Women in Powersports: The Rise of the Female Rider

Move over boys. Dirt bikes, UTVs, ATVs and motorcycles (or what some might refer to as “big boy toys”) are becoming the new past time of the adventurous female. According to a recent report by the Motorcycle Industry Council, 19 percent of motorcycle owners are women. That’s nearly double from 2009 and this growth is mirrored in other powersport categories.

According to one local powersports enthusiast, women are indeed taking up the torch in powersports. In fact, Cortni Stuttgen of Marathon seemed to have oil in her veins from an early age. 

“I was about seven years old and it was on a 1980’s Honda 3-wheeler. I begged my grandparents to drive it and from there on, I feel like everything in my life has had something to do with powersports,” says Stuttgen. “Then, when I was around nine, my dad surprised my sister and me with a 2004 Honda Recon 4-wheeler. We lived in town at the time and we wore a track in the yard because our yard wasn’t very big. I just have a thing with driving those types of things.”

She also doesn’t buy into the hype that powersports is a boys-only club, but does admit that limited exposure is likely why women have been slower to pick up the pastime.

“The biggest difference is the ratio of men to women in the industry... There is a growing need to understand a woman's perspective." 

“I don’t find it challenging to be a woman in powersports, but the biggest difference is the ratio of men to women in the industry. Other female friends I have aren’t into it because they haven’t been exposed enough to see how fun it really is,” says Stuttgen. “There also is a growing need to understand a woman’s perspective vs. a man’s in the industry. There have been a lot of advances recently, though. Things like riders’ clinics that welcome women or advances in clothing and gear. It’s making powersports a more enjoyable thing to do for women.”

And the advancements can’t come quickly enough. Women are the fastest growing demographic in the powersports industry and brands are taking notice. 

“We are definitely seeing an increase in the number of female riders come through our doors,” says Dustin Pieper, Powersports Sales Specialist, Power Pac. “Especially with side-by-sides. In fact, men are helping to push the trend. I get guys calling and saying that their wife wants a side-by-side.”

Pieper goes on to say that he’s noticed adjustments from key brands Power Pac carries to accommodate the growth in female ridership. 

“Polaris has a lot of female employees throughout their company and are dedicated to their female riders,” says Pieper. “And, Kawasaki has introduced the ERGO-FIT^® sizing system on some of their bike models which gives riders the ability to tailor the motorcycle to their stature by offering adjustments to the bike’s seat, foot pegs and the handlebar. This helps female riders feel more comfortable on their bikes.”

Joslyn Petty, a Public Relations Specialist at Kawasaki Motors Corp. — and a rider herself — is also seeing enormous growth in women participating in powersports.

“In the case of side-by-sides, this category has grown tremendously to be a family-oriented sport. Many women are the primary or equal drivers of their side-by-sides with the whole purpose of getting the entire family out to have fun,” says Petty. “It’s evident that more women are joining all forms of powersports. On any given weekend you see more women and young ladies at the tracks, on the trails and riding the local canyon roads here.”

As for Cortni, her passions lie with her 2015 Polaris 1000 XP RZR and her 2016 Polaris 600 Pro-S Switchback snowmobile. Between the two, her favorite — being a true Wisconsinite — is her snowmobile.

“The places you can go on a snowmobile and the people you meet that have the same passion as you do is just exhilarating,” says Stuttgen. “To be able to share that experience with them is on a whole different level.”

And when asked about how she weighs the cost of her hobbies versus the benefits she gains, Cortni says it’s about doing what she loves and servicing her mental health.

“For me, it’s about not having that stress and being happy with where you are at in this world. Getting out there, taking chances and going on an adventure. It’s how I find my peacefulness in the world. It’s what makes me happy. The mental stability of it all is what outweighs the cost for me. You only live once. You might as well enjoy it.”

"Riding is how I find my peacefulness in the world. It’s what makes me happy... You only live once. You might as well enjoy it.”