International Vice President, 2005-2010
Motorcycles were the object of my admiration and a dream of mine since I was a little girl. My dream was not dimmed by the fact that, in the 1980s, motorcycles were considered a ‘man’s thing,’ and I didn’t know any women who rode motorcycles. At the age of 15, I began my motorcycling journey with my brother’s small Suzuki PV moped. As you might guess, I was the only girl in my hometown who rode a moped.
Finally, at the turn of the millennium, my spouse and I bought our first ‘real’ motorcycle – a Suzuki GSX 600F. Around the same time, I heard about a women’s motorcycle club, which I naturally had to join. It felt amazing to find other women motorcyclists and to feel like I belonged.
I became deeply involved in the association’s activities. Together, we organised tours, trips, and events. There was always someone to ride with. I experienced my first WIMA rally in the Netherlands in 2004, where I got to meet women motorcyclists from all over the world. That year, I also attended my first meeting of WIMA presidents, and soon after, I was elected as the international vice president of WIMA – an incredible honour.
At the beginning of the 2000s, motorcycling communities quickly moved online. Traditional associations were perhaps seen as outdated, and women riding motorcycles was no longer considered unusual. We had to think about what unique value the association could offer its members.
The answer lay in rider training, and at that time, WIMA Finland decided to send its first two members to instructor training – I was honoured to be one of them. Traffic safety was an important issue in Finland, and I wanted to advocate for it within WIMA internationally. Another cause I found meaningful was the promotion of motorcycle travel. I deeply admired every WIMA member who travelled from other continents to attend WIMA gatherings in Europe and women who adventured around the world on their motorcycles. I wanted these women to be an example to all of us – showing that the world is open and that friends around the globe are there to support and help each other. Women have strength and courage!
(2025)
