Synopses & Reviews
At nineteen, Ashley Fiolek is already the top female competitor in a tough men's sport: motocross, a form of off-road motorcycle racing that is one of the most competitive and dangerous extreme sports in the world. Since going pro in late 2007, Fiolek has taken gold at the X Games, won the American Women's Motocross Championship twice, and become the first woman in American motocross history to be signed to a factory teamthe highest echelon of industry backing.
But Fiolek's rise has not come without obstacles. Fiolek was born profoundly deaf, a handicap that makes everyday life difficultand competition on the track downright dangerous. Originally misdiagnosed as "mildly retarded," she was a painfully shy and introverted childuntil her parents introduced her to the world of dirt bikes, which helped her escape the silence in her head and connect with others who shared her passion. She began racing at seven, and as her successes grew through hard work and no small number of broken bones, so did her confidence.
Fiolek has never believed her disability should stand in the way of her dreams. Nor has she allowed her gender to limit her careermotocross historically has been a men's sport, but with the love and support of her dirt-obsessed family, including her "Grandpa Motorcycle," her little brother, Kicker, and her dogs, Turbo and Rocco, Ashley has emerged as one of the sport's most talked-about stars, changing the way the entire industry views women. Armed with her extraordinary talent, contagious grin, and deep faith in God, Fiolek continues to venture into unknown territory, relentlessly pushing herselfand women's motocrossto ever-greater heights.
Kicking Up Dirt is a remarkable, inspiring tale of a young woman's courage and determination to succeed in the face of truly challenging obstacles.
Review
“Ashley Fioleks not just good at motocross for a girl…shes flat-out good. She is a tough, confident, competitive racer who has overcome enough in her life to know that nothing is impossible.” Travis Pastrana, nine-time X Games gold medalist and host of Nitro Circus
Review
“Ashley Fioleks incredible story perfectly embodies the adage ‘the only thing that deaf people cant do is hear. Fiolek is an inspiration to anyone who has a barrier to overcome. My hands are waving in the air, and Im screaming for her; this book should not be missed.” Marlee Matlin
Synopsis
At nineteen, Ashley Fiolek is already the top female competitor in a tough men's sport: motocross, one of the most dangerous extreme sports in the world. Since going pro in late 2007, Fiolek has taken gold at the X Games, twice won the American Women's Motocross Championship, and become the first woman in American motocross history to be signed to a factory team—the highest echelon of industry backing. These remarkable achievements seem even more extraordinary because Fiolek was born profoundly deaf, a handicap that makes everyday life difficult . . . and competition on the track downright treacherous.
But Fiolek has never let her disability stand in the way of her dreams, nor has she allowed her gender to limit her career. One of the sport's most talked-about stars, she's changing the way the industry views women. Kicking Up Dirt is the remarkable true story of Ashley Fiolek's ride to greatness—the inspiring tale of a courageous young woman's determination to succeed in the face of truly challenging obstacles.
About the Author
Ashley Fiolek won gold in women's motocross at the 2009 X Games and the American Women's Motocross Championship in 2008 and 2009. Author of the monthly column "Silence" in TransWorld magazine, Fiolek has also been featured in the New York Times, USA Today, Sports Illustrated, Rolling Stone, ESPN: The Magazine, Cosmo Girl, and Paper magazine, and appeared on Last Call with Carson Daly. Born just outside of Detroit, Fiolek now lives in St. Augustine, Florida, and travels the world to compete.