Vicki Golden

Vicki Golden is a pioneering motocross and freestyle motocross rider who became the first woman to break into elite male-dominated competitions and the first female to accomplish record-breaking stunts once deemed impossible for women in action sports.

EARLY YEARS

Born in 1992 in El Cajon, a small town east of San Diego, California, Vicki Golden grew up in a family where motorcycles were just part of life. Her father and brother both rode, and the sound of engines and the smell of dirt were her weekend soundtrack. At seven years old, she climbed onto her first bike, and that was it—she was hooked.

But when Golden was twelve, everything changed. Her father suffered a devastating ATV racing accident that left him almost entirely paralyzed. It was the kind of moment that could have ended the family’s relationship with racing forever. Instead, her parents doubled down. They saw their daughter’s potential and refused to let fear win. They bought her a new bike, arranged private lessons with a trainer, and encouraged her to chase the sport that had just stolen her father’s mobility. It was a gutsy move, and Golden didn’t waste it.

Growing up in El Cajon meant riding on rough, unforgiving hills—no groomed tracks, no perfectly prepped jumps. “We didn’t have well-groomed, brand-new prepped tracks. We had the hills,” she later recalled. “I about peed myself almost every time… It was a gnarly experience, but that’s what made me such a good rider.” Those terrifying runs taught her grit, precision, and how to hold her own in a world that wasn’t built for her.

And because there weren’t enough girls racing locally, Golden spent her formative years competing against boys. It wasn’t a choice—it was survival. She learned early that if she wanted to race, she’d have to prove herself every single time she lined up at the gate.

OTHER INTERESTS

No information available.

EARLY SUCCESS

By the time Golden was sixteen, she’d worked her way up to the Loretta Lynn’s Amateur Motocross National Championships in Tennessee—the proving ground for future pros. In 2008, she became the Loretta Lynn’s AMA Women’s Amateur National Champion, cementing her status as one of the top female amateur racers in the country. A year later, at seventeen, she turned pro.

TransWorld Motocross Magazine named her Female Motocross Rookie of the Year, and Golden wasted no time making history. She became the first woman to break into the top ten in an AMA Arenacross Lites Main, the first woman to qualify for the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Fast 40, and the first woman to qualify for an AMA Arenacross Main Event. Every milestone was a door kicked open, not just for her, but for every girl watching from the sidelines.

In 2011, Golden won her first X Games gold medal in Women’s Moto X Racing at the Summer X Games. She followed it up in 2012 with two more golds in the same event, bringing her total to four X Games gold medals. But she wasn’t content staying in the women’s categories. That same year, she became the first female competitor in freestyle Moto X at the X Games, walking away with a bronze medal in Moto X Best Whip. It was a statement: she wasn’t just here to race—she was here to fly.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2008: Loretta Lynn’s AMA Women’s Amateur National Champion at age 16.
• 2011: X Games gold medal, Women’s Moto X Racing (Summer X Games).
• 2012: Two X Games gold medals in Women’s Moto X Racing; bronze medal in Moto X Best Whip (first female competitor in freestyle Moto X).
• 2014: ESPY nomination for Best Female Action Sports Athlete.
• Pre-2019: First female to land a FMX backflip off a 15-foot Next Level ramp in Auckland, New Zealand.
• July 7, 2019: Smashed through 13 flaming wooden walls on HISTORY’s Evel Live 2, breaking a 2006 record and becoming the first female to do so, riding an Indian FTR1200 S.
• 2020: First woman to land a no-hands front flip, featured in X Games Real Moto video.
• Ongoing: First female member of SoCal freestyle motocross team Metal Mulisha; performer with Travis Pastrana’s Nitro Circus Tour.

INSPIRATIONS

No information available.

REPUTATION

Golden is widely regarded as one of the most barrier-breaking athletes in motocross and freestyle motocross history. Media coverage consistently highlights her role in “dominating every aspect” of the sport and “breaking barriers and making history.” She’s known for her focus, technical skill, and fearless approach to competitions and stunts that many believed women simply couldn’t do.

Her affiliation with Metal Mulisha, Monster Energy, and the Nitro Circus Tour places her among the elite of action sports. She’s described as someone who pushes herself to match the level of the best male riders around her. “I’m surrounded by the best of the best on a dirt bike,” she said. “I use that to push myself to not see any differences and to be at that level.”

Beyond competition, Golden has become a mentor and advocate for women in motocross. She runs the Over and Out Motocross Camp, designed specifically for female riders to improve their skills, prevent injuries, and build community. As of 2021, she planned to expand the camp’s reach across the United States. Fans describe her as a “badass you’ll never forget,” and her influence extends far beyond podiums—she’s changing the culture of the sport itself.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

As of the most recent available information from 2021, Golden remained a Monster Energy athlete and continued performing with the Nitro Circus Tour and Metal Mulisha. She expressed a desire to keep pushing her personal goals and to expand her Over and Out Motocross Camp to reach more female riders nationwide. “It’s huge to have the support of Monster Energy,” she said. “Every athlete works and strives to be a part of the Monster Energy team.” Her focus remains on competing at the highest levels and creating pathways for the next generation of women in motocross.

References:

Biography.com – Vicki Golden Profile
805 Beer – Vicki Golden Profile
Over and Out Events Blog (2021)
YouTube Biography (February 17, 2022)
Finding Mastery Podcast
Monster Energy – Vicki Golden Profile