Biker Belles®, Wild Gypsy Tour™, Women and Wheels Bike Show™, Women Riders Turnout™ and Flying Piston Benefit™ events Celebrate Women in Motorcycling
Sturgis, SD (May 7, 2020): Five events geared toward women have joined the ever-growing lineup of Sturgis Buffalo Chip events slated for the 2020 Rally. Nearly one in five riders are female, and the week of events at the Sturgis Buffalo Chip celebrating these women riders has earned it the reputation as the home for women attending the 2020 Sturgis Rally.
Sturgis’ longest-running women’s event and focal point of the week, the Sturgis Buffalo Chip Biker Belles celebration, has continuously blossomed through its 12-year history to offer women opportunities to connect to fellow female motorcyclists. Now, the Chip has expanded to include additional women’s-focused events such as the Wild Gypsy Tour, Women Riders Turnout, Women & Wheels Bike Show and Flying Piston Benefit 2020 Class of Women Strider Builders.
“This strong and spirited community empowers, encourages, and mentors each other with a focus on giving back,” said Toni Woodruff, Biker Belles Program Manager. “In these unprecedented times, it feels even more important to surround ourselves with goodness and friends and celebrate life. We will keep your health and safety on our minds as always and look forward to seeing your smiling faces in August.”
The week of events celebrating women riders includes:
12th Annual Biker Belles Celebration, Tuesday Aug. 11 – A group of leading industry women will gather with friends old and new to increase awareness of the passion, diversity and spirit of women in motorcycling during the Buffalo Chip’s 12th annual Biker Belles Celebration. Ride Co-Captains Savannah Rose and Diva Amy Skaling will lead the Morning Ride™ from The Lodge at Deadwood through the scenic Black Hills. When riders roll into their destination at the Buffalo Chip CrossRoads, the activities are just getting started. Participants will enjoy pampering at The Comfort Zone by Team Diva, The Women & Wheels Bike Show presented by The Wild Gypsy Tour, a catered lunch and an inspiring symposium featuring Jodi Perewitz and Lena Fairless. Guests will also have the opportunity to hear from and meet honorary special guests Gloria Struck, Jill Parham and Cris Sommer Simmons, as well as featured special guests Ann Hovdenes, Laura Moore Berenger and more to be announced.
All are welcome to join the gathering – men and women, riders and non-riders. One hundred percent of rider fees benefit Helping with Horsepower, the Strider Foundation and the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame.
Biker Belles Schedule
The Lodge at Deadwood
7:30 a.m. – Rider Registration with Coffee and Snacks
8:30 a.m. – Group Photo
9:00 a.m. – Kickstands up for The Morning Ride™
CrossRoads at the Buffalo Chip
8:00 a.m. – Non-Rider Registration Opens with Coffee and Snacks
10:30 a.m. – Ride Arrives
10:30 a.m. – The Comfort Zone By Team Diva, Silent Auction & Retail Experience Open
10:30 a.m. – Women & Wheels™ Bike Show Begins
11:30 p.m. – Symposium & Featured Speakers with Catered Lunch
1:15 p.m. – Bike Show Awards
1:30 p.m. – Group Photo
2:00 p.m. – Women Riders Turnout
Wild Gypsy Tour™, Aug. 8-12 – The Wild Gypsy Tour is returning home for its fourth annual women’s campout and festival. This five-day, women-only experience includes group rides through the hills, live entertainment, interactive mindfulness, rodeos, parties, karaoke, flat track, ziplining and more.
Women & Wheels Bike Show™ Presented by the Wild Gypsy Tour, Aug. 11 – A unique collection of women-owned machines will be on display this annual show and shine. There is no cost to participate, and all are welcome to view the event for free! Those who wish to participate may ride in or register in advance by contacting [email protected].
Women Riders Turnout, Aug. 11 – Women riders, both pilots and passengers alike, are invited to gather on the centennial of the 19th amendment, which gave women the right to vote. The Women Riders Turnout will be 100 percent organic. There will be no registration, no corporate sponsors, and no drama. The drone goes up, the gathering is recorded, then everyone will disperse to do what they love: ride their bikes! This event for the history books immediately follows the Biker Belles symposium from 2 – 3 p.m.
Flying Piston Benefit™ Builders Breakfast, Aug. 9 – The 2020 class of women Strider builders will unveil their tiny Strider custom builds at the Flying Piston Benefit Builders Breakfast. An eye-catching display of the custom two-wheeled balance bikes will include builds from top industry women including Cris Sommer Simmons, Lena Fairless, Ashmore Ellis, J. Shia, JoAnn Bortles, Savannah Rose, Alexis Dejora and Brittney Olsen. Two all-female teams are also collaborating on Strider builds – Genevieve Schmitt, Erin Sills, Sarah Schilke & Tricia Szeulewski of WomenRidersNow; and the all-female team of Motorcycle Missions spearheaded by Krystal Hess. These Striders will be auctioned off throughout the year to support the All Kids Bike initiative to teach every child in America how to ride a bike in Kindergarten P.E. class.
High Resolution images available at: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/18WI4bOL56qwX1XpwuvdXxmUpQvEcQ3r-
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About the Sturgis Buffalo Chip
The Sturgis Buffalo Chip® is the Largest Music Festival in Motorcycling®. It is the world’s first and leading entertainment destination for the motorcycle enthusiast, awarded AMA Track of the Year in 2016, American Flat Track Event of the Year and South Dakota Excellence in Tourism Innovation award winner in 2017. Since 1981, the venue’s high-profile, nine-day festival, known as The Best Party Anywhere®, remains one of the world’s most televised and longest running independent music festivals. Located three miles east of Sturgis, SD on 600 creek-fed acres, it offers six stages of entertainment, a swimming hole, bars, mouth-watering food, showers, cabins, RVs, camping and more to visitors traveling from all corners of the world. The Chip’s concerts and races are free with camping. The Motorcycles as Art exhibit curated by Michael Lichter showcases the works of the world’s best bike builders. Numerous bike and stunt shows and all shopping, live music and events at the CrossRoads are free and open to the public. More details are available at www.buffalochip.com.
About Biker Belles®
The annual Biker Belles charity event is a celebration of women in the world of motorcycling that centers on “Real Riders, Real Stories, and Real Passion”. Whether one rides his or her own bike or prefers being the passenger, this Sturgis Buffalo Chip®-hosted event offers a great opportunity to meet new friends and gain inspiration from pioneering women who continue to influence the world of motorcycling today. Biker Belles support worthy local charities. To date Buffalo Chip programs have raised nearly $1 million for charity. For more information and to join the 2020 Biker Belles celebration visit www.BikerBelles.com or call (605) 347-9000.
About Wild Gypsy Tour
Wild Gypsy Tour is a tribe of rebel playmakers – fueled by community and passion – focused on cultivating women
exclusive powersport and adventure-lifestyle events for the unbridled spirits.
FOR WOMEN, BY WOMEN.
About The Flying Piston
The Flying Piston Benefit produces charitable events to assist in raising awareness and funds for non-profits and individuals in the biker community. Good things happen when great people get together for a reason. That is evident at the annual Flying Piston Builders Breakfast held at the Buffalo Chip CrossRoads on the first Sunday of the Sturgis Rally. Invited custom motorcycle builders whose work is featured in the Chip’s Motorcycles As Art Exhibition gather with industry notables and enthusiasts to raise funds for veterans and students entering powersports careers. Beneficiaries are Motorcycle Missions and AllKidsBike.org. For more information contact Marilyn Stemp at 828-205-8482.
Further Inquiries:
Cody Ertman
[email protected]
605-347-9000
