THE FRONT ROW WITH JASON ELLIOTT: Quite the ride for Flynn in Desert

With a population of 988, the small town of Odessa, Wash., is fairly quiet on most weekends.

The lone exception is that first weekend in April, when an estimated 36,000 motorcycle enthusiasts come to town.

Then, as Coeur d’Alene’s Tia Flynn describes, it’s like a large family reunion.

ON SUNDAY, after a two-year hiatus, the Stumpjumpers Motorcycle Club Desert 100 took place, with riders of all ages competing in the 50th edition of the race.

For Flynn, it was her 20th time in the event.

“Sometimes, you’ll have up to 1,000 racers on the starting line,” Flynn said. “They say it’s the biggest race in the world. It’s a grueling race. The town of Odessa triples in size.”

The event is held on a ranch and racers can do two 50-mile laps, or just a single lap. Conditions can include anything from hills to mud after leaving the ranch. The event was canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19.

“Of all the years I’ve done it, this was by far the dustiest,” Flynn said. “I kept hitting rocks and it was kind of terrible.”

Even so, it’s the fun that keeps her coming back.

“Mostly, it’s the friendships I’ve made,” Flynn said. “There’s some people that I only see at the event. Because I’m a woman, they lump us in with the professionals and kids, and everyone gets off the start at the same time.”

Now 57, Flynn knows that she might not race the event much longer.

“When I was younger, I’d finish in the top five,” Flynn said. “This year, I was 16th because I’m old and slow. But I’ve had 16 finishes in a row, which was good for me. I had one year where I had a broken collarbone, and another where I tore my ACL 5 miles into the race, and had to do the last 45 miles with it like that. I think now I’m done.”

FLYNN, an audiologist (doctor of hearing), used to do at least 10 races a year.

“I basically work now to buy bike parts,” Flynn said.

While she doesn’t know if she’ll race in Odessa again, Flynn still enjoys the competition.

“I still enjoy when you get out there and you’re flying across the desert,” Flynn said. “Everyone is going one way and it’s racing. It’s dangerous, but you know when something happens, someone is going to help and make sure you get back into the race.”

One thing she won’t miss is the challenging hills.

“There was a hill that they hadn’t had in years,” Flynn said. “When I got to it, and seeing some 60 people stuck, I just wondered where I’m going to go. I really just had to get out and push and push, huffing and puffing. Then I just wondered, why am I doing this?”

Because it’s fun, no matter what age you are.

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for The Press. He can be reached by telephone at 208-664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @JECdAPress.