Avery Hemmer: How A 14-Year-Old Became A Six-Time Champion In Snowcross

At just 14 years old, Avery Hemmer is already a six-time champion and currently leading the Pro Women Snowcross points standings. From racing at age six in Minnesota to flying across North America for national competitions, Avery shares what it takes physically, mentally, and financially to compete at the highest level. She talks fitness, family sacrifice, social media branding, racing against boys, and why she encourages girls to get in the gym and chase big dreams.

Transcript

Meet Avery Hemmer

SPEAKER_01 0:02

Welcome to the Women's Motorsports Network Podcast, the show that puts the spotlight on the incredible women who fuel the world of motorsports. From drivers to crew members, engineers to fans, and everyone in between, we're here to celebrate the trailbizers, dreamers, and doers shaping the sport we love. Each episode, we share inspiring stories of females of all ages from every corner of the motorsports universe, past, present, and future. It's a journey through the seasons of life filled with heartfelt moments, laughter, and a whole lot of horsepower. So whether you're a lifelong fan, a racer yourself, or simply curious about the extraordinary women behind the wheel, settle in, relax, and enjoy a fun and uplifting ride with us. This is the Women's Motorsports Network Podcast, connecting and celebrating women in motorsports one story at a time. Let's hit the track. Hello everyone. This is Melinda Russell with the Women's Motorsports Network Podcast. And my guest today is Avery Hemmer. And Avery, I want to welcome you to the show. And the first thing I want to do, which is what I always do, is ask you to share a little bit about yourself because I want my listeners to get to know who you are outside of racing. So tell me about yourself.

SPEAKER_00 1:27

Yeah, thank you for having me. My name is Avery Hemer. I currently race Snowcross and I'm in the Pro M Women class. I'm from Elk River, Minnesota. And have one sister, my mom and dad always supporting me. And yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:48

And do you go to high are you in high school or are you homeschooled?

SPEAKER_00 1:52

Yeah, I'm I go to Elk River High School. I'm a freshman. Okay.

SPEAKER_01 1:58

And what do your friends think about you racing snow cross? Do they understand about it or are they clueless?

SPEAKER_00 2:06

There's very few that completely understand it, but I mean some of them just kind of think you're just riding around on a flat track, nodding your head, just kind of put your bridle.

SPEAKER_01 2:21

Right. Yeah, for sure. And do you have any pets?

SPEAKER_00 2:25

I do have one, or I have two dogs now, Kobe and Champ. Okay.

Origins In Snowcross

SPEAKER_01 2:32

We love our dogs, don't we? I have a dog too, so awesome. So Avery, you're 14, almost 15 years old. How did you get started in motorsports?

SPEAKER_00 2:45

My dad and my uncle raced a little bit. We are really close to a track called ERX in Elk River, right in our hometown. And we just go watch a couple times, and I started riding around in my yard, and my dad was super into it still, and he wanted to do it with me. So we started out on little sleds and eventually we got into the champ class. My dad was very into that.

SPEAKER_01 3:18

So how old were you when you first started?

SPEAKER_00 3:22

I think I was six years old.

SPEAKER_01 3:24

Okay. Alright. So you've been doing it a few years. So you started on a small, smaller snowmobile, and then and so you've been racing ever since you were six years old?

SPEAKER_00 3:36

Yeah, I have been. We kind of just started out with like the regional series, and then I think about seven, I started racing a couple nationals, and then yeah, just kind of kept going from there.

SPEAKER_01 3:52

Moved up from there, right? Yeah. So what's been your biggest success as far as being in the motor sports?

SPEAKER_00 4:02

Obviously, like winning races is always fun, but just like being able to look back and see where I came from is like it's amazing to me. Like, just like a little six-year-old and you would have never thought like we'd be here now.

Training And Mental Game

SPEAKER_01 4:17

Yeah. And you you probably never dreamed that you'd be where you are now, but yeah, for sure. Yeah, for sure. So, what what do you credit that to? Hard work, you you have some natural ability, your dad's a great coach. How did how did you get from that little six-year-old girl to where you are now?

SPEAKER_00 4:37

Just putting in work. I have a trainer now. I work out like probably three days a week. Just being on the sled as much as I can and just mentally being able to like be successful and not have like a mental game, I guess, just yeah, and having the drive to want to go win every race.

SPEAKER_01 5:01

You know, the mental part is a big part of it, isn't it? Yes. Yeah, it is. So how do you how do you stay focused and and in a good mental space to be a successful racer?

