Awards and Gala

The 2019 Rebelle Rally came to a close on Saturday with a public awards ceremony at San Diego’s Broadway Pier and the annual gala at Coasterra.  Teams aired up their tires and made the drive from Glamis back to San Diego on Saturday morning, opening their “prohibited items” and reentering society.  For ten days the competitors were devoid of their cell phones, laptops, and any electronics as they navigated with maps and compasses for 1,400 miles across California and Nevada’s most stunning terrain as part of the longest off-road navigation rally in the United States.

The Jeep-sponsored awards ceremony was well attended by the general public, who mixed amongst family and friends welcoming the Rebelles back from their journey through everything from mountain passes and freezing nights to winds whipping across vast sand dunes.  In the 4×4 Class, Team Escape the Paved – #176 (Lindsey Hunter and Sarah Homer) finished in third place in their Ford Raptor.  After posting the best score in the dunes on the final day boosted Team Rouge Wave – #123 (Teralin Petereit and Melissa Fischer) and their Jeep Wrangler to a second-place finish at the end of the rally.  The winners, Team Xelles – #190, led the overall standings from start to finish of the rally.  For their efforts they received $5,000 each towards 2020 Rebelle Rally registration, Suunto watches and Ada Diamonds sustainably cultured diamond necklaces.  Rachelle Croft and Taylor Pawley not only held off a field of talented competitors, they did so in an unmodified Lexus GX460 to also take home the Bone Stock Award.

In the Crossover Class, rookies Team Sand Mode – #208 finished in third place.  Second place went to military veterans Team Record The Journey – #207 in their Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, with driver Karah Behrend making history has the first adaptive athlete to complete the Rebelle Rally.  First place went to four-time Rebelles Emme Hall and Rebecca Donaghe of Team Jeeves – #200, who proved that the Rolls-Royce Cullinan has the off-road capabilities to match its luxury appointments.
In our Day 7 Field Update we mistakenly listed Team Luna – #107 as the 2019 Rookies of the Year.  While April Leone and Joanna Chen has the highest rookie score in the 4×4 Class with 1248 points, they were actually bested by Team Sand Mode – #208 of the Crossover Class, who scored 1252 points to take home the Lasernut Rookie of the Year trophies.  This is a testament to the abilities of the Honda Passport, as well as the skill and acumen of Chassis Reliability Test Engineer Liz Casteel and Engine Systems and Drivetrain Test Engineer Tasha Krug.  Canadians Team Clearwater Design – #100 won the International Cup for the third year in a row, earning them $2,500 for the Alzheimer Society of Canada.

Rebelle founder Emily Miller gave an inspiring speech reminding all of the women in the room that they are unbreakable and urging them to apply everything they had learned over the past week, from confidence to overcome their fears to offering a helping hand to others, and apply it to their larger lives.  Miller also announced the creation of the visionary Rebelle Impact program, which was created to give microloans to women around the world in order to provide them opportunities they would otherwise be denied.  “We have already given out 23 loans, and funded 18 girls to go to school for the next year,” Miller proudly revealed.  “We wanted to tip the scales for these women.” Money paid back on these loans at standard interest rates will then be reinvested in the program to provide even more funds for future loans through the non-profit organization Kiva.  Emily Miller continues to distinguish the Rebelle Rally as not only a world-class competition that is the longest navigation rally in the United States, but also a force for good in local communities and the larger global community as well.

Imperial Sand Dunes Finale

The Rebelle Rally started innocently enough eight days ago with an unscored day leaving from picturesque Lake Tahoe.  Don’t be fooled though, this event is an absolute pressure cooker.  Rebelle founder Emily Miller and Course Director Jimmy Lewis set up the course to be increasingly difficult for each day of competition, in terms of both navigation and driving skills.  “The idea is to challenge competitors, not overwhelm them,” Miller explains.  You could call the week practice, as it all culminates on Day 7 at Imperial Sand Dunes (aka Glamis) where there are no roads and few visual markers to use for navigation.

