Three South Cariboo boys are on track to start the motocross and endurocross season.
Xander Sarver, Liam Meger and Mik Anderson are itching for the season to start after the end of the ice biking season.
All three say they have been riding dirt bikes since they were toddlers.
"It's to push your limits," says Sarver, 14.
Meger, 16, agrees: "It's just fun."
Anderson, 15, is also ready for the season to start.
"I've been riding for the last couple of years now and all my friends are riding. I just came to do it too," he says.
Anderson will be competing for the first time this spring. Sarver and Meger are headed into their second year of racing.
Meger saw substantial success in the sport last season, when he finished first in the B.C. Interior off-road series for the Junior Under category under the Pacific North West Motorcycle Association. He also placed third overall in points in the same category. This year, he'll compete in the Junior Over category.
Due to his success, Meger is being sponsored by Performance All Terrain & Rentals, although all three bikers say they are sponsored by their parents, who spend hours driving them to and from races. The boys also invest the time and money to make sure their bikes stay in good shape.
Meger rides a Yamaha 450 in the winter and has a brand new Honda CRF 450RX for his summer circuit. Sarver rode a KTM SX 450 in the winter and will ride a KTM SX 250 for the summer. Anderson will start his season on a KTM 250.
Sarver and Meger both spent the winter fine-tuning their skills on the ice racing circuit at Stake Lake near Kamloops.
Meger placed first in the novice category, second in the intermediate and GP categories, and third in the 450 open category, while Sarver placed second overall in the novice class.
This was the first year the two raced on the ice. The boys had one day to practice and fine tune their bikes before competing in a race.
"It was fun, I loved it," says Sarver.
Ice racing requires special studded tires for the bikes and racers compete on a flat oval course. It's quite the difference from the long cross-country enduro rides or the specially designed motocross tracks.
All three bikers are being assisted by Canadian Motorcycle Hall of Fame member Bo Work.
"We wouldn't be out here if he wasn't helping," says Sarver.
Work suggested Sarver and Meger take up ice biking for this winter and is already planning to host two ice races in 100 Mile House either at the end of December 2017 or the start of January 2017.
Work is recognized around the world for his skill in race mechanics. In 1977, Work paired with racer Steve Baker to become the first North Americans to win the World Formula 750 Championship. During his career in racing mechanics, Work is credited with a number of other wins, including at Worlds, Daytona and on the AMA and CMA circuits.
Now retired, Work is putting his skills to work helping a new generation of young racers.
"I just like doing it myself and being involved and helping somebody out," he says.
The boys will compete almost every weekend some months at tracks throughout British Columbia and into the north-western United States starting in April.
As for their goals this season:
Anderson: "Don't break any bones."
Sarver: "Just have a good time."
Meger: "Not get hurt and have fun."