Five Questions with EDR Racer Misti Hurst
Misti, let me make sure we have this straight...you are a black-belt in Karate, full-time coach with the California Superbike School, moto-journalist with a monthly column, you have a degree in Child Education, and on top of it all a Pro Motorcycle Racer running in the AMA Superposrt and Forumla Extreme classes. How in the world do you do it all?
It's funny that you would say, how do you do it all because in my opinion I never do enough. I always want to do more, accomplish more, be better, be faster, take on new things, and follow all of my dreams, all at the same time. It drives people crazy. I have a pretty hectic travel schedule to accommodate everything. In 2007 I taught 77 Superbike School days on various tracks throughout the USA. I took who knows how many flights and was always in a different hotel or state. I rode 15 "race" days with the AMA for 5 rounds and was pretty exhausted a lot of the time. I work from the road, literally and write my stories and articles from hotel rooms, airports, or the passenger seat of rental cars. My boyfriend and I drove to California from Vancouver three times this year and I also traveled to Portland and Calgary to private coach a young rider named Peter Lenz. In my spare time at home I try to hit the hills and mountain bike, dirtbike, snowboard, work out at the gym or visit with friends and family.
With a travel schedule like that how do you find time to train and take care of yourself? By the look of it you do somehow, what's your secret?
It's really difficult to train while traveling so much. I work out in the hotel gyms when I can or go for a run after a school day with some of the other coaches and when I'm home I'm sponsored by Fitness World so I go to the gym any chance I get. Working at the Superbike School is a pretty good workout as well, we ride all day and have to load and unload boxes, lift stuff, push bikes. It's pretty physical, as is the racing. I do need to work out more intensely if I'm to be more competitive against the boys. I've got to be physically stronger so that I can flick the bike back and fourth through fast sections of track and also brake harder into turns. It requires a lot of physical strength and endurance to go fast.
Do any of your students that don't know you say, "Oh no, I got the Girl coach!" not realizing you are a pro?
For the most part, the students are awesome and don't care that they got a female coach, some even look relieved when they find out I'm their coach. However, there are the occasional few that give me the look like, "Oh great, I got the girl. She's not going to be fast enough to ride with me." I can tell right away and what I do with guys like that is go out and spank them. They change their opinions of me pretty quick after that and I get a lot of respect. They have all been pretty happy to learn from me after that! It's pretty cool. Sometimes Keith makes a point of mentioning to guys like that that I race in the AMA as well. That usually gets their attention.
I am sure it helps that you are obviously pretty, really positive and full of energy. Who better to get whooped up on by. You have done modeling, calendar shoots, been on TV and in magazines your fair share. Anything in the works we can keep an eye out for coming up?
Well, I'm always willing to try new things or wander down new paths. I'm currently taking two writing classes and am working on a book or two so perhaps I'll be an author of a book one day. I've also been interested in doing some stunt work for TV and movies and have investigated a position with the Discovery Channel as a host for a TV Show. Other than that, I'd love to continue to coach, race, and work with up and coming kids in the industry and do some speaking at special industry events.
On your website there are pictures of you doing all sorts of crazy stuff. How did you end up going from a stunter (before it was mainstreamed) to where you are now?
That's funny, I was a total squid when I first started riding. I've always been a bit of a daredevil so when I started riding it was only natural that I messed around with stunts and doing silly things. I joined a group and we even did some stunt shows for big groups of people. After I did a year of riding and stunting I went to watch my first race in Seattle and got a chance to ride my bike on the track. I was in love immediately and I just KNEW that I could be good at racing. I moved through the ranks of club racing in both Canada and Western USA and then did the Canadian Nationals. From there I just wanted to go as far as I could with it as quickly as possible so I got my AMA license and dove in. My sponsors were amazing and I couldn't have done it without the help of the following: Kawasaki, California Superbike School, EDR Performance, Etechphoto.com, Leo Vince, AGV Sport, Flexi Glass, GPR Stabilizers, Will Eikenberry, Dynojet, Elka, GP Suspension, Woodcraft, Go Motorboards, NatalieWattre.com, Dave Moore, Roger Stange, Mr. Quick Lube & Oil, Fitness World, BitchinGear.ca, motorcyclelawyer.ca, Serf to Surf, and Loeka.com
The gang at EDR Performance has been amazing and they helped make me even more competitive half way through the AMA season by doing the motorwork on my bikes. I've never had a hopped up bike before so it was amazing to get out there and feel the new power and to be able to keep up to the pros a bit better. I'm so pleased with the way the Kawasaki rides now and with how amazingly fast it is! Thanks EDR! Make sure you drop by and visit the shop and say hi to the gang there. They rock! Also visit my website at www.mistihurst.com and feel free to post a comment.
