Contact details
Email: president[at]wima.ee
Website: www.wima.ee
Facebook: WIMA Estonia
Instagram: @wimaestonia
About WIMA Estonia
The idea of forming a women’s club was born in the summer of 1998 during Jõgevatreff, Estonia’s biggest annual international motorcycle meeting. A few women interested in riding bikes had the idea of founding a women’s club. Neighbouring Finland already had a WIMA division and we found that the principles of WIMA were exactly what we wanted to promote: that you can ride a bike yourself, not have to stay at home or sit behind a man.
So, at the beginning of January 1999, Kaija Rytkönen wrote to the President of WIMA International, Sheonagh, that a bunch of women here in Estonia would like to join WIMA. On 15/01/1999, Sheonagh replied with a cheerful e-mail “WELCOME WIMA ESTONIA!” We promptly registered formally with EMF (Estonian Motorsport Federation), created our national statutes and we were formally inaugurated at the international WIMA rally that summer.
At the time, the economic conditions in Estonia were so poor that buying your own bike was not easy, therefore the WIMA International principle that members should have an interest in motorbikes but are not required to own one was suitable.
In the beginning, only our Finnish members – Kaija, Hanna and Anne – had bikes. There were a lot of photos and interviews for magazines and newspapers around these three bikes! As a founding member, Kaija was president in the early years but she always wanted the president to be Estonian, so that we wouldn’t be seen as a foreign women’s club. Although we had few bikes, the enthusiasm was great; we organized events such as after-parties at the bike show and yearly meetings with WIMA Finland. And as co-organizers of Jõgevatreff, we are still here. This great capacity for organisation has continued to be maintained – it is great to see all our 20 members organising everything together.
WIMA Estonia organised the International Rally in Jäneda in 2014 and is going to organise the rally in 2026.
Notable Members
Kaija Rytkönen – Founding member
I came to Estonia as a student in the autumn of 1992. Due to the lack of foreign spare parts, I initially bought an easily maintained Jawa. Three years later I brought my Honda, and its two-metre- long trailer, from Finland. A motorbike trailer was completely unheard of in Estonia and it created a lot of attention everywhere. I loved that bike, but I wanted something lighter and lower for agility on small roads. When the F650GS came onto the market I made a swift decision to buy it and, now a shade over 20 years later, it is still my bike (changing bike is not as easy as changing men in one’s life). Kaija received the Ellen Pfeiffer award in 2021 and is featured in that chapter.
Anneli Pille – President with longest tenure
I’ve inherited the love for motorcycles from my father but being a girl, I never thought I could ride a bike myself. I only realised this at the age of 38. When I started, I couldn’t even imagine what this would bring into my life. Today I’m riding my third bike, I’ve participated in 10 WIMA Rallies and made a lot of friends all over the world. The community is just amazing. I’ve learned so much and received so much love and support. One of my best “life schools” has been 10 years of acting as WIMA Estonia National President. Thank you!
Un-official slogan:
“Put something interesting between your legs…like a motorcycle“
