Canadian Enduro Championships Back For 2023 & Coming to Crankworx Whistler

Mar 2, 2023
by Official Crankworx  
photo
Jesse Melamed, racing at Crankworx Whistler in 2022. Photo: Chris Pilling

Crankworx, the Canadian Enduro League and Cycling Canada have announced the return of the top title in Canadian enduro racing.

The Canadian Enduro Championships are back in 2023 and coming to Crankworx Whistler. The Canadian Enduro Champion titles will be awarded to Canadian racers based on the Elite (17+) results of the Canadian Open Enduro.

The Canadian Open Enduro will take place on the final weekend of Crankworx Whistler on Sunday, July 30. And while Canada’s elite will have their eyes set on the championship titles, the race itself will be open to elite and amateur racers from all nations.

Racers can expect the high-caliber racing, advanced terrain, and iconic Whistler tracks they’ve come to expect of enduro racing at Crankworx Whistler.

bigquotesHaving Canadian Championships is huge for us. Our Canadian numbers are growing on the World Circuit and having such a prestigious race at home in Canada will help bring more kids into the sport and grow the racing passion. It's great to see Crankworx step up and make this as big as it should be. I am stoked that I get to race in Whistler again this year and fight for the sleeve. It is an honour to wear it. The race in 2022 was one of the best yet so I can't wait to see what Crankworx will provide for the championships race this year.Jesse Melamed

The event will by co-produced by Crankworx and the Canadian Enduro League and sanctioned by Cycling Canada.

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Miranda Miller, in the loam and amongst the crowds. Photo: Clint Trahan

bigquotesThe goal going into this was to bring these three great organizations together to stage a world-class enduro in Canada for our local riders, and for the world who wants to get in on the action. So far it has been incredibly exciting working with these great advocates for enduro in Canada. We’ve been hosting enduro races during Crankworx Whistler for most of our history, including the EWS from 2013-2022. The spirit has always been about hard-charging racing in our amazing backyard. Combining what we do with Ted and the community he’s grown through CEL is going to result in a pretty special race and a great way to send the 2023 Crankworx World Tour out with a bang.Darren Kinnaird, Managing Director of Crankworx

bigquotesThe Canadian Enduro League is honored to bring our experience into such a unique and collaborative partnership. Crankworx’s willingness to co-produce this event with us and partner with Cycling Canada highlights their ethos of wanting to ‘celebrate mountain bike culture,’ and that means providing racers with a high level of communication, on-course safety, clear direction and of course, amazing trails with lots of love! This is the culminating opportunity for aspiring and veteran Canadian Enduro racers, and to be showcased in Whistler, during Crankworx, unbelievable! As a racer myself, I’m elated to see the return of the Canadian Open Enduro, an opportunity to compete against friends from around the world, while racing on some of the best trails in Canada.Ted Morton, Canadian Enduro League

bigquotesWe are thrilled to be working with Crankworx and the Canadian Enduro League to host the Canadian Enduro Championships as a part of the wider Crankworx Whistler festival. By working alongside two of the most reputable enduro race organizations in the country, we’re confident that athletes from across the country will have access to the highest possible calibre of racing as they battle for the coveted maple leaf sleeve.Josh Peacock, Cycling Canada Director of Marketing and Events

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ALN in Whistler in 2022. Photo: Chris Pilling

The race will be a one-day format with training Saturday, July 29, and racing Sunday, July 30.

The Canadian Championship titles will be awarded to the top Canadian male and female riders racing in the Elite (17+) category of the Canadian Open Enduro.

The Canadian Open Enduro will have three registration categories for both men and women, open to riders from any nation: Elite (17+), and amateur U21 and 21+. A prize purse of $20,000 CAD total will be awarded to the top finishers in the Elite category.

Points toward the Canadian Enduro League will also be up for grabs. Additionally, the Canadian Open Enduro will provide a means for scoring qualifying points to compete in the EDR (formerly Enduro World Series). Details on the latter to come.

The race is expected to attract Canada’s top enduro riders on the hunt for the coveted Canadian Champions’ title. Additionally, with a gap in the EDR schedule, odds are high the race will attract a healthy smattering of top international talent.

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Harriet Harnden after clinching the elite women's win in Whistler in 2022. Photo: Chris Pilling

There will be a cap of 300 spots available in the race, across categories, so racers are encouraged to mark down the registration date and be ready. The race is expected to sell out.

Registration will go live at 10 a.m. PST on April 13, 2023.

For young racers looking to get involved, there will be a separate Kidsworx Enduro. The event will be run on a different day during Crankworx Whistler. Full details to come.

