MESA, AZ APRIL 20, 2017: The 2017 Ladies Offroad Challenge gives ladies from across the country the opportunity to be Charlene Bower’s driver, co-driver or media assistant at three events including Achieve Tahoe Rubicon Trail Experience, the 50th SCORE Baja 1000 and Fury Rode. The Ladies Offroad Challenge kicked off when the events and sign-up process were announced during the Ladies Offroad Network Social in Moab. All offroad ladies 21 and older are encouraged to participate by signing-up by the deadline April 28th. More information and the submission form is available at www.LadiesOffroadChallenge.com
“I was really happy with the way all of our Ladies Co-Driver Challenge events went last year and knew right away that I would like to give ladies from across the country another opportunity to participate in events that they may not otherwise be able to in 2017. As 2016 progressed, I listened to a lot of feedback from girls that didn’t enter last year, to those that did, and to those that got to spend time on the trips. I learned a lot! Ultimately, this was a challenge for all of us, nothing is ever one sided,” smiled Charlene Bower, owner of Bower Media and Ladies Offroad Network. “There are subtle changes to this years opportunities, starting with the name change to Ladies Offroad Challenge because now you can bring your own vehicle on the Rubicon Trail or be my media assistant, not just be a co-driver. There will also be a clearer outline of expectations and understanding of the events ahead of time given to the ladies. I am guilty of doing events like these multiple times a year and being able to understand the basic set of needs, then adjust quickly to be successful when at the event. While this will still generally be the case, I realize that this type of change is something that most are not used to. My challenge to overcome this year is creating a better set of expectations and helping the ladies execute them. What challenge will you overcome when joining me at one of the events this year?”
2017 Ladies Offroad Challenge Events:
Training Weekend: As part of the process to choose the best candidates for the three events, the Training Weekend is a special opportunity for the Top 10 ladies to visit Arizona, meet each other, and learn some new skills. Last year, life-long friendships were built during this phase of the challenge. The schedule for the weekend is a secret. You will not know what you will be doing, where you will be going, or who you are going to meet until you arrive at the training locations. Training tasks are designed around the three events and will help narrow down the three challenge finalists. A conversation with promoters from each event will also teach the ladies more about the unique challenges they will be facing if they are chosen as a finalist. This year’s training weekend will be held in June 2017. Don’t worry, it’s not all hard work.
15th Achieve Tahoe Rubicon Trail Experience: Achieve Tahoe leads the way in adaptive sports and recreation for people with disabilities. With 50 years experience, their trained staff and volunteers guide handicapped individuals in discovering life without limits. Their specialized adaptive equipment and teaching methods allows them to accommodate almost anyone with any disability. This 4-wheel drive adventure is led by Jason and Andrea Berger and the WeBilt 4WD Club. The trip will follow the historic Rubicon 4WD Trail over three days and two nights. For this unique experience, you will be driving your own vehicle with Charlene as your co-driver. You will be assisting the Bergers with preparation for the trip and helping a group of physically or mentally disabled participants navigate the challenging terrain of the Rubicon Trail. You will also explore historic Georgetown, CA. Dates are August 11th – 13th. For more information on this event, click here.
50th SCORE Baja 1000 with BFGoodrich Tires: Recognized around the globe as one of the very top motorsports extravaganzas in the world and the season finale each year of the SCORE World Desert Championship, the 2017 SCORE Baja 1000 will be a peninsula run, point-to-point race. The race will start in Ensenada, Baja California and finish in La Paz, Baja California Sur. When finalized, the grueling race course will cover approximately 1,300 miles of the mysterious and majestic Baja California peninsula. For this event, you will focus on curating an extensive media package with Charlene. You will assist with taking photos and videos throughout the race and producing content for social media. The BFGoodrich Tires pits and SCORE‘s live coverage locations will outline the trip to La Paz, and on the way back to the border, you will visit iconic Baja California destinations. Dates are November 14th – 18th. For more information on this event, click here.
1st Annual Fury Rode: Fury Rode is the ultimate challenge designed for all people and skill levels. Drive your rig over an 80-mile course that tours Sand Hollow State Park while stopping at checkpoints to race against people in your class. Each checkpoint will have different challenges in which you will be timed. Tasks include a Rock Crawl, a Rock Race Course, Short Sand Race Course, Winch Challenges, Remote Control Car Challenge, “Blind Driving” Challenge, Marksman Challenge, and more. During this competitive event, you will be Charlene’s co-driver with the goal to do the best you can with every challenge you meet on the course. This is an opportunity to take part in a brand new offroad event and a chance to put your outdoor and offroad skills to the test. Dates are December 7th – 9th. For more information on this event, click here.
2016 Ladies Encourage Everyone to Participate:
There are common threads to the conversations that Charlene had with the 2016 participants. The most common is no one regretted entering the challenge, and at minimum, going through the first phase. Every lady was encouraged with the Votes of Confidence. For those that did make it to the events, they had more words of wisdom:
- Kristen Endres, 36 Hours of Uwharrie guest: https://youtu.be/o1xpDAWpGmM
- Kristie Moore, SEMA Show guest: https://youtu.be/fBGNgC12Lv8
- Kaleigh Hotchkiss, Rebelle Rally guest: https://youtu.be/elJU3kUEljw
- Leigh Singleton, SEMA Show guest: https://youtu.be/sfR-7tlciRA
- Marcie Hricziscse, Trail of Missions guest: https://youtu.be/8AQUULd4q8Y
August 28th Deadline to Participate:
Ladies have until Friday August 28th to submit their application and 3 photos to Winning@BowerMedia.com to be included in this year’s opportunity. The Ladies Offroad Challenge is open to any woman 21 years of age or older. Offroad driving and 4×4 experience is NOT required to enter but may be necessary for some events. International entries are welcome. If chosen, entrant is responsible for travel to the United States.
After the submission deadline, all entries will be opened for public Votes of Confidence on social media. Be sure to share your entry, so your friends and family can vote for you! The social media voting phase will choose the top 30 entries. The top 30 ladies’ stories will be featured on Ladies Offroad Network.
From the top 30 entries, internal judges, including Charlene, will choose the top 10 finalists who will be required to attend a weekend of offroad training June 2017 in Mesa, AZ. This training weekend will include many activities designed to teach the finalists what is needed to excel in these offroad events as well as test their ability to adapt to stressful environments. The top 10 finalists will be announced Saturday, May 13, 2017 at Overland Expo. The 3 challenge winners will be announced following completed training.
About Ladies Offroad Network: Ladies Offroad Network is dedicated to supporting all offroad ladies by guiding, educating, and motivating them to achieve their goals. Whether you are a driver, co-driver, racer, passenger, mother, business owner, worker, or hobbyist, you are welcome to join the Network. We aim to meet the needs of every lady who loves offroad by providing a space to learn more about offroad sports, chat with other ladies from around the world, and share stories with a community that has the same passion. The Network consists of an informational website, conversational forum, fun Facebook group and hands-on interactive events. Founded by Bower Media’s Charlene Bower. www.ladiesoffroadnetwork.com
