The MudHunniez – How women’s motocross is taking off on Vancouver Island

Ahead of the World Supercross Canadian GP in Vancouver, we caught up with Lindsey, Oien, the founder of women’s riding group MudHunniez.

When Vancouver Island rider Oien first started racing, she quickly realised she was an outlier. “There was only one other girl who raced,” she says. “We didn’t even have a women’s class! The organisers told us they wouldn’t create one unless we could fill a podium. That meant at least three of us – and there were only two!”

Instead of giving up, Oien decided to take matters into her own hands. She and the other rider reached out to every woman they knew who might be interested in bikes, racing, or even just riding for fun. “We thought, let’s just get together one weekend and go ride. No pressure, no racing — just a chance to connect and be on bikes together.”

That one weekend changed everything.

From Five Riders to a Movement

The first official MudHunniez meet-up was small – just five women, a few tents, and a shared love of riding. “We called it a girls-only campout,” Oien recalls. “It was low-key, just us hanging out, riding, and realising how awesome it was to have a space that was completely ours.”

Word spread fast. The next summer, twenty women showed up. The year after that, fifty. Then one hundred.
“Now, our events sell out in a day or two,” says Oien. “We’ve got riders coming from all over Western Canada and the U.S. – from Washington, California, Alberta. It’s amazing to see how far people will travel to be part of it.”

Learning, Riding, Growing Together

MudHunniez has evolved far beyond a casual riding group. It’s now a community and a platform.
The group runs skills camps and clinics that welcome everyone from first-timers to experienced racers, focusing primarily on enduro and motocross disciplines.

“We bring in professionals like Louise Forsley last year, who’s an incredible enduro rider, to teach and mentor the girls,” Oien explains. “And Lexie Pechout, one of Canada’s top racers, joined us. That kind of access and inspiration is huge. The girls get to learn from women who’ve made it to the top.”

The camps are structured but welcoming combining technical coaching, race prep, and plenty of social connection. “It’s not just about getting faster,” says Oien. “It’s about confidence, community, and realising you belong in this sport.”

Creating Space for Women in Racing

“Honestly, it’s like ‘if you build it, they will come’,” Oien says when asked to account for the increase in attendance. “We just needed the space. The biggest thing I hear from women is, ‘We don’t want to race against the men. But if there was a women’s class, we’d do it.’”

That simple truth has led to lasting change. Thanks to the growing visibility of groups like MudHunniez on Vancouver Island, who now run five women’s race classes – a complete turnaround from the days when there were none.

“It’s tough, because motocross is still such a male-dominated sport,” Oien admits. “But women ride differently. We learn differently. We can’t always just slot into the men’s classes we need our own space, our own starting line. And that’s okay. That’s what we’re building.”

An Untapped Market, and an Unstoppable Community

Beyond the racetrack, Oien has seen the ripple effect firsthand through her work in the motorcycle industry.

“I work in a bike dealership, and I’ve noticed a real increase in women buying bikes,” she says. “It’s an untapped market, but more importantly, it’s a growing community. We’re not just selling bikes – we’re creating opportunities.”

For many women, MudHunniez has become more than a group. It’s a support network, a gateway to racing, and a celebration of what’s possible when barriers are broken down. “We want to keep it accessible,” Oien emphasises. “That’s a big part of our philosophy. It’s not about exclusivity; it’s about inclusion. Anyone who wants to learn, ride, and be part of this can join us.”

The Future Is Female

As the sport continues to evolve, Oien sees an even brighter future for women in riding. “We’re just seeing the start,” she says. “There’s so much potential, so many riders out there who just need the opportunity. Once you give them that, they show up and they’re good.”

What began as two riders searching for a third to fill a podium has turned into a powerful community of hundreds, proof that change often starts small, with passion, persistence, and a belief in what’s possible.

“Building MudHunniez wasn’t about proving anything,” Oien says. “It was about creating a space for women to ride, race, and belong. And now? It’s become something way bigger than I ever imagined.”