Ty McKenna, 16 years old from Medicine Hat, Alberta, took the C-title by winning six of eight rounds at the CECs last season. In the other two races Ty finished second. He was recently honoured to follow in the footsteps of National Enduro Champion Jason Schrage by being advanced two classes for 2011. That’s a big jump, but Ty’s a confident and extremely talented rider with big plans.

Offroadmotorcycles.ca: So Ty, I guess let’s start off with the biggest news. I understand you recently were bumped ahead two classes, and the only other time that has happened with the CMRC in Alberta was with Jason Schrage.

Ty McKenna: Yup, that’s right. It’ll be a tough year next year, but I’m ready for it.

Why are so many fast young riders coming out of Alberta? “It’s in the water,” Ty told us. Photo courtesy of Ty McKenna

You smoked the C-class at the 2010 CEC series, took second in the Expert Kids class at the Xtinction hare scramble and won the CMRC Expert Kids and Beginner classes in your provincial cross country series.

Yes, I will go straight to A next year.

Are you nervous about being able to hang with those guys?

I definitely am. But I’m starting to do some different things, changing my diet and taking training more seriously. Also riding more with Jason (Schrage.)

I guess riding with Schrage must really help…

He teaches me lots! He’s always inviting me to come riding with him.

What kind of stuff do you work on when you ride with him?

Mostly technical stuff, big hills, big logs. Stuff like that. And how to link it all together, to be fluid and do it faster. Mostly everyone in my family rides. My dad did a little bit of racing, but he’s more into helping me out. They’re proud of me. It was a big accomplishment for me to be moved up two classes.

Remember when it was motocrossers who got all the attention? Well the times, they are a changin’. Photo courtesy of Ty McKenna

Do you like cross country racing or enduro better?

They both have their things. You know, the traditional cross-country is like an endurance test, whoever crosses the finish line first wins. The CEC is more like concentrated racing. I have to say I really enjoy the CEC stuff more. It’s more of a sprint race instead of a marathon.

Motocross?

I ride motocross tracks but I’ve never really raced. But I am interested in trying it. Whatever the next Medicine Hat area series is in the fall I will be racing.

Endurocross?

I really like that! Again, I’ve never actually raced one other than the extreme tests at the CEC, but I like riding that stuff whenever I can.

What else do you do for fun?

I’m big into hunting, bow hunting and with a rifle. I do lots of bicycling, snowboarding…always doing something. I’ve never tried ice racing yet, but I would love to try it! That numb bum 24-hour race looks like so much fun!

Will you be racing a KTM 200 again in 2011?

I rode a 200XC-W this year, but I just moved up to a 300 XC. I’m big enough to hang onto it, and I love the extra low-end power. I actually rode a 300 at one of my last CMRC races, because my 200 was still out East. I won that race and the bike was fantastic. That 200 is great, but the 300 is nice because if you make a mistake you can just power your way out of it without having to downshift and clutch it like crazy.

What was your highlight of the season?

I would have to say moving up two classes to Intermediate. But for races, I’d say winning the CEC title.

What is making all you guys from Alberta so fast? I mean, Alberta seems to have more fast kids per capita than any other place in Canada!

(laughs) I dunno. I’m not too sure; I mean we’re right in the middle of the Prairies. Must be something in the water here I guess.

Ty aims a fire hose at his KTM after a very muddy day in Quebec. Photo courtesy of Ty McKenna

What was it like to travel across the country this year?

It was different! I’ve never travelled out East before. It was tough. You rode around a little bit at every race, you saw how different it was. That mud in Quebec was just nasty…but I liked riding in the sand. Sand can hang you up, but overall sand is more forgiving than real dirt.

When it’s not so muddy in Labelle it’s a really nice place to ride!

I was definitely challenged there. I got hung up when I got second in that one race at Parry Sound too. I got stuck in a really big rut and lost a lot of time pushing it out…

Do you have a memory of the season that stands out as the coolest section to ride?

Penticton. That extreme test…I really liked that, with all those people cheering. It was really good!

Do you have ambitions to one day take on the extreme enduros or the six days?

Ya. Actually I’m going to the ISDE in Finland next year…

Ty has been practicing quick bike repairs to prepare for his attempt at the 2011 ISDE in Finland. Photo courtesy of Ty McKenna

Wow, that’s awesome! Good for you! That’s great!

I’m learning slowly to be a good mechanic. I haven’t been exposed to that end of it before, where you have to fix stuff in such a hurry. We ride around in the mountains by ourselves, or with the CMRC cross-country stuff it’s mostly just normal slow maintenance. So it will be different having to maintain the bike so quickly at the ISDE. I’ve been practicing changing tires and stuff.

Will you be racing the CEC series again in 2011?

I think I am.

Ty has been making some very ambitious race plans for 2011. Photo by Dan Paris

What about Xtinction?

I wanted to go in it this year, but then when I found out what it was all about…it was more of a hill climb challenge. But next year I think I’ll try it!

Are any sponsors chasing you down?

A&E racing has given me some good deals, but no really big sponsorship programs have been offered to me yet. Maybe this interview will help! Jason Schrage’s uncle helped me a lot last year too…actually, Schrage’s whole family helped me out big time!