Just a few points separated the top five teams coming into Day 7, forcing them to use all their training and skills to succeed. Several teams rose to the occasion, with the overall winner of the 4×4 Class literally coming down to the final minutes after eight grueling days of competition.  The top score of the day was posted by Team Rouge Wave – #123. “Today was the best day I have ever had on the Rebelle Rally,” three-year competitor Teralin Petereit confessed.  Petereit won the Rebelle Rally in 2017 as part of Team Blondtourage and returned this year on short notice with four-year Rebelle Melissa Fischer to create Team Rouge Wave.  “The Rebelle is a time when I’m fully alive and fully present,” Fischer shared.  “All while playing the best game on the planet with the finest and fiercely competitive women.”  The stellar day moved Team Rouge Wave to second place overall.  They made up six points on Team Xelles – #190, but it wasn’t enough.

Team Xelles – #190 led the 4×4 Class the entire week, and as such they had a bull’s eye on their backs.  Navigator Taylor Pawley was under tremendous pressure coming into the final day of competition, but she and teammate Rachelle Croft developed a game plan, took their time, and executed that plan flawlessly. CPs were placed by the event staff in the furthest corners of the Glamis sand dunes for the largest test to date of driving, navigation, and time management under pressure, and Team Xelles rose to the occasion in their Lexus GX460 to not only take the win in the 4×4 Class but the Bone Stock Award as well. Their victory nets them $10,000 off their entry fee for next year’s competition.

Last year’s champions, Team Clearwater Design – #100 were physically first to many of the checkpoints and back to base camp early in the afternoon on Day 7, even after reaching three blue CPs placed deep within the heart of the Glamis that required precise vehicle placement.  When the dust settled, the Canadian team of Michelle Laframboise and Elise Racette finished fifth and took home the International Cup for the third year in a row.  For their efforts, $2,500 will be donated in their name to the charity of their choice.   Team Luna – #127 earned the Rookie of the Year title, finishing an impressive 12th overall for the week in their Total Chaos-equipped Toyota 4Runner.   Last year’s Rookie of the Year winners, Team Escape the Paved – #176, rounded out the podium in the overall 4×4 Class standings, improving upon their seventh-place finish in 2018 in their Bone Stock Ford Raptor.

The Crossover Class was not quite as closely contested, despite twice as many entries in 2019 when compared to the previous year.  Team Jeeves – #200 held a solid lead all week long in their Rolls Royce Cullinan.  The team of Emme Hall and Rebecca Donaghe are one of only two teams to compete in all four Rebelle Rallies with the same teammate (the other being Karen Hoehn and Dana Saxten), and their experience helped them fend off Team Record The Journey – #207 and Team Sand Mode – #208. Honda engineers Liz Casteel and Krug of Team Sand Mode were the top-ranking rookies in the Crossover Class in their Honda Passport.  And fan favorites Team Record The Journey made history as Karah Behrend crossed the finish line as the first adaptive athlete to not only compete at the Rebelle Rally, but finish on the podium with her teammate and fellow veteran Rachael Ridenour.

The thirty-eight teams at the Rebelle Rally represented six countries and twenty states, and ranged in age from 19 to 77.  “This rally is really about competing with yourself,” founder Emily Miller explained.  The teams now transit to San Diego for a podium ceremony at Broadway Pier against the dramatic backdrop of the San Diego Bay to the west and the city skyline to the east. From 12 PM to 2 PM on Saturday, October 19th, Rebelle competitor vehicles will be on display and podium awards will be presented. This event is free and open to the public with media in attendance.  The festivities continue at 7 PM until midnight with our awards gala held at the breathtaking Coasterra. Overlooking the sparkling San Diego skyline, competitors will be reunited with their families and friends to enjoy dinner, dancing, awards, and video highlights from the rally.

