Q & A with Travis Koprowsky BY PATRICK LAMBIE
PHOTOS COURTESY OF TRAVIS KOPROWSKY
W
ithin in minutes of first meeting Salmon Arm, BC’s Travis Koprowsky it becomes apparent that his family plays a major role in his life. This is evident as he follows in the footsteps of his father (as well as two uncles and a cousin) into a career as a firefighter. It is equally evident in the support he received from his family when he ventured down an unfamiliar path and started riding motorcycles. This same support never wavered when Travis’ motorcycling endeavours saw him start competing in enduro events, and in fact intensified with his parents learning and taking on the roles that have helped the now 20-year-old Koprowsky accumulate an impressive trophy collection despite starting his racing career only five years ago. IM recently sat down with Travis to learn more about this Beta Canada athlete as well as the bikes that he rides.
Inside Motorcycles: How did you get started riding motorcycles and what led you to off-road racing? Travis Koprowsky: It’s actually kind of a unique and interesting story that not a lot of people know about me. When I was about fifteen years old I grew up with a close friend of mine who always had dirt bikes to ride around their farm. That’s what initially got me interested in riding and I was determined at that point to get my hands on my own bike. I was so fortunate to have a supportive family that wanted to see me succeed. Soon after, I made an agree52 Inside Motorcycles
ment with my auntie. If I saved up enough money to purchase all the necessary riding gear, she would buy my first bike. After months of saving all my hard earned money from cutting grass, raking leaves and shovelling snow around the neighbourhood, I was able to do just that. My first bike was a 2006 Yamaha TT-R 125L, which I came to quickly outgrow, leading to my second bike, a 2006 Yamaha YZ125. That same friend had heard about a local off-road race in Salmon Arm, hosted by Shuswap Xtreme Recreation and asked if I was interested in signing up with him. Without question, I proceeded to beg my father to take me to the first race; finishing with poor results, I was hooked.
IM: Compared to many other competitors, you started competing at an older age. What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of starting racing at an older age? TK: Starting to compete at the older age of sixteen had its disadvantages for sure. Showing up to the races with little knowledge of how the system worked or not really knowing anyone on the circuit proved to be very intimidating for me. Obviously the skill factor was a concern for me as well, some of the competitors had been riding since they could walk. I think that’s where the advantages come into play for me; being exposed to that I was more than determined to learn and achieve that same level of confidence and skill they had shown. That being said, I definitely didn’t take the learning opportunities for granted and continued to ask the right questions.