SPEAKER_00 5:15

I honestly like don't think about it too much. Just I don't know, I just try to be as locked in as I can as soon as I get to the line or whatever it is.

SPEAKER_01 5:26

Okay. Was there ever a time when you came, you know, because let's face it, every race is not the best race. We don't win every one of them. So was there ever a moment when you came off the the track and said, Nope, I'm done, I can't do this anymore? Or have you always just persevered and kept going?

SPEAKER_00 5:47

Yeah, there's there's been a few times, especially this my rookie season of my off-road my prospect season was last year. Just trying to figure out the truck and like just how it all works is super hard, and we're still learning this year. We're gonna still be learning, but yeah, just coming off the track and not having the result that we want, but just keep pushing through it and we know we'll get there.

Tracks, Travel, And Weather

SPEAKER_01 6:19

Well, and you know, if you gave up every time you had some adversity, you wouldn't be where you are today. Correct. Yeah, right. Yeah. So what's your favorite part about riding a sled, driving a sled?

SPEAKER_00 6:38

Just I mean, I'm super competitive and like I don't know, it's I don't know, like getting to ride a different track every weekend, and yeah, it's now I'm on a faster sled in the Pro Immin class, so being able to get over the jumps is a lot a lot more fun.

SPEAKER_01 6:59

Yeah, that has to be fun going over the jumps for sure.

SPEAKER_00 7:02

Yeah. Do you have a favorite track? So far this year, all of them have been pretty good. We're getting lucky with snow this year. This weekend, this weekend we're in New York right now. It might get a little rain. The track might be a little bit wet, but they seem to have a lot of snow, so hopefully we can maintain it. But I think the race in Shakapee, Minnesota, that both of them were pretty good. We had to reschedule from Deadwood, South Dakota to go to there again. So both day or both weekends there were good. I mean, all the tracks so far have been good. I've last last weekend we were in Valcourt, Quebec, Canada. Okay. Yeah, this they have a ton of snow always, and the track was deep and it was a little bit icy, but yeah, all the tracks have been super fun this year.

SPEAKER_01 7:59

Yeah, we've had a lot of snow. I live in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and I had about 10 inches of snow, but now looking out here today, I have no snow, even where it was kind of piled up, the snow's gone because it's we've had a warm spell and then we had a little bit of rain. And so hopefully where you're at, you've still got a lot of snow, and it's cold enough that the racing's gonna be good this weekend.

SPEAKER_00 8:24

Yeah, I think it I think the track should stay pretty decent, but back home we definitely have lost quite a bit of snow in Minnesota.

SPEAKER_01 8:33

Yeah, well, I know I know winter's not over, but I think the big snowfalls hopefully are probably over at least. I'm hoping so. But not you're you probably love to see the snow falling because of the freezing. Yeah, yeah, for sure.

SPEAKER_00 8:49

If it could stay cold and we can we could just blow some snow, but can't quite do that.

SPEAKER_01 8:56

No, I think it's supposed to be 60 something here in Michigan today, so that wouldn't even work the for the snow.

Number Choice And Race Weekends

SPEAKER_00 9:04

So what is your sled number and how did you choose it? Well, from day one I started out as 415. That's my birthday. And in off-road, and I started out in mod carts, which that number had to start with a two, so that became 215. Then I moved to ProSpec, which had to be two digits, and then I changed it to 15, and then just to keep like my branding, I just changed my snow cross number to 15 too. Okay, all right, easier overall.

SPEAKER_01 9:40

Yeah, so a good day at the racetrack. So I know you usually, so you said you were in New York already, and it is Wednesday. So you obviously have to leave school and and head out early on race weekend. So tell me how what does that look like? When do you leave? How does your rate what does your race weekend look like?

SPEAKER_00 10:03

So a normal race weekend depends on like the location, obviously, but usually I stay try to stay in school until Thursday, leave Thursday. If if we can drive or we can fly, like just depends on the distance, but usually we'll leave Thursdays, and then there's a race Friday and a race Saturday this weekend. Last week in Valcorta is a little bit different, I think, because of just like travel. But we had a practice day on Friday, race, Saturday, Sunday. Okay, and we have to fly out to that one. Okay, so if you fly, then how does your sled get there? We have a truck driver, Matt. He drives our semi. We have a team, Hammer Motorsports. My cousin Lila races, and we have a pro light rider also.

