Video & Race Report: Eastern States Cup Enduro #11 - Woodstock, VT
As fall colors and temperatures roll into New England, the Maxxis ESC Stan's Enduro series comes to Woodstock, Vermont for the penultimate round of 2022. Race stages were split between Saskadena Six Ski Area and the Mount Peg trail network, a four mile pedal across town. The trails here are fresh, loamy and a whole lot of fun but a real challenge to keep race pace without overcooking it into corners. They used to run lifts at Saskadena but these days it's pedal power only to get you to the top, meaning a huge day on the bike for racers. Amateur classes would compete on four stages, totaling about 21 miles of riding and 2.9k vertical, while Pro & Motorex Ebike classes would add a fifth stage, for an additional 2 miles and 600 feet of climbing.
The dirt here is just amazing, especially this time of year when there's a little more moisture in the air. Lots of hooting and hollering in the woods on practice day as racers had a blast exploring the trails, huge shout out to trail builder Gavin Vaughan for what he's done here.
Not the race line but when there's a nice hip jump, Noah Couture figured it'd be rude not to throw it sideways during practice.
Chilly fall riders meeting with color just starting to pop in northern New England.
Riders would pedal up Saskadena Six for Stages 1 and 5, the 650' climb is a nice way to warm up in the morning but much more difficult after a round trip to Mount Peg.
Prime views from the first turn of the race.
Lev Dransfield floats through a rare section of rocky chunder on Stage 1, he would take fourth place in the GT U15 boys class.
The rest of Stage 1 was full of steep, loamy corners like you dream about. Dylan Conte navigates one of the tighter ones on his way to fifth place for the Pro men.
Kristin Sundquist lets it roll through the Saskadena woods. She earn her first podium result, rounding out the Pro women's top five.
Follow the dark dirt.
The transfer from Saskadena Six to Mount Peg is four miles each way, but at least it's scenic.
After a hefty pedal to the top of the Mount Peg trail network, riders would drop into Stage 2. Kory Buck takes the more direct inside line, earning his second 30-39 class win in a row.
Three stage wins and P1 for Greg Jackson, his fifth 40-49 men's class win of the season.
GT U15 class winner Mattson Clement makes quick work of the awkward rock feature at the top of Stage 3.
Luke Mello eyes on the line ahead, he would take third place in the U20 class and currently leads the overall points battle.
Fox Seatpost Climber's Challenge winner Simon Phipps rewarded for his efforts on the climb to Stage 3.
Only the Pro and Motorex Ebike classes would race Stage 4 before heading back to Saskadena Six. Tom Sampson on the gas through the deep S berms, he would finish P7 after five stages.
Burke Warren fighting exposed roots for the high line on Stage 5, he would finish runner up in the U20 class.
It's a long day on the bike, sometimes you need a quick dirt nap.
Third place Amateur women's class finisher Katherine Finnegan chases the afternoon light on the final stage of the day.
U20 class winner Tucker Shearer flies past spectators at the bottom of Stage 5.
Matt Sullivan points it into one of the final loamy corners, he would round out the 40-49 class top three.
Vermonter Maddy Doiron has become on regular on the Pro ladies podium since moving up this year, she would take P3 this weekend.
Second place for Hannah Harrington, who currently trails overall leader Mia Migliorino with just one race left for 150% points.
Kale Cushman took her third Stan's Enduro win of the season in as many races by a margin of 30 seconds, winning all five stages.
Pro Women: 4th - Sarah Howerter, 2nd - Hannah Harrington, 1st - Kale Cushman, 3rd - Maddy Doiron, 5th - Kristin Sundquist
Kory Nagy keeps the consistency rolling, third place this weekend as well as the Pro men's class overall with one race remaining.
Just 4.3 seconds off the win for Adrian Hayden, proving a gain in speed is definitely a side effect of going to college in Vermont.
Back on the top step for his third Stan's Enduro win of the season, Isaac Allaire had a pair of stage wins and a final race time of 13:46.
Pro Men: 4th - Nathan Sterckx, 2nd - Adrian Hayden, 1st - Isaac Allaire, 3rd - Kory Nagy, 5th - Dylan Conte
As the sun sets on another fantastic race weekend, you only have two more chances to get between the tape this season. Intense DH Finals at Killington October 16th and Stan's Enduro Finals October 23rd at Thunder Mountain, see you there!
Words and photos: Andrew Santoro
Video: George Ulmer/Chris Gilbert
Full Results
Easternstatescup.com
2022 MAXXIS ESC PRESENTED BY KATE'S REAL FOOD SCHEDULE
INTENSE CYCLES DOWNHILL SERIES
May 22 - Powder Ridge, CT
June 12 - Jiminy Peak, MA
June 26 - Sugarloaf, ME
July 10 - Jiminy Peak, MA
July 24 - Sugarbush, VT
Aug 7 - Killington, VT
Aug 28 - Blue Mountain, PA
Sept 4 - Windham, NY
Sept 25 - Thunder Mountain, MA
Oct 16 - Killington, VT Finals
STAN'S ENDURO SERIES
April 24 - Diamond Hill, RI
May 21 - Powder Ridge, CT Night Enduro
June 5 - Glen Park, PA
June 26 - Sugarloaf, ME
July 10 - Jiminy Peak, MA
July 24 - Sugarbush, VT
Aug 7 - Killington, VT
Aug 28 - Blue Mountain, PA
Sept 11 - Arrowhead, NH
Sept 25 - Thunder Mountain, MA
Oct 2 - Woodstock, VT
Oct 23 - Thunder Mountain, MA Finals
KASK SHOWDOWN SERIES
May 22 - Powder Ridge, CT
June 26 - Sugarloaf, ME
July 10 - Jiminy Peak, MA
July 24 - Sugarbush, VT
Aug 7 - Killington, VT
Aug 28 - Blue Mountain, PA
Sept 25 - Thunder Mountain, MA
MOTOREX EBIKE ENDURO SERIES
April 24 - Diamond Hill, RI
May 21 - Powder Ridge, CT Night Enduro
June 5 - Glen Park, PA
June 26 - Sugarloaf, ME
Sept 11 - Arrowhead, NH
Sept 25 - Thunder Mountain, MA
Oct 2 - Woodstock, VT
Oct 23 - Thunder Mountain, MA Finals
Author Info:
Must Read This Week
8 Comments
- 7 0
Andy02568
(Oct 4, 2022 at 13:00)
Love the dirt nap pic
- 4 0
ridedigrepeat
(Oct 4, 2022 at 11:30)
Such a great series!! Thanks for the coverage!
- 4 0
Tormy
(Oct 4, 2022 at 16:16)
Another great race, it just happens week after week with these venues.
- 4 0
Sevenz
(Oct 4, 2022 at 14:25)
Best race of the year!!
- 2 0
jaytdubs
(Oct 5, 2022 at 7:31)
There are some great trails in Woodstock, that looked like an awesome time!
- 2 0
krazyfj
(Oct 5, 2022 at 9:19)
Pic's make me want to race again,
- 2 2
normalrat
(Oct 5, 2022 at 10:18)
Hell will freeze over before any 'East Coast' series crosses the Mason-Dixon Line
- 2 0
Gregmurray50
(Oct 6, 2022 at 7:28)
A quick google search yielded a few series that occur below the Mason-Dixon Line... Downhill Southeast, Go Nuts Racing, Southern Enduro Tour... All of the racing that happens up this way that I'm aware of are the ESCs and some locally hosted races put on by local bike parks (Friday Night Race Series at Highland) or trail associations (Grassroots Enduro in Richmond VT).
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