For a decade, the Gutsy Girls Adventure Film Tour has celebrated women who push boundaries, redefine limits and inspire us to live boldly. As we mark our 10th anniversary, we’re spotlighting ten extraordinary adventure women whose stories remind us what becomes possible when opportunity meets determination.
Meet Robin Goomes — the New Zealand freeride mountain biker who made history by becoming the first back-to-back women’s champion at Red Bull Rampage, one of the most iconic and intimidating events in mountain biking.
Making History at Red Bull Rampage
In October 2024, Robin won the inaugural women’s Red Bull Rampage, marking the first time in the event’s 23-year history that women competed in an official category. Riding a technical, old-school line, she delivered a winning performance that included two backflips, a huge drop and precise control on exposed terrain. The judges awarded her 85 points, and she also took home the Best Trick Award.
One year later, in October 2025, Robin returned to the Utah desert as the defending champion. Her winning run featured backflips, a suicide no-hander and a crankflip, edging out second place by just 0.17 points — one of the closest margins in Rampage history. With that result, Robin became the first woman to win Red Bull Rampage back-to-back.
Robin winning 1st place (second year in a row) at the Redbull Rampage, Utah- Images by Dominique Powers
Riding on Her Own Terms
Robin’s success hasn’t come from following conventions. She’s known for blending high-risk technical riding with a playful, unapologetically feminine style — including competing on a custom Barbie-themed Yeti SB165. Rather than conforming to expectations of what a freerider “should” look like, she’s embraced individuality as part of her identity on the bike.
An Unconventional Path to the Podium
Robin grew up on the Chatham Islands, where she spent her childhood riding dirt bikes and building jumps. She later moved to Auckland for high school before taking a very different path — enlisting in the New Zealand Army as a heavy machine operator.
Her military career took her as far as Scott Base in Antarctica, making her one of the few women to be stationed there. During her service, a friend introduced her to mountain biking, and what started as curiosity quickly became obsession.
After five years in the Army, Robin made the leap into an uncertain future as a professional rider. She took on casual work — including shuttle driving in Rotorua — to maximise riding time, and spent extended periods living in a van and training in places like Queenstown. Progress came quickly.
By 2021, she was turning heads after being spotted at Mons Royale’s Future Ground event. From there, she built momentum through freeride competitions, including wins at Crankworx events and claiming the Queen of Darkness title at DarkFest in South Africa.
Image taken from the film ‘Roots Run Deep’ 2025
“Who’s Going to Keep the House Clean?”
When Red Bull announced that women would finally compete at Rampage in 2024, the response online was mixed. Celebration was accompanied by backlash, with some questioning whether women belonged on such extreme terrain.
Robin’s response was characteristically sharp. She titled her Rampage entry submission: “Who’s going to keep the house clean?” — a deliberate and defiant nod to the stereotypes still lingering in action sports.
After her 2024 win, she spoke publicly about the importance of opportunity:
“If you’re not given the opportunity, then no one can see it — and it doesn’t become achievable. Now that women are there, it’s possible.”
Building Lines in the Desert
Red Bull Rampage is as much about digging as it is riding. Over nearly two weeks, riders and their crews transform raw desert mountainsides into rideable lines using hand tools, shaping drops, chutes and landings that must withstand enormous forces.
Robin’s background as a heavy machine operator proved invaluable. Her understanding of terrain, angles and compression influenced the way she approached line choice and feature design — particularly in 2024, when she built a technical, old-school line capped by a massive drop and exposed top section.
Back-to-Back in 2025
Returning in 2025, Robin once again committed long hours to building and refining her line despite challenging conditions. Her winning run scored 89.50 points, narrowly ahead of Hannah Bergemann’s 89.33. The victory placed Robin among a very small group of Rampage riders — men or women — to achieve consecutive wins at the event.
The Bigger Picture: Women’s Freeride Progression
Robin’s Rampage success didn’t happen in isolation. It was built on years of advocacy and progression opportunities created by women pushing for change. Events like Red Bull Formation in Virgin, Utah, played a key role in developing women’s freeride talent and demonstrating readiness for Rampage-level terrain. Robin participated in Formation prior to her Rampage debut and has credited the experience as a turning point in her career.
Her victories represent more than personal achievement — they symbolise access, visibility and possibility for the next generation of female freeriders.
Passionate, Weird and Motivated
Robin has previously described herself as passionate, weird and motivated, a combination that shows both on and off the bike. Her approach to riding is serious, but never joyless. At events like McGazza Fest, she’s known for experimenting with tricks, celebrating her crew and riding purely for the love of it.
Her life motto — “Do the mahi, get the treats” — reflects her philosophy: put in the work, stay committed and enjoy the rewards that follow.
Robin in the desert, image by MarthaGMedia
Why Robin Inspires Us
Robin Goomes embodies everything the Gutsy Girls Adventure Film Tour celebrates:
- She took the leap, trading security for possibility.
- She challenged stereotypes and answered doubt with action.
- She rides authentically, blending technical mastery with personality and fun.
- She lifts others up, riding for her crew and the sport as much as herself.
- She proves there’s no single path to greatness.
As Robin continues to push women’s freeride forward, she’s not just defending titles — she’s expanding what’s imaginable. Now, when young girls watch Red Bull Rampage, they see possibility reflected back at them.
They see that they belong there too.
And that’s exactly the kind of gutsy girl who inspires us.
Follow Robin’s journey on Instagram: @robin_riding_hood