Championships And Points

SPEAKER_01 10:59

Okay, so you put all the sleds in the truck, and the guy drives it, and then you guys fly. So that's that's good because that saves a lot of wear and tear on you guys riding in the car for sure. Yeah. So what's been your greatest accomplishment or the thing that maybe your your best memory from all your racing? I don't know, just like like I said before, like just like seeing seeing myself here now, and like being it like I've won five championships throughout this whole journey, and I hope there's more to come, but that's what I was looking for for you to tell me about your championships.

SPEAKER_00 11:52

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 11:53

So tell me tell me a little bit about those. How do you win a championship in uh in sledding?

SPEAKER_00 12:00

So I first started out on them little sleds and them the 120 champ class. So basically each race you get points, and whoever ends with the most points is the champion in the end, and I ended up winning three in that, and then it's the same thing for off-road, it's points. And I have one championship in the mod cart class, and then from the champ class, I moved up to Big Sled 600R. It's limited in the junior classes, so we have like half dotdle limited RPMs, and same thing goes with that points. I won two championships in the junior girls class, so actually six championships now, I guess.

SPEAKER_01 12:57

Yeah, it's hard to keep track when you win so many of them, Avery. So how long have you how long has your season been going in the this year? When did you start?

SPEAKER_00 13:11

This snow season we started early December, and then the next race was pretty much after Christmas break.

SPEAKER_01 13:20

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 13:21

And then when when are you done?

Costs, Sacrifice, And Family Support

SPEAKER_01 13:22

April? Can you raise that for April? Yeah, okay. And so if you're earning points now, where do you stand in the points right now?

SPEAKER_00 13:33

I am first in points right now, and when you're first in points, you run the red plates in the process, so that's that's I think it everything's going good right now. Yeah, sounds like it. Keep charging for the first place, I guess.

SPEAKER_01 13:53

Yeah, absolutely. So do you race you're in the women's class, you race pretty much against the same women every time, isn't that correct? Yep, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 14:07

Yep, everybody goes to yep.

SPEAKER_01 14:11

Yeah, I'm losing you a little bit, so um, just so you know, you're kind of going in and out. So, what do you think that people don't understand about the sacrifices that you make to race? If you had to, you know, explain it to people. They especially people that just you know are casual, casual spectators, you know, they come to the race and they watch and they go home. But what does it take on your part and your family's part, sacrifices for you to do this?

SPEAKER_00 14:46

Yeah, it's not cheap. My parents doing a lot of work and they miss work to be here and time, yeah, just like working out, like I said, just putting in all the hard work, and there's just a lot that goes into it, I guess. There's there is like being at the distracted weekend, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 15:16

So, and especially you know, if you fly to a race, you've got airplane fees, three of you probably sure, a hotel, yeah, you're eating out, yeah. Yeah, so when people think about going on vacation and they think about what a weekend vacation would cost, it costs you that or more just to go, yeah, not to mention the fees to raise and the cost of the sled and all that, and so it's a huge sacrifice for both you and your parents. Why do you keep doing it? What what's the draw that keeps you guys involved in these races?

SPEAKER_00 15:59

Um I think just like being able to be successful, first of all. And it's just like just what we do, it's what our family does. Um, I don't think we would ever leave it anytime soon.

SPEAKER_01 16:14

Yeah. So you're 14. You see yourself racing for a long time, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 16:23

Yeah, I think uh pursuing like a driving sport would be like the better route just because there's more success that way. Like where I'm at now in Snow Cross, like this is the highest level, there's nothing more. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 16:41

So if you went to a driving sport, what what would you do?

Fitness, Safety, And Social Media

SPEAKER_00 16:47

I honestly don't know yet. There's there's a lot to figure out still, I think. Yeah, lots of options. So do you have whatever that help you like would like your sled? Yeah, we have we have two mechanics and our truck driver, everybody my dad. Yeah. Everybody kind of just around the trailer, I guess.

SPEAKER_01 17:14

And what about sponsors? Do you have any marketing partners that help you?

SPEAKER_00 17:20

Yeah, we have quite a few. Polarist is a pretty big one this year. Our pro light rider that's hurt right now. Northern Power Race Park, they own that. It's a track in Michigan, and um we have FXR, our gear, and then just like parts and stuff, like racing oils, maxima, uh chopper city, yeah, just like parts and stuff, I guess. Yeah, the other ones.

