Arduum Challenge 2008

Source: Simon Stevenson

Well summer is here and as the temperature starts to heat up so does the race season. The Arduum Challenge was held this past weekend and the challenge was to get down the course without damage to bike or body. On Saturday I heard the count on toasted wheels was up to twenty and there was more added to that list on Sunday. I know at least one frame got broken and I did see a couple of people in slings. The good part is that if you talk to any of those people I bet every one of them will tell you they had a great time on and off the race track and are already planning their returns for next season.The Shuttle system:


The top of the course was gnarly with embedded rocks and slippery roots down to the rock drop.


After this it’s time to get the flow going. It switchbacks its way down the rest the hill still with all kinds of roots, tricky little gaps and corners.


Finally you get to the crowd pleasing 15 ft gap and this was the wheel killer. This course was as I said a challenge, but a really fun one.


There was tons of entertainment throughout the weekend from rally racing bus drivers drifting around corners on the road up, to Tyler getting the crowds attention with a product toss (I think he might have taken somebody out with that DH tube) and if you drop down a class your gonna get called on it.

Podium shots:


So all in all it was a class act and with over 190 racers out to enjoy it, I’d say it was a success. Thanks to all the organizers and sponsors for putting it all together, volunteers for all there hours of hard work and anyone else that lent a helping hand.

Thank goodness summers here and bring on the races.

For full results CLICK HERE.

Video I found from bobrocket during his practice run on Saturday:

Arduum Challenge 2008 DH Pre-Run

by deanw

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