From pyro booms you can feel in the stands to the cinematic opening ceremonies that set the tone for the night, Kat Voiles is part of the team responsible for turning Monster Energy SMX World Championship race weekends into a full-scale live experience.
In this episode, host Heather Wilson Schiltz chats with Kat about her eight-season journey with Feld Entertainment -- from coordinating interviews in media operations to overseeing what fans watch and hear inside the stadium. Kat shares what goes into pre-season content capture, how storylines evolve week to week, why the touring schedule demands constant adaptability, and what it’s like calling the show in her headset.
🎧 What You’ll Hear in This Episode:
- What a Senior Live Event Manager oversees on race weekend
- How pre-season media sessions capture hours of athlete content that fuels storytelling across all 31 SMX rounds
- The behind-the-scenes work that brings opening ceremonies to life, including video, timing and pyro
- Touring series realities: how planning for upcoming rounds happens while you’re still executing the current one
- How stadium tech changes from venue to venue
- Weather contingency planning: building Plan B, C, and D and making real-time calls when conditions aren’t safe
- Why Kat thrives in show control, what “a good day” sounds like in her headset, and how she’s learned to roll with chaos
🌐 Learn more & get event tickets: SuperMotocross.com
SPONSORED CONTENT: If you're a motorsports event organizer who wants more participants or attendees, your marketing and operations may be in need of a revamp. I help evaluate where you're at, develop a customized strategy, implement the tasks and assess the results. So if you're serious about getting more support, let's work together. Visit HighGearSuccess.com to get started.
SPONSORED CONTENT: If you're a racer looking to show sponsors how you can bring value to their company, visit HighGearSuccess.com to view services offered by High Gear Success for racers.
-------------------------------------
Momentum: A Motorsports Podcast, powered by High Gear Success
👉 Want to connect or recommend a guest? Visit: MomentumMotorsportsPodcast.com
🔔 Subscribe on YouTube for more motorsports stories and strategies
📸 Follow @MomentumMotorsportsPodcast on Instagram + Facebook
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:05):
Welcome to Momentum, a motorsports podcast powered by High Gear Success.
I'm your host, Heather Wilson Schiltz Here we share the stories and strategies that keepthe world of motorsports moving forward.
Today I'm welcoming Kat Voiles to the show, a senior live event manager for FeldEntertainment who works on Monster Energy SMX World Championship.
(00:25):
So Kat, thank you for joining me.
Hey Heather, thanks for having me.
Excited to be a part of this and dive into some fun things all SMX.
Yeah, a lot of behind the scenes content too, which I think will be really cool for fans.
So you've been with Feld since 2018 for starting in media operations, correct?
Yeah, this is going to be my eighth season.
(00:47):
And, fortunately for me, it's been a fun and a wild ride.
Um, every year either more tasks are added to the play or the sport evolves.
And, um, I just get to be a part of the magic that we continue to create, at FeldEntertainment.
So exciting to be in the role that I am with the team that I have and, um, just be alongfor the journey.
(01:08):
You know, when I started eight years ago, I was.
coordinating interviews and helping kind of more boots on the ground.
And now as a senior live event manager and running all things, our media sessions out inCalifornia, which is pre-season content to our live event experience, anything the fans
see or hear once they hit an event and then working closely with our broadcast team andour public relations team and just kind of a jack of all trades, but it's a really fun
(01:39):
role.
I tell people thatI truly have the best job in the world of Supercross.
So I'm fortunate to be a part of it and excited to share some of that with you and yourlisteners.
Before you even went to work for Feld, when did you or where did you get your love formotorsports?
Um, so I grew up with a dirt bike track in my backyard.
(02:00):
Um, my brother actually used to race ATVs professionally.
So I have the, ATV roots, um, which I know some of the dirt bike fans or have mixedfeelings about, but that truly gave me a love for the sport.
And, I grew up riding, never racing.
I'm, a roller, but, um, once you have a love for it, it doesn't really go away.
(02:23):
Going into college, I wanted to be pre-med.
I have a lot of medical family members and I had my CNA.
After going through some of the classes and taking a deeper dive at what I wanted to doprofessionally and for my life in general, uh I spoke with a career counselor who uh
helped me choose to change my path and see if I could mix my passion withsports and dirt bike racing into a professional career.
(02:50):
And I was very fortunate to be able to do that.
And I ended up working for a minor league hockey team, getting on the microphone, gettingto announce some sports in a live setting, and then working at the dome in St.
Louis, putting on concerts like Beyonce, Guns N' Roses, conventions and trade shows, andthen also events like Monster Jam and Monster Energy Supercross through Feld
(03:13):
Entertainment.
So afterthose experiences, it really helped shape me into having experience on the logistics and
event planning side.
And when an opportunity came up with Feld and they offered to move me to Florida to workin my dream job at 24 years old, it was like all the stars aligned and I was like super
excited to accept it and have been glowing in this field ever since.
(03:38):
So what does a typical weekend look like for you at the races from the time that the fansare walking into the stadium to the time that they're walking out?
Sure, so for me, I'm very fortunate.
I do get to fly in and out to every event and come home for a couple of days in between,but we have a crew who are boots on the ground.
They fly from city to city, our operations crew, and they truly are the warriors and theheroes of Supercross.
(04:01):
So a quick shout out to them.
They build everything, they tear it down, and then they go to the next city.
But for me and my small team that puts on the live event portion of the events, we fly in.
For the first event, we fly in on Wednesday, because we do have apre-race press conference at Anaheim.
but we fly in, we have to set up our press conference, work directly with the stadium forall things fan experience.
(04:24):
So every graphic that you see on the LED boards, the ribbons, the big screens, getting ourlogos and the placements in the right place.
all of the content that you see on the big screens, the commercials, um Lurch and Haleydoing interviews, the whole entire Race Day live show.
getting all of the pieces into place so that when the fans do walk in on Saturday morningfor FanFest and for the live event, everything's already ready to go.
(04:50):
So there's quite a bit that goes into it.
We'd be here all day if I told you every little detail, but some of the things that Itruly enjoy,
I have a love hate relationship with trophies.
get to work with a team to design and then we have a supplier who builds our trophies.
Some years they've been better than others, but it is fun to get to see them from aconcept into place and then have the athletes raise them at the end of the night is truly
(05:16):
a full circle moment.
So yeah, all of the things that a fan can experience in the stadium, such as the champagnespray to the big pyro booms.
have aPyro supplier, Dynamic Effects, who's truly incredible.
They make all of the magic happen.
And if we change our minds on if we want more smoke or bigger flames or colored flames,they are on it with all of the new technologies.
(05:39):
So, you know, in the past, we've had lasers for different shows coordinating spotlights sothat you truly get that under the light feel.
So, uh yeah, anything that the fans can see or experience in stadium, myself and my teamwork on.
trying to make it truly a fun and magical event for those who spend their hard earneddollars to come uh witness the sport of Supercross.
(06:04):
The pyro is so cool.
And like when you're sitting in the stadium, I just remember like feeling the heat, youknow, especially like, don't know if it's at every round, but the ones that I've been to
where they cross the finish line and then it, you know, yeah.
I mean, like you feel it as you're fitting sitting in the stand.
I think that's really cool.
We've had some fun media coverage in different cities oh that aren't used to having us allthe time, or even those that are who are like, like, is this a UFO?
