BY HEVEN WHIDDEN
Local All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) racer Shawn Marinoff is looking forward to tearing up the dirt track this summer.
For Marinoff getting behind the controls of a dirt bike came
not too long after he first learned how to walk. He rode his
first bike when he was only four years old and started racing
when he was 11.
He's an experienced veteran now at the still young age of 21
and he's having more fun than ever.
A couple of years ago, Marinoff started racing motocross and
just last year switched over to ATV racing to try something
new. With his switch over to ATV, sponsorships came rolling in.
For a young man who doesn't possess a lot of disposable
income, sponsors are crucial and Marinoff has attracted many
for this racing season, including Spy Optics, Legit Trix, Tag
Metals, Metal Mulisha, Rip Motors, Rockstar energy drink, Pat
Taylor Contracting, Tate's General Contracting, Sudbury Cycle
and Marine, and, of course, mom and dad, to name a few.
Spy Optics supplied Marinoff with goggles, Ligit Trix
supplied him with gear, Tag Metals supplied him with handle
bars, sprockets and chains.  Local companies Pat Taylor
Contracting and Tate's Contracting gave him money.
His parents are always at his side, encouraging him to be
the best he can.
"They support me 150 per cent," Marinoff said. "They've
always been there and they are always going to be."
He rides a Yamaha YXZ 450, for a team called Splash and Dirt
and says he will never go back to motocross. 
"It (ATV racing) was just something that I adapted to
quickly," Marinoff said. "I realized that I was faster at it."
Marinoff is competitive by nature so racing comes naturally
to him.
"I love it,"said Marinoff.  "I will always be doing it,
until the day I die."
Although racing is natural, he still puts in a lot of hard
work and dedication to try and become a better racer.
He trains every morning by not only practising on his ATV,
but also by lifting weights, running and biking.
He still thinks there are aspects of his riding he needs to
improve on.
" I have to pick up on my speed. I think that's about
it,"  said Marinoff.
The current racing season started in early April and there
are local races usually every second weekend, he said.
In his first race of the season Marinoff came in the top 10.
In his last race, he placed a strong second.
Marinoff also tried his hand in snowcross this past winter,
but soon found out it wasn't for him.
"I did very poorly in snowcross,"said Marinoff.  "It
was a wake up call. It's not a sport for me."
To find out more about local ATV racing, visit www.cmrcracing.com
