Race Report: Richie Rude & Lia Westermann take Wins at Winter Park Big Mountain Enduro

 Agree. I hate to sound salty af but enduro is just becoming downhill lite, really don’t get all the lift served, wasn’t the original intent to see who could battle the uphill grinds and being out there without mechanics or help and still set times on downhill runs, I dont know, I’m just old and yelling at clouds, I’ll stop now.

 well they went the opposite on the next one at Purg and killed most people w/ the 24 mile, 2,600 vert transfer just for one single stage.

 @rideitall-bmx-dh-road-unicycle: that's definitely the other extreme!

I don't have anything against a bike park "enduro" and a whole bunch of laps at a park is arguable true to the idea of enduro being the race format that best resembles the way most of us ride parks.
Should just make them do more stages.

Still, the 1,000 feet was just silly. They should have just made a rule that you couldn't run a downhill bike and defined that some sort of way. But I do understand the practical difficulty with such a rule. Thus the 1,000 foot climb.

My main point was that as the EWS and other national-level enduros have moved more and more towards a fully-supported downhill stage race, it seems like there is yet again a lack of a race format that resembles how most of us ride.

Will be cool to see what pops up to fill the void after the pandemic subsides.

 Some of the downhill sections used for this enduro were used a few weeks ago for a US National DH race. The trail called Trestle DH can definitely justify some dual crowns.

 Its really dependent on the course. Both how pedally the stages are but just as importantly, how difficult are the transfers. Most enduro races the transfers are likely too long/hard to justify a DH rig. There was an ESC race a couple weeks ago where the guy won on a DH bike but thats because the transfers were completely laughable and almost non-existent for any real amount of climbing; more like a DH stage race masquerading as an enduro race.

 @wilsonians: that makes sense. if it helps ive got one with a lockout on it.

 I used a dual-crown at Enduro National Champs at WP a few weeks ago. I felt like it was the best choice for me. I think the main reason you don't see any represented here is the dominance of Fox and RS sponsored riders in the pro fields (and that they don't have "enduro" dual-crown forks). For instance, you only see one fork from anyone else in the photo set above. If the preferred US enduro format continues to be bike-park heavy, I think you'll see more people using dual-crowns in the future.

I mean, a downhill bike got 9th.

 @NoahColorado: For sure, and I agree if you see more bike park races, specifically those that use more lift 'transfers' then you will. WP didn't have that much climbing if I remember (3 lifts, around 1k climbing?) so it could totally make sense to use one. Maybe its old school of me but I don't think enduro races should use that many lifts in a race. 1 maybe 2 makes sense depending on # of stages but put people on pedal transfers for most of it, thats the 'endurance' part of enduro.

 If a 120 lbs rider can justify a 38mm single crown, im sure the 180-200lbs rider could easily use a dual crown for how rowdy the tracks are.

 No one else was there!

 Call from their insurance company in 3... 2.... 1... Also if you can't climb 1,000 feet while wearing a full face maybe enduro isn't for you.

 @Rigidjunkie: When I ride my local gravity trails with a full face and have to climb 1000-2000ft, I take my helmet off. While racing I don't, because almost all races have very strict rules around wearing helmets at all times. Most state that if you are caught with your helmet off on transfer you will be DQ'ed immediately.

 @rbarbier12: I've seen these waived (for transfers) once at a local race in extreme heat.

 The helmet nannying is out of control