Sponsor Highlight- KÜHL

In a sea of competitors, KÜHL has always stood out. From the kickoff in 1983 to present day cult-like status in the outdoor industry, KÜHL’s high-performance yet around-town ready gear leaves consumers loyal for a reason, including Rebelles. KÜHL is the perfect combination of premium quality and technical functionality.  Competitors and staff were outfitted in KÜHL pants and the official rally vest this year, and the feedback was positive from top to bottom. Designers from KÜHL are even working with Rebelles to collect feedback for future collaboration and their continual commitment to making great product.

Cougar Buttes to Imperial Sand Dunes

Rebelles awoke to a beautiful fall morning at Cougar Buttes with perfect temperatures and an absolutely stunning sunrise.  The beauty quickly gave way to whooped out paths and rocky trails as the teams criss-crossed Johnson OHV Valley looking for green, blue, and black checkpoints while trying to refrain from damaging their vehicles or puncturing any tires. Leaving Johnson Valley, the road book led competitors through the gorgeous Joshua Tree National Park and then around the Salton Sea past Mecca and Bombay Beach en route to Imperial Sand Dunes (aka Glamis). Reaching green CPs before their closing times was an issue for all teams on Day 6, with distance, traffic, fueling, and road conditions all eating up valuable time. The format of the Rebelle Rally requires teams to manage their time efficiently, as there are set windows of time in which to reach blue and black CPs before traveling to the next green CP.  Miss the time cutoff for a green CP and your day of competition is over; literally.

The Crossover Class is larger in 2019 than it is has ever been, and Team Jeeves – #200 has retained their overall lead by besting Karah Behrend and Rachael Ridenour of Team Record The Journey – #207 for one point on the day.  Johnson Valley lived up to its reputation for the Crossover Class, claiming several tires and forcing Team Challenging Spirit – #203 and Team Naviguessers – #210 to retire due to dehydration and a burnt up clutch, respectively.

Last year’s 4×4 Class champions, Team ClearWater Designs – #100, posted the top score on Day 6, hitting all the CPs for the day save for one blue checkpoint.  This puts them just 13 points behind Team Xelles – #190 in the overall standings coming into the final day of the event.  Rachelle Croft and Taylor Pawley of Team Xelles have been leading the rally all week, but last year Team Blondetourage led much of the rally only to see victory snatched away on the final day by Team ClearWater Designs.  After six days of fierce competition, there is less than a 10% difference in points amongst the top eight teams.  This is still very much anyone’s game.

The final stage of the 2019 Rebelle Rally will push the competitors deeper into the dunes of Glamis in search of elusive CPs.  Past editions of the rally have revealed that nothing is certain when dunes are part of the equation.  Teams have gotten broken, stuck, and ran out of fuel at Glamis, plunging their position in the standings.  Other teams have taken all the skills that they have learned over the past week and applied it on course to upset significantly more experienced rivals.  Anything can happen at the Rebelle Rally, and on Day 7 we expect it will.  Follow us closely on social media throughout the day, as Creative Director Katy Kunkel performs live updates from Glamis.

Daily Tech Tip – What Is The Team Spirit Award?

It is not always about your score, but how you compete that matters most. The Rebelle Rally Team Spirit Award is designed to promote and encourage a positive spirit in the midst of focused competition. It is searching for solutions, proving encouragement and treating others with respect and enthusiasm, which ultimately results in fostering a spirited competitive climate.  The Team Spirit Award winner, as voted on by staff and competitors, receives a $5,000 donation in their name to the charity of the team’s choosing.

Sponsor Highlight – Tepui Tent

Ever arrive in camp after dark?  Or can’t find a clear, level spot to set up a tent?  These issues are a thing of the past with the addition of a Tepui roof top tent.  Tepui makes premium rooftop tents, including a new hard-shell model, and specialized outdoor equipment for a more secure and comfortable way to get the most out of every adventure. Every Tepui tent is purpose-built, made with the highest quality materials, and designed to withstand the roughest weather and toughest conditions. When it comes to adventure travel and pre-running the course, we choose Tepui.

