We don’t ride to put days on our life, we ride to put life in our days
On Saturday we received the devastating news that a fellow rider had passed away during the Enduro World Series race in Crested Butte. The news sent a ripple around the riding community that grew into a wave, showing just how strong and united our community has become. Every racer knows the risks of big mountain racing, but sometimes the consequences strike harder and closer than we could ever imagine.
No doubt this news will promote finger pointing and misunderstanding from outside the community, questioning enduro as a sport, asking why we ride and race in challenging terrain, and could anything have been done? However we are riders, and all who enjoy the sirens call of the mountains, whether it be skiing, mountaineering or biking know that accidents can happen and the penalty can be severe.
All at ENDURO Magazine would like to thank the people of Crested Butte and the teams behind Big Mountain Enduro and the Enduro World Series, who handled this most tragic event in an effective, professional and ultimately highly respectful manner. Early reports from the scene reveal that an incredible effort was made by medics, marshals volunteers and fellow racers to assist during the terrible accident, and nothing more could have been done.
Chris Ball, director of the EWS summarised the feelings well “It is often during the hardest of times that the best is brought out in people. The riders, medics, event staff and the entire riding community here have shown just how truly incredible they all are. Everyone performed perfectly and collectively the team did absolutely everything that could be done. We pass on our deepest sympathies to Will’s family and thank everyone for their efforts. As an extended family we have shown just how strong the bond of mountain biking is between us.”
Injuries in mountain bike racing are part of the game, and we have all suffered downtime while recovering from a ‘big one’, but fatalities are so mercifully rare. Until now enduro racing has been filled with inspirational feats of recovery and human perseverance, but this weekend we lost a brother.
Only in these deepest moments of sadness are we reminded that life is fragile and precious. We all live for the rush, that intoxicating sound of rubber in loam, and are united in this passion throughout the globe. To paraphrase Ronald Cook “We don’t ride to put days on our life, we ride to put life in our days”.
This weekend we lost one of our own, his name was Will Olson and he was a friend to us all. Our thoughts go out to his family, friends and all who shared in his journey.
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