(06:30):
And they'll post a picture of the big black circle ring in the air.
And it's like, it's not a UFO.
It's just supercross.
We'll be back again next year, guys.
But yeah, you can feel that heat.
How do you bring in the storytelling element to it too on the screens?
I imagine a lot of that stuff is filmed probably weeks or months in advance.
(06:51):
So how do you bring that storytelling element to the fans in the stadium?
Sure.
yeah, in beginning of December, oh we had our media sessions out in Anaheim.
So we bring in a lot of the athletes and they, run them through a car wash of stationswhere we get headshot photos and hero shots and they sit in front of our television
production.
They sit in front of our race day live production.
(07:13):
They sit in front of Ricky and James and all of our announcers to, you know, tell theirstories so that they can have little tidbits to speak on throughout the season.
And it's four hours worth ofcontent capture, but they get it done before the first race.
So that we have that to use throughout all 31 of the Monster Energy SMX World Championshiprounds, know, not only Supercross, but Pro Motocross and at our playoffs and finals.
(07:38):
So it's great that we gather all of that content and that storytelling in December.
But as you know, you know, being a journalist yourself, stories change and the storylinesare constantly evolving.
So it's really great to work with the crew of professionals that I do withWith Haley Shanley and Lurch and JB and AC for the race day live crew.
(07:59):
They're just top level and they really dig deep.
And we have meetings weekly to just talk through, Hey, how are we going to tell thesestories better?
Can we get out into the pits?
Can we get under the tents?
Can we talk with these guys during the week to just see what's going on?
And then I work with an incredible videographer team to make our opening ceremonies videosand truly create that magic and tell it in such a cinematic way so that.
(08:24):
You really only get to experience that if you buy a ticket to the event and see it on thebig screen and we tie in the pyro and we make that magic happen.
So you get the drama and the cinematic feel of what these athletes are going through, butthen you get to see the magic of what the sport entails and just how grueling it is.
So um yeah, I'm a little partial, but opening ceremonies and the videos are some of myfavorite part of just how we get to tell those stories.
(08:52):
Yeah, opening ceremony is always really cool, but there's also so much content that goeson even before the actual racing gets started.
as a fan, you don't want to be walking in just before opening ceremonies.
It's definitely an all-day experience.
It truly is.
Yeah.
So for Anaheim and we're fortunate this year to have, um, some scheduling changes, youknow, on purpose this year, all of our viewers consistently can watch, a 7 PM Eastern time
(09:20):
gate drop.
So that's for all of our international viewers too, worldwide, gives them a betteropportunity to not have to stay up to midnight or 4 AM, whatever it is in your time zone
to watch the gate drops.
but that's at 15 of, I believe of our 17 races.
That'll be a consistent.
viewing time, but as you mentioned, our racing doesn't start at 7 PM.
(09:40):
We have a whole day of activities.
So if you come to the FanFest, doors will open at 9 AM.
You get there, you can go out to the Rig Riot, go see the Monster Energy or the Kawasakidemos in the pits, get your autographs, come in stadium.
And this year we had a very exciting scheduling and format change.
So we'll be no longer having our free practice.
(10:01):
We'll have two qualifying sessions.
And this will give the riders the adequate time they need on track for qualifying and toreally get a gauge for the track.
But more importantly, it's going to give our track crew time to fix the track and tomaintain the track so that it is the best track possible for the evening main races So I'm
(10:23):
excited for that, but that gives our fans who do attend an opportunity to come in stadium,see some qualifying, see some see their favorite riders.
you know, early on in the day, but also get to see some content that I mentioned we filmedin early December on the big screen and some behind the scenes type of stuff.
yeah, it's a truly all day event and a very exciting event to say the least.
(10:46):
And you mentioned that most of the races are taking place at 7 PM Eastern, which as aMidwest person in the Eastern time zone, I appreciate because I was just never the type of
person to be able to stay up that late.
I'm not a night owl.
So yeah, it's a, they kind of started doing that a little bit last year too, but I feellike it's going to be even more consistent this year.
(11:08):
And since I'll be out at A1, I was just looking at that.
Cause again, in my head it was 7 PM, but I'm like, no, it's actually, it'll be what?
Uh, 3 p.m.
there?
4 p.m.?
Yeah.
So our, opening (11:20):
30 and the main event start time would be four o'clock.
So it's going to feel a little different.
That fan experience that I mentioned, um, we're used to Anaheim one always being darkunder the lights.
get those spotlights, like we mentioned.
30, it isn't going to be dark, but like I, like I said, our pyro team is veryinnovative.
(11:44):
We're still going to get that feel of it being.
magical and get the big booms you know, have some colored smokes and fun things like that.
So, it will be a change for those in stadium, but the racing action is going to be topnotch as it always is.
And again, part of the bigger picture is, you know, now millions worldwide will have amore accessible opportunity to watch those gate drops consistently at a time that makes
(12:08):
sense.
Cause yeah, you being Midwestern, but a lot of those on the East coast are like,Midnight to stay up to watch Supercross?
boy, it's quite the dedication.
So I know we have a lot of East coasters who are really happy about the seven o'clockconsistency.
I think it'll be interesting too, from like a family perspective, if you had young kids,now you're going more in the middle of the day versus like late at night when maybe the
(12:34):
kids are getting a little cranky.
So, um, I think it'll be a different environment in the stadium too.
Yeah.
And having to stay until 10, 11 o'clock at night, or if we have any unfortunate events ontrack that caused delays, then you're looking at a midnight and you're not even getting
out of the parking lot until then.
So yeah, I think this will really provide a great opportunity, as I mentioned, for thoseviewers, but for those in stands, make a full day out of it.
(12:59):
And so you can get home and get the kids to bed at a decent hour.
So, cause it's truly incredible.
I, you know, our sport has the core fans, a lot ofA lot of guys, there are some girls who are diehards, you know, like us who appreciate the
sport.
Um, but we're starting to see, you know, these last couple of years, a lot more familiescoming.
And with it being an earlier time, as you mentioned, I think that will create a betteropportunity for it to continue to expand to families.
(13:26):
So we're excited for that, especially with our SMX next racing program with getting someof those younger athletes onto supercross tracks, onto pro motocross tracks earlier.
you know, because the sport of supercross, as I had mentioned, started with me and mybrother and our family traveling around to races.
it truly does have that family vibe and it's great to bring that, you know, to familiesmainstream who maybe don't ride, but want to experience, um, and see the sport together.
(13:54):
You mentioned working with a lot of different teams, audio visual teams, operations,media.
How do you keep everybody aligned and you're dealing with very tight deadlines?
And this is a live event production, so there's really no room for error.
So how do you keep everybody so aligned?
Um, it's not an easy task.
(14:14):
I'm constantly learning.
always tell myself, strive for progress, not perfection.
although perfection is my standard, but I realized it's not always going to be perfect.
A lot of times what I want and what we can actually attain are two different things.
Um, but I have a great crew that works directly underneath me that helps put the visioninto place.
(14:35):
yeah, working with different personalities is a skill that, hasdefinitely come over the years.
then as deadlines, as you mentioned, are, they're not going anywhere and they're notmoving anytime.
So you can't make excuses.
We just have to get the job done.
There's the times I'm stuck at the stadium until 11, 12 o'clock, finishing a script orupdating an opening ceremonies plan or getting last minute content into place.
(14:58):
And then I have to be back at the stadium for an early start at 5 a.m.
