“We like to think of our champions and idols as superheroes who were born different from us. We don’t like to think of them as relatively ordinary people who made themselves extraordinary.” – Carol Dweck

Have you ever been scared to try something new? Something that seems hard? What about getting into a male dominant work field or sport? If you have interest in something, just do the damn thing! The experiences gained and lessons learned may be exactly what you need.

There are many women who do not think they can ride a dirt bike let alone race it. Some might be fed these self-limiting thoughts and begin to believe it themselves. “You are not strong enough”, “You can’t ride a dirt bike”, “You won’t be any good”, etc… Some might think the women who do and put the kicking to the boys are born with it and do not face adversities.

But what if you take the chance?

What I have gained by getting into the sport:

Friends that have became like family. A sense of community and a place I belong. Being in a position to empower other women or girls to try and show them what they are capable of! The sense of reward by helping other riders improve or get into the sport. Being healthy – If dirt bikes were not in my life, I would not be a couch potato by any means but it has started my passion for training at the gym, running, and the bicycle. It has also helped me realize the importance of nutrition. GRIT – to have passion and perseverance for long-term and meaningful goals. Having the ability to persist in something you feel passionate about and persevere when you face obstacles. This kind of passion is not about intense emotions or infatuation. Mental strength – the ability to push through when the going gets tough. David Goggin’s talks about the 40% rule; when you think you cannot go anymore; you have 40% left in your tank. Being physically STRONG!

These skills gained are not limited to dirt bike racing and riding but can also be applied to all areas of life! Most importantly, you have to start somewhere but remember to fail forward.

When I first started, I had very little skill! Making a complete lap on a non peewee level course was a battle to make it back to the scoring lane. I made the sweepers work EXTRA hard. I could not turn my bike around without falling over. Group rides with the girls usually meant knocking someone else over because I couldn’t control the bike. It’s not easy but from what I have learned the hard things are the most rewarding!

If you do not know where to start, always feel free to reach out to other women in the sport! We are a community and love getting others into the sport!