Race Report & Video: 2022 North American Enduro Cup

Jun 24, 2022
by North-American-Enduro-Cup  
Views: 1,749    Faves: 4    Comments: 0


The mud and champagne is hosed off, the bikes and tools are getting serviced, and missing items have emerged from the cars, duffel bags, and piles Shimano tape. The fresh-cut, rough and raw sections of the stages that were built new for the race on June 11 and 12 now look like a well worn race course. Heck, maybe even a trail. The woods are quiet again except for the usual bike park traffic, and everyone has moved on to catching up on the latest results from the other races. The 2022 Schwalbe North American Enduro Cup was one hell of a race, full of extremes, and capped off with beautiful weather and an amazing crowd at awards.

2022 Schwalbe North American Enduro Cup
There's really nothing like Silver Mountain. The bottom of the trail network is about 3,400' (1,030m) lower than these starts.

2022 Schwalbe North American Enduro Cup
Cameron Joye dodging the raindrops.

The prologue of the 2022 race was best described with one phrase: trail work. Silver Mt. was open for skiing two weekends prior to the race. With that much snow, much of the mountain was inaccessible. The turnover required to go from skiing to one of the largest EWS qualifiers anywhere was no small feat. A whole new trail was built. Snow was removed from almost a mile (1.6km) of trail. More than 300 hours of work that got put into the course, not counting the bike park trail crew's hours. A persistent bunch armed with shovels, McLeods, and, for a couple spots, a Cat D6 bulldozer built and cleared the course for racers, finishing just two days before Friday's practice.

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Off camber, fresh cut, wet, and line choices everywhere. Amy Morrison showing everyone how it's done on the high line during Friday's practice.

Practice and Day 1 had rain. A lot of rain. While that helped consolidate and reduce the snow, it made everything wet. Really wet. That added to the excitement of one of the NAEC's hallmarks: the new trails. As everyone who raced knows, these aren't new, machine-built, buffed out bike park trails. They're raw, steep, and loose with tape corridors wide enough to let the riders paint the lines that become the trail during practice.

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Schwalbe, Shimano, Risse Racing, Cannondale, and Specialized were all providing incredible neutral support that kept all the riders going all weekend long.

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The long, wet transfer through the clouds to Stage 1.

With the pro winners taking home a $12,000 purse, the 2022 Schwalbe NAEC stands alone as the pinnacle enduro race in North America. Nothing else comes close.

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Justin Kelm rolling into a steep section.

2022 Schwalbe North American Enduro Cup
Smiles on the way back up the hill for more racing.

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Tor Weiland turning down Stage 2.

2022 Schwalbe North American Enduro Cup
James Turcotte staying low on a roller.

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Covering the brakes and wide open, Gavin Lee on Stage 2.

2022 Schwalbe North American Enduro Cup
The mud in Frog Trees was thick. Terjai Decker keeping on it in the mud.

2022 Schwalbe North American Enduro Cup
Seen here, the inflatable palm tree that is native to the heckling zone at the bottom of Stage 6.

2022 Schwalbe North American Enduro Cup
Kaia Jensen on the gas.

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It's a race, yes. But it's also a community. Schwalbe and Transition set up a taco aid station for racers at the summit of Silver Mt.

2022 Schwalbe North American Enduro Cup
Dugan Merrill keeping the kit pristine with the high line around the mud.

2022 Schwalbe North American Enduro Cup
Hop in one of these and 24 minutes later, you've got a lot of trails at your fingertips.

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2021 NAEC Champion Max Sedlak finished 4th in 2022.

2022 Schwalbe North American Enduro Cup
Cory Anderson on the high line around the mud testing his tires against the top of the berm.

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Local favorite Ella Erickson with her eyes on the prize. She finished 5th in Pro Women.

2022 Schwalbe North American Enduro Cup
Being a ski hill, the trails go from treeless to dense woods quickly in places. Dan Whitney about to make his way back into the trees.

2022 Schwalbe North American Enduro Cup
2022 Schwalbe North American Enduro Cup
The best neutral support includes more than just the best mechanics.

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Ingrid Larouche soaking up the one bit of Saturday sunshine on her way to 3rd in Pro Women.

2022 Schwalbe North American Enduro Cup
Who says the camera guys get no love? Cam was the guy who made the video above.

2022 Schwalbe North American Enduro Cup
Eric Melson about to drop into Stage 6. The stage was huge, and, by itself, took the fastest pros almost as much time to complete as the entire first EWS race this season.

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You want logs? We got logs. And roots and trees and more roots. Cameron Joye enjoying the woodwork on his way to 3rd in Pro Men.

2022 Schwalbe North American Enduro Cup
John Richardson had a flat on Stage 2, but was on an absolute tear for the day.

2022 Schwalbe North American Enduro Cup
You want ruts? We got ruts. Put the front tire in it and hold on, as demonstrated by Holden Archie.

2022 Schwalbe North American Enduro Cup
Cy Whitling did something totally unique for a racer: he raced and also painted through the day. He sketched out ideas at the base then carried a small watercolor kit and clipboard and painted his experience before and after each stage.

2022 Schwalbe North American Enduro Cup
Kyle Hickey on a pedaly section of Stage 2.

2022 Schwalbe North American Enduro Cup
Reid Farmer finishing Stage 6 under the Red Bull arch.

2022 Schwalbe North American Enduro Cup
The suffer award went to Alex Anderson, who pedaled his downhill bike through all 5 stages over the two days. To be clear, that was with a 38t chainring and a 7 speed DH cassette.

2022 Schwalbe North American Enduro Cup
2022 Schwalbe North American Enduro Cup

2022 Schwalbe North American Enduro Cup
2022 Schwalbe North American Enduro Cup
Yep, it was a long Stage 6. But it was worth it.

2022 Schwalbe North American Enduro Cup
The Gromsquad checking their results after two days of racing.


Author Info:
North-American-Enduro-Cup avatar

Member since Jan 14, 2016
31 articles

9 Comments
  • 5 0
 Looks like John Richardson would've won by over a minute without that flat.
  • 2 0
 "The 2022 Schwalbe NAEC stands alone as the pinnacle enduro race in North America. Nothing else comes close."

It may have the largest prize purse, and I have heard nothing but good things about Silver Mt, but this statement is incredibly bold - verging on foolish. Whistler would like a word.
  • 13 1
 @zaeius, here's a personal invite to come see for yourself at the 2023 NAEC.
  • 2 2
 @North-American-Enduro-Cup it’s hard to imagine it being the pinnacle when you are not checking plate numbers for rider identification. These kids and parents spend a ton of money and then you can’t even give them the credit they earned in your photos release. The media you provide is important as well to these racers in the making, almost as much as the tracks. Either way we will be there next year to test ourselves at this rad race.
  • 1 0
 This is a racers race. I decided to not really train and wing it..... worse decision of 2022; plus the race destroyed my BB and rear wheel.
  • 2 0
 .....which sounds like complaining. It's not. Loved every minute of it..... except stage four.
  • 1 0
 Cameron Joye looks thicker than I remember in that first pic
  • 1 0
 Love my Transition peeps. Good on ya. Make a party.
  • 1 0
 Another great weekend! See you next year!







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