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February '10 Interview with Louisiana's Stephen Sturges

 


Note: the bike above is not the exact bike Sturges will be racing.

'09 LACC Series 3rd Overall / 2nd XC1 Class finisher Stephen Sturges teams up with Suzuki City in Biloxi, MS.

 

 

We caught up with Sturges of New Orleans, LA who's coming off a great '09 season, changing colors for '10, and ready to get the new season kicked off!  Sturges finished 3rd Vet A in the '07 SERA Hare Scramble series, 5th Open A in the '08 SERA HS Series, 3rd Open Ironman in the '08 Perry Mntn 24 Hour Challenge, 3rd again at the 24 Hr in '09, and 3rd Overall / 2nd XC1 Expert in the '09 LA Cross-Country Series.

Red Text: Acadiana Racing
White Text: Stephen Sturges


Sturges Railing at LACC Series Round 6 by Debsprints.com

 

 

Great job on 3rd overall last year in the LACC series; how do you feel about your performance & what are your goals for '10?  Will you be chasing points in any other series?
I was extremely happy with the season! My confidence took a big turnaround in Leesville I and things just grew from there. The bike was working really well and my fitness kept improving as the season came to a close. I'd like to be consistent for '10 just as I did for '09 and finish in the top 5 every round.

I'll probably hit a few SERA races in the OPEN A class during the season, but won't be chasing points. The 24 Hr. Challenge for '10, of course.  I won't quit racing that thing until I can stand up on the podium as one of the top three overall ironmen with that fake check yelling at the top of my lungs. [Sturges was recognized as the "Most Enthusiastic" during the '09 LACC Series Awards Banquet]   If time in the season allows, I would like to race one of the GNCC’s

 

Are you tired after an hour and a half LACC Series round? - try racing for 24 hours!!

Sturges is a regular at the annual Perry Mountain 24 Hour Challenge, competes in the ironman class, and always puts in a solid performance:
 

 

 

Good luck with your 24 Hr Challenge goals…that is one tuff race even if on a 6-man team!  You’re probably one of the most fit racers in the LACC series…do you feel like you have an advantage over others toward the end of the race?

I definitely feel like I have an advantage as my lap times usually stay consistent during the race. Natural talent and skill can only take you so far, but it’s about how long you can ride without having significant skill drop and stay focused. That’s what my coach & trainer Scott Hackett of Leading Edge Moto Performance and I work on the most. Our relationship goes back to '96 during my Downhill Mountain Bike racing days. The program created is designed to keep me on track with the limited time I have available, focusing on improving my weaknesses and building on my strengths. The workouts are definitely not your run of the mill fitness routine and I have complete confidence in what we are doing will have me ready to ride to the best of my ability on race day. I recommend him to anyone who wants to train specifically for what we do, being physically and mentally prepared confidence to your game. 
Right: Sturges was a World Championship level Downhill Mountain Bike racer!

 

So you've landed a sweet deal with Suzuki City in Biloxi, MS. Congrats!  Tell us more about your '10 support:

  The Suzuki City deal just happened as of recent.  They’re a great shop and very into racing.  I am so stoked, you have no idea! They're supplying me with a Suzuki RM-Z 250, which I pickup this week.  It was a rush getting everything setup for the season, but Suzuki City and the rest of my sponsors did an amazing job making it happen.   Suzuki City also sponsors 2 riders for the East Coast Supercross Lites Team, and Stephen Reed, of course.  The mechanics are very knowledgeable and will be building up my bike with the Thumper Racing 300 big bore.  Suzuki City is an RG3 dealer and will be handling the suspension duties.   In addition to Thumper Racing,  KLIM USA.com, Leading Edge Moto Performance (Strength and Conditioning Coach), REVLOC for the auto-clutch, and few others associated with Suzuki City, will be my sponsors.  I have always been an Auto-clutch guy and REVLOC makes an incredible product.  The bike never stalls and gets great dead-engine starts.  Klim makes some of the best gear in the industry; I love their over-the-boot-pants.
I'm also bringing in a sponsor outside the industry called ThermoProbe.net they’re a regional company based out of Mississippi.  They manufacture thermometers that are specialized for explosive environments, used in refineries, pipeline, and petroleum applications.

 

Inside scoop on things you may not know about Sturges:

  • To get in the zone during training and such he likes to listen to Rage Against The Machine, Helmet, Tool, etc.

  • He works in the Engineering Dept. at Monsanto Chemical Plant as a Maintenance Technician (they manufacture Round UP).  He likes his job and only works four 10hr days Mon-Thurs!

  • He doesn't currently have a girlfriend but "always on the lookout for a hot chic to hold the umbrella on the starting line" for him.

  • His favorite '09 venue was Hall's Hazzard County - loves the Endurocross stuff ..."even though I crash on it!"

  • First things he'd do with the $40M Powerball:
    $40 mil, eh?  The first thing I would buy is a Toy Hauler and something to pull it with!  Let’s see…. my family wouldn't have to work ever again, and I would race full time!!!


Sturges making his way through the rock pile at Hall's Hazzard County


We’ve noticed you ride your mountain bike around the entire course at just about every round; how much does that help?  Does it help with Sunday arm pump?
Getting a mountain bike ride on the course is a great way to relax, get a spin to loosen up, and eyeball the trail. It’s about gaining confidence, knowing that you did everything possible to get ready: bike prep, fitness, diet, a peek at the course, etc., so it definitely helps. It keeps the body prepped and arm pump down.
  You got a late start into racing dirt bikes seriously…what were you into before twisting throttles?
I've been on dirt bikes my whole life, but I'm really into BMX and Mountain Biking. I moved to Colorado in '94 to race mountain bikes & competed on the NORBA downhill mountain bike circuit were I had some very cool moments. My highlight was being a member of the US National Team for the World Championship in Mont-Sainte-Anne, Canada. [see picture below] After that I moved back home to New Orleans in '99 to finish college. To stay active and for fun I got into sprint triathlons, cross country mountain bike racing, before getting more serious about dirt bikes! From time to time I still hit the BMX track; it’s great cross-training when going to the gym has gotten stale or don’t have time to get all the moto gear together.



Thanks Sturges for taking the time & Good Luck in 2010!




More pictures:
 


Sturges' new shoulder workout routine.


Sturges 'aint scared of the obstacles - here on the back side of the Matterhorn Mountain - photo by Mandy Comeaux


Making his way up the Hall's Hazzard County "Abandoned Railroad" - Photo By Brennen Reed





Another 4-stroke holeshot for Sturges in the tough XC1 class. (pile-up behind him at Leesville Motorsports Park including World MX Champ Parker - red gear)


BMX riding in Gretna, LA

 

Poster For Awards Banquet Autograph Session (photo by Debsprints.com):

 

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