Stand Up Rider Interview: Casey Kleeschulte

Hello Casey and welcome! Could you tell us a little about yourself and your motorsport/sports history; what started the addiction?  

My name is Casey Kleeschulte and my history with motorsports dates back to the day I stopped sucking my thumb. Yes, it is funny but true. I would always say I want a dirt bike and beg my parents since I could link the words together. They made me a deal that when I stopped sucking my thumb they would buy me a PW 50. Then started my love for anything and all things with a motor.

Now that is starting at a young age! I look back now in my 30s and wish I had started motorsports when I was in the single digits, very cool! After starting so early, what led you to stand ups?

My dad was a sales rep for Yamaha for 24 years and the square nose Superjet came out and started winning races. Yamaha gave the sales reps Superjets as demos to let people try and through that, he fell in love with the sport. Then when I came around 17 years ago, he left the industry to spend time with family. He bought some Superjets for himself but eventually sold them because we weren’t riding. But about 3 years ago we went to Lake Havasu to visit a family friend my dad used to work with, and I learned to ride at Body Beach and got hooked on the sport.

Even though you had other motorsport experience, was it difficult to learn to ride a stand up ski?

Yes, it was definitely difficult to learn but I did not stop and I was having so much fun falling and trying to learn something new. I am a pretty athletic person and I have pretty decent balance, so I can usually pick things up pretty fast. This was a different type of challenge. Fall after fall, buoy after buoy, I would learn something new. To this day I still learn new things every trip to the lake.

That was my experience as well, except I started riding buoys 6 months after first learning and was still a horrible rider! So what is your favorite part about riding stand ups?

I love everything about the sport, but I have to say my favorite part is the work out you will get after 10 laps around a course. I race XC mountain bikes for my high school, Del Oro, and the cross-training I get from riding skis has noticeably improved my mountain bike racing. It requires a lot of core for MTB racing, and it is hard to sit and do a core workout when I can drive 10 minutes to the lake, and work on turns while firing those same muscles.

What do you currently ride, and what are your future riding goals?

I currently ride a 1991 701cc square nose Yamaha Superjet that does around 52mph. We also have re-acquired my dad’s old race boat with custom paint and a limited motor package. It is a 1997 dual carb 701cc round nose that does around 56 or 57 mph. My goal for riding in the future is to win the 650/750 vintage class Jet Jam series. It would be a very hard battle but I have been getting better and better.

I commend you for riding those skis that fast, what a rush! They’ll definitely keep you on your toes. How do you train/practice to reach those goals?

For training, I ride buoys at a lake called Camp Far West in Wheatland, California or just go play ride in Folsom Lake California. For cross-training I run cross country, I ride/race mountain bikes, and ride motocross. I also rock climb for arm strength and flexibility. I try my best to keep my training enjoyable yet effective so I don’t get burned out.

Having burned out on pretty much all motorsports at various points, I understand the need for variety. On that same thread – outside of skis, what other things do you like to do?

Outside of skis I really enjoy doing the same things I use to train. I personally think it is effective to do things you love to do to get fit vs. making it just a grind to go lift when you don’t want to or waste time doing things you don’t enjoy. 

Amen Casey! We’re only here for a short amount of time, make the best of it! Thank you so much for sharing your story starting from the very beginning. Now that we’re coming to a close, what advice do you have for fellow people interested in learning how to ride stand ups?

My advice for a new rider would be to buy your own ski and go out just to have fun. Borrowing a ski will limit you to a small window of time to ride, and you will not improve. I would also say don’t stress your technique or find a good training schedule. Skis are made to be fun so go out, have fun, and you will find your own style and what makes you go fast. Just stick with it and you will improve.