Unexpected Lessons in Utah: Our Final Pre-Rally Practice Weekend

A Bump in the Road Before We Even Started

Last weekend marked our final in-person training before the Rebelle Rally and wow, did it take some unexpected turns. Jessi and I had been looking forward to this for weeks. It was going to be our last chance to dial in our navigation, communication, and rhythm together before the big event. We had planned to do it all in our fully prepped competition vehicle, our “third teammate.”

But just days before we hit the road, we found out that the vehicle wouldn’t be ready in time. Final tech inspections, some unexpected prep delays, and a few loose ends meant she had to stay behind. It was out of our control, but that didn’t make it any easier. We were disappointed. This wasn’t how we wanted to wrap up our training.

A Borrowed Jeep and a Change in Mindset

Fortunately, we have an incredible support system. Jessi’s son stepped in and generously loaned us his Jeep for the weekend. It wasn’t what we’d planned, but it allowed us to move forward, and that’s what mattered.

One major missing piece, though? Our Terra Trip. For those unfamiliar, that’s the tool we use to measure distance between checkpoints with precision, a total game-changer for navigation. Without it, things would be a lot tougher. But in classic Rebelle fashion, the community came through. Kristen from Team Desert Belles offered to lend us a GPS Terra Trip just for practice. It added an hour detour to our route, but it was 100% worth it.

Landing in Utah, Jetlagged but Ready

We headed out to St. George, Utah, for a two-day practice session, hosted by Avis from Team 118 in unfamiliar terrain. I had just flown back from Hawaii the day before, still adjusting to the time difference. We rolled into the hotel late Friday night and early Saturday morning; it was game time.

I was up at 3:45 AM to start plotting points. The staging area was about an hour and a half away, so we chose to leave by 5:00 AM. That left me with one hour, headlamp on, trying not to wake my husband and stepson, to plot as many points as I could. It felt like rally mode already: tired, slightly overwhelmed, but locked in and determined.

Practice Day 1: Trial by Black Checkpoints

We arrived at the starting point around 6:30 AM, got our makeshift setup organized, and hit the trail. The Checkpoint (CP) Guide had 36 checkpoints listed, with a recommendation to skip three for time. With 33 available checkpoints, we successfully reached 31.

Here’s where it got interesting: 29 of them were black checkpoints, the hardest kind. No markings. No clues. Just coordinates and hope. That meant ultra-precise distance tracking and navigation for every single one. And since we weren’t in our regular vehicle with our calibrated Terra Trip, I didn’t fully trust the measurements. So I re-plotted everything once before to get there, and once after we got there to check how close we were. It was nonstop brainwork.

And here’s the kicker: black checkpoints rarely match the paper coordinates exactly. There’s always a slight difference, and it can wear on you mentally. You start second-guessing everything. It was a grind not just physically, but emotionally. We missed those little wins that green and blue checkpoints give you, like there are during the actual Rebelle Rally. The visual confirmation, the encouragement; it matters.

Curious how checkpoints work and what makes the Rebelle Rally so unique? We’ve got a breakdown for you in our blog What Is the Rebelle Rally?

Practice Day 2: A Smoother (but Still Intense) Ride

Sunday felt like a breath of fresh air, relatively speaking. I was up again at 5:00 AM and plotted 33 points by 6:00 AM. Out of 37 checkpoints total, 13 had clues, which we’d consider "green" or “blue” level. Having those breadcrumbs helped so much. We were still navigating tough terrain and doing serious calculations, but the mental load lightened just enough to give us more energy and confidence.

With a few easier checkpoints mixed in, we moved faster and smiled more. It reminded us that rallying isn’t just about grinding, it’s about balancing intensity with moments of relief and fun. Those small wins add up, and they keep your momentum going.

Not What We Planned — But Exactly What We Needed

This weekend wasn’t perfect. It wasn’t what we envisioned. But it gave us everything we needed.

We had to be flexible. We had to trust each other. We had to face some real rally-like frustration and move through it. We practiced adapting, problem-solving, and pushing past our own mental fatigue. That’s what the Rebelle Rally is all about.

With just over a month to go, we’re feeling prepared. We’re feeling dialed in. We’re feeling tough. And above all, we’re feeling grateful for each other, for this community, and for the lessons that come when things don’t go according to plan.

This is going to be a good year.

Want to follow our journey every step of the way? Sign up for our team emails to get rally updates, behind-the-scenes moments, and daily recaps straight from our support crew.