The founding of the Dirtgirls was Freida’s plan to bring more girls together who share the same passion for riding bikes as she does. The wider impact of the project revolves around teamwork, inclusivity and shared adventure.
Roadtrip to Norway
Spread across a car and a motorhome is all the gear, food and bikes necessary for their next vanlife adventure. A team of women-led mountain bikers, AKA the Dirtgirls, are about to roadtrip from Sweden to Norway for an exciting weekend riding trails at the legendary Trysil Bike Park.
Between a trusty VW cady and Citroen Jumper motorhome kitted out with an array of Dometic gear, the girls hit the road to chase trails and uncover hidden camp gems.
“… that van has everything. It's like a rolling house… they have a kitchen and everything. It had all the fresh water we needed and the fridge is always full. A dream camper van when you want to get out there like we are now.”
Roadside Setbacks and Pizza Nights
A six hour drive lay ahead for Freida, while a much longer night was about to unfold for the girls riding in the motorhome.
As Freida and Elina pull up six hours away at Trysil, they get word that one of the tyres blew out on the motorhome. Although they had their biking equipment in the back of the car, the only thing they had to drink was some of the alcohol bought along for the group’s weekend out. Dinner that evening would be take-out pizza. At least the empty boxes gave them something to sit on while they waited for the rest of the group to arrive in town.
As morning light rays leak through gaps in the pine forest, the Dirtgirls camp is more than awake. In fact, many hadn’t slept. Enthusiasm spreads through the group as the girls prepare breakfast and fix up bikes. The smell of coffee drifts through camp, pans clatter, and music adds to the ambiance.
A Home on Wheels
The Dometic enabled campervan serves as a focal point for the girls. A two burner Dometic Stove Top is fired up first - two percolators loaded with fresh coffee sit firmly on top. The clean design of Marika’s camper is a theme that runs through the Dometic install items she chose to fit in the Citroen Jumper. As the rest of the Dirtgirls would agree, this van really has everything.
As essential as the camp stove was, the Dometic AC unit was a must-have. Marika says it was a life saver. “We had a super nice and sunny weekend in Trysil, and even though we have good insulation in the van to keep the temperatures down, being able to properly regulate the temperature for a nice climate inside elevated the level of comfort we like to have”.
Those hotter days in Trysil did give way to cold evenings, due to the mountain environment. The ability to turn the Dometic system over to heat mode helped the girls sleeping inside get a great night's sleep and rest well-used muscles. It’s equipment like this that turns the average camper into a rolling home on wheels.
Camp Life at Trysil
“When you travel together, you experience new things side by side, and it can bring you closer together. Camping is the same as it’s a constant teamwork exercise where everyone helps out. That’s what really connects us.”
Freida
The benefits rewarded can run deeper. This way of life gives Freida, and the other girls, a way to disconnect from the day-to-day and reset, or at least pause, to live in the moment. As a group of young adults, their lives are largely filled with pressure from school and work, as well as the weight of digital stress. Even if it means just going into the woods to force the reception on your phone to switch to no connection, a lot of people today do need it.
“When I’m outside, I just feel so calm. Maybe my body doesn’t get to rest because we are riding so hard, but my mind does. I think it’s more important to rest the mind though. Switch off the computer, go outside, and make life a little less comfortable to how it is in a home.”
Between trails, the girls find moments of calm around the campervan. The Dometic refrigerator, packed to the top, is the place to grab a cold drink to quench the thirst from riding the bikes. And, not everyone knew it, but there was a secret stash of ice cream hidden in the frozen compartment.
Back out on the trails, worries vanish.
Pushing Limits
“When I ride, I don’t think about anything else. I just shut off all those thoughts. You’re in the moment. That’s the best part for me.”
For four days the Dirtgirls tore around the trails at Trysil. Too many good moments to pack into one story, but one highlight for Freida was floating down the river after riding all day, soaking her muscles and cooling in the alpine water. But of course, the big story she wanted to return home with had to include something achieved on her bike.
“You see videos of it and think it doesn’t look that big, but when you’re there it’s massive.”
With no plan to backout, Freida has set her mind on a big goal. The big air gaps. Monster jumps that result in seconds of air time and only reserved for the most committed bike riders.
“There’s no warm-up and you just drop straight into these huge jumps mid-way through a trail. At first I crashed and I felt shaken up. But Elina had ridden them before, and she’s such a stable rider. On the next attempt I followed her line, trusted her pace, and eventually I cleared it. That was a really celebratory moment and I felt incredible!”
Sisters on the Trail
Bragging rights earnt, but the proof of what the Dirtgirls stand for is what shines. Between the worn out bodies and mud covered bikes is a bond between a group of friends that’s been strengthened. Moments like Freida’s big air jump, the failed attempt as much as the successful one, is the identifier of a mission that works. When women lift each other up, they can tackle even the most intimidating lines.
The group packed up for the long drive home and the trails of Trysil stayed behind. What is certain is the confidence and connection they built on them would surely carry forwards on the next adventure.
Follow the Dirtgirls: @dirt.girls