But that's just a part of the job.
And it's, you know, what I signed up for, I do love this sport, butTo be a part of the magic truly is a great blessing.
And there are challenges as with any job, but I always tell people I'd rather be workingin dirt bike racing than, you know, sitting at a desk and, you know, selling insurance or
(15:21):
doing accounting.
And I can joke with that because my, some family is in, is in insurance and my husband isan accountant.
So I have the fun job and as with any job there's challenges, but it is very rewarding.
And this is a touring series.
So you're constantly adapting to different venues each week.
(15:41):
It's not like you just get set up for the season and you're good to go.
Everything's the same.
So what has been, some logistical challenges that you face time and time again, and thatyou're maybe getting better at solving on the fly.
Yeah, having a background working at the Dome as an event manager definitely helped mewith the logistics side of event planning and then also being able to work with the
(16:03):
different dynamics of the personnel that you face when you come to a new stadium.
So that helped me in understanding that and being able to communicate our needs now beinga client versus being a host venue.
But yeah, we go to 16 different professional stadiums over the course of 17 weekends,Anaheim being the only one we repeat.
So.
We're constantly working, you know, all this, we'll call it off season, which is, youknow, the couple of weeks after our SMX playoffs and final where we're prepping for the
(16:33):
upcoming season.
we're planning Anaheim, all our California rounds, looking into, you know, we're excitedto return to Houston.
We haven't been there for a couple of years.
So we're meeting with those buildings constantly, but now that Anaheim is about to begin,you know, we're already looking at round six, seven, and eight and planning the logistics
there.
Cause.
As you mentioned, every stadium is different.
(16:54):
So we set up in different rooms.
We have different booths upstairs, know, coaches and radio booths.
Where will Race Stay Live be?
Are we able to set it up on a concourse or an accessible place to the fans?
Can I get internet there?
Do I need spotlights in this market?
So every venue has its own challenges.
Luckily, a lot of these venues are repeat.
So the staff remember us.
(17:15):
They all usually enjoy our show and are excited to work with us.
But then other challenges arise.
You know, when you come to a new venue, we're very excited to go to Cleveland this year.
we haven't played there.
The venue was much different, you know, years and years ago when we played.
So we're treating it as a first time played venue, but again, the logistics we had to flythere for a site visit, to just get boots on the ground, get a feel for it.
(17:38):
Where will I set up, you know, our race control room, where will race day live be?
Is the press box adequate enough?
So, um, yeah.
a list of miles long of questions that are just constantly changing, but it keeps it fun.
I would, I would be bored if it wasn't.
We talked about the on-screen portion earlier, but has technology changed in the yearssince you first started with Feld as far as the in stadium technology or has it stayed
(18:09):
relatively the same?
(18:44):
Yeah, it's interesting.
A lot of the venues we go to have been updating their LED screens.
So you'll get bigger screens or you'll get different dimensions and every package isdifferent.
So we have a graphic design team who has to make brand new elements every week for adifferent stadium sized boards So that has been cool, but it has also provided some
(19:06):
challenges.
know, playing at Gillette Stadium, they...
uhthey reconstructed their board.
one, was it last year or two years ago when we were there, we didn't have access to thebig screen.
So we had to rent supplemental screens to bring in.
That's happened in a couple of different places.
We've either been fortunate that one board is out and under construction for renovations,but another board is still active so we could use that.
(19:31):
um yeah, other technologies, working closely with our television team.
We have a live view camera, so we're able to do some live hits out in the fan fest.
Previously, our RF cameras hadn't reached.
And then, you know, our TV team is constantly looking at new um technologies that aredeveloping, whether it be testing with Justin Brayton, with, you know, onboard
(19:55):
communication, some other cameras.
So yeah, lots of fun things, always looking for new and innovative ways to...
Storytell better and to make the sport and the experience top notch.
So many moving pieces, a lot of behind the scenes stuff going on.
Is there something that you think fans would be surprised to learn about what it takes topull off a Supercross event?
(20:22):
I don't know if it would be surprising, but it is truly go, go, go from the minute youland into the city to, you know, we're packing up and loading up all the press conference
equipment and pushing it onto the semi trucks and finally closing the semi trucks doors at2 a.m.
and the pouring rain and you go back to the hotel and you got to get on your flight at sixor 7 a.m.
(20:44):
So I don't know if it'd be surprising because as I alluded to, I'm fortunate enough to flyin and fly out, but
Our crew who work so hard, I mean, they are nonstop all the time.
So the thing that I find most, I don't know, guess.
Amazing about this sport is how our crew can transform.
We were just an angel stadium doing content capture and their pristine grass looksbeautiful.
(21:09):
You know, the field is just immaculate.
And I'm like, well, we'll be here in a couple of weeks putting our dirt down and tearingup your fields, but.
Um, just the transformation that our crew was able to do it to me is just the most mindblowing and it, takes a lot of time, a lot of dedication, a lot of hard work.
guys are out in all elements, you know, a lot of stadiums with no roof and the show mustgo on.
(21:34):
You know, we, have to have the races.
So, um, that's the most surprising to me is just how much work it takes to, you know, notonly plan these as, you know, myself and our full-time crew get to do during
our off season, then to truly build it is just a work of art.
And all the credit goes to those guys and gals who are building that week in and week out.
(21:57):
You mentioned weather factors.
So does that tend to affect the technology very much or is everything pretty muchwaterproof at this point?
boy.
uh nothing is ever a hundred percent waterproof or foolproof, but, a lot of our camerashave over the years, they've developed, you know, different things to, use to keep them
(22:18):
covered and to keep them safe and to still be able to shoot in the rain.
our poor track guys out there, um, in the muck, I wish there was a way to weatherproofthem because it's
Like I said, they're true heroes, but when you have a rain and mud race, I mean, there isnot a part of their body that is clean except for when they take that helmet off and it's
like, this is brown, everything else is like, you can see their hair and then everythingelse is brown.
(22:44):
So, yeah, I wish there was a way to weatherproof those guys, but um yeah, I mean, we'rejust accustomed to it with being out in the elements.
So we're able to prepare.
But yeah, rain plans have to be in place, you know, on Fridays, if we're expecting weatherfor Saturday, we'll meet with the AMA and our rules and regulations officials.
(23:06):
And I'll work up a couple of different variations of the schedule so that I have themready to put into place.
So that if we do need to have a delayed time for bikes on track, I already have thatformat ready to go.
And if it gets way more rain than we're expected, I have plan B, C and D, or if it ends upbeing a little bit lighter than, Hey, you know what?
We can.
In years past, we can still run practice and maybe we need to shorten the qualifiers, but,um, yeah, it's trying to be prepared as best as possible.
(23:36):
When it comes to live event production, would imagine, I don't know, it would stress meout to be doing the magnitude of stuff that you're doing.
But do you feel like you get an adrenaline rush every time that you're at the stadium?
And do you feel like you're prepared or do you like that unpredictable nature of the liveevents?
(23:59):
That's a tough question because I feel like it's a little bit of a mixed bag.
know, going into Anaheim for the first race of the season, there's so many emotions andthere's so many things and you're like, did I get that done?
Yeah.
Okay.
Did I do that one thing?
No, but I can do it tomorrow or, oh and then, you know, your mind's on Anaheim, but you'realso working on, you know, Glendale and the next couple of races down the road.
