Six years ago, at the age of 40, Radium Hot Springs, B.C., area resident Tamara Osborne decided she wanted a snowmobile, so true to her style, she simply went out and bought one. It was a 2003 Ski-Doo MXZ 600. Tearing up the front yard, her husband, Steve, watched the joy his wife was having. Feeling inspired, he went out and bought a snowmobile as well. It wasn’t very long before Tamara upgraded to a 2007 Ski-Doo 600, which was more suited for the terrain she wanted to access. Riding in her front yard got old pretty fast.
Now a confident mountain freerider, Tamara has taken her adventures to another level. Searching for other women to ride with, and learn from, it became quite clear that there weren’t many resources or mentors available at the time.
With her Bob the Builder-like persona, she created a powersports network for women called the Betties Power Sports Network. This network is dedicated to the support, development and inspiration of women in powersports, helping them to gain skill and confidence in a welcoming environment. With well over 100 members in the Betties club, Tamara's vision is an epic success. Can we build it? Yes we can.
Tamara may be slight in stature but this woman can rail her sled like it was made of feathers. She admits that not being a spring chicken and being petite forces her to use the machine’s geometry to manoeuvre technical lines. It isn’t about muscle, it’s about coming to an understanding of how the machine is designed to work, which helps Tamara to ride fluidly through the trees as well as the steep and deep alpine terrain.
She loves technical off-camber riding, especially if trees are involved.
“I get my kicks in the sticks,” she laughs.
Pushing to the brink of her skill level, Tamara continues to inspire many a rider who thought they simply couldn’t.
Favourite moments
There are a few different “favourites” when it comes to her most favourite moments of riding. The days that are spontaneous—just Tamara and her husband, Steve—are most certainly some of her most cherished rides. The two ride hard and come home exhausted, and if the sky is blue, do it again the next day. It works having your best friend as your ride partner.
Also close to her heart are the days she takes brand new riders out for their first mountain adventure. It is an incredible amount of work, but worth it in every way, shape and form. Unsticking sleds, encouraging riders, keeping everyone safe and gauging the comfort level of the entire group leaves them exhausted, yet fulfilled, at the end of the day.
Support for she-shredders
Tamara has received a tremendous amount of support from many in the industry. T & T Power Sports in Bonnyville, Alberta, and Arctic Cat have graciously provided snowmobiles for many in the project to use, Tamara included. For this, she is eternally grateful.
“What a difference it makes when you can ride the latest in technology,” she said. “Instead of a person’s first experience sledding being on old iron, perhaps someone’s hand-me-down, many of our club members are introduced to mountain riding on a state-of-the-art mountain machine. This helps boost their confidence in so many ways.”
You’ll see her this year on a 2014 Arctic Cat Proclimb 8000. Film producer and owner of Raw Mettle Films, she is excited about the next Betties Adventures 3 release.
“Women can ride," she said. “You are never too old or too small to ride—all you have to have is heart.”
For more information on the Betties Power Sports Network, see The Betties website.
