Take a Breath with Kyle Beaton

I’ve been racing for 18 years now, which has given me tons of experience and able to meet a lot of great people in this industry.

I’ve had the opportunity to work with kids of all ages and help them become a better, smarter rider.  One thing that has always annoyed me, or gotten under my skin is parents being way too hard on their kids at the races or practice tracks. There’s nothing more that makes me mad then when kids are balling their eyes out because mom or dad yelled at them for crashing or not winning. I thought this was a sport. Isn’t all about having fun and doing something you truly love? 

I do understand that parents get mad or upset with their kid with all the money they have invested into going racing, but there is other ways to motivate or push your child to the next level without yelling and screaming at them. Most of the time the kids are already bummed out that they crashed or didn’t win the race. I believe the best thing to do is to be supportive no matter what little Jimmy did out on the track. If he crashed or didn’t win stay positive by letting them know that there is always another race. Also letting them know what they can do next time by staying calm, cool, and collective. One great thing these days is there are a lot of trainers, and training camps that you can send your kids to. To help them with what they’re struggling with on the bike.  I have seen it quite a few times when kids get older they don’t want to race anymore because their parents have taken the fun out of it.  In some situations the parents have never rode a dirt bike before in their life or have only rode on trails. There are also parents who have rode and may know what it takes to become a champion. It’s almost like the screaming parents are trying to live there dream through their kids and maybe make them do something that they never could. We’re all humans, not robots, we can’t win every race and yes we all make mistakes.

I can’t remember a time when my parents have ever gotten mad at me for crashing or not winning a race.  My dad used to laugh and tell me “finally your human,” whenever I came off the track after crashing or not winning.  He would then talk to me about why it happened, then that next week we would work on whatever went wrong to improve. He kept it fun for me and gave me all the support I ever needed. I remember being at the world minis in Las Vegas. This 50 rider crashed and was knocked out. The dad came running over, grabbed the kid with one arm, and the bike with the other. Then proceeded to throw his kid onto the bike and gave him a shove. The kid went 4 feet and fell over. The dad then went on a huge screaming terror until he realized what was going on. It was crazy to think this father didn’t realize his kid was unconscious. His first thought was to get him back in the race, not his well being.  With all this being said I really think everyone should watch “The Moto: Inside the Outdoors” and see what happens when yelling, screaming and being hard on your kid does. It may change your outlook on the way you deal with your little racer next time you want to get upset and him or her.

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Till next time, have fun, stay safe and keeper pinned!

 braaaap