Recently, I had the opportunity to attend Bronco Off-Roadeo as an observer. As I listened to the instructors and watched drivers navigate obstacles, I found myself contemplating: What about this sport compels an individual that may have never been off-road a day in their life to take a $60,000+ vehicle, bump around through the forest for a few hours and at the end of the trail find that they have fallen in love with the off-roading sport? Is it the Bronco itself? Is it the fact that the Bronco is so capable off-road straight from the factory? Or is there something more to it?
When I reflect back to 2020 and originally placing a deposit on a Bronco, the decision for my wife and I was based on a family desire to get back outdoors and enjoying nature, something that had been put on the back burner of our busy lives.
Fast forward to July 2nd 2021 when my wife Amy, son Levi and myself got the opportunity to be one of the first groups to attend the Bronco Off-Roadeo in Marble Falls, Texas.
I cannot understate the excitement we felt as, for the first time, we got to see and experience the amazing capabilities of the new Bronco.
Never had we been more impatient for our own Bronco to be built and delivered! Luckily however, just a month later I found a Bronco for sale at a local dealership and scooped it up.
Excited to get out and test our very own Bronco off-road we headed out on our first weekend to Hidden Falls adventure park, an off-road park less than 20 minutes away from the Bronc Nation’s Off-Roadeo in Texas.
We didn’t know anyone else in the off-road community and being the very first 6th Gen Bronco to visit this off-road park, we were on our own. Thirsting for adventure but unfamiliar with the trails we quickly found ourselves high centered and stuck (“Turtled” is the off-road terminology), a jam, we quickly learned, we needed others to get out of. After some hiking and looking, we were finally able to flag down some help and get pulled loose. By that time, morning had turned to early afternoon so with hungry bellies we worked our way to the vendor area for some lunch and to regroup.
That lunch changed my perspective on off-roading forever. We were approached by a 4x4 group from nearby San Antonio who were checking out our new Bronco and, interested in seeing its capabilities, invited us to spend the rest of the day wheeling with them. No longer worried about getting stuck or lost, the whole family was super excited to get back on the trail.
On that day friends and connections were made! Within this community of off-road enthusiast, there was always a group ready to hit the trail so weekend after weekend we went to different off-road parks deepening our connection with those we knew and making new friends in the process. Needless to say, we were hooked.
The Bronco is an amazing off-road vehicle and as a family we love to hit the trail, but in reflecting on what hooks us on the sport; it wasn’t just driving off-road and over obstacles. It was doing all that with a community of like-minded off-roaders, sharing the successes, working together on recoveries, getting dirty, swapping stories, making friends, and just plain being together.
All of us do better when we feel connected. I know I do. Now a year later, after being to off-road events across the country, our circle of community has grown immensely with many friends I know my family and I will have life-long bonds with. Now with the Bronco community, we can safely and confidently go out in our Broncos knowing that we aren’t alone.
So let's keep building the Bronco community! If you have or will soon receive your new Bronco, get out and find a Bronco or off-roading group in your area or if someone extends an invite, broaden your circle!
“People will forget what you say, but they will never forget how you make them feel! “
if your in Texas this weekend and would like join us in some community here are details for that event and how to come join us.
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