For several years, Sara Price of Canyon Lake has been known locally for her success as a talented teen rising to the top in the sport of motocross.
Sara Price is among the 222 contestants vying for the title of Miss California USA 2013 in the Jan. 12-13 pageant at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. (Courtesy photo)
Now, this 20-year-old racer is speeding ahead into a new venture: beauty pageant contestant.
Price is among the 222 contestants vying for the title of Miss California USA 2013 in the Jan. 12-13 pageant at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. The winner will be awarded scholarship and charity opportunities and can compete in the Miss USA pageant.
It’s a new direction for Price, whose has spent most of her life on the racetrack; not modeling gowns. The Southern California native has made news in the motocross world winning AMA/WMX Rookie of the Year in 2009 and a Bronze Medal in the 2010 X Games.
As a teen, she was the “winningest female amateur rider in history.” She went pro at the age of 16.
“Motocross is a short-lived sport because your body can only take so much. When you’re 25 to 30 you’re thinking of retirement,” explained Price, who already has had shoulder surgeries and torn ligaments in her wrist from riding- and crash-related injuries.
For Price, motocross is a family affair. Price followed the footsteps of older brother Dean, 25, who was a dirt bike racer. The Price family also enjoys riding for fun out at the sand dunes in Glamis.
“It’s always been a family sport for us. It’s always been nice to go out to the track every day of the week and we had fun doing it,” said Price. She happened to be good at it too so her family supported Price as she traveled and competed while being home-schooled.
“I just stayed determined and kept training,” said Price, who started riding seriously at the age of eight and traveled around the country for a time with Monster Kawasaki Team Green, competing in local and national events.
Price has diversified since it’s hard to earn a living just riding in today’s economy, she said. She runs her own business, Sara Price’s Racing Academy at the local tracks; she hosts the annual Sara Price Invitational at different tracks; she works as the office manager at her parents’ business in Riverside, Auto Styles Body & Paint; and she is seeking to break in to the four-wheel driving circuit. In addition, she’s the spokeswoman for MotoMingle.com, a social network for the off-road community.
Price also serves as Ambassador for the Kids Cures Foundation, a Beaumont- based non-profit that provides programs, services and resources to children who suffer from childhood diseases and their families.
Sara Price of Canyon Lake has been known locally for her success as a talented teen rising to the top in the sport of motocross. (Courtesy photo)
While healing from torn ligaments in her left wrist that she sustained during practice for the 2012 X Games, Price decided to use the down time to compete in a 2012 Miss Teen Pageant and she won Miss Photogenic while finishing as the first runner-up. She was invited to compete in Donald Trump’s Miss California USA pageant.
“You have to know how to walk and how to talk. That’s pretty much my main focus right now,” she said.
Motocross is still a part of her life and Price can be found at the local tracks in Perris, Lake Elsinore, San Bernardino, Riverside and Hesperia.
“I would encourage any woman to get out there on a motorcycle,” she said. “It’s fun and a great family activity. We’d love to have more people out there and see new faces.”
For updates on Price’s road to the runway, visit www.sarapricemx.com.
Amy Bentley is a local writer and regular contributor to SWRNN.
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