NAET Round Three is Ontario’s Premier Enduro Race

Secret trails, fast berms, technical rock sections, challenging climbs—the Blue Mountain Enduro's got ‘em all. Add to that some “zesty” conditions, thanks to some recent rain, and Ontario’s premier and largest enduro race is set to be one for all-time, providing a fun and challenging event for riders this Sunday, June 25 for the third stop of the North American Enduro Tour for 2017.

“The mountain has seen a lot of rain, and right now there are a few trail closures, so it's pretty slick and super spicy,” says race director Ted Morton, who’s also the founder of the Canadian National Enduro Series. “We've worked hard with the crew at Blue Mountain Resort and as such some of the trails are staying closed until race day so that we can let them dry, ensuring that come rain or shine, we'll be racing on the best trails in Eastern Canada!”


What awaits riders is approximately 1,300 metres of climbing and 1,600 meters of descending, with a little help from the gondola, for a total of 25 kilometres. Full course details will be released Saturday.

Taking part will be some of the biggest names in Enduro in North America. Combined with local racers, the number of participants is expected to push 150, an unprecedented number in the enduro racing scene in Ontario.

Women to watch will be Lauren Gregg, who’s making the trip to Blue Mountain all the way from Nevada, and Amy Morrison, who’s based out of California and recently finished in fourth at NAET’s second stop, The Gryphon presented by Giro Sport Design in Squamish, B.C.

Noticeably absent from the Pro Women’s field is Whistler-based ripper Leonie Picton, who’s taken the win in both NAET races so far this season. With Picton out of the field, the women’s race is wide open.

For the men, Chris Johnston, who’s been on both NAET podiums this season, taking second in the opening round at the Fraser Valley Enduro in Chilliwack, B.C., and third in The Gryphon, will be on the hunt, as will top local racer Tyler Pratt.

Tyler Pratt welcomes enduro enthusiasts to his home trails this weekend. Photo: Jason Petznick

“I’ve been traveling all over Canada, the States and Mexico to race enduros the last few years,” says Pratt, “and although it’s always great to sample some new trails, I’m excited for the enduro community to get a taste of how rad the trails are here for this style of riding and racing.”

This third stop of the season comes on the heels of an epic second NAET stop in Squamish earlier this month, that brought racers out to shred spring hero dirt in the trail network’s renowned singletrack. Enduro World Series pro and Whistler local, Jesse Melamed, took the win for the Pro Men, while Picton continued to assert her dominance, topping the Pro Women’s podium.


Results from this weekend’s Blue Mountain Enduro will be posted to the NAET website following the event, but for those hoping to follow the action in real-time, NAET’s social channels (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter) will be churning out updates all weekend, and over the course of the rest of the season. Follow us to catch all the action!

---

MENTIONS: @NAETRacing

---