GNCCRacing.com: Kate, thanks for taking some time from your day to join me. I know you work a full time job and your time is valuable! Jumping right into it, what got started riding and eventually racing at the WXC level at GNCC?

Kate Osburn: Thanks for having me! I actually got a late start in life compared to most. I first started riding in college. I had a little 400. We’d ride bar to bar (She means the drinking kind of bar to bar, not the “bar to bar” we refer to in a tight race. More on this in a moment.). At first, I’d ride on the back, then eventually I thought, hey, I can do this. So literally I got started into riding because of bar-hopping. Then one of my really good friends, suggested I try a NYOA race. So I gave it a shot and I actually won my first NYOA Championship in 2012. I did Unadilla GNCC that year as well. I actually came through the finish line the same time as Angel (MaGee). She obviously had lapped me, but someone took a picture of the finish. I still have that picture and I still look up to her today. She’s actually my teammate now with SBR (Stewart Boys Racing). That’s how I got my start in GNCC.

I want to back up to something. You mean to tell me you’re allowed to ride quads from bar to bar in Upstate New York?

Yeah, they’re actually snowmobile trails but, in the summer, we ride ATVs and UTVs on the trails to the bars.

Okay, I can’t lie. If we had that in Indiana, that might actually get me racing. What year did you make the jump into the WXC Pro Class?

Actually NYOA and GNCC were co-sanctioned. Since that was the case, I had to race WXC Pro Class at the GNCC to make sure I got my points for NYOA. That prevented me from running in the Women’s Amateur class at GNCC, I wish I could have, but it is what it is. I actually got second that day if I’m remembering right. So yeah, I just sort of jumped right into it.

You’ve come such a long way in a very short amount of time. Where a lot of riders have been racing since they were little kids, you didn’t start until you were in your early 20’s. Now you’re already at the Pro Level competing for a National Championship. So what has made the difference for you over the last few years to excel at the pro level?

When I first started in the WXC I never really trained. I just rode the quad and raced. But over the last couple years I’ve stepped up my game. Particularly this season. I’m working with two personal trainers, Marc Spataro and Haley Crofut. I use both of them and it’s made a huge difference for me.

Talk about your season so far. Three wins and tied in points for the championship with Hannah Hunter.

I’ve really put my head down and just focused on the race. I try not to worry too much about points. In years past I get myself caught up in the points situation. I think that mentally affected my consistency. This year I’ve been very consistent. I owe so much of that to Jarrod McClure working on my bike and Big Sexy (Collin Davey) helping me out in the pits. Jarrod also works on Hannah’s (Hunter) bike. So his machines are sitting tied for first in the WXC. That says a lot about him as a mechanic. This year has just been different for me. I’m prepared physically and mentally, and I can count on my bike to be prepared mechanically. It’s one less thing to worry about on race day. I race against some amazing women, and you’ve got to be prepared in every aspect. Angel, Hannah, Alicia, and Traci have all won WXC Championship. It’s a very stacked class and I’m determined to have my name in that group of women. Competing against those women is pretty cool.

You’re working as one of the instructors at the Action Off-Road Camp, correct? When does that take place?

Yeah! It’s taking place at Camp Coker in South Carolina where we race GNCC, July 15^th-18^th. I believe it’s one of the largest, if not the largest off-road ATV camps in the nation. We’ll have roughly 10 or more Pros there to instruct on riding Off-Road as well as moto. We’ll have two XC tracks this year which is really cool. I can honestly say every kid we’ve had at the camp improves their time and skills on race day. It’s cool because you get to learn a little bit of everything from each rider. We also try to focus a lot with one-on-one time with each rider. There is still time to sign up, but it’s getting down to the wire with things start on July 15^th. Some of the riders that will be there are Angel MaGee, myself, Adam McGill, Hunter Hart, Jarrod McClure, John Glauda, Josh Merritt, Cole Richardson, and a few others I believe.

You’ve got a day-job. A pretty intense day-job at that. What is it that you do during the week to support yourself and support your racing program?

I’ve been working for Vestal Asphalt for going on 13 years. They’re great! Such a huge part of my program and actually a sponsor of mine. I work full time for them as a Sales Rep. I do estimates for paving, grinding and road work. It’s a pretty cool job because I get to be outdoors and I’m a bit of a tomboy. I’m actually the only woman who actually works in the field. I’ve been here for a long time and the owners are awesome.

So you’re the only female who works in the field for them? That’s badass! Wifey Waynes worked several years in Safety at Nucor Steel in Crawfordsville. I’m sure you two could exchange some stories.

Yeah, without a doubt!

A couple weeks ago you won your first Snowshoe in the WXC. Tell us about that experience.

That was amazing! That was a bucket list item of mine for sure! I’ve been in Traci’s shoes, leading and then the break happens. You can be ahead by a minute at Snowshoe and it doesn’t matter. You just never know what’s going to happen there. So to win it, it’s such a huge accomplishment. I’m proud of that one for sure!

What do you do when you’re not racing, working, or training?

 There really never is an offseason. Between nationals and locals it seems like we’re always racing. But if I had to pick, I’d like to hike all 46 trails on the Adirondack Mountains. They’re gnarly too, like scooching around on your butt. It’s tough! That’s what I like to do on my free time when I actually have some.

I don’t mean to speak for you, but I can assume one of your goals is to win a WXC Championship. Outside of that, what’s some of the goals you have in racing?

Yeah, winning the WXC is a huge one for sure. I’d like to get a Top Three Overall in the AM race. I’ve been very close a few times, but just a little bit outside. I’d like to race over in France for the Pont De Vaux in France on an all-women’s ATV team. There’s been American women race it in the past, but there’s never been an entire team made up of women on ATV representing America. I’d really like to start a KOR (Katlyn Osburn Racing) Team as well. I want to sponsor a girl from GNCC and the NYOA series as well. I’d also love to win the AMA ATV Women’s Rider of the Year award as well as the AMA ATV Rider of the Year as well.