(24:23):
But,to me, my favorite part is being up and show control.
I've got my headset on.
We're in communication with our television trucks.
We're in communication with all of the guys down on the floor.
we have house communication to make sure the ribbons and the audio is all good.
So there's like 14 people in my panel that I could talk to at any point.
(24:43):
And, a good day is where I might not, need to talk to any of them because everything's inplace, you know, but if it's
You know, emergency, con, hey, lurch, go run up into the stands.
you just gotta be quick on your feet and think of those things.
And I do feel like I thrive on the chaos a little bit.
I enjoy it.
I don't think I would be successful in this role if I didn't.
(25:05):
but at the same time, I love when a plan does come together and it can be a little morechill and I can actually enjoy the racing, um, that gets to unfold and fold in front of
us.
So,I'd say I do thrive in the chaos.
I enjoy the adrenaline.
Even going to Anaheim, this will be my eighth year being there for Anaheim 1.
It's always so magical to be able to just be there for the first race and kick off theseason.
(25:31):
I think for your role, you have to be a person that just enjoys like rolling with thepunches and like, like you said, you're prepared, but also you're prepared for things to
go off track too.
So you can make those adjustments and you're totally cool with it.
Yeah.
And like I said, I like to have a plan and I would love for my plan to be the one that'sin place.
(25:54):
Um, but as I've learned through the years, I have to be willing to accept, okay, we'removing to plan C D and even the plan that I didn't have, you know, unfortunately in
Charlotte for SMX due to the weather, had to end up concluding the races after one, onemoto, which in the history of our sport, I don't believe had happened before maybe one
(26:14):
other time.
That was something, you know, we're up in the control room, you know, all of the headhonchos trying to talk through the different outcomes, the different scenarios.
What can we do?
How can we still give our fans an experience?
But due to the inclement weather, there was no foreseeable end in sight for the lightningstrikes.
And it was, wasn't safe for the athletes and it wasn't safe for the fans.
(26:36):
And that was something we hadn't seen before to just call it and have to end it rightthere.
So, um, yeah, just.
knowing, your option might not be one of the ones that you thought of ahead of time, buthow do you, okay, this is how it's going to go.
Now get the next steps in place.
And just being able to have that mindset takes some work and doesn't come easy, but it'sdefinitely rewarding when you can get the final pieces into place.
(27:03):
Something else just came to mind for me too, and I don't know if you work on this or not,but like the science of supercross segments.
Are you involved with that at all?
Pam Mariani is our producer of that and she is incredible.
She can create magic out of something that I would think would be the most boring thing inthe world, but she can tell those stories in such an incredible way.
(27:23):
Kawasaki's been a great partner in doing that and finding creative ways to tell thosestories.
But I get to see that magic on the big screen.
I've been a part of some of the shoots that she's been at to see those live, but she getsall the credit for making all of those for sure.
I think those are such cool segments and I love the educational element of those becausethere are some people that aren't racers or aren't involved in the industry that are just
(27:47):
fans of the sport.
so being able to educate them about different uh technology or bike setup or differentthings that the athletes are doing, I think it's really cool.
Yeah, like a common fan may have no idea what a holeshot device is and they take twominutes to fully explain how does it work?
Why does it work?
Why do we have this technology where years ago, you know, they never had this and dirtbike racing stuff.
(28:10):
Um, yeah, the way they were able to tell those stories and expose some of thoseintricacies to the common fan, is really magical.
And this has been probably several years ago now, but the Makeup2Mud series that they did,I thought that was so cool.
I think they only did it for one season.
I would love for that to come back in some fashion.
I think we had a couple of seasons of it and one of my team members, Brianna Marquardt wasfeatured on there with her sister and now she works full time for Feld.
(28:38):
So it's cool to see that come full circle.
But yeah, that was a great series and a great way to show women in motocross and thedifferent ways that there's a lot of women behind the scenes.
I think of all of the wives and now that I'm a mom now, all of the moms of these athletesand the
the wives of these athletes who are moms and how they kind of created a family sport, butthey're truly like holding it together while dad's out there, you know, risking his life
(29:06):
on a dirt bike.
And then, you know, you have the other side of it with our, WMX, which we have an excitingannouncement for Anaheim.
We're looking forward to that.
won't give away any details, but we're really excited for the sport of WMX and how it'sbeen able to expand, you know, as I mentioned with our SMX world championship series.
So.
We're really looking forward to that exciting announcement coming up, but truly justgiving the eyeballs to women in motorsports and not only those on the bike, but those
(29:34):
behind the scenes to just give them the, the attention that they deserve because you know,girls like us are, are pretty awesome.
And, um, we like to show the world and to tell those stories.
So.
When you're not living inside of a stadium, what helps you recharge and stay creativeduring such a busy and demanding season?
(29:57):
well, as I mentioned, I'm a mom now.
so I have a, a year and a half year old Brighton.
He truly is the, brightens the day.
Um, he's been on 12 airplanes and been to more supercross or SMX races than most, mostfans get to attend in their life.
But I'm very fortunate to be able to bring him to some of the races and my husband's, um,a true support.
(30:18):
And just when I'm gone and mom's gone on weekends, dad's home hanging out with Brightonand they're watching SMX on TV, but.
to be able to fly home and have, you know, we're back on the computers by Sunday, you'resubmitting payroll Monday, Tuesday, you're back on the computer planning the next events,
but to have the support of, you know, my family at home is really where I get the rechargefor the batteries.
(30:43):
Um, but then, you know, we have a close family on the road to, uh, those of us who are inthe trenches, who live for this, who love it, um, who unfortunately have to leave.
their actual families at home to come do this on the weekends.
So, you know, my crew worked directly with me, TJ and Emily, they're always working sohard and I know I can come to them with anything and they're ready to make supercross
(31:04):
successful in whatever way is needed.
But, just having a great support on and off the road is really what keeps me going.
And then having a passion for this, you know, growing up with it and watching it on TV andgoing to Indianapolis and watching it.
from the stands to now being able to create that magic and be a part of it.
Again, like I mentioned at the beginning, I feel like I have the best job not only in theworld, but in the industry.
(31:28):
So truly blessed to be able to do what we do.
With all of the flying and travel that you do, do you feel like you are a travel pro or doyou still struggle with getting things packed?
Um, traveled pro might be a little bit of a stretch after eight years of getting on andoff airplanes.
Um, I would say I'm, I don't know about pro, but I'm close to expert.
(31:50):
know, we're, getting there.
the one thing I always.
It blows my mind is anyone who works in this sport, who doesn't have TSA pre-check likeyou're, what are you doing?
Like you have to have it.
It's the best investment for yourself.
but yeah, that.
I mean, I show up to the airport every, every Thursday morning or Wednesday morning,depending on what week it is and get on the airplane, go through TSA and it doesn't really
(32:19):
faze me.
but I tell people, I see more airports, more hotels and more stadiums than I see of my ownbed.
But again, wouldn't have it any other way.
Yeah, I have pre-check as well.
And I think I've renewed it for like the second time and I couldn't imagine not having it.
And there was like a stretch of time where my husband didn't have it.
(32:41):
I'd be like, well, see you later.
I'd leave him in the normal security line.
He'd be through like 45 minutes later.
But he has pre-check now because again, why wouldn't he?
has a wife who is smart who said, yeah, you're going to be good.
Filled out the paperwork for him, sent him to the appointment.
