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The Luna Chicks are sisters, April Leone and Chelsea Weeden.
Early in 2020, April rolled her rally truck/daily driver during a training exercise in Glamis and spent the summer learning to rebuild, fiberglass, and repaint the now salvage 4runner. Some marketers will tell you “diamonds are a girl’s best friend”, but wait until you see Luna’s diamond plate.
As a child Chelsea loved playing with Tonka and Monster Trucks. Now as an adult she challenges herself professionally, working alongside predominantly men over 40 in the Facilities Operations division of the Burlington International Airport in Vermont. Nonetheless, she lives that childhood dream of driving giant machinery from Oshkosh XT Tow-behinds to bucket loaders while also diving into multiple woodworking and carpentry projects. Chelsea not only brings the competitive edge to Team 107 but also brings the skills and knowledge of operating large equipment combined with harsh winter conditions.
After the 2021 Rebelle Rally, April was seeking a new job that coupled her love of adventure with software engineering. In early 2022 she started her dream job at Rebelle sponsor onXmaps working on the Routing & Navigation team. She credits the skills and gumption she gained during her 3 years of Rebelles with getting her the job. As an added bonus, she uses onX Offroad to help her train for the rally, and can call it “work”.
Chelsea Weeden, currently residing in Colchester, Vermont with her two favorite balls of fluff (bunnies) Lilly and Gingersnap. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training with minors in Health and Coaching while also playing rugby for one of the best Varsity teams in the nation. To be honest Rugby beat the hell out of her, so while she is 30 on the outside, internally she has the athletic ability of a 73 year old white male.
The Luna Chicks are coming back in 2022 with a streamlined truck, more erasable pens, spare valve cores, and determination to make it to the top 10 this year.
Senior Software Engineer
Seattle, WA
"Just sand it!" Delivered from my back seat by Kyra, Laura Wanless's daughter.
I am a published Glaciologist and one time I fed Anthony Bourdain.
Every year I get a little bit better at the rally. Last year was my first time navigating, and while driving is a blast, navigating in the rally is like the best game I’ve ever played. When you’re driving offroad at 50mph and you know exactly where you are, it’s like flying. Additionally, after last year’s Rebelle, I was so into maps & navigation I reached out to onX maps and got a job building navigation software.
Other Rebelles. When we’re not in the rally, we’re doing group training events, or talking about maps, or celebrating huge wins in our personal lives. We might all be different, but the Rebelle binds us, and if there is conflict, we listen to each other. Rebelles are badass!
Anything I can get my hands on relating to navigation or adventure.
Currently reading “Longitude” by Ava Sobel.
One of my all time favorite books is:
Island of the Lost – a Harrowing True Story of Shipwreck Death and Survival on a Godforsaken Island at the Edge of the World
by Joan Druett (Author)
For podcasts, I have to give shoutouts to “Conversations with Big Rich” and the “Better Rider” podcast with Jimmy Lewis.
I grew up in SE Alaska, and really wanted to be a glaciologist. My first experience with GPS was while traversing and studying the Juneau Icefield from Juneau to Atlin, BC, Canada. Being towed on skis by a snow cat over cravasses is a ton of fun.
2019, 2020, 2021
Chelsea is a fierce competitor, a Jill of all trades, with a strong sense of fairness and justice. Woodworking, collegiate rugby, residential and commercial improvements, mechanics, athletic training; are just a few of the leisure activities you can find Chelsea consumed with when not off roading. While she may have a tough exterior and calloused hands she has a tender heart and is a ferocious advocate for all animal welfare.
Airport Facilities Maintenance
Colchester
“Life is too short to drive straight” -Michelle Hall
I’m allergic to lemons
Off-roading has been a passion of mine for most of my life. Competing in the Rebelle gives me time to spend with my sister arguing about the dumbest details. (Comment from April: The details aren’t dumb!) The important ones aren’t dumb.
Women who want to break that glass ceiling inspire me.
Show: Outlander, Greys Anatomy, Nashville
Books: Untamed by Glennon Doyle and The Way We Burn series by J.D. Fondry
Competing at Norwich University on the Varsity Rugby team, winning countless games and multiple National Championships. My favorite rugby memory has to be when we beat Stanford in the final four of the National Championship, with a drop kick with only 7 seconds left in the game.
2020,2021