The founding of the Dirtgirls began as a way to bring more women together who share the same passion for riding bikes. The wider impact of the project revolves around teamwork, inclusivity and shared adventure.
Roadtrip to Norway
Spread across three vehicles 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.
“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.” Frieda, founder of the Dirtgirls.
The central hub for this adventure would be a self-built camper van packed with Dometic gear, with other vehicles including a pickup, and another van loaded with bikes and food for the long drive to Norway.
Meticulously self-converted, the camper van packs essential Dometic gear. Some of those pieces include a FreshJet AC, NRX fridge, TwinBoost heater, and solar setup. Built for comfort and off-grid living, it offers the perfect contrast to muddy, dusty trail days outside. Ready to support the Dirtgirls crew anywhere, it’s home on the road made simple.
Roadside Setbacks and Pizza Nights
A six hour drive was displayed on everyone's dashboard GPS, but in true style, the start of this adventure would unfold from the moment the Dirtgirls pulled away. A much longer night was about to unfold for the girls riding in the camper van. A flat tire on the Norwegian border stopped the vehicle in the dead of the night. While waiting for breakdown recovery to put them back on the road, five of the girls continued on and later met up in town, shared a pizza, and waited for the van to roll in.
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 fitted out campervan serves as a focal point for the girls on trips like this on to Trysil. A two burner Dometic Stove Top is fired up first - two percolators loaded with fresh coffee sit firmly on top. At the heart of the Dirtgirls setup was the self-converted camper van, fitted out with Dometic essentials. All the Dirtgirls would agree, it’s the kind of setup that makes every road feel like home away from home.
As essential as the camp stove was, the Dometic AC unit proved a real lifesaver. During the warm weekend in Trysil, it kept the van cool and comfortable, maintaining a steady climate inside and elevating the level of comfort as things outside heated up.
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.
For the Dirtgirls, the real magic lies in how travel and camping turn a group of riders into sisters. Whether it’s setting up the chairs and table, cooking meals, or fixing bikes, every small task is shared and that sense of collaboration turns the weekend into a rich escapade.
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. For the group, being outdoors is the reset button that is sometimes required. Riding hard might tire the body, but the mind switches off. Out here, the phone loses signal and so do the stresses of everyday life.
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.
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.” Frieda, founder of the Dirtgirls.
After long days on the trails, the crew cooled off together in the river that flowed past the camping site. It was their off-grid version of a spa, washing off the dust and the heat before dinner.
Among the highlights were the big air lines that led to jumps that look tame in videos but rise huge in person. A few of the girls took them on, following each other’s wheels and cheering upon every landing, as well as each crash. The park pushed everyone in different ways. As one of the riders put it, “There’s no warm-up and you just drop straight into these huge jumps mid-way through a trail.”
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. What the Dirtgirls ride for is to make the statement that 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 the Dirtgirls built on them would surely carry forwards on to the next adventure.
Follow the Dirtgirls: @dirt.girls
