The Citizen, 1999-07-07, Page 9THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, 1999. PAGE 9.
Starting with basics key for Walton instructor
By Janice Becker
Citizen staff
With seven years of motocross
racing experience, 23-year-old Matt
Lee of Walton is passing those
acquired skills onto others.
Well-known in the motocross
community, Lee first became inter
ested in a different type of training
for riders when he and his family
travelled to Florida years ago.
It was there that he met Gary
Bailey, a racer who had been
instructing others for 20-30 years.
It was the first time Lee had any
professional guidance.
“Motocross is one of the few
sports where there is no organized
training program,” says Lee. “Riders
just start riding.”
“In 1991, when Bailey was invited
to run a motocross school at our
farm, it was one of the first taught by
an actual instructor.”
Lee also worked with Gary
Semics of Virginia* for two or three
years.
“I got hooked on that way of doing
things,” he says.
And that way of doing things was
to begin with the basics, the proper
techniques of riding.
After volunteering for three years
to help other riders in learning from
the ground up, Lee began picking up
a few students in 1996.
When he stopping racing the fol
lowing year, he began his, motocross
academy.
Though the structure has been fine
tuned over the last three years the
concept is always the same.
“I am looking at long-term train
ing,” he says. “I push the coaching
aspect.
At Lee’s academy, riders of all
levels, can sign up for his three-day
intensive course which is held for
six hours per day on consecutive
Saturdays.
The first Saturday incorporates
control, body positioning and bal
ance as participants learn the correct
way to ride.
“We do one thing at a time, at slow
speed, over and over again. Riders
learn more, at a fast pace when they
can concentrate on one skill at a
time. Once that is mastered another
can be added. This is progressive
learning,” he says. “It is better than
trying to learn three things at once.”
The second day involves corner
ing under a variety of conditions
including flat, rutted berm, super
cross and tight pivot turns. Also cov
ered is braking bumps, acceleration
bumps and reading the comers and
line of vision.
Prior to the availability of profes
sional coaching, riders would have
someone watch them ride and if they
did a corner well, they would be
given the thumbs up, says Lee. They
were not instructed on how to do
that corner right every time.
“There are eight hours of instruc
tion before we do comers. We prac
tise perfection.”
The- third day is the most
advanced as riders move on to
jumps.
Throughout the three days, Lee
includes information on nutrition,
injury prevention, race strategies
and work habits.
Because of the elimination of
speed and the concentration on one
technique, Lee says the risk factors
in practice drop. “The riders are
always in control and going slow.”
The focus factor is high, however.
Lee insists on concentration and
therefore limits practice to one half
hour then “go play”.
“You can’t do anything perfectly
after concentrating for more than a
half hour. Do it right then go onto
something else. It is more enjoyable
and enthusiasm goes up.”
For youngeV students, Lee likes to
get a parent or parents involved. He
wants them to just sit and listen to
the instruction, then during practice
at home, there is proper reinforce
ment.
“It is also a great bonding experi
ence for them," he says.
He has been pleased with the suc
cess of his course to date as two of
his students are currently finishing
first and second in most of their
intermediate races.
However, Lee’s course is not just
for the racers. He has students from
the age of seven to the late 40s.
In co-operation with Mandy
Hadenko, a rider from McKillop
Twp. and long-time friend of the Lee
family, a one-day course strictly for
women was held recently.
Hadenko, in the process of setting
up a Canadian women’s motocross
club for both racers and those inter
ested, approached Lee about a
course for the ladies.
In the one-day course which com
bined everything, Lee says the 123
participants were great.
“Two had never ridden before and
the others were racers. The women
are great to work with because they
have no expectations. They just love
(to ride).”
Through his academy, Lee is also
trying to change the perception of
training courses. Currently, many
riders come for instruction if they
are having a problem during the sea
son.
Lee would like that to change so
racers get geared up for opening day
with a training camp of sorts.
Those seeking training may
choose to attend just one day of the
three-day course, the entire session
course or hire Lee for personal train
ing. He also holds one-day courses.
Anyone wishing further informa
tion may contact the academy at check out the web page at http://vil-
887-2600, by fax at 887-9011 or lage.walton.on.ca.
Head of the pack
Former motocross racer Matt Lee instructs beginners to
professionals on the proper techniques for top racing or
safe riding.
Goderich course hosts tourney for Heart & Stroke
Goderich Place’s first annual
charity golf tournament at the
Sunset Golf Club on Sept. 16 is the
newest event for the Heart and
Tigers win
The Brussels Tigers got back to
the 500 mark as they defeated the
Goderich Jrs. 14 - 1 on Friday
night.
Despite the one-sided result the
Tigers never scored until the fifth
inning as Goderich Starter and
Brussels native kept the home side
off balance with help from his
defence.
Then the flood gates opened as
Doug Shaw led off with a walk.
Greg Fritz followed with a single
and Tim Fritz cleared the bases
wfth a two-RBI triple. The Tigers
added seven more in the frame and
added five more in the sixth to
complete the scoring.
Doug Conley went the distance
for the Tigers. At the plate Moe
Pipe was 4-5 with Tim Fritz adding
a three-for-five night.
Next action for the Tigers is
Wednesday (tonight) at 8:45 as
they play host to the first place
Goderich Gardiners.
Atoms tie
The Blyth Atom Storm fought its
way to a 3-3 tie against Clinton,
away, June 29.
The first goal was from Derek
Youngblut off Lisa Root and Blake
Hesselwood to take the lead. They
Continued on page 10
Stroke Foundation, Huron Chapter.
This 18-hole golf scramble was
spearheaded by the Goderich Place
Retirement Residence. This year,
Goderich Place Retirement
Residence has joined forces with
the Heart and Stroke Foundation in
the fight against heart disease and
Hullett Mites split action
Hullett Mites split back-to-back
ball games last week.
The first game the team travelled
to Clinton, June 28 and came away
with a 29-8 victory. Highlighting
the Hullett onslaught were homers
from the bats of Anthony Wilts,
Lee Watkins, Joel Salverda,
Bradley Lapp, Josh Nurse, Kody
Reid and Lee Watkins.
On the mound for Hullett were
Wilts and Reid with three strike
outs apiece and Derek Dolmage
and Watkins who each fanned two.
The next night the team visited
Bayfield and on a heavy-hitting
night came up on the short side of a
30-22 final.
Homers were hit by Eric Radford
and Wilts.
Taking turns on the mound were
Wilts with two strikeouts, Lapp and
Radford with one apiece, Dolmage
and Watkins.
stroke, which directly affect many
of their residents and families.
Heart disease and stroke continue
to be the single largest cause of
death among Canadian men and
women. Recent statistics show that
heart disease and stroke claim over
79,000 Canadian lives yearly.
Research, health promotion and
public education funded by the
Heart and Stroke Foundation have
helped cut the rate at which
Canadians die from heart attack by
half since the early 1970s.
The entry fee is $60 per golfer,
which includes green fees, steak
barbecue and prizes. The Heart and
Stroke Foundation also offers
incentive prizes for participants
who raise money.
Registration forms are available
at the Goderich Place Retirement
Residence, 30 Balvina Dr. E.,
Goderich, Shoppers Drug Mart,
144 Court House Sq., Goderich and
the Heart and Stroke Foundation,
457 Huron St., Stratford. Tee off
begins at 12 noon.
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