One of life’s great motoring experiences is mastering the control of a motorcycle, both on the road and on the dirt. But motorcycling, and especially dirt biking, have historically been activities dominated by men. There are a lot of women who are interested in cars, planes, and motorcycles, but sometimes it can be intimidating to get into these hobbies. Ask a woman who rides or wrenches, and she will probably tell you a story about being doubted or judged. But it doesn’t have to be like that. Every May, more than 200 women of all moto skill levels descend into the forests of Oregon to embrace all things off-road motorcycles, camping, and camaraderie in an event called Dirtastic. This weekend, I’m joining them.
The state of Oregon offers seemingly endless opportunities for those who love the outdoors. I’ve always loved the state for being the hub of the Gambler 500 and the Sons of Smokey, the incredible trail cleanup event that doubles as a challenge to drive a $500 car 500 miles off-road. Apparently, that’s just the beginning of it. According to Travel Oregon, the state is also the home of several women-only outdoor two-wheeling events. Former professional rider Lindsey Richter runs Ladies AllRide and Grit Clinics, which teach women how to master mountain bikes. Other Oregon organizations teaching women how to ride mountain bikes include Crank Queens, Pine Mountain Sports/Dirt Divas, Bachelor Bike Park, Cog Wild, and others.
If you prefer your two-wheels-good experience to be powered by an engine or an electric motor, Oregon has options for that, too. Babes Ride Out hosts a national women’s event for the ladies who ride on the blacktop. Then there’s Dirtastic. Riding a dirt bike off-road can be a challenging and intimidating experience. Dirtastic breaks down those walls to make dirt biking accessible to all women. But more than that, this event is also supposed to boost your confidence, empower you to be the person you want to be, and provide a fun-filled atmosphere where you can meet other women like yourself. It’s a brilliant idea that I cannot wait to take part in.
From Hair To Off-Road Flair
Dirtastic was founded in 2015 by Kalyn Benaroya, and it started with a dream. As Columbia Gorge News writes, Kalyn Benaroya was a hairstylist who ran the Clutch Hair Co. in Hood River, Oregon. She had also been riding since 2011 and was a USMCA-certified coach since 2018. One of the observations that Benaroya made was that the barriers to getting into motocross were high. You had to buy a bike, and coaches were hard for women to find. Benaroya also wondered why it was so hard to find other women in motocross. She wanted to meet other women in the sport.
Benaroya decided to be the person who brought women in motocross together while also getting new riders into the fray. Here’s what she wrote in 2019 on Dirtastic’s old website:
The dream came alive at our first event just two years ago, bringing 75 women together at a track in Dallesport, Washington. Our expectations were exceeded in ways that words cannot describe! With the momentum spreading like a wildfire, we had to keep it alive! In 2018 we hosted an event at China Hat just outside of Bend, Oregon. Despite the 6 inches of snow and below freezing temperatures, we had 65 women show up, camp and ride for the weekend. It was ALL stoke! 6 Months later we were invited to host an event with The Dream Roll where DIRTastic coaches arrived in matching kits to lead skill building clinics.
It’s a natural progression and we have made a statement!
The Pacific Northwest’s Biggest All-Women Off-Road Event
Today, Dirtastic is owned by former professional motocross racer Cortney Carpenter, while Benaroya remains a coach. The organization has grown into a beast. The Main Event, as it’s called, gathers more than 200 riders in one place. Dirtastic also holds clinics in six other states and Canada.
What makes Dirtastic so fantastic is that it’s not just for women who are experienced in motocross riding. It’s for women of any skill level who want to have some fun in the woods and maybe learn something new. Someone who has never touched a dirt bike in their life is just as welcome as a motocross maven.
Dirtastic’s Main Event, which is held in Jacksonville, Oregon, features over 1,200 acres of trails and off-road activities.
When you’re done riding, you get to camp under the stars for the whole weekend. Everyone there is a woman, from the experienced coaches who run the how-to clinics to the crew that makes Dirtastic happen. The clinics encompass pretty much every part of dirt bike riding, too, from the basics like clutch control and what gear to wear, to hill climbs, cornering, and more. The trails range from paths for beginners to difficult terrain for all who dare.
The event isn’t just about getting dirty, either. There will be a neon rodeo night where everyone dresses up in glowing attire and dances under the stars. There will also be campfires and fun games with mini motorcycles (below).
Stark Future will be there with the Varg EX electric dirt bike and giving demo rides. Amber DaSilva of Jalopnik and I will be riding Varg EX steeds throughout the weekend. I’d say we’d be getting in all the high-octane thrills we can, but in our case, I suppose it’ll be high-energy thrills!
I’m so stoked for this event. While I have tons of experience riding dozens of motorcycles on the road, I have spent only a limited time off-road. Much of my off-road experience comes from riding a Honda Elite 150D scooter that I modified for Gambler 500 runs. Then there was the year and a half that I had a Zero DSR/X electric adventure bike. The closest I’ve come to a typical dirt bike was a Can-Am Origin. So this will be a different kind of experience for me. One of my life goals is to be as proficient as I can at all forms of motoring that I can. It sounds like Dirtastic might just make a motocross rider out of me.
