“Teach me to wheelie,” I used to ask my riding buddies. They would respond by telling me to just: Gas it up. Their advice intimidated me -I never tried that method, thinking, there just has to be a more methodical way to learn.  Sure enough, years after receiving this intimidating advice, I met someone who taught me that any person willing to think logically about stunting to take the time to practice, could in fact learn to wheelie - girls included!

I started riding street bikes in New York, enjoying the upstate mountains and NYC commuting. While I was addicted to the freedom and power inherit with riding a motorcycle I wanted more; more control, more confidence, and I really wanted to learn to do a wheelie! After relocating to Los Angeles, California; I met someone who was considered “a real stunter” and he introduced me to the unique world of stunting.

Streetbike Freestyle or “stunting” is an exciting evolving sport driven by entrepreneurial riders looking to make a community and lifestyle completely their own. With factory and cooperate sponsors and many competitions, stunting is breaching what one might consider a legitimate sport. I was more than thrilled to meet riders with more advice than, gas it up. These riders are a tightly knit community of enthusiasts and through sharing tips, ideas, and practice habits; they’re causing stunting to evolve very quickly. I was excited by the control these riders had over their bikes; and I could not wait to learn!

I decided to make the commitment and buy a stunt bike: a 2001 Honda CBR F4i. After properly setting my F4i up for stunting; I was ready to hit the “spot” or closed courses used for technical stunting. I found that stunting is not for the faint of heart; it involved crashing, endless bike maintenance, determination, and discipline. These tricks do not come easy! Beyond learning stunts, I have also become acquainted with the struggle women face entering a male dominated subculture.

A female stunter has many mental, physical, and social barriers to overcome. As a female, when I first started practicing I was not taken seriously and occasionally ridiculed for even trying. After my determination became apparent through getting back on after crashes and night after night of practice; some men began to take me seriously, but the pressure of being the clear oddity began to distract me. Being the only female riding on the course, the spotlight is on you, as is the gossip. So I was forced to develop confidence in who I was and where I was going.

Overall stunting has been a rewarding struggle full of lessons. I learned “Idle Wheelies” first, meaning I learned wheelies very slowly so the bike is actually on idle, without aid of the throttle. This trick is an excellent foundation to move forward to more technical tricks. Stunting is a demanding sport for anyone, but females need to be aware of the additional gender-related obstacles. The great thing is: as more and more females decide to get into stunting our social barriers begin to crumble.

If you’re thinking about learning to stunt there are a few things to consider. What do you want out of stunting? If you just want to learn a controlled wheelie, there are various schools that can teach you this, with professional instructors and the aid of a wheelie bar. If you want to really get into the sport, contact your local stunters and talk to a female stunter online. There’s a world of knowledge, from setting up your bike to technique to gear, which will help make your adventure easier and safer.

When preformed correctly, stunts on a motorcycle are a beautiful expression of control and confidence on a motorcycle. Don’t be intimidated by reckless attitudes and methods. Logic and practice create a skilled rider, regardless of gender.