Overland Expo team members Azure and Eva just returned from their second Rebelle Rally. After a successful rookie appearance we wanted to chat with this dynamic duo about their second Rebelle appearance, lessons learned, and future adventures.
Overland Expo: First off, welcome back from your second Rebelle Rally. Before we dive into the recap, how would you describe this rally if you had to wrap it up in one sentence each?
Azure: The most generous delivery of gifts in the form of intense challenges, scenic vistas, and rally lessons that apply more broadly to life in general.
Eva: The Rebelle Rally is a masterclass in grit, teamwork, patience, and navigation— it’s the best way to get completely lost and find out exactly what you’re made of.
Overland Expo: How did this Rebelle Rally differ from your first appearance? What knowledge from your first rally was the most helpful going into this year?
Eva: As the driver, I had a much more nuanced feel for how the Land Cruiser handles just about anything you throw at it. That truck is endlessly capable— it’ll climb, crawl, or pick its way through whatever’s in front of us. I’ve always loved driving it, but this year it felt like we were truly in sync, and it all came together. Between the teamwork, the navigation, and the driving, for the first time, we weren’t just surviving the rally. We built on the foundation from our rookie year and truly got to thrive in that intense environment.
Azure: I think most Rookies spend their first Rebelle Rally just figuring out how to Rebelle. It requires an intense amount of mental bandwidth just to learn the ins and outs of Rallying, never mind how to more finely plot points, find checkpoints, and navigate the terrain that the routes will bring you through. Going into our second year, we could more fully focus on actually competing because we knew how to rally, in general.
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Overland Expo: This year marked the 10th anniversary of the Rebelle Rally. Did that milestone add any extra meaning or energy to the experience for you both?
Eva: The 10-year anniversary definitely had a special energy, and I am so proud to have been a part of it. Previous competitors came out of “Rebelle retirement” to compete again, and other women had actually done all ten rallies. That kind of lineup really raised the bar, so taking 23rd this year felt pretty great knowing the field was stacked.
Azure: There were acknowledgements of and anniversary-related celebrations throughout the Rally, so the energy was very jovial, from start to finish. The route that Jimmy and Emily created for the competitors was a compilation of the best-of-the-best routes from the past 10 years. It was an absolute TREAT. The 10-year anniversary drew out former competitors who wanted to be there for the anniversary and kept long-term competitors in it for “just one more year” – having the old guard competitors in the mix gave it a very special feel.
Overland Expo: We’ve discussed your moto backgrounds before, but with more time behind the wheel of a 4×4, do you find yourself looking to adventure via 4×4 soon, or did it just make you miss your bikes more?
Eva: Honestly, it makes me appreciate both even more. Driving a 4×4 scratches a totally different itch than riding a motorcycle— it’s slower, strategic in a different way, and, let’s be honest… it comes with air-conditioning and snacks! Of course, I’m a motorcyclist at heart, but there’s something deeply satisfying about piloting that big old Land Cruiser through the desert with a paper map and no GPS in sight. The Rebelle doesn’t make me miss motorcycles, but I’m definitely going for a ride this weekend, as soon as I finish unpacking from the rally!
Overland Expo: What was your strategy going into this year’s rally? Did you change anything from last time, or stick with what worked? Our strategy has always been pretty simple: crush it in the morning and don’t die in the desert in the afternoon. That’s our motto, haha! But this year we were stronger across the board, so we could actually evolve that plan a little.
Eva: In our rookie year, we’d be totally smoked by midday. Once the sun was overhead, our brains were mush. This year, we stayed sharper all the way into the evening, which meant we could push harder and stay more competitive through the long days. Our updated strategy was basically: stay on the gas, be patient with ourselves, and keep moving efficiently.
Overland Expo: Now that you’re an experienced Rebelle Rally participants, what advice would you give to someone who’s looking to be a part of the event?
Azure: I think that teammate selection is perhaps the most important choice a Rebelle can make after deciding to enter the Rally. More important than what vehicle you use, what tires you run, etc. You will spend more waking time within two feet of that person than you will with almost any other person in your life – perhaps even your spouse/kids. And you will be two feet away from one another – for HOURS – when you are exhausted, hungry, stressed, and in some potentially dangerous situations. You have to make sure you are Rallying with someone with whom you can communicate, be comfortable being yourself with – unapologetically – and it REALLY helps if you can make one another laugh. It’s extremely difficult to break into the top tiers of the competition, so you want to make sure that your and your teammate’s goals are aligned and that after you’ve competed for the first time, you’re going to walk away from what was a tremendous investment of time, energy and resources having spent an excessive amount of time with someone who you learned from, laughed with and hopefully like – or even love – more after all is said and done.
Overland Expo: You’ve both been part of the Overland Expo team—how did your experience with Expo influence your approach to the Rebelle Rally, if at all?
Eva: Event production teaches you how to think on your feet, solve problems with whatever’s in front of you, and stay cool when things start to go sideways. That mindset translates directly to the Rebelle. But honestly, overlanding in general, and Overland Expo in particular, has been foundational to who I am as an adventurer, an explorer, and a Rebelle competitor. At this point, I’m basically hardwired to thrive in chaos and dust!
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Overland Expo: How do you think events like Rebelle Rally help shape the future of women in motorsports and overlanding?
Azure: Many women who participate in the Rebelle, whether it’s on staff or competing, are already part of the off-road, overlanding, or motorsports industry, so the Rally provides a really cool opportunity for networking, building, and strengthening these relationships across these various communities. The Rally in itself really shines a spotlight on the fact that there is a growing community of women who are very keen to do “hard things” in vehicles. The Rebelle community has seen OEMs, various product manufacturers, and media outlets taking notice of this and standing up to support and encourage them.
Eva: The Rebelle Rally completely changes the narrative of who belongs behind the wheel in off-road spaces. It’s not just a competition— it’s a confidence machine. Once you’ve spent eight days navigating by map and compass, fixing what breaks, and having your own back, you see yourself differently.
That ripple effect is huge. Women go home from the Rebelle and start taking bigger trips, teaching skills, building trucks, and showing up in spaces that used to be overwhelmingly male. The rally isn’t just shaping the future of women in motorsports; it’s redefining what leadership and adventure look like.
Overland Expo: What’s next for you both—any future rallies, adventures, or projects on the horizon?
Azure: Well, on the drive back from the Rally, we were conjuring up a future moto adventure together AND talking about other rallies that take place around the world. But in the meantime, prepping for the Overland Expo 2026 event season is next on my docket. And then maybe a (very) remote work/riding adventure to usher in the new year.
Eva: I’ve got a ton of exciting projects on deck. I’ll be spending the winter in Southern Baja, working with GRIT Moto Adventures on their ADV motorcycle training and tour programs in Utah and Mexico. I’m also producing the Desert Adventure Rally here in Bisbee, Arizona, this April— a full week of incredible riding, training, and community that’s become one of my favorite projects. My vintage motel, the Jonquil Motel, is rocking and rolling too— it’s such a fun home base for travelers and events.
Overland Expo: It sounds like you both had a great time, and we appreciate you sharing your experience with us and our readers. The Rebelle Rally is an awesome event, and it’s always great to get an insider’s POV!