SPEAKER_01 18:02

So it take it takes a lot of help, not only from them, but I know your family, you know, puts money in too, so that's that's what it takes to stay on the track for sure. So do you ever feel pressure when you when you like get your sled? Do you feel pressure? Do you feel excitement? What what do you feel when you get in the sled?

Where To Watch And How To Follow

SPEAKER_00 18:24

I think I feel pressure from myself nerves, obviously, every time. Just I think I just have expectations for myself and I want to achieve them.

SPEAKER_01 18:38

Yeah. So do you feel like Avery that you're a brand that you know Avery Hammer is a brand that uh, you know, you post on social media, people know who you are because you've won so many championships. Does that play into your racing at all?

SPEAKER_00 18:58

Yeah, I think posting on social media is a big part of it, and like just having fans is awesome. It's great to see like people come up to you and stuff and like know who you are.

SPEAKER_01 19:18

Yeah. Do you have do you have people that like especially I would think little girls come up to you at the races and want your autograph and want a picture with you, that kind of thing?

SPEAKER_00 19:30

Yeah, for sure. Honestly, what was surprising last weekend in Valcourt, there was quite a few girls that came into the trailer. That's quite the skidoo race there. And I was one of the only Polaris riders there that weekend.

Encouraging Girls And Closing

SPEAKER_01 19:51

Okay, and so they they come and they they want us talk to you and and be, you know, like I said, get an autograph, that kind of thing. That's pretty cool, isn't it? Yeah, especially when you're only 14 years old, yeah. Yeah, for sure. So have you ever so when you first started, were you racing against boys or did you always race against girls?

SPEAKER_00 20:17

Yep, since day one until this year I've been racing against boys. So I raced that the little slides were all against boys, and then I raced a couple junior classes without girl or well girls could race it too, but it was just it was a mix, and then I raced junior girls too, which was all girls, and then now pro women, which is all women. All girls, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 20:52

And they're women of all ages. Yeah. So how how old is uh the people in your class?

SPEAKER_00 21:06

Anywhere from 14 above. I think the oldest is 20 something. Uh no. There's I don't know. There's a couple, there's a girl that came from she used to race. I don't know how old she is, but yeah.

SPEAKER_01 21:23

But they're not they're not all 14-year-olds, they're older than you. Right? All of them, maybe one is my age. Right. And so when you when you started out and you were racing against the boys, did you feel like you were accepted? They didn't really care whether you know that you were a girl or or were they always out to win and beat you?

SPEAKER_00 21:51

Yeah, I think that's I think that's how it's been like like nobody wants to get beat by a girl, so like they might like race. Little bit more aggressive towards you, or like I don't know. I think they get a little bit more mad when they lose to you more than they lose to a guy.

SPEAKER_01 22:09

Yeah, I think I think you're probably right. This is in there. Yeah. So what would you say? I know you're 14 and you still have probably a lot of life lessons to learn, but I feel like motorsports really teaches, especially the younger girls, lots of things about life and adversity and overcoming and all those things, confidence that maybe you wouldn't have learned had you not been involved in motorsports. What do you feel like you've learned by being involved in in sled racing?

SPEAKER_00 22:47

I think determination and finding ways around obstacles and the social aspect too is a big part too. Yeah, just there's a lot to learn from racing.

SPEAKER_01 23:04

Yeah. And that's one of the benefits that if you stopped racing tomorrow, you carry with you. You'd still have learned all those things at an early age. Yeah. Absolutely. So do you think motorsports, sleds, any kind of racing, is that a good sport for a girl to get involved in?

SPEAKER_00 23:26

Yeah, I think I think it's awesome to be a girl in uh men ruled ask or men ruled like sport, I guess. Put in the work and work out, especially. I have a trainer. Yeah, just being fit is the biggest part of it, I think, and mentally being able to be there.

SPEAKER_01 23:52

And so when you go to the as a uh in the training part of it, what is it that you work on? What do you have to be strong? Like your arms, your legs, what is it that you work on so that you're ready to race?

SPEAKER_00 24:08

Yeah, cardio is probably the biggest part of it when you're racing at this level in Snowcross and being strong, being able to hang on to this sled, it's it's quite the unit you're riding around this track. It's kind of like riding a fridge around a track. Yeah, yeah, just all of it.

