OFF-GRID GRIT
TAKING IT OLD SCHOOL AT THE REBELLE RALLY
The gals who participate in the Rebelle Rally challenge themselves to ditch their cell phones, their laptops, their GPS’s. With only a map and a compass to guide them, they go off-road for 10 days of grueling navigational competition.
I competed in last year’s 1,600 mile Rebelle Rally as part of Team Free Range Dames. I drove a customized ’12 Toyota Tacoma with a manual transmission. I stepped—well, drove—way beyond my comfort zone. I dove head-first into a world of off-road uncertainty to test my abilities. Even if I failed miserably, I told myself, I would get up, dust myself off and be proud of just getting out there. I learned a lot.
This year, I returned to the Rebelle as media. I watched 38 all-women teams battle their way across the California and Nevada deserts, topping off their treks amidst the legendary Glamis sand dunes flanking the Mexican border. These women traveled through 1,500 miles of dirt, rock and sand. These women challenged themselves for 10 straight days—eight days of competition, seven days of actual points-scoring.
Like all women who compete in the Rebelle Rally, this year’s contestants said “yes” to stepping out of their comfort zones. They agreed to allow event officials confiscate all electronic navigational equipment.
They navigated the entire rally with just topographic maps, a compass and their methodical minds.
Here’s what the Rebelle Rally has taught me so far—both as a participant and as a spectator. Let’s call it my “rebellations.”
“FROM TORN-UP TIRES TO A TOASTED CLUTCH, THINGS HAPPEN.”
Sisters are doing it for themselves.
As women, many of us help everyone around us and we fail to concentrate on ourselves. We sometimes become so tired or complacent, we develop a fear of the unknown. The Rebelle Rally is just the remedy.
Because we’re worth it.
This rally is about empowering yourself. It’s about making yourself a better version of who you were. It’s about learning from the good, the bad, and the challenging parts of the competition and transferring that into daily life moving forward.
I’ve found that after competing in the Rebelle Rally last year, I’ve grown. I’ve become more confident and sure-footed—as a competitor, woman, professional, and as a person. I’ve met countless other Rebelles who feel the same way.
There’s no time to be tired.
A single cowbell clangs slowly around base camp at 5:00 am sharp. This is the alarm clock.
Drivers dash to get their keys. (Vehicles are secured in an impound lot overnight. No team gets access before 5 in the morning.)
Meanwhile, navigators eagerly anticipate receiving coordinates to plot on their maps. There’s a flurry of activity, even though it’s pitch dark outside.
The first team takes off from the start line at 7:00am. Each team follows in due time. Helmets on, maps plotted, they’re ready to go! Each day of competition is typically 10-11 hours long and teams need to return to base camp before their designated time is up.
Stuff happens.
From torn-up tires to a toasted clutch, things happen. For example, Team Naviguessers was having a great competition when their OEM clutch wanted no more.
“I’m still pretty bummed about [the clutch],” said Alicia of her maroon Subaru Crosstrek. “We did get to run the last day in Glamis. We even beat the Honda team that day, which took Second Place overall.”
There are folks to help you deal.
“I didn’t want to tie up the mechanics in case another team needed them,” Alicia continued. “They even offered to drop us off at another mechanic but it might have been days before we got it fixed.”
“In the end, the Rebelle mechanics cranked out [the clutch replacement] in probably three hours? It was so impressive, with all the sand blowing everywhere during the process!”
From teammates to staff, the Rebelle Rally is a community of folks who are there to make sure everything runs smoothly, everyone has fun and the competitors stay safe and healthy.
“THE RALLY IS ABOUT EMPOWERING YOURSELF. IT’S ABOUT MAKING YOURSELF A BETTER VERSION OF WHO YOU WERE.”