“Keep an eye out for bears tonight!” the security guard yelled out the window of his Jeep as he maneuvered the 4x4 through the parking-lot-turned-communal-campsite at the 2018 Enduro Pescado. Held at Whitefish Mountain Resort, located in North-Western Montana and bordered by Glacier National Park, the venue served host to the second round of the 2018 Montana Enduro Series.
Bikes piles up and ready to go outside registration. And security wasn't joking about the bears - quite a few riders were racing with bear spray.Fortunately, there were no bear sightings over the July 15th-16th weekend, although as one racer commented, this was largely due to the vuvuzelas and cowbells that have come to form the official MES race day anthem. After gratis shots of nitro cold-brewed coffee from the Open Road Coffee Company Bus, the race commenced at 9 AM sharp-ish with a short ride to the resort chairlift. A couple thousand vertical feet later, racers were deposited at the top of Whitefish Mountain. Eagerly waiting for them were the swarms of biting flies, midges, and these sadistic, biting, bee-like creatures.
Warming up had three distinct benefits: The blood got pumping, Glacier National Park could be looked at, and the bugs couldn't catch you.Left: Parker Arnold early in his first place Pro Men's campaign. Right: Chris O'Brien on Stage 1.Techniques soon developed for evading/smashing the flocks of bloodsuckers, but riders quickly abandoned the swatting and fled the summit to set off for Stage 1: Kashmir to Freebird. Fast and loose, a texture best described as ‘kitty litter’ greeted riders for their descent on upper Kashmir, followed by choice cuts of prime berms, courtesy of Freebird. With only the top six corners of Freebird included, riders were forced to push the limits of what little traction there was to be had as they wrestled their bicycles through to the finish.
The day’s first real transfer kept the legs warm as they worked back up the mountain to Stage 2 - Runaway Train to Maiden. Viewed by many as the stage where the race was won or lost, Runaway Train presented riders with staggering views of Whitefish Lake as they cut across the mountain and down sharp spines of rock.
Tires were put to the test as abuse was dished out via a number of harsh drops and jumps requiring precision and more than a little commitment. Stage 2 also included an absolute runway segment of gravel road that pushed riders well past 40mph before a short, yet demanding trail by the name of Maiden. More loose dirt and plenty of line variety kept riders on their toes, while an uphill finish at the end of a 10+ minute stage acted as the litmus test for the lungs.
Sometimes you just end up taking your bike for a walk. Junior Male Luuk Mackenzie, left, and Master's Male Philip Welch, sticking with it. In spite of the jog, both finished out the day.A top to bottom stage, Runaway Train and Maiden led racers to a delightfully midge-less aid station before the longest transfer of the day, a bottom to top spin up the mountain. Yup, the whole thing.
Roughly 8 miles of single track climbing provided ample time to admire the astonishing views offered by the resort, while offering spectators good-natured heckling opportunities from the gondolas passing overhead. Arriving at the summit for the second time that day, racers hurled themselves down the mountain’s most popular network for Stage 3: GNR to Kashmir to Cindy’s Loppers. In true Guns N’ Roses fashion, the trail starts with a drop that'd make Slash proud, and proceeded to pump out classic jams the entire way in what was the longest stage of the day. At a casual pace, Kashmir requires a rider's attention. At race pace, only full-on precision and intentional riding was rewarded. Sneaky tire-eating roots and doubles that you shalt not overshoot. Ending the stage required navigation of Cindy’s Loppers, a spicy drop-option into technical, classic, Whitefish roots and ladders followed by another flat-out, on-the-gas finish.
Given the Montana Enduro Series’ 2018 motto, ‘If it ain't broke, add another stage,’ it was back to mid-mountain for a sexy sax-filled jaunt down Careless Whisper, a new trail the Whitefish Bike Park trail crew finished cutting on Saturday morning. An entire enduro race worth of locked up rear tires left the trail thoroughly cut in by the end of the day.
Official Enduro Pescado ResultsLast held in 2016, the Montana Enduro Series’ triumphant return to Whitefish Mountain proved to be a test of both bicycle and rider, with the Pro Men’s podium going to Parker Arnold in the top spot, 2nd to Tim Crandall, and 3rd to Dugan Merrill. On top of the Pro Women’s podium in 1st was Alicia Leggett, with Kedzie Gunderson in 2nd and Tara Wilson in 3rd.
Pro Men's and Pro Women's Podiums.Masters Female 1st: Heather Johnston. Master's Men 1st: Cori Jones; 2nd: Michael Frantum; 3rd: Charles Honea.Expert Men 1st: Triston Merrill; 2nd: Connor Crookham; 3rd: Matt Lessmeier. Expert Women 1st: Marti Brandt; 2nd: Maryjane Martin; 3rd: Morgan Barkley.Sport Men 1st: Kieran Ackermann; 2nd: Stephen Antonich; 3rd: Aaron Balian. Sport Women 1st: Julie Tickle; 2nd: Courtney Chase; 3rd: Sarah Knobe.Check out lots more photos in our
2018 Enduro Pescado photo album right here on Pinkbike!
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