Wagon Wheel to Cougar Buttes

As the Rebelle Rally reached Day 5, some teams are finding their stride while fatigue is taking its toll on others.  “This event wouldn’t have the impact on the competitors if it was only three or four days long,” Rebelle founder Emily Miller explained.  “It isn’t until Day 5 that you really start to feel the weight of the event.  Even something as simple as setting up your tent can seem like a monumental task when you are completely exhausted.  It is in these moments that we learn what we are truly capable of.”

On Day 5 teams left the line on a longer, more complex Rebelle Enduro Challenge than they had seen previously.  Timing controls started in the Spangler Open OHV Area and ended on a dry lakebed northwest of Barstow, California. They then went into the incredibly rough and rocky Stoddard Valley Open OHV, the fourth new open OHV area visited during the 2019 Rebelle.  Speeds slowed to a crawl and proper plotting and compass use was key for those looking to move ahead in the standings. Others played follow-the-leader only to find they weren’t at the right CPs and arrived at base camp as the sun was setting for the day.

In the Crossover Class, Team Jeeves – #200 extended their lead over the rest of the field.  Emme Hall and Rebecca Donaghe will have to be careful in their Rolls Royce Cullinan though, after puncturing two tires they risk being penalized for outside assistance if they need to source another tire.  Team Record The Journey – #207 placed second for the day in their Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, putting them in third in the overall standings.

Team Escape The Paved – #176 posted the best score in the 4×4 Class on Day 5, only missing two black CPs out of seventeen total CPs for the day.  This moved Lindsey Hunter and Sarah Homer into fourth place overall, with Team Xelles – #190 finishing fourth on the day and retaining a 24 point lead over Team Clearwater Designs – #100.  Longtime Rebelle Rally fans will recall that the French Canadian team of Michelle Laframboise and Elise Racette were 40 points behind when entering the dunes last year, only to come back and tie for the overall victory.  Never count out Team Clearwater Designs in the sand dunes.

Day 6 will cover a lot of ground, starting two at a time with Team Front Range Rebelles – #130 and Team Roads Less Travelled – #154 off the line together at 7 AM.  The route starts by crossing Johnson Valley, the largest OHV area in the United States at 96,000 acres. Elevations range from 4,600 feet at Hartwell Hills to 2,300 feet at Melville Dry Lake with numerous mountain ranges and rocky canyons.  All of this is fertile ground for Course Director Jimmy Lewis to place CPs in the most creative of locations. Teams will depart the massive boulders of Cougar Buttes and head to Soggy Dry Lake. After departing Johnson Valley, the next section is on roadbook through Joshua Tree National Park to the Salton Sea with the opportunity for teams to relax before entering the infamous Imperial Sand Dunes (aka Glamis), where the winners of the 2019 Rebelle Rally will be decided.

• Team Martine and Nathalie #102 – Jeep Wrangler JK
• Team Escape The Paved #176 – Ford Raptor
• Team Jeep Thrills #177 – Jeep Wrangler JK
• Team Dirt Dweebs #188 – Jeep Wrangler JL
• Team Sol Seekers #201 – Subaru Crosstrek
• Team Challenging Spirit #203 – Honda Ridgeline

Sponsor Highlight- Corkcicle

Corkcicle is a fan favorite amongst Rebelles and staff. Since 2017, we’ve counted on the triple-insulated canteens to do everything from keeping our coffee hot in the mountains, to keeping our water cold in the dunes. They also help us minimize trash on the rally, keeping plastic out of our oceans and landfills.  Rebelles have also found some creative ways to make use of the sleek, easy grip design that does it all — including a make-shift radiator replenisher and a source of hot water quickly on the go. We interviewed Corkcicle Founder Stephen Bruner last year to find out how he got started, and how his knack for innovation is bringing the refined to our rough at the Rebelle. Check out our throwback interview here.

