Taking the bike by the horns
BOSKRUIN – Kirsten Landman talks about her journey to become South Africa's top female enduro rider.
On 9 October South Africa’s top female enduro racer, Kirsten Landman was able to speak about her goals and achievements in the fast-paced world of motorsport.
Landman started riding motorcycles when she was eight years old. In 2012 she accomplished a Bronze class finish at the Roof of Africa event and came third in the National Off-road Championship in the ladies’ class in 2013. Landman joined the Brother Leader Tread KTM Factory Team, South Africa’s longest standing and most successful off-road motorcycle team.
Her path was blocked, however, by a serious accident suffered when she collided with a tree stump. Landman was in a coma for 11 days. Owing to her youth and fitness Landman was able to recover quickly and was riding again after only six months,
In 2014 she completed the Red Bull Romaniacs race, finishing in 47th place in the Bronze class. She was the first female to finish the event. Once again Landman completed the Roof of Africa in an overall 23rd position. She was the highest placed female and the only female ever to finish in the Silver class at the Roof of Africa event unassisted. Landman has recently returned from the Red Bull Sea to Sky event in Turkey where she became the first female ever to complete a Golden class finish in an Extreme Enduro event.
In Joburg Landman spends her time between Chartwell and Boskruin carrying out her rigorous training schedule. Despite the inherent danger of the sport Landman aspires to continue climbing the ranks. She explained, “I’ll ride for as long as my body allows me to. It’s my happy place.”
Landman was not deterred by the male-dominated world of motorcycling, “The fact that I’m a female competing against males pushes me to do better,” asserted Landman matter-of-factually, “I want to beat the boys.”
Thanking a wide support base and a successful team, Landman hopes to continue to inspire young women to follow their passions. “If you have passion you can do anything you put your mind to. Anything is possible if you love what you do.”
