After two years of cancelled rallies the long-awaited reunion took place in the heart of Switzerland, near the Alpine massif, with its endless curves through five cantons and the passes Grimsel, Nufenen, Furka, Gotthard and Susten. Eva Streuli, President of WIMA Switzerland, wrote about the rally for the WIMA International newsletter.
At the beginning of July, we welcomed 250 enthusiastic female motorcyclists for a week in Melchtal, Switzerland. After a two- year Covid-related WIMA break, we had the privilege to hold our rally. Melchtal, nestled between mountains and lakes, is a wonderfully located sports camp, which became our home for the next few days.
The joy was huge to see all the people again! 16 nations united, just wonderful!
The weather cooperated, the excursion with post bus and ship had everyone excited.
The rally ride over winding passes and idyllic landscapes required riding skills and concentration. The afternoon of games was typically Swiss with milking cows, spitting Chriesistei (cherry stones) and others.
The marquee, where all the speeches, greetings, welcome and farewell dinners and breakfasts took place, was lively and many women had wonderful conversations. The bar was always well-attended, the beer and cider were flowing generously, and it was just nice to experience the great atmosphere.
We had the pleasure to welcome a very special guest: Alena, President of WIMA Ukraine, who made it to Switzerland despite the adverse circumstances.
Other special guests were two women from Iceland and now WIMA Iceland has been founded! Nor, ex-President of WIMA Malaysia also visited for a short time as did Christina Vera and Nikita from Chile.
It was a beautiful, peaceful, happy and cool WIMA.
From the rally programme: the programme of activities for the week started with Monday night’s welcome evening and there was plenty of free time during the week to enjoy the alpine roads. On the Tuesday, an organised trip to Luzern was offered. Then the rally ride on Wednesday where teams were challenged at various checkpoints to complete games such as throwing chocolate bars and a time trial carrying ping-pong balls on a plate, to earn points.
Ann Weir, WIMA GB member from Wales, recalls the parade ride and farewell evening: Thursday was the day of the parade where we had the opportunity of flying our national flags on an escorted tour to a place of interest. In the past, this has been the local town square to meet the mayor/burgomaster for a little ceremony but not today; we were taken to a lake for a swim! Well, if you remembered your swimming cossie that is – but some of us managed by taking off our boots and socks, rolling up our trousers and settling for a paddle.
At Friday’s farewell evening, after a few speeches, the 250 of us tucked into our last supper, followed by a bit of prize giving from the tour and silly games, and whad’ya know? I got one too for being the oldest participant who had ridden there.
Alena, the Ukrainian WIMA president, had even turned up for the supper and had placed on everyone’s place mat a jigsaw piece which read ‘Hugs from Ukraine’.
2022 WIMA Switzerland International Rally – Promotion Video
