Miss someone? Let us know!
10: The Prochnavy siblings - Bruce and Malerie
Malerie was one of the driving forces behind the women's class in the CMRC; a member of the first generation vanguard of riders which also include another member of this list. A quick search of her name reveals a female hero any young motocrosser could look up to. Bruce was the lone Canadian lining up for Anaheim 1 in the 2005 AMA Supercross series (where he raced in the 250 class, now known as the Supercross class). He might have looked the part of a California surf boy, with his blonde curls, but Prochnavy was Canadian at heart.
For being trend setters both north and south of the boarder, the Prochnavy siblings have earned the #10 spot on our list of top ten siblings
9: The Allison brothers - Jared and Parker
The Allison brothers are fast and getting faster. These up and coming farm boys from Alberta broke onto the scene in a big way in the 2010 season. Jared was adopted onto the Blackfoot B Team in 2009. Parker joined the Blackfoot family in 2011 and the brothers were a hard battling duo all season, making the move from the MX2 class to the big boy class, representing the B team against the Blackfoot A team of Facciotti and Klatt.
With the retirement of the Blackfoot factory team who knows what 2012 has in store for the battling brothers from Red Deer, but you can be sure they'll be turning up the heat again. And that's why they've earned a #9 place on our list.
8: The Graffunders brothers - Ryan and Nick
While Ryan and Nick might not be as famous as cousin Cory, the boys certainly light it up at home in BC as well as on the National enduro series. Ryan has won the Inside Motorcycles Top Pro Junior award three years in a row. Nick was a contender in the E1 class, but an injury at Xtinction set him out for the last four rounds. The brothers from BC are hard working in the winter, Nick as a logger and Ryan with a core sample analysis company, and hard riding in the summer.
For being fast, young and committed to off road, with a family of support behind and in front of them, the Graffunder brothers are our #8 sibling pair.
7: The van Vugts siblings - Jolene and Billy Jr.
You don't know who Jolene van Vugt is? Go back to your rock! Just kidding.
For those who don't know, Jolene is probably the most famous Canadian woman to ever ride a dirt bike. She provides much needed estrogen to the Nitro Circus. Billy Junior isn't as well known as his sister, but was a tough competitor in his day. Currently, he's career as an FMX rider works well with his hobby as a metal fabricator; no freestyler wants make a run on a ramp built by someone they can't trust, right?
Billy, named after their father, was also in the same Nitro Circus movie that rocketed young Jolene to new levels of fame for being the first ever female to do a back flip on a dirt bike. She holds several championships, was the driving force behind a Women's MX class in the national series, has multiple Guinness World Records to her name and is one of few of that original vanguard to continue riding today, even if she no longer competes.
So, for being famous north and south of the boarder, and for success beyond the track, the van Vugts are our #7 dynamic duo.
6: The Hett siblings - Victoria and Malcolm
Malcolm rips it up in the Pro class of the PNWMA; Tori will be turning it up as Captain of the Canadian Women's ISDE team. Tori swept the 2009 World Enduro Canada women's podiums winning all eight rounds and earning herself the title of first ever National Women's Enduro Champion. And while his sister might have more ink and media exposure than him, it doesn't mean Malcolm's a wallflower. Racing EnduroX and Pro off road, he's just as tough and brave as his sister. Injuries kept him from competing in the National enduro series in 2009 and 2010, but he was healthy and eager to compete in 2011 to extremely respectable results.
An ISDE Captain and a brother determined to live outside his sister's shadow are our #6 pair of powerhouse siblings
5: The Giroux sisters - Denaye and Amber
Amber is the unabashed wild child; Denaye is the "little sister" determined to be #1. Call them whatever you want, the Giroux sisters are two tough chicks. Not only are they, and their younger sister, the reason there is even women's moto in Saskatchewan, Denaye is one of the driving forces in the continuing National series for women; she is currently ranked #1 in Canadian women's motocross. Amber will be representing Canada as part of the 2012 ISDE team heading to Germany; she currently is ranked 3rd in the world of women's off road in Canada.
For being versatile and hard fighting, proving a double X chromosome is no hindrance to becoming a champion, the Giroux sisters break their way just inside the top 5 of our list.
4: The Cooke siblings - Heidi and Mitch
Heidi and Tyler (Medaglia) welcomed their son to the world this summer, signalling a new generation of moto riders coming into the world. Heidi is a long reigning, multi title holding champion who can play with the boys. Brother Mitch has raced in Canada as well as around the world, including the deserts of Saudi Arabia. East Coasters as they are, though, both always return home.
Mitch is semi retired, no longer racing the Pro Nationals, but new mommy Heidi hopes to be back in action for the 2012 season aboard that shiny new KTM she never got to ride in 2011.
3: The Medaglia brothers - Tyler and Jeremy
These two... Wow. What can you say about the brothers Medaglia? Tyler is a two time #1 plate holder and new father. Jeremy is far from hiding in his brothers shadow, and recently welcomed Tye's former teammates to the Orange Brigade.
For two years now you've been able to spot Momma Medaglia with her two tribes shirt, half bright orange for Jeremy and the other half brilliant blue for Tyler. They are the youngest pair in the top three, young enough to be the children of the remaining four siblings even! They have had electric careers so far, and with so many years left in front of them, it will be interesting to see what heights they'll hit.
Both brothers have already shown an interest in testing the waters down south, with Jeremy racing Unadilla in 2011 and Tyler competing at Steel City. For the time being, however, the brothers will continue to rip it up in the CMRC with Jeremy proudly representing KTM in the MX2 class, while big brother Tyler will be opening it up in the MX1 class aboard a GDR Honda CRF450.
2: The Sharpless siblings - Blair and Toni
If you live in Ontario, you know who the Sharplesses are. Simple as that.
Another ISDE participant, Blair Sharpless is also a medal winner, a member of the Canadian Motorcycle Hall of Fame and the evil genius behind the Corduroy Enduro, one of the toughest two day events in Canada. Toni didn't let "but you're a girl," stop her from swinging her leg over a bike, after all if her brother and father could do it, why couldn't she? She, along with partner in crime Kathleen Coburn, were the first women to race superbikes at Daytona and the Suzuki 8 Hour, and while her greatest achievements are on a super bike, Toni's no shy violet on a dirt bike and can rip it up with the men as good as any. In 2011 she joined her father and brother as a member of the Canadian Motorcycle Hall of Fame.
They are the only sibling pair on this list to be included in the Canadian Motorcycle Hall of Fame, and for their continued contributions to off road and motorcycling in general, the Sharplesses do their heritage proud finding their way to #2 on our list of 1-2 punch siblings.
1: The Giroux brothers - Guy and Marc
Do I have to explain this one? Well, if you ride off road, or live/race in Quebec, probably not. Guy is the younger brother, and when it comes to riding dirt bikes he's probably one of the most experienced Canadian racers out there. He's done it all from motocross, enduro, supermoto; you name it! He was National #8 motocross, has held countless enduro titles. He really is the small package good things come in, somewhat.
Marc is no slouch; he's a former ISDE competitor, in fact both Girouxes are! Marc quit racing in 1995 when he broke three vertebrae in his back. But before doing that he won two bronze and a gold medal from 1987 to 1989.
Oh, and they're no relation to Denaye and Amber, just for the record.
So there it is, folks. Our Top #10 Canadian Siblings. Did we miss someone? Get something out of order? Let us know.
