IM Q&A

Q & A with Travis Koprowsky

BY PATRICK LAMBIE PHOTOS COURTESY OF TRAVIS KOPROWSKY

Within 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 agreement 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.

IM: What is your favourite accomplishment of your racing career so far?

TK: My favourite accomplishment so far would have to be getting the opportunity to travel south to Prescott Valley, Arizona in 2018 for an Endurocross event. Although I wasn’t very experienced at the time with the Endurocross side of things, I couldn’t pass up the chance to test my abilities. This came shortly after taking ownership of my first Beta, and considering I didn’t have much seat time on the new bike it proved to be a race ready platform. Between the new bike and a lot of determination I was able to qualify for the televised night show to race in front of a sold out stadium.

IM: How did your relationship with Beta get started?

TK: Interestingly enough, my relationship with Beta started when I raced the ten-year-old YZ; Shuswap Xtreme provided us with exceptional customer service with parts and much needed advice. Being new to the sport and never having dirtbikes in my family the learning curve was steep. After many races, continued growth and some success I participated in some Beta demo days. It wasn’t long before we realized that in order to compete at a high level of enduro racing I would need the Beta. My parents and a neighbour who watched me grow up asked me a simple question: “How serious are you about racing?” My answer must have been inspiring because the next week I was sitting on a 2018 300 RR Race and winning races. Being from a small town we had known the owners and staff of Shuswap Xtreme for some years prior and they recognized my passion for the sport. They also worked closely with Beta Canada and a decision was made to assist my journey any way they could, it was truly humbling to be given such an opportunity.

IM: Your family has played, and continues to play a big part in your racing. What roles have they played and what is a typical race weekend like with your family at the track?

TK: It’s safe to say that without my family support I would not be riding at the level I am. From financial to travel logistics, mechanical, and even first aid they are the foundation that allows me to focus on racing. A typical race weekend starts weeks in advance, my dad and I discuss the race course, weather and elevation in order to make any needed changes to the bike beforehand, jets, tires, et cetera. Since many races take place on consecutive weekends we complete any repairs at home early in the week; if any parts are required, a phone call to Shuswap Xtreme quickly provides them. I am very thankful to have both my parents attend these races. While my father preps the bike and tools for the event, my mother tracks and maintains my nutrition which ultimately plays a big role in my performance throughout the day. Before and after the event they are both doing everything they can to ensure some success was had, whether it be results, or continuing to build friendly relationships with fellow enduro enthusiasts.

IM: The travel and event restrictions related to COVID-19 played havoc with racing for the last year. How much seat time were you able to get during this downtime and how were you able to focus on keeping your skills and fitness up to race level?

TK: Unfortunately COVID-19 has made racing challenging for everyone, not only the race competitors but even more so the race organizers and sponsors. For the most part the 2020 season was a complete writeoff, It was extremely tough to stay focused and find races still being held. I was lucky enough to have some connections in Alberta and received the okay to travel to Rocky Mountain House for two different rounds of the Rocky Motorcycle Club series. Being able to compete in those two events and land on top of the podium twice, kept my motivation to train and ride at a high. Between that, riding and training with friends and fellow competitors offered a fair amount of seat time. 2021 has been somewhat of a replay, although, with restrictions lifting it’s looking like the Pacific Northwest Motorcycle Association (PNWMA) will be hosting four events at the end of the season which gives us something to look forward to.

IM: What draws you to enduro racing vs. motocross or other disciplines of competition?

TK: Honestly I think it’s the diversity of the discipline that draws my attention. All types of racing are very physical and demanding, but the format of enduro and the changing terrain and obstacles is what sets it apart from the others! Not to mention the camaraderie that exists within this type of racing community, no matter what class or age of rider. The condition of the course can change dramatically depending on the season, one minute we could be riding on dry dirt, and the next, after steep elevation climbs we could be challenged with snow. The unspoken mutual agreement that these racers and families have when it comes to helping out each other in the pits, or on the course during a race is unlike any other sport I have seen.

IM: You are currently racing a 2020 Beta 300 RR Race. Tell us about some of the features of the bike that make it the choice of enduro racers and also how it compares to the 2018 model that you previously raced.

TK: I raced two seasons on the 2018 300 RR Race and loved it, the power delivery and reliability were outstanding. When the 2020s were released I was excited for the new changes and improvements. While racing didn’t happen for us here in BC it gave me more time to fine-tune the new platform. The most noticeable change that made this bike better from the 2018 to the 2020 was the counterbalanced motor. This was a huge improvement, second to that was the KYB forks, in the past I have had all my suspension reworked to fit my needs. With this upgrade I found the forks to be fantastic right out of the crate and I was able to race comfortably for long durations. The last thing I found extremely noticeable is the redesigned frame and bodywork, this gives it a better centre of gravity and provides a more “narrow” feel allowing it to track better through tight trees and rock gardens. These Betas are well known for their low-end torque, in combination with these new improvements it makes this a very popular choice for many enduro riders.

IM: What are your goals for racing over the next 18 to 36 months?

TK: I’m constantly setting new goals for myself throughout the year, but for now I’m focused on continuing to learn new skills and become more proficient. The idea of moving up to the expert class and continuing to challenge my mental, and physical abilities has been my goal from the previous year, unfortunately COVID had other plans. However, if racing picks up in some neighbouring provinces I would like to travel and experience different types of events in the future.

IM: You are fortunate to have some great sponsors supporting your racing efforts, who are some of the companies that make all of this possible?

TK: Racing on a small family budget has its challenges, especially being that many of our events are so spread apart. Sponsorships are a huge factor in the racing world and I am very fortunate to have Shuswap Xtreme Recreation backing me to the nth degree. Beta Canada has also played a huge role in getting me where I am today. There are many other sponsors that play a crucial role in my racing activities. This year especially I received some much needed protection support from Leatt which I am very thankful for. Some other sponsors include Built To Ride Co., Fasst Company, Mobius Braces and Anytime Fitness. IM