For Charlotte, Robbie, Caleb, and Silas

Surviving over a dozen years in the motorcycle industry gives you a certain perspective. We talk a great deal about ADV segment growth, but the motorcycle media tends to forget one of its most important segments—the KIDS! ADVMoto recently sponsored the ADVMoto Kids Kup at the Wailin Wayne Weekend in Nelsonville, Ohio. This fantastically run event is founded and organized by Chad Warner as part of the BMW MOA (Motorcycle Owners of America) event series.

I’d heard they had a kids’ challenge on the adult obstacle course, but that wasn’t all. Chad took it to the next level by providing free entry to kids 15 and under! As one of the few family-friendly adventure rallies in the region, we wanted to find out more about the program. A brief talk with Chad helped me understand why he believes family is such an important part of a good event and some of the pushback he received.

So, doing what ADVMoto does, we decided to crank it up for the kids this year. We made special medals for the contenders and gave them some much-deserved spotlight with the help of a loudspeaker. Ranging in ages from 5 to 8, the children tackled an adult-sized obstacle course with a fearlessness many adults wish we had. And let’s not forget many of the kids’ bikes, like Yamaha’s TTR-50, have 10-inch wheels.

Although the log ride, rock field, and figure eight were great challenges, the intentionally insurmountable mud pit was the most daunting. All four youth riders hit the mud, then four bike wranglers ran straps around their fork tubes and pulled them out under full throttle. Exit interviews with the kids showed how wild the experience was for them. You could see it in their eyes, through mud-splattered googles, how much difficulty they overcame in tackling the course.

When we say adventure is for everyone, we mean it. Children are the future of not only motorcycling but everything we love and do. More importantly, it shows what we can accomplish with the encouragement of family, friends and community. Let’s also not forget our roles in this, which were eloquently summarized by six-year-old challenger Silas, who was determined to “kick my fear in the face.” If that kind of overcoming spirit is not adventure, nothing is.

The 11^th Wailin Wayne Weekend will be held Sep. 4-8, 2024 at Nelsonville, OH. Children’s ticket is free with a paid WWW ticket.