It started with an Instagram post and a dare from herself. Danielle Del Vecchio wasn’t a racer. Not yet. She didn’t even know what an enduro was. But when she first saw videos of the Sturdy Dirty, complete with fairy wings, bacon handouts, and tutu-clad hecklers, something sparked inside her.
I just knew I wanted to be a part of that,” Danielle says. “I wanted to be part of something that felt that wild, that welcoming, that powerful.
Fast forward to July 2025 and Danielle found herself standing in the misty woods of North Bend, Washington, at the base of Raging River, gearing up for her first-ever mountain bike race. Not just any race, the Sturdy Dirty Enduro is the largest women’s enduro race in the United States and one of the most iconic all-female MTB events in the world.
This is her story.
The Race That Changed Everything
The Sturdy Dirty isn’t just a race, it’s a revolution. Born out of a desire to create space for women in the male-dominated world of mountain bike racing, it first launched in 2014 with just 50 women. The idea was simple: give women a chance to race hard, have fun, and show up exactly as they are.
From its grassroots origins in the Pacific Northwest, the race has grown into a bold, vibrant celebration of female grit, joy, and community. With categories ranging from beginner to pro, and themed stages featuring costumes, music, and cheering squads, the Sturdy Dirty is more than a competition. It’s a rite of passage.
“It’s been on my radar for years,” Danielle says. “I saw Jess the Maker post about it on Instagram and thought, ‘That’s what I want mountain biking to feel like.’”
Still, the leap from solo rides to racing felt massive. Danielle had been riding for two years, mostly by herself, self-taught on YouTube and out on the local trails in Northern California. Her bike? A $300 Norco Storm hardtail off Facebook Marketplace.
She never imagined it would take her all the way to Washington.
Valentine’s Day Commitment
The moment came on February 14, 2025. Danielle had made a promise to herself: if she truly wanted to grow as a rider and as a person, she had to stop waiting until she felt “ready.”
She opened her laptop, found the Sturdy Dirty registration page, and hit submit.
The race sold out in five minutes. I was shaking when I got the confirmation. I had no idea what I was doing, but I felt this huge YES in my gut. I knew this was going to change something in me.
She signed up solo at first but quickly realized she wanted to share the experience with the women who had supported her along the way—her teammates from Hella Mello Racing, a NorCal-based MTB team that blends stoke, silliness, and serious sisterhood.
“I had already invested in my dream bike, Wings— YT Jeffsy Core 5—joined Hella Mello, and signed up for coaching with Brian Astell at Trailworks. There was no more ‘ready’ I could be. I just needed to hit the dang register button already.”
Photo Credit: Brian Astell
“Riding with Hella Mello gave me confidence I never had before,” Danielle says. “So I emailed the Sturdy Dirty team and asked them to add Hella Mello Racing to my registration. I wanted my team to be part of this moment with me.”
Welcome to the Woods
Race day dawned gray and foggy in North Bend. Nearly 300 women gathered at the staging area, some seasoned pros, others first-timers like Danielle, all buzzing with adrenaline and anticipation.
“It was electric,” Danielle says. “Everyone was checking tire pressure, loading packs, helping each other with nerves. It felt like a giant reunion of women who love to ride hard and hype each other harder.”
The race course was no joke. 14 miles of trail, nearly 3100 feet of climbing, and four downhill stages through classic Pacific Northwest terrain. Roots, narrow bridges, techy corners, and fast forest flow.
Danielle chose the Sport category, not because she was totally confident in her fitness, but because she had one goal: to ride the legendary Canyon Creek. Known to many as CCDH, Canyon Creek is a long, multi-stage trail that’s both iconic and demanding. The Sport category included the full Canyon Creek descent, covering stages 6 through 3.
“I picked Sport just so I could ride that trail. I figured, what if I never get this chance again? I wanted to go all in.”
There were some tears. But that’s just my process. Get scared. Go cry. Come back, and just do it.
Danielle’s nerves were real. “I peed like six times before the start,” she admits with a laugh. “Surprisingly I did actually remember to turn on my Strava. I often forget but I really wanted this on my books.. But once we started pedaling, I just focused on staying present.”
Stage by stage, she rode with heart. The climbs pushed her. The descents challenged her. But the support? It was unreal.
Photo Credit: Cassie Bergman Photography
“Everywhere I looked, women were cheering each other on. People handing out Oreos, bacon, shots of Fireball. Total strangers yelling my name in the heckle zone. I’ve never felt anything like it.”
When she dropped into Canyon Creek, her dream trail, it was a full-circle moment.
Hindsight is 20/20. She recalls that she probably should have watched some trail videos to prepare better. “I was terrified. But I made it. I rode the whole thing. At the bottom, I was crying happy tears.”
That finish line felt like a personal summit.
“I wasn’t fast. But I finished. I didn’t crash. There were a few tears, but I didn’t quit. I was so proud of myself for showing up scared and doing it anyway.”
More Than a Race
Danielle’s first race wasn’t about medals or time. It was about claiming space. Pushing limits. And finding joy in the ride even when it’s hard.
I’m not naturally fearless. But mountain biking gave me something I didn’t know I needed. Strength, freedom, and connection.
And that connection wasn’t just on the trail. It was with the women around her. The strangers who offered encouragement. The teammates who sent her silly videos the night before to calm her nerves. The volunteers danced in the dusty, dry dirt and handed out watermelons mid-stage.
“I’ve never felt so supported. Everyone just wanted to see each other succeed.”
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