Kris and I met during Rebelle Rally 2020. I was competing in our rookie year. Kris was so encouraging and kind to us and from that time we were friends for life. Fast forward 5 years and here we are, competing together for the first time.
Rugged Overland, Pirelli, Four Wheel Drive Association of BCICD High-Performance Coatings, Hellwig, Bulldog Winches
Kris Vockler, 6x Rebelle driver, mother, daughter, and entrepreneur, whose zest for life & peaceful demeanour exemplify the phrase courage over perfection. A competitor who mentors & generously shares her knowledge & expertise of offroading skills & life.
CEO of ICD High-Performance Coatings. It means I get to wake up and help a team of people grow and make products that make the built environment cleaner, greener, and healthier for our future.
Vancouver, WA
Geological Engineering, Chemstry, MBA - Portland State University, Marylhurst University (MBA), Stanford Business Post-Grad
"We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are." ~Talmud
My guilty pleasure is apocalyptic zombie novels.
That first rally in 2017 started as just an offroad and navigation event to me, something hard to do that I had wanted to do. The rally has continued to be that world-class competition, but within a few days of that first start in 2017, I knew it would be much more. Today, it’s a competition to strive to improve and win, but for me, the secondary effects matter most. The rally is a crucible moment, a stressful and challenging thing to do but what springs forward is intense personal growth. The experiences include overcoming significant challenges, endurance, perseverance, grit, and learning to be a better teammate, all in a brief period of time. These growth areas make me a better mother, CEO, child, and person of the world. Some take a vacation and climb a mountain, I Rebelle.
The “underdog” in general inspires me the most, never quitting and having grit. Striving and failing, knowing that is part of the cycle, but having the perseverance to cross the finish line.
Books:
1. Man’s Search for Meaning – Victor Frankle
2. Daring Greatly – Brene Brown
3. Old Man and the Sea – Hemingway
Peru, traveling with Shaman, a vision of having a child and the following 16 years of learning to be a Mom.
2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
Of course, I'm always in it to win it, but the Rebelle for me is about challenge and overcoming difficult things. The condensed challenge of the Rebelle feeds me for the rest of the year. Some would say, "isn't running a business or two a difficult thing?" The answer is 100% yes, and without things like the Rebelle, it's easy to fall into the hole of how difficult running a business really is. The Rebelle gives me the power to know I can do more than I think. Beyond that, this year is a special year; I get to share the rally with one of my closest friends, whom I met at the rally years ago. She's recently lost her husband, who was also on staff for the last few years. This Rebelle will be about friends and healing together.
Golf, started young, and my teenager is good, so I'm back to golf and pretty good at it still. It's what my family does together. I've always had a creative outlet; most of my life, it's been fine art and landscape photography. Today, add watercolor painting to that. Also, I play a mean xbox.
I've been offroading since high school in the Pacific NW. 100% it's shaped how I approach the Rebelle. I'm lucky I've loved offroading my whole life, obviously, the skill in such helps a lot. On the competition side, I was an elite tennis player when I was young, so I generally approach the rally from that same angle of continuous improvement.
I've been lucky to travel the globe for work over my 30 years.
I get more excited about the mountains in the first few days; there is something special about feeling like an explorer. A mystery to unfold in how Emily presents the rally.
Used to be it was disconnecting, now it's a craving to have no contact and be where I love to be, the desert and behind the wheel of a rig. Most challenging are the dunes; when we get to them, I'm tired and can get cautious. Always a challenge, those dunes.
The team aspect of the rally parallels teams in the business world: continuous improvement and team reliance. I learn from the rally and take it back to work, and vice versa. It's also what I chose to do for vacations, so there is that. :)
When I turned 16 and got my driver's license, my parents got tired ot me borrowing their car, so I was lucky enough that they got me a vehicle. I'm sure my father thought he was buying it for himself, but in fact, that 1979 Chevy Blazer was the best thing my young self could have been given. I was starting offroading, and that rig got me into my best learning moments. I was also working at Timberline Lodge, Mt Hood, as a ski instructor, so it was the best ride up to the mountain a gal could ever get.
Business owner of Tough Plumbing & Heating - Before I gained the resilience and confidence competing in the Rebelle Rally, I would have probably let the company we started together fold after the death of Doug, My husband, in April. With the help of our Son Ron and systems he designed our company will go on for many years. Photographer
West Kelowna Bc
"You have within you right now, everything you need to deal with whatever the world can throw at you" — Brian Tracy
I need the Rebelle Rally and the adventure right now. The only thing I am 100% sure of in my world right now is .... I am a Rebelle. The thought of not competing was a small glimmer but quickly changed as I know Doug would have been so pissed at me for not completing. He would have never wanted me to give up my dream of competing in the 10th edition of the Rebelle.
Women who are real with each other. Women who build each other up. Women who fight for their dreams in a graceful and ethical way.
The incredible journey I had with Doug for 35 years. He was my best friend, partner, soulmate and husband. He joined me on almost all of my most memorable adventures my who adult life.
2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
This year is all about enjoying the ride and the adventure with my good friend Kris. Don't get me wrong I do have placement and scoring goals but finding my way and growing in my new normal is more important to me right now.
Photography and singing have been the main interests that fill my cup up for years. Sitting alone on the dark capturing the night sky is my happy place. I have been singing in women's only barbershop a cappella chorus for over 10 years. When the harmonies lock and ring........ its like magic
I think I say this every year, If I hadn't attended the BC Overland Rally in 2018 and meeting Emily.......... I would not have become passionate and love off-roading. I love encouraging women to believe in themselves and letting them know they can tackle any dream they have. They just have to take the leap and go for it.
I love all of the terrains Emily & Jimmy pick. But Trona Pinnacles has to be the all time fav terrain for me.
Bouncing back after a hard/bad day will always be difficult.... but I think I am slowly getting better with each Rebelle I compete in
Year 10!!! Before I even hit the start line for 2024 I wanted to be a part of year 10! My first Rebelle in 2020 was the 5th year and I can only imagine how epic Year 10 will be. The Rally has changed me in so many ways. Self confidence and resilience during hard and trying times are the 2 most important changes in my life. The Rebelle taught me that I am stronger and more capable than I could ever know. And that my dreams do matter, even when they are hard and feel like there is no hope, keep believing, take a risks and the leap, follow your dreams.
The first memory that comes to mind: As a teenager, when I was first dating Doug,my husband, and I would go on mini adventures in his dad's 1970 GMC pick up that had the shifter on the steering column(3 on the tree). We would start on a diet road and coin toss for right or left..... we had hours of fun exploring.
