The Ride Of Her Life
Stephanie Bofinger is the founder of Fempro Armour, a range of protective wear for women in sport. An ex-international swimmer, Stephanie recounts the bumps along the road to realise her life’s goals.
I operate in many gears but neutral is not one of them. Also, I don’t like to idle. Some people can sit quietly to clear their minds. Not me. Riding motorcycles allows me the clear headspace I crave – I am so busy trying to stay alive, I forget about anything that is worrying me. I feel at peace when I am on the road. But I also like to ride to push my limits. For me, riding represents freedom, independence – and strength.
There was a time that, when I was riding and focusing on the road, I would forget about what was happening at home – I could forget, for a while, about the emotional abuse and how it was affecting my family. It helped change my life – and led me to create protective “armour”, clothing items for women who wanted to get out a find a new adventure but who wanted to do it with more safety.
I got my motorcycle licence in 2016 when I was 46. Riding motorcycles was always something I had wanted to do, but other things came first – especially when my children were young. The impact on them of something happening to me would have been too great. Once I started, motorcycle riding represented freedom for me. When I rode across the Simpson Desert in 2019 for the Dolly’s Dream charity, I had only just learnt to ride on dirt – sand was something completely different again. It took me right outside my comfort zone. Don’t get me wrong, I like being outside my comfort zone, but this was a whole other level. I was so proud I made it to the finish, and there is a photo of me which shows all the emotions I was feeling. I had finished the ride – but I was also finished with domestic violence. I had got to the point where I said, “no more”.
It was also on that ride – as I watched women of different shapes and sizes all having the same problems as me, fidgeting and pulling at ill-fitting protective wear – I had my lightbulb moment for Fempro Armour. The protective armour is designed to fit the female form in all its differences while also being comfortable enough to empower women to get out there and give it a go, in whatever high impact sport or activity they choose and it is now another one of my passions.
As a woman, it was hard to find protective gear that fit properly. It was designed for men, then just made smaller – and maybe with a token splash of pink! – for women. Nothing was designed to protect the boobs, which are prone to terrible tissue damage. Trauma can affect the ribs and sternum, or worse, cause internal injuries such as displacement of organs. Wearing uncomfortable protection means that you are always distracted by it which is dangerous on a bike.
““It was hard to find protective gear that fit properly … Nothing was designed to protect the boobs. Uncomfortable protection means that you are always distracted by it which is dangerous on a bike.””
But having an idea is one thing, I had to make it happen. The universe throws out obstacles, rocks in your path, as if to ask “Are you sure you want to go this way? Are you serious about this?” But I have always been driven and determined. Swimming taught me to never give up. When you become a professional athlete, you don’t know if you are ever going to reach your goal – you just keep going. For 20 years I was in physical pain every day because I pushed myself to the limit. I’ve had half a dozen concussions because I was in such a trance of thrashing through the water that I forgot there was a wall after 50 metres! I swam at international level for Germany and some in Australia, and I was in my 30s when my body finally said, “enough is enough”. But swimming, and the lessons it taught me, are still very much with me. It taught me to push through no matter what, and that there will always be challenges, but coaches can help you find ways to overcome them. That made me the person I am now.
When something goes wrong, it is just another obstacle to find a way around. When one person told me I couldn’t do Fempro Armour how I wanted, I replied: “Yes I can.” If someone says it’s not possible, it just means they don’t know how. Fempro Armour is not just about physical protection, it is also invisible protection – when I am wearing it, I feel strong and powerful. It is this amazing layer of protection, but it is also designed to be worn like a second skin. You are comfortable and confident in being protected, so you can go so much harder.
I love that it gives women the comfort and the confidence to push themselves further – and that’s exactly why we do impact sports! I can go hard and fast and know that when I fall – and I will – I am protected. I hadn’t really thought about how Fempro Armour could help older people but, like motorcycle riding, falls are a common risk when you get older. For vulnerable people, a fall can lead to a loss of mobility or independence, or even death. My grandmother died during surgery for a broken hip. So, I love that my armour can be worn discreetly under clothes, and give vulnerable people the confidence that when they fall, they will be more protected. It gives them the confidence to stay independent for longer, which is important. Of course, I want to increase the sales of my armour but it’s important that there is more than that. To me, that “more” is women having the confidence, and protection, to do what they want. To be strong and independent.
It also means more money to support the Women’s Resilience Centre in Sydney, a place of hope, healing for women who have experienced or witnessed domestic abuse and trauma. A percentage of sales is donated to fund services at the Centre, so the armour becomes a shield for those women, too, nurturing strength and independence. These are the feelings I want to create for other women. When people buy armour and feel protected and empowered – strong but still feminine – that is like winning a gold medal. They are the wins that keep me going.