Leticia
Leticia Bufoni makes a lap in her Nitrocross SxS entry at Visions Off-Road. (Grace Woelbing photo)
Off Road Racing

X Games Medalist Leticia Bufoni Takes On Off-Road World

June 15, 2023

JAY, Okla. — Six-time X Games gold medalist Leticia Bufoni knows what it takes to be a winner.

Known for her tenacity, Bufoni has a list of world-class feats on her résumé.

She’s skateboarded out of a plane — giving her the prestige of holding the Guinness World Record for the highest grind in history — and conquered the Red Bull Paris Conquest, among her many other achievements.

But on Thursday afternoon at MidAmerica Outdoors, she was the runner-up to Josey Watkins in the MAO SXS Championship Series’ Women Turbo class.

“I started racing last year, so I don’t have that much experience,” Bufoni said. “I came from skateboarding, so racing is something new to me, but I love it. I want to keep going and get more trophies.”

Despite her result, the Brazilian was all smiles as she stood in the hot Oklahoma sun, taking in her first Visions Off-Road experience. Having been focused primarily on professional skateboarding for the last 20 years, most of the off-road world is shiny and new to Bufoni.

Her limited history on dirt commenced last year, when she made her first start, piloting a side-by-side at ERX Motor Park during Nitrocross, formerly known as Nitro Rallycross.

“It’s hard at first, because over the last 10 years in skateboarding, I’ve been getting first place. Last year, in Nitrocross, I was getting last place every time,” Bufoni said. “I always want to win, so I’ve been working on it and getting more seat time.”

Considering most of the women in the nine-car field at MAO were considerably more familiar with wheeling a side-by-side than Bufoni, she’s satisfied with her place on the podium.

She admitted she was a little caught off guard by the stoutness of the competition, but the gold medalist believes she’ll have a few tricks up her sleeve when she lines up for the Nitrocross SxS race at Visions on Saturday. 

If anything, Bufoni knows she’ll be able to learn from her time on track in the MAO series. 

“I want to be able to be fast and good,” Bufoni said.

It hasn’t taken long for the 30-year-old to develop a passion for off-roading. Though her skateboarding success hasn’t necessarily transferred to side-by-side racing, Bufoni is being patient with herself and her development during her sophomore season racing Nitrocross. 

“Now, I just want to go to as many races as I can,” Bufoni said. “Being able to come from skateboarding and be racing cars, it’s just, I never thought I’d be able to do it.”

The remaining short-course racing at Visions Off-Road can be watched live on AOE.tv.