Member of the Week: Tatum Swygman
What discipline(s) do you participate in?
I participate in Hare Scramble, Motocross, Enduro, Trailriding, and also I have done Flat Track one time as well!
When did you begin riding and/or racing?
I began riding when I was 3 years old and did my first race when I was 4 years old!
What's one thing you love about the District 23 ARMCA community?
I love that we can all get together on weekends or just whenever and all have a good time doing what we love.
What is the significance of your riding number? Was it given to you or did you pick it for a specific reason?
I picked my racing number because my Uncle Brent is number 343 and I figured that I would fall right behind him and also my family's numbers are all in the 340's!
What is your favorite track, course, trail, or event and why?
My favorite Motocross track is definitely Spring Creek MX Park just because of the challenge it brings to everyone and it just brings some good racing into the sport. My favorite Hare Scramble has got to be BCMX in Cambridge, MN due to its sandy course witch brings a variety of terrain into the circuit.
What is the greatest accomplishment of your riding/racing career?
My greatest accomplishment is definitely winning that first state title.
Where do you see yourself in the next five years within the sport?
I see myself at a training facility trying to reach my goal of becoming pro at the GNCC level.
If you had to describe your riding style as a movie title, what would it be?
"When in Doubt Throttle Out"
If you could race at any track in the world, where would it be and why?
I want to race at the track Mini O's is hosted at [Gatorback Cycle Park in Gainesville, Florida] because it looks very fun to try out and test what it's like to go from riding supercross straight to motocross.
Who inspires you in racing or riding? And how has motorcycling impacted your life?
Steward Baylor inspires me the most as I see him as my role model. Motorcycling has impacted my life in so many ways, it is just the feeling of throwing a leg over the bike and experiencing that thrill. But the main reason is it cures any sadness that you have in you mind and it all goes away.
What has been your favorite machine to race/ride and why?
My GasGas Supermini 105 is my favorite bike that I have rode due to the sound and the speed of it!
What's one pre-race ritual or superstition you have?
The day before I have a race I have to do everything perfect. For instance, if I put a book back on a shelf and it's not straight, I make myself make sure that the book is perfectly straight.
What's the funniest or most unexpected thing that's happened to you at a race?
I don’t know if this is funny but I had a 20 second lead coming out of the woods to get onto the moto track about half a mile before the end of the race at the BCMX Hare Scramble race and I ended up running out of gas and I got 2nd at the end of the day.
What's a lesson you've learned from racing that applies to life outside the track?
To never give up because anything could happen at any given time.
If you could give one piece of advice to a new rider, what would it be?
Ride with faster people and try to push yourself to stay up with them because riding with someone slower than you is not going to make you any faster.