FMF Enduro Series - Mark Weir's experience

It seems the guys from FMF France have put together a race series that melted soul right into it. How many race series have the vision to allow a past Junior World Champ (Julien Poomans)to design the courses? This is the kind of thing that makes Enduro Series racing so good. The people that produce this event care more about the ride than packaging and press. They have been doing this series for 4 years and been changing people's minds about racing with every race they put on.I went for the first time in 2006 and now I will go every year until my carcass refuses my mind. This is the kind of riding that I dream about. French Alps above tree line, wide open French country side with short green grass as far as you can see. Just when you feel you have had enough is when you get shot into the forest at speed. So fast that your eyes are late to the party. Hoping your eyes will show you some light and correct this dark issue before you slap a tree. The course will continue going down for another two thousand feet. When you are done the fun has just begun you have 9 more runs to go.



The format is what separates this series from all other events. It won’t help to show up two days before the event for practice. That is a waste of time, because the courses doesn’t get laid out until the night before. No practice for you! So stay at work and make some more cash but get your ass there by Saturday morning before 8am. Just like it was back in day when races lasted a weekend. This way no one has the upper hand because they showed up 4 days early. There is absolutely nothing better than an unknown trail at race pace.


The Enduro Series is held on Saturday and Sunday. They have 2 courses for you to race on Saturday and 1 course on Sunday. The courses are set up with four to six thousand feet of descent, 500 feet of climbing at the most. They can be as short as 9 minutes or as long as 25 minutes. You will do the two Saturday courses three times each and the one course on Sunday four times. In-between every race you have about 15 minutes to get your bike dialed in and get back on the gondola.


The courses are set up with freedom in mind. The top half of the course is called off piste. This term is what makes me wish I was French. This means that there is no trail, find your own way. They have gates that are set up 50 meters apart that you have to go between. They are layered down the mountain about 500 meters apart. With the course set up this way it brings a new meaning to looking ahead. I found myself looking 50 meters ahead just looking for gates and the line that would not take me off my bike. This is all done at speeds of 30 to 40mph. Once you get through the high-speed-above-tree-line-part-of-the-course, you dump into the forest. This is usually a multi-line root and rock infested trail that brings you to the finish line. After every run down your times get faster and faster. The really fast guys ride the course about a minute faster every run. Just when you think you have learned the course is when they gift you a new one to test yourself on. After each run the results are posted. They have them up fast - within 5 minutes after each race.

The timing is done with a chip system that you wear on your back, so you know your time will always be right on. The food and help that comes from the race promoter is second to none. All the cheese, meat and bread you can get down your neck.


The people are what make this event so successful. Racers like ten time World Champion Nico and all-mountain crushers like Remy Absalon. This style of riding and racing is based on speed, power and grace. This event covers them all. The term “All-mountain” has been waiting for this kind of event. Everything you want in a trail ride, and you get ten chances to ride it in your own way. At the end all your times are added together and you are given a final placing. At Les 2 Alpes this year first and second places were only 10 seconds apart with Nico beating out Remy. That is after two hours and five minutes of racing 40,000’ of decent, all done in ten runs over two days.


Like anything in this world, words can only describe so much. You need to experience this for yourself. I know how hard it is to leave home. Your trails are like a good friend, always there when you need them. When I got to France it was one of the most eye opening experiences of my life. It is like I was gifted the never ending trail ride for all the sacrifices I have made in my life. The racing and riding is driven from pure love of the bike, love of the ride. Leave the fashion show in North America and ride your way own way in France.

-Mark Weir

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