Clif Enduro East - Killington, VT Race Recap and Video

Jul 5, 2017 at 7:04
by Eastern States Cup  
Vittoria Eastern States Cup Enduro Series



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The CLIF Enduro East series presented by the Vittoria ESC kicked off in the Green Mountains of Vermont this weekend. The first year Enduro World Series qualifying event and $10,000 cash purse drew top racers from across North America. The CLIF Enduro East crew prepared a series of eight stages between the two venues of Killington Bike Park and Green Mountain Trails, each which catered to a different type of riding and offered something for everyone. Riders would experience a wide variety of conditions and terrain over two days of racing, between pouring rain and shining sun as well as flowy singletrack trails, rock gardens, open mountain descents and buffed bike park berms.


Clif Enduro East - Killington VT 2017
Most racers arrived a day or two early to get some practice runs on the marked stages before race day, which meant a lot of hungry riders at the opening party at Killington Resort's Snowshed Lodge Friday night. Luckily, there was more than enough free food and beer to go around as riders talked trails, bike banter and got ready for a rowdy weekend of racing.


Clif Enduro East - Killington VT 2017
Bikes and beer go hand in hand, so it's only fitting that Vermont's Long Trail Brewing Company hop on board for the most prestigious enduro race the East Coast has ever hosted. Registered riders were given tokens exchangeable for a variety of free beers available from the local brewery, which is located just 20 minutes from Killington. Who doesn't love free beer?


Clif Enduro East - Killington VT 2017
Located about 8 miles from Killington in Pittsfield, Vermont alongside the White River, Riverside Farm would serve as base camp for our first day of racing.


Clif Enduro East - Killington VT 2017
Riverside Farm traditionally hosts weddings but is also conveniently located right next to Green Mountain Trails.


Clif Enduro East - Killington VT 2017
Registration was open until the riders meeting on Saturday morning for latecomers.


Clif Enduro East - Killington VT 2017
They call it the Green Mountain State for a reason.


Clif Enduro East - Killington VT 2017
Riders made their way to the top of the stages in the morning before the rain started for what would prove to be an interesting day of racing.


Clif Enduro East - Killington VT 2017
Green Mountain Trails offers roughly 1,000 feet of vertical riding, over 100 bermed switchbacks and 25 miles of mostly singletrack trails open to the public. It's a true hidden gem of a trail network in the heart of the beautiful state of Vermont.


Clif Enduro East - Killington VT 2017
June is known to be a rainy month in New England, the trails had seen an abundance of precipitation leading up to race day and Saturday was no different with over two inches pouring down hard at times throughout the day. You know it's wet when these guys are hanging around.


Clif Enduro East - Killington VT 2017
Navigating a sea of green.


Clif Enduro East - Killington VT 2017
The top of Stage 2 was switchbacks galore.


Clif Enduro East - Killington VT 2017
Nathan Sterckx diving headfirst into his first win, taking top spot in the Amateur U17 boy's class.


Clif Enduro East - Killington VT 2017
Ed Grano ripping it up on one of the more gnarly parts out of all the stages on Day 1.


Clif Enduro East - Killington VT 2017
Conditions in Vermont were a bit different from what Californian Nicolas Bean is used to but it didn't seem to phase him, sitting in third place after Day 1 and going on to win the U21 men's EWS class.


Clif Enduro East - Killington VT 2017
Lisa Chamberland threading the needle on Stage 3.


Clif Enduro East - Killington VT 2017
Rene Robert was all business this weekend, winning the Amateur men's 17+ class by almost two minutes.


Clif Enduro East - Killington VT 2017
Jesse Livingston getting hub deep on Stage 3, he would go on to take third place for the weekend in the Amateur men's 17+ class.


Clif Enduro East - Killington VT 2017
The climbing transfers really wore riders out as the day went on, it was as much a mental race as it was physical.


Clif Enduro East - Killington VT 2017
Bassill Silver landed himself in second place in a field of 22 riders for the Amateur men's 17+ class for his best enduro race result ever. Congrats Bassill!


Clif Enduro East - Killington VT 2017
A muddy Ziggy Ribetto hauling at the end of Stage 4, he finished in 7th place at the end of Day 1 but got after it on Sunday and jumped up to second in the U21 EWS men's field.


Clif Enduro East - Killington VT 2017
Saturday night the CLIF hosted a rider party at staple Killington dining spot, The Lookout Tavern complete with free BBQ, raffles and you guessed it, more Long Trail beers. Saturday's split times were also displayed on a television, which fueled conversion between riders as they compared experiences from their day at Green Mountain Trails.