Oh, sorry for you.
(33:02):
I'm sure Doug's very appreciative of that now that he doesn't have to wait in the normalline.
Yeah.
So tell us where people can connect with Monster Energy SMX World Championship.
Yeah.
So make sure you check out super motocross, dot com and you can get all things needed forall 31 events.
You can get the results.
(33:22):
have, a live timing app.
get ways of where to watch.
You can also connect with any of our hosts on their Instagram and follow along with theseries on our, um, supermotocross or supercross live Instagrams as well.
Awesome.
Well, thank you so much for joining me and thanks to everybody for tuning into Momentum.
(33:42):
This has been a production of High Gear Success.
If you want to connect or recommend a guest, head to MomentumMotorsportsPodcast.com.
Until next time, keep the momentum rolling.
Welcome to Momentum, a motorsports podcast powered by High Gear Success.
I'm your host, Heather Wilson Schiltz Here we share the stories and strategies that keepthe world of motorsports moving forward.
Today I'm welcoming Kat Voiles to the show, a senior live event manager for FeldEntertainment who works on Monster Energy SMX World Championship.
(00:25):
So Kat, thank you for joining me.
Hey Heather, thanks for having me.
Excited to be a part of this and dive into some fun things all SMX.
Yeah, a lot of behind the scenes content too, which I think will be really cool for fans.
So you've been with Feld since 2018 for starting in media operations, correct?
Yeah, this is going to be my eighth season.
(00:47):
And, fortunately for me, it's been a fun and a wild ride.
Um, every year either more tasks are added to the play or the sport evolves.
And, um, I just get to be a part of the magic that we continue to create, at FeldEntertainment.
So exciting to be in the role that I am with the team that I have and, um, just be alongfor the journey.
(01:08):
You know, when I started eight years ago, I was.
coordinating interviews and helping kind of more boots on the ground.
And now as a senior live event manager and running all things, our media sessions out inCalifornia, which is pre-season content to our live event experience, anything the fans
see or hear once they hit an event and then working closely with our broadcast team andour public relations team and just kind of a jack of all trades, but it's a really fun
(01:39):
role.
I tell people thatI truly have the best job in the world of Supercross.
So I'm fortunate to be a part of it and excited to share some of that with you and yourlisteners.
Before you even went to work for Feld, when did you or where did you get your love formotorsports?
Um, so I grew up with a dirt bike track in my backyard.
(02:00):
Um, my brother actually used to race ATVs professionally.
So I have the, ATV roots, um, which I know some of the dirt bike fans or have mixedfeelings about, but that truly gave me a love for the sport.
And, I grew up riding, never racing.
I'm, a roller, but, um, once you have a love for it, it doesn't really go away.
(02:23):
Going into college, I wanted to be pre-med.
I have a lot of medical family members and I had my CNA.
After going through some of the classes and taking a deeper dive at what I wanted to doprofessionally and for my life in general, uh I spoke with a career counselor who uh
helped me choose to change my path and see if I could mix my passion withsports and dirt bike racing into a professional career.
(02:50):
And I was very fortunate to be able to do that.
And I ended up working for a minor league hockey team, getting on the microphone, gettingto announce some sports in a live setting, and then working at the dome in St.
Louis, putting on concerts like Beyonce, Guns N' Roses, conventions and trade shows, andthen also events like Monster Jam and Monster Energy Supercross through Feld
(03:13):
Entertainment.
So afterthose experiences, it really helped shape me into having experience on the logistics and
event planning side.
And when an opportunity came up with Feld and they offered to move me to Florida to workin my dream job at 24 years old, it was like all the stars aligned and I was like super
excited to accept it and have been glowing in this field ever since.
(03:38):
So what does a typical weekend look like for you at the races from the time that the fansare walking into the stadium to the time that they're walking out?
Sure, so for me, I'm very fortunate.
I do get to fly in and out to every event and come home for a couple of days in between,but we have a crew who are boots on the ground.
They fly from city to city, our operations crew, and they truly are the warriors and theheroes of Supercross.
(04:01):
So a quick shout out to them.
They build everything, they tear it down, and then they go to the next city.
But for me and my small team that puts on the live event portion of the events, we fly in.
For the first event, we fly in on Wednesday, because we do have apre-race press conference at Anaheim.
but we fly in, we have to set up our press conference, work directly with the stadium forall things fan experience.
(04:24):
So every graphic that you see on the LED boards, the ribbons, the big screens, getting ourlogos and the placements in the right place.
all of the content that you see on the big screens, the commercials, um Lurch and Haleydoing interviews, the whole entire Race Day live show.
getting all of the pieces into place so that when the fans do walk in on Saturday morningfor FanFest and for the live event, everything's already ready to go.
(04:50):
So there's quite a bit that goes into it.
We'd be here all day if I told you every little detail, but some of the things that Itruly enjoy,
I have a love hate relationship with trophies.
get to work with a team to design and then we have a supplier who builds our trophies.
Some years they've been better than others, but it is fun to get to see them from aconcept into place and then have the athletes raise them at the end of the night is truly
(05:16):
a full circle moment.
So yeah, all of the things that a fan can experience in the stadium, such as the champagnespray to the big pyro booms.
have aPyro supplier, Dynamic Effects, who's truly incredible.
They make all of the magic happen.
And if we change our minds on if we want more smoke or bigger flames or colored flames,they are on it with all of the new technologies.
(05:39):
So, you know, in the past, we've had lasers for different shows coordinating spotlights sothat you truly get that under the light feel.
So, uh yeah, anything that the fans can see or experience in stadium, myself and my teamwork on.
trying to make it truly a fun and magical event for those who spend their hard earneddollars to come uh witness the sport of Supercross.
(06:04):
The pyro is so cool.
And like when you're sitting in the stadium, I just remember like feeling the heat, youknow, especially like, don't know if it's at every round, but the ones that I've been to
where they cross the finish line and then it, you know, yeah.
I mean, like you feel it as you're fitting sitting in the stand.
I think that's really cool.
We've had some fun media coverage in different cities oh that aren't used to having us allthe time, or even those that are who are like, like, is this a UFO?
(06:30):
And they'll post a picture of the big black circle ring in the air.
And it's like, it's not a UFO.
It's just supercross.
We'll be back again next year, guys.
But yeah, you can feel that heat.
How do you bring in the storytelling element to it too on the screens?
I imagine a lot of that stuff is filmed probably weeks or months in advance.
(06:51):
So how do you bring that storytelling element to the fans in the stadium?
Sure.
yeah, in beginning of December, oh we had our media sessions out in Anaheim.
So we bring in a lot of the athletes and they, run them through a car wash of stationswhere we get headshot photos and hero shots and they sit in front of our television
production.
They sit in front of our race day live production.
(07:13):
They sit in front of Ricky and James and all of our announcers to, you know, tell theirstories so that they can have little tidbits to speak on throughout the season.
And it's four hours worth ofcontent capture, but they get it done before the first race.
So that we have that to use throughout all 31 of the Monster Energy SMX World Championshiprounds, know, not only Supercross, but Pro Motocross and at our playoffs and finals.
(07:38):
So it's great that we gather all of that content and that storytelling in December.
But as you know, you know, being a journalist yourself, stories change and the storylinesare constantly evolving.
So it's really great to work with the crew of professionals that I do withWith Haley Shanley and Lurch and JB and AC for the race day live crew.
