If you've ever stood at the edge of a track thinking...
"What if I crash?"
"What if I can't do it?"
"Everyone else is so much better than me."
YOU ARE NOT ALONE... TRUST US!
One of the biggest misconceptions in motocross is that confidence comes first. BUT in reality, confidence is something you build through action, repetition, and the meaning you give each experience!
As an NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) coach, one of the most common things I see is riders believing that fear means they're not capable. But that's not what's happening at all.
Your brain is trying to protect you!
Your brain's number one job is to keep you alive. If you've had a crash, been injured, or simply had a scary moment on the bike, your brain stores that experience as evidence of danger. The next time you approach a similar situation, whether it's a rut, a jump, or a corner, it sends you fear to encourage caution.
And girls, that actually doesn't mean you can't ride. It means your brain is doing exactly what it was designed to do. And the besttttt news is that your brain can also learn that you're safe!
Fear doesn't mean stop
One of my favourite mindset shifts is this: "fear isn't proof you can't do it. It's proof your brain thinks it needs to protect you". Once you understand that, fear becomes information instead of an identity.
So instead of saying: "I'm too scared", try saying: "my brain is trying to keep me safe, and I'm teaching it that I can handle this."
That small shift changes everything.
Stop borrowing evidence from the past
If you've had a bad experience before, it's easy to assume history will repeat itself.
But ask yourself: is this the same track? Is this the same situation? Do I have the same skills I had back then? Usually the answer is no.
Your brain often borrows evidence from the past to predict the future, but that prediction isn't always true. Every single ride is a new opportunity to rewrite that belief.
Confidence is built one win at a time
Girls, you do not need to conquer the biggest jump on day one. You don't even have to get air. Confidence grows through small, repeatable wins.
Instead of thinking: "I have to master ruts today",
Break it down: Ride through one rut, do it again, notice what went well, and celebrate the progress.
Small wins grow into confidence.
Watch your self talk
We say this allllll the time, but the conversations you have with yourself actually really matter. If you're somebody who's inner voice says: "I'm going to crash" you need to ask yourself "do I actually know that's true?"
Then replace it with something that helps you focus on what you can control.
Try phrases like: "I'm learning", "one corner at a time", "eyes up", "I've got this", "smooth is fast", "I'm becoming more confident every lap."
Your brain believes what you repeatedly tell it.
Collect evidence, not excuses
At the end of every ride, ask yourself: "What did I prove to myself today?"
Maybe it's that you rode your first rut, tried something that scared you, stayed calm in a corner, picked your bike up and kept going, or even showed up even though you were nervous af. These moments matter, because confidence isn't built from perfection, it's built from evidence.
Your body influences your mind
Your posture, breathing and focus all send messages to your brain.
Before you ride: take one slow breath in, breathe out even slower, relax your shoulders, look where you want to go, and remind yourself why you started.
You don't need to be fearless
One of the biggest myths in motocross is that confident riders don't get scared. They do. Spend a day with one of the worlds best freestyle riders and get them to talk you through their thought process before hitting a jump! The difference is they've learned not to let fear make the decisions.
Our goal isn't to be fearless. Our goal is to teach your nervous system that you are capable, prepared, and safe enough to keep learning. AND THAT is where real confidence comes from.
PLEASE remember this
You don't have to become fearless overnight. You don't have to compare yourself to anyone else. You don't have to prove anything. Every lap you ride is another piece of evidence that you're growing. Every challenge you face teaches your brain something new. Every time you choose courage over comfort, you're becoming the rider you want to be.
At Girls Can Ride, we believe riding is about so much more than bikes. It's about learning to trust yourself, back yourself, and realise you're capable of far more than you think.
Confidence isn't something you're born with, it's something you build... one corner, one rut, one lap at a time!