’s MXP Chatter!
MXP: Hey Shane! You’ve had a busy summer for sure. Let’s talk about the Red Bull Outliers event. Once again, it looked amazing, and it had the World’s top Hard Enduro riders in attendance. How was the event from your perspective?
It was RAD! Honestly, everything aligned perfectly this year, and we were stoked about how it turned out! Perfect weather, massive spectator turn-outs, and great racing in both the Amateur and Pro categories!
Obviously, a lot of planning goes into an event of this size. On your end, when does the planning begin?
The planning starts right after the event for subsequent years! Planning for the future is already in the works.
What is the most difficult part of helping to organize the Red Bull Outliers?
To be honest, there is nothing significant that comes to mind. I have a great team surrounding me who are massive enthusiasts of the sport, allowing me to capitalize on their experience and knowledge when organizing the event!
Even though you’re a talented rider yourself, does seeing what riders like Trystan Hart and Billy Bolt do in person impress you?
Absolutely! They are massive talents and capable of doing super-human feats! It makes creating our course easy, as I can just point them anywhere, and they make it happen?!
We know it might be early to talk about this, but how is the 2024 Red Bull Outliers event looking?
No comment, ha-ha! 2024 is up in the air as the current plan for the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship (HEWC) is to only visit North America for one event per year. We got it in 2023, and I believe it will go to the US in 2024, returning to Canada in 2025! I am investigating the possibility of hosting the event as a one-off event in 2024, so stay tuned!
Well, that is great news. Before the Outliers, you and your son travelled east to Walton, Ontario for the 2023 Walton TransCan. Overall, how did the race go for you guys?
We both really enjoyed it! The best of the best are there, so it’s cool to measure your ability against the top riders in Canada!
For the first time in years, they ran the track backward at the TransCan. Did you like the track changes this year?
Yes, for sure, the idea to change it was awesome, especially for Western riders who do not normally have the opportunity to race the track. The track flowed better, and the quality of racing reflected that.
Your son is a very talented rider also. It must make you proud to see him improving each year. Next year, he’s onto the Pro class!
Absolutely! Kale began riding motorcycles as an off-road rider, following me around while I was competing. I cross-trained on MX, and that really piqued his interest when he was around 14. For the past 2-3 years, he has increased his focus on MX and has rapidly improved, leading him into the Pro ranks for 2024!
It’s great to see him progressing, and good luck to him in 2024. Also, driving across the country must be pretty cool for a father/son to do.
Definitely, I had actually never driven across the country before! Thank god he has his driver’s license, as I couldn’t imagine doing all that driving! But yes, spending time together with no outside distractions is very special as those days are becoming less and less as he gets older.
This wasn’t your first time making the trek to Walton Raceway for the TransCan. What is it about this event that keeps you coming back?
Well, it is all to support Kale’s goals and aspirations! Side benefits are being able to connect with many friends and industry personnel, as well as keeping myself motivated to improve my MX skills. As an event producer myself, I really appreciate how well the event is run and it provides me an opportunity to learn and plan better for the future!
One of your big projects this year is the Rad 2.0 E-bike riding clinics. Can you talk a little about these and how they got started?
With the support of GASGAS Canada, I created the Rad Academy, a 100% electric learn-to-ride program that allows young riders to get their feet wet on a dirtbike and learn the basic controls in a safe and controlled manner. We provide the appropriate GASGAS bike, safety gear, and coaching to enable an introduction to the incredible sport of dirt biking at a young age!
How did the idea to do these clinics come to fruition?
I’ve been searching for a way to give back to the sport that has shaped who I am today. Allison Thompson from GASGAS Canada was a huge influence, as Ben Milot runs a similar program in Quebec, which has been very successful. The electric bikes are the perfect tool for Learn to Ride programs as the power is adjustable to suit the student, there is no noise, no hot parts, no fuel/oil, etc. Removing many of these elements makes the learning process less intimidating, so you can focus more on being safe and having fun!
These clinics are for riders who might be just starting out, correct? How have they been received?
Yes, correct. We have three different-sized entry-level bikes available for young riders between the ages of 4 to 11 years old. Our sessions this year were awesome, and everyone left with smiles! For me, the gratification of seeing how stoked these kids get makes it all worthwhile! If anyone is interested, they can enroll on our website, www.rad20.ca.
That is great! So, what project is next for you?
I will focus on winter plans and setting up coaching for Canadians down south. I received my USMCA certification earlier this year, so I’m keen to ditch winter and support as many Canucks as I can in getting ready for the 2024 racing season!
Can you tell us a little about your riding history? Where did you grow up, and when did you begin riding?
I grew up near Calgary, Alberta, and still reside there today! At a young age, I was really into BMX; however, I took it a bit too seriously and ended up burning out in my teens. After a year off, I needed to get back on two wheels, so I talked my parents into a dirt bike. Soon, the competition bug hit, and the rest is history. I’ve been riding/racing competitively for 35 years now with no intentions of stopping!
That is quite the history. You’ve been riding a high level for some time. What do you consider to be your most significant accomplishments?
My background is Off-Road, and that is where most of my major accomplishments have come. The two that I am most proud of are an ISDE Gold Medal and a top 10 result at Red Bull Romaniacs. These are multi-day events that take an entire year to prepare for, then you have to keep it all together emotionally and physically for 5-6 days, so taking away a world-class result is like the cherry on top!
Well Shane! Thank you for your time. What do the next few months look like for you?
I am headed to the Corduroy Enduro with my oldest boy Chase! He has been eyeing this event for years, but injuries have put a damper on attending. However, this year, he is healthy and ready to go! Then, I’m headed to Spain to support the organizing team for Hixpania, the penultimate round of the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship. Then it’s World Vet Motocross time in early November at Glen Helen!
It sounds as though you’ll be very busy during the rest of 2023. Thank you for your time, and good luck with everything.
Thanks Palms! I appreciate the call, and hopefully, our paths will cross again soon.
