Give’r Affiliate Eric Space is a jack of all trades - he hunts, fishes, dirt bikes, kayaks, hikes, and skis to name a few of his activities. His favorite sport is dependent on the seasons - in the winter it’s skiing and in the summer it’s dirt biking. Nowadays “Space”, as his friends call him, travels frequently to ride his dirt bike at new places all over the Southwest and beyond. We sat down with him to hear about what sparked his passion for the sport and what keeps him constantly eager for more:
“Growing up I hated being inside, and I was happiest when I was outside staying active. I started riding mini motorcycles when I was 11 because everyone in my family was like ‘motorcycles are bad’, which, of course, made me really want to ride. I pretty much taught myself. I came from a big mountain biking background, so bikes were always around and that made me want to get really good at dirt biking. It was when I went to Vermont for college that I got my first dirt bike.
I’ve been in Jackson for 6 years now (summer of 2016 I moved out) and my first summer I guided backpacking trips for Teton Valley Ranch Camp where Bubba, Give’r Founder, used to work. I’d say back east skiing was my thing - Upstate New York skiing to be more exact, so it’s really just skiing on ice. I love Jackson because it’s a massive playground for anything you want to do. When I moved out to Jackson, I realized I could use my dirt bike to access secret fly fishing spots deep in the woods. I fell in love and now put a lot of money and time into it [laughs].
My favorite part about dirt biking is the challenge. Every ride is different and you truly never know what you’re going to get. I love learning something new on every ride. I don’t have a specific spot that’s my favorite, because I love the variety and excitement of trying someplace new. To be totally honest, I just love being in the woods.
My favorite piece of Give’r gear are absolutely the gloves. You can’t go wrong between the styles and they work for more purposes than just skiing. My second favorite has to be the Solar Hoodie with how much time I spend on the water all summer. Also, the Ol’ faithful is super cozy, good for camping or a travel day. Honestly, I love it all!
Some of the best advice I have for beginner dirt bikers is to remember that it’s a machine so you have to become familiar with it. The more time you spend on the bike the more comfortable you get the more comfortable you get the more places you can go. Just take it step by step and ride with people better than you because that’s when you learn. And, get ready to crash. Crashing means you’re learning.”
