Mitch Ropelato, Curtis Keene, Josh Carlson, and Brian Lopes hamming it up before the start of the Sea Otter Enduro.
Micayla Gatto giving the traditional Vancouver BC greeting.
Anneke Beerten was focused and determined to crush the field.
Anneke Beerten was a blur today, winning two of four stages and taking home the gold.
Rachel Throop has been picking up speed all year.
Brian Lopes putting years of 4x racing excellence to good use. Low is fast.
No matter what people say about enduro, it's still the only MTB race event where non-pros can race against their idols. Craig Harvey 14th on the day.
Welcome to Sea Otter.
Anneke Beerten taking a "break" from the EWS race series to slaughter the women's Pro field here at the Sea Otter Classic. 22 second win. On a short course like this one, that's an eternity.
Kelli Emmett on one of the many punchy climbs that characterize the Sea Otter's Enduro course.
I kinda never thought I'd ever see this... Mitch Ropelato in lycra... and on an enduro track. Rope-a-dope en route to a second place on the day in the Enduro.
I've no idea who this is, but he's having a bad day...
Yeah--stage 2 and 3 were kinda out there a bit...
Teal Stetson-Lee charging stage 3. She came home second on the day behind Anneke Beerten. Not bad for a racer known only for XC and CX racing.
Micayla Gatto's concussion at Windham may have her off the World Cup for 2015, but enduro is definitely on the plate.
Josh Carlson pinning it to win it.
Yeah... don't go off trail on the transfers out at Sea Otter. Fort Ord used to be a US military training center. Lots of unexploded ordinance out there in them thar hills...
The enduro course made use of the legendary Dual Slalom course. Anneke approves.
Carl Decker holding it down on the dual slalom course...in full XC kit.
Curtis Keene, The American Dream, is a fixture on the Enduro World Series and a top contender at any race.
Jerome Clementz, fresh off the win at the first stop of the Enduro World Series, had to settle for sixth.
Adam Craig valued function over style with his choice in fanny pack.
Brian Lopes has been faster than you for 30 years, and there's no sign of him slowing down. Bronze medal on the day.
Carl Decker gives no f-ks. Skinsuiting it and damn proud...
Mr Enduro, Jerome Clementz cruising the "20 second" final stage of the day - the Sea Otter Dual Slalom track.
Marcelo Gutierrez ripping the DS berms. 8th on the day for the one time protege of Cedric Gracia.
We'll be bringing you full event results and recaps all weekend, so stay tuned.
They dare calling that thing "Enduro", even Clementz laughed about it on Facebook : "Welcome to Sea Otter! Day 1 started with enduro. I took 6th place without XC bike, shortcut or lycra so happy with this!"
Ahhhh, my eyes, so much Lycra! But seriously, wtf. I watched the Enduro in Rotovegas a couple of weeks back and saw no Lycra. Shame, I'd pay to see Wyn in some Lycra...
I guess not even one of contenders is complaining. This is a fashion show, some come to show case their products, some get invited and paid to ride, eat and sleep; some come for their own money to ride, some to just watch and hang around, and some wish they were there...
The Otter is a bike festival/trade show with some fan and amateur friendly racing. It's more about the quality of the whole event than the quality of the tracks.
I notice that you did not give any love to the local 18 year old kid Dillion Santos that finished 9th on his second ever pro enduro race great job Dillion!
It's mostly out of necessity, there's nothing else out there that really qualifies as typical enduro level trail (other than the temporary DH course they build). You have to go across the highway (6 to find better stuff.
I made this in response to last year's event.