Send-Off Spirits & Dune Lessons: The Road to Rebelle

September 13 - Riverside Send-Off Party

There’s nothing like the energy of being surrounded by fellow Rebelles, past, present, and soon-to-be champions. The Send-Off Party in Riverside was everything we needed and more: a celebration of how far we’ve come, a cheer for the road ahead, and a heartfelt nod to the friends, family, and sponsors who keep us going.

Under a warm September sky, we gathered to reflect on the journey that brought us here. Rally rigs lined the venue like proud warriors, each with its own battle scars and stories. There were familiar faces and new ones, and a collective buzz of anticipation that only comes when adventure is right around the corner.

We raised glasses to late nights spent plotting routes, to dusty weekends spent training, and to the grit it takes just to show up for this challenge. The photos on display told a powerful story: snapshots of determination, teamwork, and growth from the past year and beyond. It reminded us all that the Rebelle journey doesn’t begin at the start line; it begins with every choice to show up and go all in.

There was hype, of course, and a raffle with some seriously cool prizes. The drinks were tasty, the stories even tastier, and the vibes? Absolutely unbeatable. What stood out most was the community. There’s a unique bond among Rebelles that only grows stronger with each year. It felt like a family reunion and a rally launch all in one.

September 20 - Glamis Training Weekend

Fast forward one week, and the scene looked very different. The string lights were replaced by a blazing desert sun, the sound of laughter traded for the hum of tires on soft sand, and I was deep in Glamis, helmet on, compass in hand.

The dunes of Glamis are legendary, and for good reason. They’re stunning, yes, but they also don’t play around. When I competed in 2023, our infamous "bad day" landed on the last day of the rally, smack in the middle of these very dunes. It's the kind of terrain that humbles even the most seasoned drivers and navigators. You lose track of where you are, your TerraTrip lies to you thanks to the slippage, and the sand seems to swallow up distance, direction, and confidence all at once.

This year, I came back determined to face the dunes head-on. It was a weekend filled with lessons. Navigating Glamis requires an entirely different mindset. The "surf" effect of the sand means every heading takes longer, every correction matters more, and your compass is your lifeline. You have to calculate more distance than your TerraTrip shows. You have to double down on attention to detail. And you can’t let the sameness of the landscape fool you; every turn needs intention.

At one point, I realized I’d lost one of my distance rulers, a crucial piece of my navigation kit. Cue the stress. But instead of panicking, I thought back to where I last used it. We hit another checkpoint and looped back... and there it was, sitting quietly in the sand, exactly where I remembered. It felt like the desert was giving me a small but solid win.

That moment was symbolic. Sometimes, when you're deep in the unknown, the best thing you can do is trust yourself. Re-center. Retrace. And keep moving forward.

Glamis tested me, but it also gave me what I needed: clarity, confidence, and a reminder that preparation isn’t just about the tools in your hand. It’s about mindset. About being adaptable. And about knowing when to dig deep and when to pull back.

Now? I’m feeling ready. Really ready. Two weeks until the flag drops, and I can’t wait to see what this year's rally has in store.

Rebelle Rally, we’re coming for you. Let’s do this.

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