Photo Report: Dirt Surfing in Practice at EWS Chile
We have been waiting for this one. Not very patiently, we might add. Round one of the 2018 Enduro World Series has taken us to some of the wildest trails we might see this year with the notorious Chilean anti-grip dirt of the high Andes mountains. With six stages that total 5,300 meters in vertical drop over a total of 34 kilometers, this one is going to be absolutely brutal. Racers were allowed one practice run per stage and, given the nature of the terrain, they will be riding nearly blind. The deep, fluffy dirt here in Lo Barnechea hides razor-sharp rocks that frequently shift so the tracks will be constantly evolving. This isn't going to be a race of blistering speed. It's going to come down to who can best avoid danger and keep their bike together in the ever-shifting dirt here in the Andes. There will be plenty of drifting and plenty of destroyed wheels. Enjoy this practice gallery before the action gets underway tomorrow.
Views for days from what will be the top of the weekend's final stage.
The top of stage 6 is so high that it starts on the moon.
Pedro Burns, the local favorite, is looking to make his mark here on home turf.
Cecile Ravanel has been dominant these past years, but with such huge brutal stages, this one could be anyone's to win.
Randy is still sending it. Marco has been showing more of his loose style out there in practice.
Cody Kelley surfing some of that fine Chilean pow.
Wyn Masters surfs the scree down the start of stage 6. Cerro Plomo keeps watch in the background.
Richie Rude definitely has the strength and power to excel on the long and rough stages here in the Andes. If he can find the form that won him back to back world titles he will definitely be a threat here.
Long, rough, fast, loose, and full of drifty corners from top to bottom. Is there anyone other than Sam Hill that you would place your bets on this weekend?
Greg Callaghan is always a contender and has been looking properly quick out there.
Katy Winton is looking to move up in the ranks this season after her third in the overall last year.
Mark Scott monster trucks it through the only bit of color found on the slopes of La Parva.
Theo Galy rails the moon dust right out of the gate on stage 1.
Flying Flo has made the move to Canyon this season. How will he get on with the new steed?
Isabeau Courdurier has been looking quite comfortable on her new whip and blazing quick in practice.
Rae Morrison has looked smooth and aggressive in practice, having less trouble with the slippery conditions that others.
Jared Graves navigates one of the many rock gardens at the top of stage 2. With a descent of over 1600 meters, the riders are going to take a massive beating on this one.
Martin Maes loves fast and loose terrain, and the stages here in the Andes are delivering just that.
Like a line of tiny little ants.
Big descents mean some lung-busting hike-a-bikes. The air is rare up here.
Mark Scott had a strong finish to the season last year. He's looking to keep up the pace and get a solid result here in Chile.
Dillon Santos negotiates the Devil's Backbone on stage four.
Adrien Dailly opted to pre-ride the stages late in the day once they had been ridden in a bit. The downside, however, was that he had to battle a little extra dust.
Noga Korem is on a factory team this season and will be one to watch at the front of the women's field.
Chilean Pedro Burns was railing the anti-grip right from the get go on stage 1.
Rat Boy shoulders his bike on the final pitch of the climb to stage six.
Adrien Dailly warping his way under big Chilean skies.
Sam Hill has been going so quick out on course it almost looks boring. Sam clearly has winning on his mind and nothing else.
Eddie Masters letting it slide through the anti-grip.
Stage 4 will kick things off on the second day of racing, and one of the longer and rougher stages we've seen anywhere on the EWS.
Curtis Keene between a rock and another rock on stage 4.
Ruaridh Cunningham injured his shoulder last week and has decided to sit out round one so he can give round two his all.
Martin Maes has been on the move in practice. Can he pull off a win here in round one?
Stage 4 is another massive one, and with the views to match.
Bex Baraona smooths out the big rocks on some big wheels on stage 4.
Time to work into the night and make sure the bikes are ready for battle. Race day is almost upon us.
Alex McAndrew drops into the steep switchbacks above the Parvazo trail on stage 2.
Andre Bretas just getting warmed up on the liaison to Stage 4 first thing in the morning.
There's a storm brewing in the Andes above Santiago, Chile right now. Tune back in over the next two days to keep abreast of all the wild racing action from the opening EWS of 2018.
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Dude never catches a break with the injuries.
If I can remember he didn’t participate in one DH race last season and the first EWS of the year on a new team it catches him again.
Yes you don´t look so cool on the pictures, but at least race day I hope riders take some considerations...
That's not a Ripley...but they look like big wheels...
If they kept track of mechanical failures throughout the year I'm guessing flats, broken derailleurs & chains would be top 3.