(07:59):
They're just top level and they really dig deep.
And we have meetings weekly to just talk through, Hey, how are we going to tell thesestories better?
Can we get out into the pits?
Can we get under the tents?
Can we talk with these guys during the week to just see what's going on?
And then I work with an incredible videographer team to make our opening ceremonies videosand truly create that magic and tell it in such a cinematic way so that.
(08:24):
You really only get to experience that if you buy a ticket to the event and see it on thebig screen and we tie in the pyro and we make that magic happen.
So you get the drama and the cinematic feel of what these athletes are going through, butthen you get to see the magic of what the sport entails and just how grueling it is.
So um yeah, I'm a little partial, but opening ceremonies and the videos are some of myfavorite part of just how we get to tell those stories.
(08:52):
Yeah, opening ceremony is always really cool, but there's also so much content that goeson even before the actual racing gets started.
as a fan, you don't want to be walking in just before opening ceremonies.
It's definitely an all-day experience.
It truly is.
Yeah.
So for Anaheim and we're fortunate this year to have, um, some scheduling changes, youknow, on purpose this year, all of our viewers consistently can watch, a 7 PM Eastern time
(09:20):
gate drop.
So that's for all of our international viewers too, worldwide, gives them a betteropportunity to not have to stay up to midnight or 4 AM, whatever it is in your time zone
to watch the gate drops.
but that's at 15 of, I believe of our 17 races.
That'll be a consistent.
viewing time, but as you mentioned, our racing doesn't start at 7 PM.
(09:40):
We have a whole day of activities.
So if you come to the FanFest, doors will open at 9 AM.
You get there, you can go out to the Rig Riot, go see the Monster Energy or the Kawasakidemos in the pits, get your autographs, come in stadium.
And this year we had a very exciting scheduling and format change.
So we'll be no longer having our free practice.
(10:01):
We'll have two qualifying sessions.
And this will give the riders the adequate time they need on track for qualifying and toreally get a gauge for the track.
But more importantly, it's going to give our track crew time to fix the track and tomaintain the track so that it is the best track possible for the evening main races So I'm
(10:23):
excited for that, but that gives our fans who do attend an opportunity to come in stadium,see some qualifying, see some see their favorite riders.
you know, early on in the day, but also get to see some content that I mentioned we filmedin early December on the big screen and some behind the scenes type of stuff.
yeah, it's a truly all day event and a very exciting event to say the least.
(10:46):
And you mentioned that most of the races are taking place at 7 PM Eastern, which as aMidwest person in the Eastern time zone, I appreciate because I was just never the type of
person to be able to stay up that late.
I'm not a night owl.
So yeah, it's a, they kind of started doing that a little bit last year too, but I feellike it's going to be even more consistent this year.
(11:08):
And since I'll be out at A1, I was just looking at that.
Cause again, in my head it was 7 PM, but I'm like, no, it's actually, it'll be what?
Uh, 3 p.m.
there?
4 p.m.?
Yeah.
So our, opening (11:20):
30 and the main event start time would be four o'clock.
So it's going to feel a little different.
That fan experience that I mentioned, um, we're used to Anaheim one always being darkunder the lights.
get those spotlights, like we mentioned.
30, it isn't going to be dark, but like I, like I said, our pyro team is veryinnovative.
(11:44):
We're still going to get that feel of it being.
magical and get the big booms you know, have some colored smokes and fun things like that.
So, it will be a change for those in stadium, but the racing action is going to be topnotch as it always is.
And again, part of the bigger picture is, you know, now millions worldwide will have amore accessible opportunity to watch those gate drops consistently at a time that makes
(12:08):
sense.
Cause yeah, you being Midwestern, but a lot of those on the East coast are like,Midnight to stay up to watch Supercross?
boy, it's quite the dedication.
So I know we have a lot of East coasters who are really happy about the seven o'clockconsistency.
I think it'll be interesting too, from like a family perspective, if you had young kids,now you're going more in the middle of the day versus like late at night when maybe the
(12:34):
kids are getting a little cranky.
So, um, I think it'll be a different environment in the stadium too.
Yeah.
And having to stay until 10, 11 o'clock at night, or if we have any unfortunate events ontrack that caused delays, then you're looking at a midnight and you're not even getting
out of the parking lot until then.
So yeah, I think this will really provide a great opportunity, as I mentioned, for thoseviewers, but for those in stands, make a full day out of it.
(12:59):
And so you can get home and get the kids to bed at a decent hour.
So, cause it's truly incredible.
I, you know, our sport has the core fans, a lot ofA lot of guys, there are some girls who are diehards, you know, like us who appreciate the
sport.
Um, but we're starting to see, you know, these last couple of years, a lot more familiescoming.
And with it being an earlier time, as you mentioned, I think that will create a betteropportunity for it to continue to expand to families.
(13:26):
So we're excited for that, especially with our SMX next racing program with getting someof those younger athletes onto supercross tracks, onto pro motocross tracks earlier.
you know, because the sport of supercross, as I had mentioned, started with me and mybrother and our family traveling around to races.
it truly does have that family vibe and it's great to bring that, you know, to familiesmainstream who maybe don't ride, but want to experience, um, and see the sport together.
(13:54):
You mentioned working with a lot of different teams, audio visual teams, operations,media.
How do you keep everybody aligned and you're dealing with very tight deadlines?
And this is a live event production, so there's really no room for error.
So how do you keep everybody so aligned?
Um, it's not an easy task.
(14:14):
I'm constantly learning.
always tell myself, strive for progress, not perfection.
although perfection is my standard, but I realized it's not always going to be perfect.
A lot of times what I want and what we can actually attain are two different things.
Um, but I have a great crew that works directly underneath me that helps put the visioninto place.
(14:35):
yeah, working with different personalities is a skill that, hasdefinitely come over the years.
then as deadlines, as you mentioned, are, they're not going anywhere and they're notmoving anytime.
So you can't make excuses.
We just have to get the job done.
There's the times I'm stuck at the stadium until 11, 12 o'clock, finishing a script orupdating an opening ceremonies plan or getting last minute content into place.
(14:58):
And then I have to be back at the stadium for an early start at 5 a.m.
But that's just a part of the job.
And it's, you know, what I signed up for, I do love this sport, butTo be a part of the magic truly is a great blessing.
And there are challenges as with any job, but I always tell people I'd rather be workingin dirt bike racing than, you know, sitting at a desk and, you know, selling insurance or
(15:21):
doing accounting.
And I can joke with that because my, some family is in, is in insurance and my husband isan accountant.
So I have the fun job and as with any job there's challenges, but it is very rewarding.
And this is a touring series.
So you're constantly adapting to different venues each week.
(15:41):
It's not like you just get set up for the season and you're good to go.
Everything's the same.
So what has been, some logistical challenges that you face time and time again, and thatyou're maybe getting better at solving on the fly.
Yeah, having a background working at the Dome as an event manager definitely helped mewith the logistics side of event planning and then also being able to work with the
(16:03):
different dynamics of the personnel that you face when you come to a new stadium.
So that helped me in understanding that and being able to communicate our needs now beinga client versus being a host venue.
But yeah, we go to 16 different professional stadiums over the course of 17 weekends,Anaheim being the only one we repeat.
So.
