Team Rebella Female Stunt Riders - Rebella Yell

Like it or not, stunt riding has permeated the mainstream and is a part of most sportbike venues these days. Be it a road racing event or a custom bike show, you can almost count on the wheelie merchants to break up the routine. What was once a sideshow has in some cases become the main attraction at numerous events nationwide, and with new teams sprouting up all the time there's a healthy bit of competition to keep the scene from going stale.

One group of female riders has carved out its own niche within the freestyle genre, and has since made a lot of guys go gaga for more than their stunts.

Freestyle riding largely appeals to the young male demographic. After all, it's a group that's full of testosterone and frustration with few channels to express itself, and what better way for release than to show off with a high-powered engine between your legs? So how did Team Rebella, a group of three young ladies, think they were going to make any sort of impact whatsoever and infiltrate this male-dominated, somewhat reclusive stunt clique? Lipstick and eyeliner doesn't mix with wheelies and burnouts after all...

It turns out that makeup, teddy bears and nail polish are the farthest things from the minds of Jessica Maine, Brandy Valdez and Alicia Speck. It was fate that gave them their collective good looks alongside natural riding ability, but the blend has gained them widespread popularity.

SSB caught up with the trio during one of their practice sessions recently and they didn't disappoint. But we went to find out what their true motivations were, not how high they could hang a highchair wheelie. Are they looking be the next American Idols rather than hardcore two-wheeled urban terrorists? Is it glitz and glam they're after or something far less?

Upon arrival at the clandestine practice spot it's immediately obvious that these ladies aren't in it for the show, and they could care less about fitting in with their male counterparts. The aforementioned practice spot is a well-guarded secret, and they choose to ride here rather than some of the more popular stunt spots in greater Los Angeles. That says a lot about their desire to simply ride as opposed to mesh with the scene.

All three look the part: Maine sports bolt-on body armor over black Dickies shorts tailored to fit someone twice her size, while Valdez and Speck keep it traditional in jeans and textile jackets. And in keeping with the standard stubborn stunter adage of wearing what feels right to prevent crashes versus what offers protection, skate shoes are the standard. Obligatory bandanas are strategically placed in back pockets or through belt loops, but signify something much more innocent than any gang affiliation.

It's all about the look and image, but it isn't to impress the boys, that's for sure. After witnessing their brief warm-up session it became clear that these ladies are serious about their trade and mean to push themselves to the limits.

Maine pulls her custom painted Kawasaki 636 up from a dead stop into a slow and controlled wheelie, ultimately pulling a hand off the bars to point at the camera. Meanwhile, Valdez bursts into a fit of back and forth stoppies and acrobatics. Showing standard stunter etiquette, Speck waits for the path to clear and executes her own signature move as she hoists the front wheel while standing one-legged on the seat and then slows it down to near walking speed.

And So...
Is there a place for the fairer sex in stunting? Some hardcore riders say no way, while others feel that there will eventually be female competitions boasting a full roster. Whatever happens in the future, one thing is clear: Team Rebella is going where no female riders have gone before and could care less about fitting the mold.