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What can you expect from this year’s event?

My life has led me to building the Rebelle, a culmination of life, work, and sport experiences.  I’ve spent many years…days and hours of emotion and personal experience coaching and encouraging women to take up challenges that push them out of their comfort and experience zones.  I’m not promising this will be the hardest thing you have ever done, because the Rebelle has not been “done” yet.  But I envision a rally that is a badge of honor as a competitor.  As with anything in its infancy, we will be learning and refining the Rebelle Rally.  I am always pleasantly greeted by the tenacious competitive spirit of women, so we know you will push the curve, and we vow to respond.

As mentioned in my very first post for the Rebelle, I am not going to tell you what you will feel and what you will personally take away.  However, I can tell you what we are working on and planning. The mission is laid out – to build a platform for you to shine, to embrace and or enhance your skills.

A couple words come to mind over and over again. Competence and confidence.
Through training and participating, I believe even the most seasoned woman can gain and grow in this department.  Despite any amount of experience, additional “seat time” in a new setting just adds to the tools in the quiver.

The driving is fun!  This is not beat your brains out driving, but “Mmmm….I could do this for the rest of my life” kind of driving.  If you haven’t already fallen in love with off-road driving, you will.  You weren’t just meant to drive that capable 4×4 in rush hour traffic jams.  You’ve got a lot of ground to cover, but with speed taken out of the equation, you will need to settle in to a comfortable pace that keeps your car happy and doesn’t outdrive your navigators ability to use traditional techniques.  (Penalties for speeding? Check!)  If you want to score well, ensure you have excellent throttle control, accurate tire placement, and know how to drive sand.  And in case our deserts receive much needed rain, add mud skills to the list.

The navigation will be interesting and challenging.  One of the primary CP scoring systems is one I borrowed from my love of skiing and snowboarding.  The green, blue, black markings are designed to help you understand the level of navigation challenge.  For the beginner, you will definitely be able to reach CPs, but try your hand at the more difficult ones to find.  For the intermediate and expert, you will have to really know where you are to get the black CPs.  There is no marker, no big waving flag. You will have to signal via the handheld tracker once you believe you are in the designated radius of the coordinate.  The ultimate goal?  Create a playing field where women possessing a wide range of skills can compete together, yet challenge themselves.  Oh…and do you drive up to every CP?  No.  So make sure you have some cardio in your workout routine.

The terrain is stunning.  Every day I have pre-run the routes, I stop and remark about the beauty of our country.  I’ve spent time racing and hurrying past these spots, but adding in the element of “no tech navigation” forces you to really read what you see.  To soak it up and absorb it.  Nothing better than having 7 focused days with no cell phone, no Facebook, no Instagram, no election coverage, to celebrate the awesomeness of our U.S. deserts.

I want you to feel like a part of something bigger.  We have assembled a very capable team (of whom you will meet over the next 6 months), and we hope to provide a warm environment that also fosters a positive competition.  Who says you can’t have fun while being absolutely serious about the task at hand.  We hope you walk away with lifelong friends.  But whatever you feel, it’s yours.  We can’t dictate it, but we are committed to a vision and vibe that we hope permeates throughout the competition and community.

So welcome to our competition, and welcome to our community.  May it be one helluva ride.[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]