We're constantly working, you know, all this, we'll call it off season, which is, youknow, the couple of weeks after our SMX playoffs and final where we're prepping for the
(16:33):
upcoming season.
we're planning Anaheim, all our California rounds, looking into, you know, we're excitedto return to Houston.
We haven't been there for a couple of years.
So we're meeting with those buildings constantly, but now that Anaheim is about to begin,you know, we're already looking at round six, seven, and eight and planning the logistics
there.
Cause.
As you mentioned, every stadium is different.
(16:54):
So we set up in different rooms.
We have different booths upstairs, know, coaches and radio booths.
Where will Race Stay Live be?
Are we able to set it up on a concourse or an accessible place to the fans?
Can I get internet there?
Do I need spotlights in this market?
So every venue has its own challenges.
Luckily, a lot of these venues are repeat.
So the staff remember us.
(17:15):
They all usually enjoy our show and are excited to work with us.
But then other challenges arise.
You know, when you come to a new venue, we're very excited to go to Cleveland this year.
we haven't played there.
The venue was much different, you know, years and years ago when we played.
So we're treating it as a first time played venue, but again, the logistics we had to flythere for a site visit, to just get boots on the ground, get a feel for it.
(17:38):
Where will I set up, you know, our race control room, where will race day live be?
Is the press box adequate enough?
So, um, yeah.
a list of miles long of questions that are just constantly changing, but it keeps it fun.
I would, I would be bored if it wasn't.
We talked about the on-screen portion earlier, but has technology changed in the yearssince you first started with Feld as far as the in stadium technology or has it stayed
(18:09):
relatively the same?
(18:44):
Yeah, it's interesting.
A lot of the venues we go to have been updating their LED screens.
So you'll get bigger screens or you'll get different dimensions and every package isdifferent.
So we have a graphic design team who has to make brand new elements every week for adifferent stadium sized boards So that has been cool, but it has also provided some
(19:06):
challenges.
know, playing at Gillette Stadium, they...
uhthey reconstructed their board.
one, was it last year or two years ago when we were there, we didn't have access to thebig screen.
So we had to rent supplemental screens to bring in.
That's happened in a couple of different places.
We've either been fortunate that one board is out and under construction for renovations,but another board is still active so we could use that.
(19:31):
um yeah, other technologies, working closely with our television team.
We have a live view camera, so we're able to do some live hits out in the fan fest.
Previously, our RF cameras hadn't reached.
And then, you know, our TV team is constantly looking at new um technologies that aredeveloping, whether it be testing with Justin Brayton, with, you know, onboard
(19:55):
communication, some other cameras.
So yeah, lots of fun things, always looking for new and innovative ways to...
Storytell better and to make the sport and the experience top notch.
So many moving pieces, a lot of behind the scenes stuff going on.
Is there something that you think fans would be surprised to learn about what it takes topull off a Supercross event?
(20:22):
I don't know if it would be surprising, but it is truly go, go, go from the minute youland into the city to, you know, we're packing up and loading up all the press conference
equipment and pushing it onto the semi trucks and finally closing the semi trucks doors at2 a.m.
and the pouring rain and you go back to the hotel and you got to get on your flight at sixor 7 a.m.
(20:44):
So I don't know if it'd be surprising because as I alluded to, I'm fortunate enough to flyin and fly out, but
Our crew who work so hard, I mean, they are nonstop all the time.
So the thing that I find most, I don't know, guess.
Amazing about this sport is how our crew can transform.
We were just an angel stadium doing content capture and their pristine grass looksbeautiful.
(21:09):
You know, the field is just immaculate.
And I'm like, well, we'll be here in a couple of weeks putting our dirt down and tearingup your fields, but.
Um, just the transformation that our crew was able to do it to me is just the most mindblowing and it, takes a lot of time, a lot of dedication, a lot of hard work.
guys are out in all elements, you know, a lot of stadiums with no roof and the show mustgo on.
(21:34):
You know, we, have to have the races.
So, um, that's the most surprising to me is just how much work it takes to, you know, notonly plan these as, you know, myself and our full-time crew get to do during
our off season, then to truly build it is just a work of art.
And all the credit goes to those guys and gals who are building that week in and week out.
(21:57):
You mentioned weather factors.
So does that tend to affect the technology very much or is everything pretty muchwaterproof at this point?
boy.
uh nothing is ever a hundred percent waterproof or foolproof, but, a lot of our camerashave over the years, they've developed, you know, different things to, use to keep them
(22:18):
covered and to keep them safe and to still be able to shoot in the rain.
our poor track guys out there, um, in the muck, I wish there was a way to weatherproofthem because it's
Like I said, they're true heroes, but when you have a rain and mud race, I mean, there isnot a part of their body that is clean except for when they take that helmet off and it's
like, this is brown, everything else is like, you can see their hair and then everythingelse is brown.
(22:44):
So, yeah, I wish there was a way to weatherproof those guys, but um yeah, I mean, we'rejust accustomed to it with being out in the elements.
So we're able to prepare.
But yeah, rain plans have to be in place, you know, on Fridays, if we're expecting weatherfor Saturday, we'll meet with the AMA and our rules and regulations officials.
(23:06):
And I'll work up a couple of different variations of the schedule so that I have themready to put into place.
So that if we do need to have a delayed time for bikes on track, I already have thatformat ready to go.
And if it gets way more rain than we're expected, I have plan B, C and D, or if it ends upbeing a little bit lighter than, Hey, you know what?
We can.
In years past, we can still run practice and maybe we need to shorten the qualifiers, but,um, yeah, it's trying to be prepared as best as possible.
(23:36):
When it comes to live event production, would imagine, I don't know, it would stress meout to be doing the magnitude of stuff that you're doing.
But do you feel like you get an adrenaline rush every time that you're at the stadium?
And do you feel like you're prepared or do you like that unpredictable nature of the liveevents?
(23:59):
That's a tough question because I feel like it's a little bit of a mixed bag.
know, going into Anaheim for the first race of the season, there's so many emotions andthere's so many things and you're like, did I get that done?
Yeah.
Okay.
Did I do that one thing?
No, but I can do it tomorrow or, oh and then, you know, your mind's on Anaheim, but you'realso working on, you know, Glendale and the next couple of races down the road.
(24:23):
But,to me, my favorite part is being up and show control.
I've got my headset on.
We're in communication with our television trucks.
We're in communication with all of the guys down on the floor.
we have house communication to make sure the ribbons and the audio is all good.
So there's like 14 people in my panel that I could talk to at any point.
(24:43):
And, a good day is where I might not, need to talk to any of them because everything's inplace, you know, but if it's
You know, emergency, con, hey, lurch, go run up into the stands.
you just gotta be quick on your feet and think of those things.
And I do feel like I thrive on the chaos a little bit.
I enjoy it.
I don't think I would be successful in this role if I didn't.
(25:05):
but at the same time, I love when a plan does come together and it can be a little morechill and I can actually enjoy the racing, um, that gets to unfold and fold in front of
us.
So,I'd say I do thrive in the chaos.
I enjoy the adrenaline.
Even going to Anaheim, this will be my eighth year being there for Anaheim 1.
It's always so magical to be able to just be there for the first race and kick off theseason.
(25:31):
I think for your role, you have to be a person that just enjoys like rolling with thepunches and like, like you said, you're prepared, but also you're prepared for things to
go off track too.
So you can make those adjustments and you're totally cool with it.
Yeah.