Those who’d like to be first in-the-know as details become available about the Canadian Open Enduro can register their interest here: Canadian Open Enduro Email List

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33 Comments
  • 29 0
 Anyone else finding it impossible to get money back from the previous (N)CES owner? Still boggles my mind that Matt's been able to walk away with a ridiculous amount of money and not pay employees, podium winners, or registration fees for cancelled events...
  • 17 0
 Yep… All the podium finishers from Whistler and series overall last year still haven’t received prize money too and he has been unresponsive to emails since December, unfortunately.
  • 9 0
 Yes, I got burned by the Big White race fee for my son last year. No replies to emails. Seriously pissed off
  • 12 0
 Turns out the big novelty cheque actually was novelty.
  • 12 0
 Why don't a group of you band together and put forward a small claim against the old corporation who own the series? It's all online in BC and doesn't take a ton of time and all online. You'd mostly need to gather (old online) evidence that cash prizes were promised. I believe the old corporation was BC Enduro Series Inc. That is legally who your beef is with. Ted et. al acquired the assets (not the shares of BC Enduro Series Inc.) to form the new Canadian Enduro League. civilresolutionbc.ca
  • 3 0
 @dr-airtime: I definitely don't have any beef with Ted et. al, I think they're doing a pretty stand-up job with CEL so far and making a great impression. Thanks for the link as well! I'll definitely be looking at it to see what'll work. Cheers!
  • 4 0
 Entry fees for the cancelled Pano event…
  • 3 0
 @dr-airtime: It would be curious to know where the money went from the sale to Ted, if they paid off some of their debts or pocketed it and closed up shop. It's a small community, would be good to hear what the new race organizers have to say about this, I'm sure they were aware of the lack of payments to vendors and customers.
  • 2 1
 Also have had no luck getting hold of the previous owner. I find it quite disrespectful to the riders owed money that the new owners are just washing their hands of this fact after purchasing the series. I will not be signing up for any races unless I receive refunds for two canceled races. And even then it will be difficult to trust the new management. They could have just credited us race entries for 2023.
  • 4 0
 This needs to be brought to the limelight. I went though the BC Tribunal with a formal request to Matt Holbrook. His response was, and I quote
"The company is insolvent, and your purchase was with an incorporated company, not covered by civil disputes. All the best with that." Matt Holbrook

From my understanding, insolvent doesnt mean debts are erased like bankruptcy. Someone with more knowledge on the process should go through the process to help the hundereds of people out a few hundred bucks. Would pinkbike run an article on the situation? @Mike Levy
  • 2 0
 @maestroman21: Damn, that's shit. I submitted something recently and still awaiting. Matt's reply isn't exactly promising...
  • 3 0
 @maestroman21: insolvent means they can't cover all the money they owe, it's distinct from bankruptcy process/proceedings.

Did you actually go to the CRT and that's where they left it?
  • 4 0
 @j-t-g: the tribunal process sort of ended with a formal letter request. There is no real support past that it seems. I am taking it up with BC consumer affairs but that doesn't seem promising at this stage either. I'd give up every penny of what I'm owed for the winners to get prize money and employees to get paid. Most importantly, make sure Mr. Holbrook never gets the respect to be able to run such events again.
  • 9 0
 Canadian enduro league has an opportunity to jump start regional racing in Canada. Dont fuck it up!!!
  • 2 1
 They aren't helping their cause if they are ignoring the debts from the league they took over.
  • 4 0
 @ jackkson Wink
  • 1 0
 The race is the same day as the mini world cup (likely) Canadian Open DH race?? Seems like a bad idea to not at least stager those Sat and Sun.
  • 1 0
 Think this is the opening weekend, DH is likely closing weeken
  • 1 0
 @AndrewMacNaughton: Crankworx is July 21-30th this year, so this enduro is closing weekend Sunday.
  • 2 0
 I wouldn’t be surprised to see the DH (Canadian open) in the opening weekend this year, that way they probs have a bigger field or riders showing up as it spaced out a bit more with Worlds in fort Bill.
  • 2 0
 @EggsandApps: Canadian Open is the 23rd. But that's only 4 days after the Canadian Nationals on the other side of the province (Panorama)
  • 3 0
 Yeaaa! Stoked for this.
  • 2 0
 Minihorns Racing team getting back after it!
  • 1 2
 I can't help but think that there'd be a lot more interest in participating in the race, and by extension participation in any regional enduro races, if there were more age cats than just older and younger than 21.
  • 2 0
 back to paying winners less then their entry costs . . . . . .
  • 2 0
 Ideal prep for XC world champs
  • 1 0
 No mention of the CEL title sponsor change to We Are One Composites?
  • 4 5
 Loam (/lōm/): a soil with roughly equal proportions of sand, silt, and clay.
  • 3 1
 Virgin alert!
  • 2 0
 Hey Charlie, can you look up the definition of 'updog' next for me?
  • 2 4
 Blame Canada.
  • 1 0
 “Holy Jumpin'! Canada Is A Little Fuzzy, Eh? Look How Clear It Is!”







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