After an incredibly successful first year, the 2016 race sold out in just over an hour when registration opened in February. On Thursday, 100 lucky racers will experience the deep loam and incredible variety of trails that Trans Cascadia and Oregon’s backcountry have to offer.
| Last year's race did an amazing job of combining really fun riding with a really amazing atmosphere. The atmosphere was a result of a couple things; the location was really special, we were camped beside a beautiful lake in the mountains and we didn't have phone reception. And the people that were attracted to the race; I think all of us were there for similar reasons. Not so much for racing, we were all riding hard and wanted to do well, but we were there more for the love of riding bikes, hanging out outside, and being with like-minded people. I think those two things made it a really special event.- Rosara Joseph, 2015 Trans-Cascadia Winner |
The Trans-Cascadia enduro was created, not only to bring awareness to the special and unique terrain that Cascadia has to offer, but to also fund trail advocacy efforts in the area. The 2015 event raised $2800 for the trails in Oakridge. This past winter the event partnered with Santa Cruz Bicycles and met their goal of volunteering 1000 trail work hours under the direction of local Trail Boss, Derrick Bell.
The work they completed this winter has allowed for some exciting new tracks to be added to the race. The four-day, eighteen stage blind-format enduro race course is designed with care to include something for everyone and Oakridge easily provides a rich backdrop that allows for approximately 30,000 feet of descending.
$8000 of prize money is up for grabs in the stacked Pro Women’s field for the top three spots. Olympian and returning champ, Rosara Joseph is going up against; stage race veteran and 2015 World 24-hour champion, Sonya Looney; two-time Canadian National Champ in DH and XC, Elladee Brown; 2016 Cascadia Dirt Cup Overall winner, Kim Russell; World Cup DH and enduro racer, Jaime Hill; and local Oregon ripper, Adele Mery.
Among those vying for, not only their spot on the podium, but also another $8000 in prize money is an equally impressive Pro Men’s field including; defending 2015 champion, Aaron Bradford; three-time Olympian and 2015 Trans-Cascadia 2nd place finisher, Geoff Kabush, 2015 Trans-Cascadia 3rd place finisher, Logan Wetzel; former World Cup DH racer, Bryn Atkinson; Team Nomads and Enduro World Series racers, Chris Johnston and Dylan Wolsky; veteran XC racer, Barry Wicks; Enduro World Series racer, Adam Craig; North American Enduro racer, Craig Harvey; champion of facial hair and mountain bike icon, Mark Weir; enduro racer, Matt Slaven; Cascadia Dirt Cup overall winner, Nick Hardin; local racer, Nathan Riddle; enduro racer, Peter Ostroski; and Enduro World Series racer, Jamie Nicoll.
| Last year was truly one of the most memorable events I've been a part of. I came in with no real expectations and left in awe from such a flawlessly ran event. Focus centers around fun and adventure, all while hanging with your pals in a beautiful part of the world. This year I'm looking forward to the star-studded cast of the mountain bike community's finest! The trails, campfires, and no cell service also come to mind. It's a party in the woods!- Aaron Bradford, 2015 Trans-Cascadia Winner |
The one thing about Trans-Cascadia is that no matter who goes home with the big check, everyone goes home with a story.
Follow the event at
trans-cascadia.com.
MENTIONS: @shimano / @foxracingshox
I don't know what they're riding this year, but everything is accessible to the public (no locked gates). So if you know where the trails are, you and your friends can get there.
A lot of it is served with shuttles by Oregon Adventures, Cog Wild, and Horse Creek Lodge, just about every day of the season. The season is winding down fast with rain on the way.
If you want to race, there is the Fat 55, the Cascade Cream Puff, and Trans-Cascadia.
And then there's Mountain Bike Oregon, which is 3 days camping in Westfir at the bottom of Alpine Trail, getting breakfast and lunch and shuttles to the tops of trails you pick, volunteer guides to lead you down, and all the beer you can drink after dinner (food carts or go into town to the Brewers Union or Stewart's Fifty-Eight).