Clif Enduro East - Killington VT 2017
After Saturday's torrential rain, the shining sun was a welcomed sight as racers rolled out of bed Sunday morning to tackle four more challenging stages at The Beast, Killington Bike Park.


Clif Enduro East - Killington VT 2017
Shoutout the CLIF for providing free bars, gels and most importantly coffee to racers and spectators all weekend.


Clif Enduro East - Killington VT 2017
In the spirit of Independence Day we kicked off Day 2 with The Star Spangled Banner. The Jimmi Hendrix version, of course.


Clif Enduro East - Killington VT 2017
After Saturday's pedalfest, no one was complaining about the lift serviced transfers or the view at Killington Bike Park.


Clif Enduro East - Killington VT 2017
Day 2 started with Stage 5 on the Ramshead side of the mountain. KHS Factory Racing's Seamus Powell styling it out on the bottom of last year's ProGRT DH course, Goatskull, before stepping up to the second step of the Pro men's EWS podium.


Clif Enduro East - Killington VT 2017
GT Factory Racing's Rachel Strait would finish in second place for the Pro women's EWS class.


Clif Enduro East - Killington VT 2017
40+ men's EWS class winner Ryan Leech managing one of the more rocky sections at the bottom of Stage 5.



Clif Enduro East - Killington VT 2017
Speed Legion Racing's Joe Groff leaning in to one of the many switchbacks at the top of Stage 6.


Clif Enduro East - Killington VT 2017
Did we mention Vermont is beautiful?


Clif Enduro East - Killington VT 2017
Blasting through the remnants of Saturday's soaker.


Clif Enduro East - Killington VT 2017
Rosy Metcalfe, racing for Rocky Mountain and Bicycle Express, managing a rocky section of Stage 7.


Clif Enduro East - Killington VT 2017
Fastline Racing's Jason Scheiding would take 2nd place in a stacked 40+ men's Masters EWS class.


Clif Enduro East - Killington VT 2017
Rocky Mountain Urge bp Rally Team member Peter Ostroski was absolutely flying out there all weekend, securing the lead after Day 1 and never looking back, ending up on the top step of the podium for the Pro men's EWS class when it was all said and done.


Clif Enduro East - Killington VT 2017
Hugh McMackin still styling after a tiring climb on Stage 7.


Clif Enduro East - Killington VT 2017
Lauren Petersen sat in 3rd place after Day 1 and was able to move up a position to land a spot on the podium come Sunday afternoon.


Clif Enduro East - Killington VT 2017
The Yackle brothers drove all the way from Reno, NV to participate in the CLIF Enduro East, Jake took 3rd place in the U21 men's EWS class.


Clif Enduro East - Killington VT 2017
The 8th and final stage featured wide open sections and rock slabs which provided a big mountain feel to the race.


Clif Enduro East - Killington VT 2017
Normally a DH racer, Jordan Newth had no problem letting off the brakes on the steep ski trails of Killington.


Clif Enduro East - Killington VT 2017
Wide. Open.


Clif Enduro East - Killington VT 2017
Rachel Pageau was down by 10 seconds after Day 1 but reeled it in to take the win on Sunday by just over a minute.


Clif Enduro East - Killington VT 2017
Yeti's Jason Memmelaar looking like he was having a blast out there on the bike, taking 6th place in the EWS Pro men's class.


Clif Enduro East - Killington VT 2017
John Egan rolling in to 5th place in the U21 men's EWS class.


Clif Enduro East - Killington VT 2017
Syd Schulz seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, sending it toward the base area at the bottom of Stage 8.


Clif Enduro East - Killington VT 2017
The end of an exhausting two days of racing in the Vermont woods.




Clif Enduro East - Killington VT 2017
Muddy bike check time with ESC Pro Enduro regular Lauren Petersen

Frame: Pivot Mach 6 carbon, size x-small

Fork: Fox 36 Performance, 55 PSI, 1 spacing token
Rebound 6 clicks from closed

Rear shock: Fox Float X, 145 PSI, 1 volume spacer
Compression open
Rebound a little slower than middle

Brakes: SRAM Guide Ultimate, Rotors: 180mm F, 160mm R
Shifter and Derailleur: SRAM Eagle
Cassette: 10-50t
Cranks: SRAM Eagle XX1 170mm
Chain Ring: 34t
Chain Guide: MRP AMG
Wheels: Reynolds carbon 27.5
Hubs: Industry Nine
Tires: Maxxis Minion DHF 2.5 front, 21 PSI, Maxxis High Roller II 2.3 rear, 23 PSI
Saddle: WTB Volt
Seatpost: KS Lev Integra 100mm
Bars: Pivot Phoenix Team Carbon, 740mm long, 20mm rise
Stem: Pivot Phoenix Team Enduro, 50mm
Grips: Ergon GA2

Clif Enduro East - Killington VT 2017
After two days of racing, eight taxing stages and thousands of feet of vertical, it was time to see who would take home the hardware, big checks and prizes.


