Race Preview | The Whole Enchilada Enduro, Salida, CO
The Whole Enchilada is back, and with three enduro races, you know it’s gonna be a big deal. Ranging from a minor 13.5 miles, all the way up to 37 miles of roost shredding, rock garden pounding, root rolling, endurance testing goodness and aptly named, “The Supreme”, there’s a range of literally everything you want from an enduro race in this bad-boys only event.
Salida, Colo. – The Whole Enchilada trail, revered as the crown jewel of enduro riding, returns this fall to Moab, Utah on September 27, 2015 as The “All New” Whole Enchilada Enduro with three different options to suit the varying tastes of enduro racing.
“Enduro proves to be an ever evolving term in reference to mountain bike racing, and our goal is to create an event that racers from different disciplines can enjoy a distance and format that suits their strengths, and challenges stamina, technical prowess and speed,” said Keith Darner, owner/race director of Chocolate Bunny Productions.
“The Vegetarian” combines two timed stages with minimal climbing and two untimed transfer stages, starting at the top of Burro Pass, and ending on the rough and rugged descent down the Porcupine access road to Sand Flats Road, for approximately 13.5 miles and 5,350 feet of descending during timed racing.
“The Traditional” brings back The Whole Enchilada to its racing roots in 2012, the first time this world renowned trail was raced on. One solid stage from the top of Burro Pass down Hazard County, UPS, LPS and Porcupine Rim trail to the WSA Boundary. This is pure grit from top to bottom, no letting up for approximately 23.5 miles and 7,570 feet of descending and 1,200 feet of climbing.
Finally, “The Supreme” is for the enduro masochist, who wants the biggest descents for their buck with “The Vegetarian”, and then shuttled back up to do it all over again down “The Traditional”. We’re talking 37 miles and 12,920 feet of timed descending over three stages.
“The Whole Enchilada embodies everything that I love about mountain biking- high speed descents in the high alpine off of Burro Pass, cornering finesse in Hazard County, and rock smashing all the way down UPS, LPS and Porcupine,” said Nate Hills, winner of the inaugural race in 2012. “It’s great to see more options for racers to give enduro racing a try. I look forward to returning and having fun enduroing, or rather just racing my mountain bike.”
The Whole Enchilada Enduro is a celebration of where enduro racing instituted a growing trend in the U.S., when Darner permitted the first race down The Whole Enchilada trail. “It took over two years of working closely with land management and the community to ensure a race of this caliber would allow racers to enjoy, but tread lightly on, the public lands that are unique to this region,” Darner said. “It’s a special place, and I am excited to bring a new race back in a way that everyone can enjoy.”
Registration opens on June 22 at imathlete.com. Register before August 15 for the best pricing, starting at $165 for “The Traditional”, $185 for “The Vegetarian” and $225 for “The Supreme”. Entry fee includes all race day shuttles, catered dinner and event shirt. Race entry fees increase after August 15. The Whole Enchilada Enduro is the weekend before the Monarch Crest Enduro, October 2-4. Sign up for The Whole Enchilada in addition to Monarch Crest Enduro and receive 10% off.
For more info, visit: chocolatebunnyproductions
Words: chocolatebunnyproductions Photos: Devon Balet Photography
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