Rallying is for everyone. Whether you want to enjoy the thrills of driving sideways by building up slowly or pushing your limits, we accommodate all learning styles.
It’s a paradox but sometimes inclusivity requires exclusivity. It’s why we’ve been running All Women’s classes for the last three years – and now we’re expanding it to our incredible ice driving experience in Wisconsin, run in partnership with Ice Driving USA.
“Since we launched the DirtFish Women in Motorsport initiative and our All Women’s driving programs in 2022, we’ve proven that there’s an absolute need for All Women’s training,” says Josie Rimmer, DirtFish’s head of strategy and Women in Motorsport coordinator. “We’ve seen collaboration, engagement, and progress coming out of these programs that is entirely unique to this setting.
“From day one of this initiative, we’ve known a primary barrier to entry of this sport was the lack of access to training. More often than not, it’s significantly more difficult for young female athletes to find access to that type of training.
“We knocked that barrier down at the Rally School – now we’re knocking it down on the frozen lake.”
You can slide a Subaru around a frozen like this in February
It’s also an answer to participant feedback from past years on the frozen Dollar Lake in Eagle River, WI. We’ve had women participants in the past – but after listening carefully to feedback, Linnea Sandell decided it was time to take it a step further..
“We’d had conversations about this with clients in previous years,” says Sandell. “There are so many women out there who feel a bit of pressure when they consider signing up for these courses – is it going to be overly competitive? Am I going to be able to take a relaxed approach to this and not put pressure on myself to drive to a certain level?
“That’s what this class is all about: women enjoying the experience together in a relaxed environment.”
Sandell has always been one to get stuck in and competitive – a trait shared with her husband, the 2004 Junior World Rally champion Patrik Sandell, who together make up part of the Ice Driving USA organizing team. But for anyone who wants to build up their skills in a depressurised environment, she expects the new All Women’s Ice Driving experience will allow its participants to gain confidence faster than they might expect.
“When you have this nice, relaxed environment as a group, I think it makes it easier to progress behind the wheel,” says Sandell. “This is what I’m looking forward to the most with this new all-women’s class – I think participants will be surprised at their rate of progression from the first morning to the final afternoon.
“I find they always improve at a faster rate than they initially expect – and once they’re out of the car, they are always supporting each other afterwards. Did you see that turn? Look how fast! It’s really nice.”
Importantly though it’s a chance to learn from some of the best in the business. DirtFish’s world-renowned curriculum and instructors, partnered with the Sandell’s expertise, combine into a package that provides equal parts enjoyment and education.
Once at the frozen lake, students will learn all the core techniques required to master driving in low-traction conditions:
“This opportunity to learn from some rally ‘greats’ is not one that arises often,” adds Rimmer. “Linnea and Patrik Sandell are wizards in a race car, and they want to share all of their knowledge with you in Wisconsin.
“I’m looking forward to seeing all of our student move through these programs, but fully expect an incredibly unique, powerful, and determined group to show up for our All Women’s program. We’ll see you there!”
The all-women’s class takes place on February 20-21, 2025, with the two-day ice experience taking you from mastering icy slides to conquering hair-raising drifts. Rhinelander Airport (RHI) is just 30 minutes away from Eagle River, with Wausau Airport (CWA) around a one hour and 40 minute drive from the Ice Driving USA camp.
Bookings can be made on the DirtFish website.