Clif Enduro East - Killington VT 2017
The future of the sport, Amateur U17 boys: 4th-Carson Beard, 2nd-Matt Driscoll, 1st-Nathan Sterckx, 3rd-Austin Beard, 5th-Jared Kulp (not pictured)


Clif Enduro East - Killington VT 2017
Amateur women's class winner Christsonthy Kerner may be the only one on the podium this weekend but she also recently won the ESC Enduro at Victory Hill with a field of 15. Don't be fooled, this chick is fast!


Clif Enduro East - Killington VT 2017
The Amateur 17+ men's class: 4th-Christopher Fitzgerald, 2nd-Bassill Silver, 1st-Rene Robert, 3rd-Jesse Livingston, 5th-Edward Billet.


Clif Enduro East - Killington VT 2017
Podium teamwork and big smiles from Kelly Ault and Mazie Hayden, winners of the 40+ Masters EWS women's and U21 women's EWS classes respectively.


Clif Enduro East - Killington VT 2017
U21 men's EWS podium: 4th-Colton Drover, 2nd-Ziggy Ribetto, 1st-Nicolas Bean, 3rd-Jake Yackle, 5th-John Egan.


Clif Enduro East - Killington VT 2017
40+ men's Masters EWS class: 4th-B.J. Treglia, 2nd-Jason Scheiding, 1st-Ryan Leech, 3rd-Philip Beard, 5th-Stephen Kincaid.


Clif Enduro East - Killington VT 2017
Women's Pro EWS class: 4th-Porsha Murdock (not pictured), 2nd-Rachel Strait, 1st-Rachel Pageau, 3rd-Lauren Petersen, 5th-Emily Cox.


Clif Enduro East - Killington VT 2017
Men's Pro EWS class: 4th-Jimmy Smith, 2nd-Seamus Powell, 1st-Peter Ostroski, 3rd-Franck Kirscher, 5th-Gavin Vaughan.


Clif Enduro East - Killington VT 2017
Three guy, six checks. Our fastest racers of the weekend: Seamus Powell, Peter Ostroski and Franck Kirscher.


Clif Enduro East - Killington VT 2017
Enjoy your Independence Day and we'll see you at the next CLIF Enduro East stop up north at Victory Hill and Burke Mountain, VT on August 5-6.


Words and photos: Andrew Santoro

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Clif Enduro East
Aug. 5–6 Burke / Victory, VT
Sept. 9–10 Thunder Mountain, MA

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Vittoria Eastern States Cup Enduro Series


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Member since Mar 14, 2012
238 articles

12 Comments
  • 4 0
 Sweet edit! Looks like another great race weekend on the East Coast, really regret not going. Kudos to all riders who stood up to the elements!!!!
  • 6 0
 Great photos and write up Andrew! Great race Enduro East!
  • 1 0
 Thanks Jason!
  • 2 0
 I've heard so much lately about Killington's Bike Park having built lots of new trail. Can't wait to visit soon. Hopefully no rain like the EWS had. Bonus...Killington's trails are all loaded to BikeParkPRO app! Stocking my cooler soon with Long Trail
  • 2 1
 Awesome pictures, makes me wish I went. I haven't been there since the 2014 Spartan Beast World Championships... The Lookout Tavern makes a fantastic philly cheesesteak, however, the only free beer that I'll ever turn down are IPA's. Those things taste like women's perfume.
  • 1 0
 I haven't been there since the 2013 DR
  • 6 0
 We love the Long Trail IPAs but they make a lot of great beer and ales !!
  • 3 0
 I hope your all just as stoked for the next CLIF Enduro East race as we are!!!!!
  • 2 0
 digging the two day race format and pedal transfers to 'backcountry' trails
  • 1 0
 Epic recap to an epic weekend!
  • 2 0
 Fitzy for 4th! Yeaaahhh!
  • 1 0
 Great to see--I don't know why the east coast scene isn't bigger







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