And like I said, I like to have a plan and I would love for my plan to be the one that'sin place.
(25:54):
Um, but as I've learned through the years, I have to be willing to accept, okay, we'removing to plan C D and even the plan that I didn't have, you know, unfortunately in
Charlotte for SMX due to the weather, had to end up concluding the races after one, onemoto, which in the history of our sport, I don't believe had happened before maybe one
(26:14):
other time.
That was something, you know, we're up in the control room, you know, all of the headhonchos trying to talk through the different outcomes, the different scenarios.
What can we do?
How can we still give our fans an experience?
But due to the inclement weather, there was no foreseeable end in sight for the lightningstrikes.
And it was, wasn't safe for the athletes and it wasn't safe for the fans.
(26:36):
And that was something we hadn't seen before to just call it and have to end it rightthere.
So, um, yeah, just.
knowing, your option might not be one of the ones that you thought of ahead of time, buthow do you, okay, this is how it's going to go.
Now get the next steps in place.
And just being able to have that mindset takes some work and doesn't come easy, but it'sdefinitely rewarding when you can get the final pieces into place.
(27:03):
Something else just came to mind for me too, and I don't know if you work on this or not,but like the science of supercross segments.
Are you involved with that at all?
Pam Mariani is our producer of that and she is incredible.
She can create magic out of something that I would think would be the most boring thing inthe world, but she can tell those stories in such an incredible way.
(27:23):
Kawasaki's been a great partner in doing that and finding creative ways to tell thosestories.
But I get to see that magic on the big screen.
I've been a part of some of the shoots that she's been at to see those live, but she getsall the credit for making all of those for sure.
I think those are such cool segments and I love the educational element of those becausethere are some people that aren't racers or aren't involved in the industry that are just
(27:47):
fans of the sport.
so being able to educate them about different uh technology or bike setup or differentthings that the athletes are doing, I think it's really cool.
Yeah, like a common fan may have no idea what a holeshot device is and they take twominutes to fully explain how does it work?
Why does it work?
Why do we have this technology where years ago, you know, they never had this and dirtbike racing stuff.
(28:10):
Um, yeah, the way they were able to tell those stories and expose some of thoseintricacies to the common fan, is really magical.
And this has been probably several years ago now, but the Makeup2Mud series that they did,I thought that was so cool.
I think they only did it for one season.
I would love for that to come back in some fashion.
I think we had a couple of seasons of it and one of my team members, Brianna Marquardt wasfeatured on there with her sister and now she works full time for Feld.
(28:38):
So it's cool to see that come full circle.
But yeah, that was a great series and a great way to show women in motocross and thedifferent ways that there's a lot of women behind the scenes.
I think of all of the wives and now that I'm a mom now, all of the moms of these athletesand the
the wives of these athletes who are moms and how they kind of created a family sport, butthey're truly like holding it together while dad's out there, you know, risking his life
(29:06):
on a dirt bike.
And then, you know, you have the other side of it with our, WMX, which we have an excitingannouncement for Anaheim.
We're looking forward to that.
won't give away any details, but we're really excited for the sport of WMX and how it'sbeen able to expand, you know, as I mentioned with our SMX world championship series.
So.
We're really looking forward to that exciting announcement coming up, but truly justgiving the eyeballs to women in motorsports and not only those on the bike, but those
(29:34):
behind the scenes to just give them the, the attention that they deserve because you know,girls like us are, are pretty awesome.
And, um, we like to show the world and to tell those stories.
So.
When you're not living inside of a stadium, what helps you recharge and stay creativeduring such a busy and demanding season?
(29:57):
well, as I mentioned, I'm a mom now.
so I have a, a year and a half year old Brighton.
He truly is the, brightens the day.
Um, he's been on 12 airplanes and been to more supercross or SMX races than most, mostfans get to attend in their life.
But I'm very fortunate to be able to bring him to some of the races and my husband's, um,a true support.
(30:18):
And just when I'm gone and mom's gone on weekends, dad's home hanging out with Brightonand they're watching SMX on TV, but.
to be able to fly home and have, you know, we're back on the computers by Sunday, you'resubmitting payroll Monday, Tuesday, you're back on the computer planning the next events,
but to have the support of, you know, my family at home is really where I get the rechargefor the batteries.
(30:43):
Um, but then, you know, we have a close family on the road to, uh, those of us who are inthe trenches, who live for this, who love it, um, who unfortunately have to leave.
their actual families at home to come do this on the weekends.
So, you know, my crew worked directly with me, TJ and Emily, they're always working sohard and I know I can come to them with anything and they're ready to make supercross
(31:04):
successful in whatever way is needed.
But, just having a great support on and off the road is really what keeps me going.
And then having a passion for this, you know, growing up with it and watching it on TV andgoing to Indianapolis and watching it.
from the stands to now being able to create that magic and be a part of it.
Again, like I mentioned at the beginning, I feel like I have the best job not only in theworld, but in the industry.
(31:28):
So truly blessed to be able to do what we do.
With all of the flying and travel that you do, do you feel like you are a travel pro or doyou still struggle with getting things packed?
Um, traveled pro might be a little bit of a stretch after eight years of getting on andoff airplanes.
Um, I would say I'm, I don't know about pro, but I'm close to expert.
(31:50):
know, we're, getting there.
the one thing I always.
It blows my mind is anyone who works in this sport, who doesn't have TSA pre-check likeyou're, what are you doing?
Like you have to have it.
It's the best investment for yourself.
but yeah, that.
I mean, I show up to the airport every, every Thursday morning or Wednesday morning,depending on what week it is and get on the airplane, go through TSA and it doesn't really
(32:19):
faze me.
but I tell people, I see more airports, more hotels and more stadiums than I see of my ownbed.
But again, wouldn't have it any other way.
Yeah, I have pre-check as well.
And I think I've renewed it for like the second time and I couldn't imagine not having it.
And there was like a stretch of time where my husband didn't have it.
(32:41):
I'd be like, well, see you later.
I'd leave him in the normal security line.
He'd be through like 45 minutes later.
But he has pre-check now because again, why wouldn't he?
has a wife who is smart who said, yeah, you're going to be good.
Filled out the paperwork for him, sent him to the appointment.
Oh, sorry for you.
(33:02):
I'm sure Doug's very appreciative of that now that he doesn't have to wait in the normalline.
Yeah.
So tell us where people can connect with Monster Energy SMX World Championship.
Yeah.
So make sure you check out super motocross, dot com and you can get all things needed forall 31 events.
You can get the results.
(33:22):
have, a live timing app.
get ways of where to watch.
You can also connect with any of our hosts on their Instagram and follow along with theseries on our, um, supermotocross or supercross live Instagrams as well.
Awesome.
Well, thank you so much for joining me and thanks to everybody for tuning into Momentum.
(33:42):
This has been a production of High Gear Success.
If you want to connect or recommend a guest, head to MomentumMotorsportsPodcast.com.
Until next time, keep the momentum rolling.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The MeatEater Podcast
Building on the belief that a deeper understanding of the natural world enriches all of our lives, host Steven Rinella brings an in-depth and relevant look at all outdoor topics including hunting, fishing, nature, conservation, and wild foods. Filled with humor, irreverence, and things that will surprise the hell out of you, each episode welcomes a diverse group of guests who add their own expertise to the vast world of the outdoors. Part of The MeatEater Podcast Network.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by Audiochuck Media Company.