SPEAKER_01 24:36

About how much does your sled weigh? Do you have any idea? I've got no idea. Okay, I'm guessing at least 400 pounds, probably. I don't know. I would think from looking at them, they gotta weigh at least that much. Yeah, yeah. So how do you use social media? You're the perfect age for Instagram and TikTok and and all that. Where what are you on so that people can follow you? And and how's the is that how you share your racing?

SPEAKER_00 25:07

Yeah, I'm on Facebook, Instagram, I have a TikTok account. Most of them are the name is always gonna be Avery Hemer 15. I have my mom and media guy helping me run it.

SPEAKER_01 25:28

It's a lot of work and it takes a lot of time, especially you know, during race season. So it's good that you have you have help for sure. How does your I know you're you said your dad was really into this. How was how did your mom feel when you were six years old and you started racing and then even now, you know, you're racing in a woman's class. How does your mom feel?

SPEAKER_00 25:49

Now it's probably she's probably a little more I don't know, just like her nerves are the biggest part. I don't she obviously likes it, but she doesn't like to watch me go at this speed and this this just being here now.

SPEAKER_01 26:09

Yeah, I figured as much because that that's tough. I mean, even as a little girl at six years old, but the sleds are level and and and that, but the bigger you get, the older you get, the bigger the sled gets.

SPEAKER_00 26:22

Now I'm now I'm in pro women, the sleds faster. Is I mean everybody's going to the same place at full speed, and I don't think she watches that part, but yeah, I don't think I could watch that part either.

SPEAKER_01 26:37

Have you ever had heart rate?

SPEAKER_00 26:39

You might you might your head might blow your heart rate pretty much through the roof.

SPEAKER_01 26:47

Yeah. Have you ever had any kind of accident when you've raced?

SPEAKER_00 26:55

Not like severe, like in off-road. I've rolled a couple times just not being comfortable and like new to it, but no, nothing like super severe in snow cross.

SPEAKER_01 27:10

That's good. Yeah. So you're in New York. Will these races be on flow racing?

SPEAKER_00 27:16

Yes, it will be.

SPEAKER_01 27:17

Okay. And so when when will we be able to watch on flow racing? It you said you're gonna race when Friday.

SPEAKER_00 27:26

Okay. I'm not a hundred percent on the schedule, but I'll be like my round there's two rounds and then the final. The final's usually at 7.05. All right. That would probably be Eastern time.

SPEAKER_01 27:41

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 27:43

Okay. Same goes for Saturday. The final is at 7.05 Eastern time. I start usually around midday for my rounds. Okay. I'm not 100% on those times, so that's all right.

SPEAKER_01 28:00

We can we I always encourage people to get a flow racing account because there's so much good racing on there.

SPEAKER_00 28:10

Much racing on there too.

SPEAKER_01 28:12

Yeah, absolutely. That's how I that's how I came across. Um I've I've interviewed a few of you gals that have been racing sleds, and that's how I came across your names. Was I was clicking through the I actually I was clicking through television and I found it was on it was on ESPN or something, and then I saw that it was on flow, so now I watch it on flow. And you can get on flow and find the schedule and and everything, so that that's easy for people to follow. So I encourage my listeners to get on and follow these young women. You know, they're they're amazing, and watching them race in the snow with their sleds is pretty darn cool. So definitely encourage people to get on and and watch for sure. And and then follow Avery at Avery Hammer15 on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Let her know that you're supporting her and cheering her on for sure. So, Avery, is there anything that we haven't talked about that you'd like to share or that we should talk about?

SPEAKER_00 29:17

No, I don't think so. I just like encourage girls to like go to the gym, be healthy, work hard, and do something. Yeah, do something, yeah. Find some kind of sport, motor sports, do something different, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 29:40

Get out there and show everybody that they can change the world one way or the other, right? Yeah, yeah, for sure. Well, Avery, you hang on. I appreciate that you were on the show today. If you just hold on for a second, then we'll stop. That's it for this episode of the Women's Motorsports Network Podcast. We hope you've been inspired by the stories I shared today and feel more connected to the amazing community of women in motorsport. Remember, whether you're behind the wheel, in the pits, or cheering from the stands, your story matters. And together we're driving change and celebrating every milestone. If you enjoyed today's episode, be sure to subscribe, leave us a review, and share it with someone who loves motorsports as much as you do. And don't forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for updates, behind the scenes content, and more incredible stories. So until next time, stay inspired, stay connected, and keep racing through life. This is the Women's Motorsports Network podcast, where every woman's story is worth celebrating.