Adding to a strong community effort to spread messages of education, health and sustainability, AMSOIL Arenacross riders visited Lighthouse Charter School’s 150 elementary students on Thursday.
Comparing bodies to bikes, the riders discussed their own experiences of how eating healthy, being active and taking safety precautions prepared them to become riders for Arenacross.
Gared Steinke, professional Arenacross rider from Woodland, shared how he was inspired to ride dirt bikes professionally at a young age. He began a regimen that included eating more servings of fruits and vegetables, running around his neighborhood and always wearing a helmet when riding his bike.
“Often times, people overlook how much of a physical sport Arenacross is and how much eating healthy and staying fit are important—no matter what you want to do in the future,” said Steinke. “Talking to the kids was a great way to reconnect with the community I grew up near and hopefully inspire more kids to get out on a racing track.”
Joining Steinke in the presentation was amateur rider Antonio Calavano. The Sacramento native detailed his experiences growing up in the area and how seeing Arenacross at Sleep Train Arena inspired him to one day join the tour.
“I can remember as a kid going out to Sleep Train Arena and seeing the riders race competitively—I knew I wanted to be a part of that environment,” shared Calavano. “Being able to talk to kids and make an impression on them to wear protective gear regardless of the sport they play is just a way of my career coming full circle.”
At the end of the presentation, the riders answered the children’s questions about Arenacross racing. When asked what it feels like before an event, Steinke best explained it to the students by saying “it’s like being at recess all the time—it’s a lot of fun.”
Arenacross takes over the Golden 1 Center this weekend—Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2.
