Racing

Race Report | Triple Crown #1: Kingdom Enduro

25.09.2015
by

The first race of the Triple Crown Enduro Series took place at the Q Burke Resort last weekend. The Kingdom Enduro takes its name from Kingdom Trails – a mountain bike mecca located in East Burke, Vermont. With a vertical drop of over 2000 feet, this mountain is one of the tallest we race on and despite only having 3 stages, it utilizes the trails better than most others.

Some do it with style. Scotty knows.
Some do it with style. Scotty knows.
Fall is coming to Vermont.
Fall is coming to Vermont.

My expectations for this race were high. It was the most anticipated race of the year for me as one of the Pro stages was to be Upper and Lower J-Bar – a combined 12+ minute descent from the peak of Burke Mountain to the base lodge at the very bottom. It is one of my two favorite trails on the East Coast. Upper J-Bar is proper DH with tight, steep terrain and massive rocks and roots, yet an incredible amount of natural flow. Lower J-Bar is a very different beast – smooth, flowy, fast. It’s incredibly fun to ride and incredibly tiring to race. This year, a number of corners received small berms, making the trail even faster than before.

Huge thanks to Chris and AJ, safely shuttling hundreds of riders, hours on end.
Huge thanks to Chris and AJ, safely shuttling hundreds of riders, hours on end.
May Mr. Turtle Stump watch over your ride.
May Mr. Turtle Stump watch over your ride.

After a 5 hour drive and an hour at registration, I was off to a late start on Saturday and on a mission to ride each stage twice. This turned out to be a tough task as only the first stage was accessible from the chair lift. Stages two and three started from the peak and required a hefty shuttle ride. The shuttles were provided by Burke but could not keep up with rider demand. Waiting for the shuttle meant an hour in line or figuring out a way to shuttle each other. I ended up doing a combination of both and ended the day satisfied with the practice I was able to accomplish.

Hot coffee for a cold morning to get the juices flowing.
Hot coffee for a cold morning to get the juices flowing.
Stage 1 flow, as experienced by Sebastian O'neill.
Stage 1 flow, as experienced by Sebastian O’neill.
There wasn't much left of this berm by the end of the weekend.
There wasn’t much left of this berm by the end of the weekend.

Sunday morning greeted racers with gloomy skies and wet ground. It had rained during the night, and it rained a lot. With the technical difficulty of stages two and three, it was going to be survival mode out there.

When does this man get a rest?! George Ulmer, the man behind Eastern States Cup was seen directing the start of Stage 1.
When does this man get a rest?! George Ulmer, the man behind Eastern States Cup was seen directing the start of Stage 1.
Ryan Mcevoy thankful to have gotten over that slick wooden bridge.
Ryan Mcevoy thankful to have gotten over that slick wooden bridge.
Grant Wieler was all smiles. No doubt from not losing it on the wooden bridges.
Grant Wieler was all smiles. No doubt from not losing it on the wooden bridges.

Despite the forecast, it was still drizzling as I rolled up to the start of Stage 1. This was a short stage, a good warm up for the two demanding stages that would follow. A cold and wet start, I noticed right away that while the ground was soaked, the berms held up well and could be taken with a considerable amount of speed. The wooden bridges, however, required a lot more attention and finesse. Before I knew it, the stage was over and I had a huge grin on my face.

Marc Nadeau getting fast and low.
Marc Nadeau getting fast and low.
Foggy start to Stage 2.
Foggy start to Stage 2.
Alex McAndrew on the pedals for a second place finish.
Alex McAndrew on the pedals for a second place finish.

After a very long transfer – think hour-long slug up a winding paved road; I reached the fog blanketed peak and the start of Stage 2. Dropping in, I quickly realized that this stage was a lot more slick and muddy than I expected. Having been slick in practice, a lot of the rock and grass surfaces felt more like ice after the overnight rain. I think I spent more time with a foot out of the pedal than in. Sliding through corners, over roots and wet slick rock. Yet again, however, I finished the stage covered head to toe in mud but giggling almost uncontrollably.

Stage 2 started out innocently enough...
Stage 2 started out innocently enough…
…and pointed downhill very quickly.
…and pointed downhill very quickly.
Rocks, rocks, and more rocks.
Rocks, rocks, and more rocks.

Back up the steep toll road, it was on to the last and most demanding stage of the day. The stage that I was looking forward to all day. J-Bar. Longer than the first two stages combined and much higher consequence, it was as much a test of technical ability as it was fitness. With the challenging conditions, features that seemed like a no brainer in practice, became real sources of danger. I felt consistent and strong through the whole stage, passing two racers in the process and ending up with a fifth place for the stage – a highlight of my season.

Mark Schnepel attacks one of the hardest sections of Stage 2.
Mark Schnepel attacks one of the hardest sections of Stage 2.
Conor Rowan was all grins through the top of Stage 3.
Conor Rowan was all grins through the top of Stage 3.
Remy Gauthier carries on through one of many mud puddles of Stage 3.
Remy Gauthier carries on through one of many mud puddles of Stage 3.

With 43 Pros, the Kingdom Enduro had the biggest turnout of the year. I ended up in a comfortable 8th, attaining my goal of a top ten. I felt great all weekend and don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed miserable conditions as much as at this race. Isaac Allaire came out victorious, winning every single stage and absolutely crushing everyone on Stage 3. In the women’s division, it was Lauren Petersen with the win yet again, winning all of the stages and continuing her streak of Enduro domination.

Gotta hit the middle line, gotta hit the middle line. Concentration and finesse were key for a clean Upper J-Bar run.
Gotta hit the middle line, gotta hit the middle line. Concentration and finesse were key for a clean Upper J-Bar run.
One of the biggest challenges of the race was to stay on the pedals. The struggle was real even for Isaac Allaire, the Pro men's winner.
One of the biggest challenges of the race was to stay on the pedals. The struggle was real even for Isaac Allaire, the Pro men’s winner.
Lower J-Bar delivered a break from slick, steep terrain of the upper portion of Stage 3.
Lower J-Bar delivered a break from slick, steep terrain of the upper portion of Stage 3.
Patrick Ouellette cruising through the bottom of Stage 3. Not too much longer, now.
Patrick Ouellette cruising through the bottom of Stage 3. Not too much longer, now.

After the race it was time for some fun runs. The weather had turned for the better and the sun came out from behind the clouds. After taking a few runs on Burke’s phenomenal flow trails, Derek Bissett and myself decided to ride across the road to Kingdom Trails – our bodies were sore but our minds were willing. Derek’s never ridden Kindgom and it’s been over three years for me. A small loop was enough to showcase some of the fantastic trails Kingdom has to offer and enough to warrant a come back to experience more of what’s in store.

Post-race fun runs at Kingdom come with many other perks. Delicious wild apples right on the trail.
Post-race fun runs at Kingdom come with many other perks. Delicious wild apples right on the trail.
Post-ride hydration is very important for your mental health. Especially after a muddy slugfest.
Post-ride hydration is very important for your mental health. Especially after a muddy slugfest.

Words: Paul Dotsenko Pictures: Jamie Lee

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