Harrison Ranch to Wagon Wheel

After a chilly night self-camping in the mountains at the private Harrison Ranch, Rebelles descended back down to lower elevations and warmer climes at Wagon Wheel OHV Area.  The course passed through the spectacular Jawbone Canyon, where they refueled before heading out into Spangler OHV Area to find more CPs.  While many teams struggled with the new rules on Day 2 of the rally, by Day 4 the top teams were starting to distance themselves from the pack.

Team Jeep Thrills – #177 posted the best score for the day in the 4×4 Class.  The mother and daughter duo of Christine and Emily Benzie are scientists by trade (an aerospace engineer and geneticist, respectively) who have applied what they learned last year to compete at the top ranks of the Rebelle Rally this year.  “They day I got home I was still distilling what just happened to us over 10 intense days,” Christine recalls. “But the next morning, as I was unloading gear and pouring the glorious sand out of said gear, my little voices said ‘next year, we take less clothes’ and ‘next year, we need a place to put all those maps’.  Apparently, my subconscious had already decided: yes, there would be a next year.”

While many of this year’s rookie teams are grouped around the 20th position in the overall standings, Team Luna – #107 has moved into the top ten.  April Leone and Joanna Chen are both software engineers who met at a dune training class earlier this year.  “I have been following the Rebelle Rally for the past few years and it is fun to finally be able to participate,” Joanna confessed.  The strong finish by Team Jeep Thrills – #177 moved them into third place overall, behind Team Xelles – #190 and last year’s winners, Team ClearWater Designs – #100.

In Crossover, Team Sand Mode – #208 posted the best score for the day in their Honda Passport. “Tasha and I have been switching off driving and navigating,” Liz Casteel explained.  “It takes a lot more work to navigate here than it does to drive, and changing roles really makes us empathetic to each other.”  The strong showing for the day moved the pair of Honda engineers into second place overall in the Crossover Class behind Team Jeeves – #200.

Upon returning from a grueling marathon stage, teams had the option to participate in a skills challenge.  Unlike last year this challenge was not scored for points, but rather a bonus with prizes for the fastest time finding required items such as fire extinguishers and first aid kits.  Team Waypoint Wanderers – #148won the event with a time of one minute, thirty-four seconds.  Prizes included items from sponsors KUHLand Maxtrax as well as a dinner at Drew Deckman’s pioneering farm-to-table restaurant in Valle de Guadelupe.

On Day 5 teams leave the line starting on a longer, more complex Rebelle Enduro Challenge than they have seen thus far.  Timing controls starts in the Spangler Open OHV Area and ends on a dry lakebed northwest of Barstow, California. Teams continue on via roadbook and must stay on route.  Two black CPs embedded in the roadbook force teams to stay on point and not get distracted by the sweeping vistas.  The route then continues through Stoddard Valley Open OHV, the fourth open area that is new to the 2019 Rebelle.  Teams must keep heads up and not just follow each other in order to ensure they collect their own CP, and not the CP of another group.  They will then cross the pavement and make their way to the base of Ord Mountain and the northern part of Johnson Valley OHV Area.   This day is designed to be slighter shorter time-wise to give the competitors and vehicles an ever-so-slight break from the beating they will face in Johnson Valley on Day 6.

Daily Tech Tip – How To Follow The Rebelle Rally

There are a variety of ways to follow the Rebelle Rally standings in real time as the event progresses.  Clicking on rebellerally.com/live-tracking provides up-to-the-second positions of competitors on course providing by YB Tracking via the Rebelle Rally website or YB Tracking’s app for Apple and Android.  The tracking information is overlaid on a Mapbox framework that displays points of interest and check point (CP) locations.  For those that prefer tabular data, the Rebelle Rally scoring page has just about every statistic you could ever with for.  There are overall standings for the 4×4 and Crossover classes, links to team bios, and individual CP scores for each day.  Note that 4x4s are separated into Group A and Group B in order to discourage teams from playing follow-the-leader.  The Flow Chart is a handy way to chart momentum of teams from day to day; no one has a perfect rally and bouncing back from adversity is a critical skill for overall success.