Preserved from the supplied Lititz BMX profile text. This transcription records publication wording and does not convert every statement into an independently verified fact.
Rider Profile: Debbi Kalsow
Born: 23 Jan. 1968 in Big Rapids, Mi
National BMX Hall of Fame Inductee: 2018
“We could race the Nationals and Grand Nationals, but there were no points - no number one plate for girls.”
…
“The points series was for the boys only. That’s how you got the plate. I could complain all I wanted, but I was just a teenage girl. Nobody was going to care what I had to say.” - Debbi Kaslow
Q: How did Debbi get into racing?
A: In 1979, at the age of 11, Debbi persuaded her father to reluctantly agree to let her race - like her brother Dennis “Digger” Kalsow.
Q: Who was Debbi’s first sponsor?
A: East Lansing Cycle Shop - 1979
Q: Was her Dad involved in BMX too?
A: He built the first track in Michigan, then relocated the family to Phoenix, Az in 1980 where he opened four tracks in the surrounding area.
“Google Debbi Kalsow and you’ll discover that she won all the big races that were available to women and wore the number one plate for all four of the BMX federations in the USA during a meteoric career that ended abruptly in 1985.” - Pink Bike (2019)
Sampling of Wins:
Interviews & Articles:
What is she up to since…