Magic Link Enduro Sessions
Enduro is one of those under the radar racing disciplines that's recently experienced a huge whack of interest in both North America and abroad. While it's been popular for years in places like France, with epic races like the MegaAvalanche, only recently has it seen the rice of organized series and enduro-only dedicated racers. Kona Bikes dropped into the enduro game last year when it signed Matt Slaven, from Portland, Oregon, and Karim Amour of Nice, France to its pro factory team. As enduro/super-d specialists, it's been fun to have them be pivotal members of the Team.
Both are super experienced racers. Amour placed 6th at the 2005 World DH Championships and currently is one of the top 5 enduro racers in the world, while Slaven, who's raced BMX, cyclocross and downhill at the elite level, is currently one of the top ranked enduro racers in North America. Both know how to ride a bike--both up and down. A key element that make enduro riding so unique. Often described as one of the purest forms of modern racing, the discipline combines all the elements of contemporary mountain biking: wicked fly bike that can climb and descend really fast, powerful lungs and legs for sprint climbing and rolling descents, and mad bike skills under anaerobic duress.
Karim Amour dropping in through the mist. Photo: Mitch Scott
We decided to dive a little deeper into the enduro phenomena, and sent Kona's in-house film crew to go capture Karim and Matt doing what they do best: slay singletrack. The location? Stop 1 of the Oregon Super D series in Hood River, Oregon. Enjoy the flick.
Dave Mossop crane captures Matthew Slaven sending it...up. Photo: Mitch Scott
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Anyways, I don't care if you ride xc or dh or anywhere in between I will give ya a smile and a wave on the trail and hopefully chat it up for a bit.
interesting points. thank you.
There is also something like Enduro racing. But it has many different forms. In Poland we have Enduro Trophy and Enduro Wyrypa. First contains five competitions with five special stages on each. Race is on those stages. One uphill, three downhill (sometimes with small dirt jumps) and one mixed. Between stages is mostly long uphill ride but without measuring time. You can ride any bike, any helmet, with or without armour. Between stages you can eat, drink (especially beer
Riding styles are not bikes. As many videos show people can ride/jump Trial on road bikes, race Cross Country on Freeride Bikes. On Enduto trophy I've seen people on DH bikes, XC bikes, heavy FR bikes (mine Coiler weights ~19 kg) and light AM bikes.
vimeo.com/25632988
I cant think of a reason why anyone would get all lycra'd up on a 4" when they could shred on a 6"...
...that's what i thought
You could ride AM and Enduro trails with a 7" Giant Faith, if you have the lungs, or legs for it, most of us don´t.
But I agree, is very annoying, the industry is coming up with categories every 6 months, of course, if you believe cannondale and their new "über all mountain", and their hype about the bike (which has an interesting piece of engineering right there) , then we all contribute to this. But no matter what we all say, no one will say, heck I wont buy a bike because they are trying to sell me gimmicks that are exactly the same in AM, FR, En, blablabla.
In my not so humble opinion, there are only 3 categories: DH (203mm double crowns and 180mm single crowns), All Mountain (and everything in between from DH to XC) , and lycra XC (god forbids Womens XC to disappear ];-) ) I really dont mind THOSE lycras!
and thats it...