BRAVO SHAKIRA VAWDA!
There are quite a few lady off-road motorcycle and quad competitors as well as ladies
competing in enduro motorcycle races and even younger girls racing in ‘junior’ events. On
national level, names like the very first South African National Off-road Champion, Liezel
Barnard (quads) as well as Taye Perry and Toni Jardine (both are motorcycle riders and have
won a few championships) spring to mind.
Then there is Kirsten Landman (she specialises in enduro racing and has finished the Silver
Class of the 2014 Roof of Africa as well as the Bronze Class at Red Bull Romaniacs);
Chardri Monk, the Southern African Off-road Quad Champion who is taking a break from
racing this year; scholar Natasha Rugani (she also tackled the shortened version of the Roof
of Africa last year and completed it!) and ladies like Tanya Geldenhuys and Nanda Swiegers
who competed on and off in the national off-road championship last year.
Many lady riders are quite scared to compete on national level – yes, it can be intimidating –
and it is great to see quite a lot of lady racers on their motorcycles or quads participating in
regional and club events.
After Barnard (a mother of three from Carltonville) has made a little history by becoming the
first lady SA National Off-road Champion last year, some more history was made at the
Rysmierbult National Off-road, the opening round of the 2015 TOTPAK National Off-road
Championship a few weeks ago when this petite Indian girl, Shakira Vawda (17), finished her
first national off-road motorcycle race (300 kilometres!) and claimed the victory in the Ladies
Class (motorcycles).
We decided to find out more about this Beaulieu College scholar who rode horses and did a
few shows when she was younger. A close family friend had a motorcycle, but Shakira was
not really interested then, but at the age of 14 her father bought a Husqvarna and both men
were eager to convince her to ride it. “I think the moment I swung my leg over the bike and
open the throttle a little bit too much, I was in love and the bug had bitten me,” she says.
Gone were the four-legged horse – now it was the TTR 125 ‘iron horse’! The Pretoria girl
learnt how to ride it on her own track on their plot while she also rode at Wild West’s training
area.
While she was still learning how to properly ride her bike, she went to a few races to support
friends, but realised quickly that she does not want to be a spectator – she wants to race!
“Before I knew how to ride a bike, I knew who Toni Jardine was, the first lady to finish the
Roof of Africa and the ‘Pink Lady’ as we used to call her, Vawda explains.
When she heard about Jardine’s training sessions, she begged and pleaded with the family
and finally her parents gave her the green light in order for her to receive training from
Jardine.
“She is an awesome trainer that has seen me at my worst! Toni has helped me overcome
obstacles (physically and mentally) and helped get me on my pink KTM 200 as well as
teaching me what burpees really are!”
After many months of hard work and determination, she competed in her first ever race in
March 2014 – the Northern Regions Junior event at Lichtenburg and it was pouring with rain!
She competed in the full series last year.
Her next goal was the National Off-Road Series. She has watched almost every SA race on
television! She then started to get fit by going to Basefit and riding her bike on the weekends
in between doing my matric work.
Then it was time to race and the nerves kicked it. She admits that she was terrified about
having to do 300 kilometres (“that is halfway to Durban!”).
“Time-trial and the first lap went well, but by the second lap it had started to rain and the
struggle was real. I just wanted my mom. I wanted to stop racing and did not care about
anything else – I just wanted to go home,” she says. But she pushed through and finished the
race and proved to herself that positivity and determination can get you to the finish line.
Shakira tells us that before she started riding, she was shy and insecure. Riding her bike and
racing has really boosted her confidence. “People always think the worst when they hear the
word ‘motorcycle’ and don't consider the actual off-road version of this sport. We are getting
ladies of all ages into riding and hopefully we'll be seeing them on the track soon,” she
explains.
“ I have received advice, encouragement and support from the top lady riders and I am really
excited about the years of riding ahead. My parents are my biggest supporters and have
always been there for me. My dad always makes sure that my bike is perfect and race ready
and my mom is always there with a big smile and lots of love even though she worries about
my safety.”
Shakira is in matric at Beaulieu College (Kyalami) and also plays hockey. She loves spending
time with her friends and family who have always supported her and can make her laugh.
Watch out for this determined young lady at the off-road races!
End