Grit Girls in UAE who like to ride high
Off-roading group encourages women to ride bikes to push their limits and feel empowered
DUBAI: A clutch of women, who call themselves Grit Girls UAE, have formed an off-road motocross and enduro group with a mission to inspire, encourage and facilitate other women to ride bikes, as they believe it is a means to push one’s limits and feel empowered.
It’s a message that finds a strong echo on International Women’s Day.
Martinette Van Vuuren, an Australian expat who founded the group late last month, told Gulf News, “Some enthusiasts like me just ventured into the Dubai desert recently to kick-start a new community that is centred around determination, inclusivity and fun.”
She said the event — the first Grit Girls UAE Try Day — with support from ANB Automobiles, distributor of KTM in UAE, hosted more than 30 new women riders for one-to-one basics training.
“Supplied with gear, bikes and nourishment, the women left the event capable of riding a dirt bike.”
She said the group has a diverse mix of women from different backgrounds. “We already have 80 members on board and they come from over 20 nationalities, including Britons, South Africans, Indians, Iraqis and Saudis. The age group is also diverse, with the youngest being a teenager and the oldest 50.”