Expect not just a ride report of Stark’s electric off-road motorcycle, but a story of the adventure that this event sounds like it’s going to be. Apparently, I’m not even going to have phone service for the whole weekend, and I’m amped about that, too. I love trips that take me offline and off-grid with nothing but wilderness, motors, and other people to keep me company.
Dirtastic is going down this week from May 14 to May 17. If you’re interested in joining in on the fun, there are six spots left. Tickets to the Main Event start at $200, which gets you an all-access pass to the weekend’s activities. Sadly, nearly all of the clinics have been booked, but you can still do the trail rides, the camping, the mini moto games, the campfires, and everything else.
If you miss it this year, that’s okay! Dirtastic will have another Main Event next year, and you can still hit up the organization’s clinics elsewhere. But if you’re a woman who is interested in riding on dirt and has found getting into it intimidating, come check out Dirtastic. Who knows, maybe you’ll find a skill you never knew you had.
Top graphic image: Dirtastic
Enjoy yourself!
Have fun! Once you get decent on a dirt bike street riding becomes boring. At least, it did for me. It’s also nice not having to worry about getting t-boned by a distracted tech-bro in a Cyber Truck.
Those Starks are beasts, I see them at my riding spot quite often, people use them for hard Enduro stuff and they really shine. I’d like to have both a electric bike and a gas bike. Someday…
Can’t wait for the writeup on this one. I bet you’re going to have a blast!
That sounds awesome!! I had no idea anything like this existed.
I love motocamping. I have gone motocamping at a Drive In Movie Theatre, and at the BMW MoA rally last year. Ill be doing it again this year in Vermont for the Rally.
Never heard of it. I’ve heard of Babes Ride Out because of As the Magpie Flies, Ride to Food and Hertwowheels. I don’t think those creators will be there. Maybe Graceful Renegade will be there since Oregon is her stomping grounds, unless she’s camping with Dork in the Road. Sorry for the creator name soup.
That’s going to be so much fun!
I’d been riding in the road for years when I did a day of trials riding with an instructor.
Big skids locking up the rear wheel were fun, but riding along with the front wheel locked wasn’t something I imagined was possible, and certainly not by me. I learnt so much about bike control, and it applies to road riding too.
I also re-learnt a mountain biking thing about target fixation. If some one tells you to mind that tree: pick one side of it and stare at the gap. If you stare at the tree you’ll hit the tree. Stupid open face helmet meant I had a pretty bruised face after that.
This sounds rad AF, I would love to do something like this. Glad I can at least experience it vicariously via you and Amber!
I like even events are not crazy expensive so that normal people can get in. Are you going to take a camper?
TBH I would bet most guys who you feel are doubtful about you are a bit like me can’t do that track riding and think it is a compliment when they ask you about it and are actually giving you the opportunity to brag which is what they would do for a dude. It is really excepting you or even elevating you to a level we ourselves can’t hit.
Mercedes, this is going to be such an epic weekend, and especially for somebody that has a lot of experience on two wheels but not on dirt. You are Ggoing to learn so much. It just sounds like a dang good old-fashioned fun time of motorcycles and camping and dance parties, because I know that all my dirt bike weekends look pretty much the same but are definitely more male-dominated. Although we have a few women in the crew that are certainly faster than me.
The Stark Varg certainly seems like the fastest dirt bike out there right now, and it’s really only limited by its range and slow recharge speed. Although I don’t actually know how fast it can recharge. I know once the range is figured out or I can ride a full hare scramble or hare and hound on it, I’d be moving over to an electric bike. Looking forward to all the articles that come from this weekend. Have fun and rubber side down!
I do wonder how they will charge it out there. Maybe a generator or the AC port on an RV? Either way the fastest charging they will get is level 2.
My guess is they have a “battery” and a generator. I don’t know enough about the charging of the stark.
I don’t know if “Doodle on a Bike” will be there but if she is, you should talk to her. You’d like her a lot. Like you, she is honest about her enthusiasm.
Hell yeah, sounds awesome!
Please take lots of pictures. Sounds like you 2 are gonna have a lot of fun!
that sounds like a blast, hope you have a ton of fun
Sounds like a great time! Enjoy!
I’ll put on my list of hope to do someday, I’ve only ever ridden street motorcycles.
Dirt is so much more fun IMO. Its a bit scary to feel the bike slide around, but it becomes the fun part quickly. highly recommend.
It does sound fun! And no cars with the drivers glued to s screen to bother you!
Not sure how well my middle-aged spine and (replaced) knees would hold up, but I could see it being fun for a weekend!
Yea, not having to worry about distracted drivers is a huge plus. However, you do need to be concern about people in SXS (side by sides) depending on where you are. Take it slow, make sure you have proper protection (boots, and knee guards for the legs/feet) and give it a whirl. (it certainly has me hooked).
Woo hoo! The Rogue Valley is a mix of chill moderns, hippies, loggers and old survivalists but this is a great time of year to visit.
Best to get it in before smoke season. Especially with how dry the winter was.