Enduro MTB #3, Szklarska Poreba

Sudeten, beautiful mountains covered with old trees and carpeted with moss. But the biggest attraction from the perspective of mountain biking is a densely dotted boulders, stones and rocks. All them very stable. It remains only to watch out to not meet them face to face. After a few days in Szklarska Poreba*, mainly what stays in my memory is one big rock garden. *Szklarska Poreba (Southern West Poland, city located on the border of Poland and Czech Republic). In this scenery we came to struggle with 5 special stages during the final episode of the EMTB Enduro Mountain Biking 2015 series. Each stage contained stamina sections, which effectively deprive more and more of strength. As usual, briefing at 9:00 am next to the chairlift to Szrenica Mountain.

And here the story begins.

On a good day EMTB crew offered us carrying of bicycles in the wild country. At the top part, actually we were forced to create the path by ourselves because none existed, only arrows pointing azimuth. My fantasy moved me to the mountains of Costa Rica to searching for gold like Cizia Zyke.


Finally, after about an hour we got to the start of SS#1. Here - for the time being - Sudeten rocks gently mark their presence and true 'entertainments' are swamps, where bicycles melt up to the axle. Another difficulty is the singletrack tucked away in the thick grass, where no one knows what is lying in waiting for us (stumps, stones). Watchfully until the checkered flag.


Endless SS#2. The beginning is notably a trial biking. You have to jump from boulder to boulder. In principle, there is no path. Everyone chooses his optimal line. Then, we enjoy a trip by classic singles through beautiful forests, cut by creeks and small rivers.



Despite many days of beautiful, sunny weather, there is again mud wrestling. Morass created by the beating water sources. Amazing, everywhere dry and suddenly a 1 foot deep puddle.

Break after exhausting SS#2

Long access to SS#3 is another nice excursion. We are intoxicated by the awesome views of the Szrenica Mountain and entire Sudeten.


But the idyllic atmosphere ends up in the final straight walkway. Again heavy bike push and the moment of truth .... That's him! SS#3.


By far the most technically difficult stage. Almost at the entire distance of the track we must struggle with totally chaotically scattered boulders. Again, the lack of any logical line for riding. Man, you're on your own here. There are lines safer but much slower. Top players are not going to compromise, they are risking. They are going in front of the biggest obstacles but they are fighting for the top spot! Broken derailleurs and hooks are the price that some fighters must pay. Beautiful, picturesque SS#4 offered something for your psyche, there is really vertical staircase carved in the stone. Technically - all in all - easy to overcome taking a specific line but the potential collapse threatened serious injury.




The second part of the route is 500 m rock garden. Snakes lurked under every stone and they're biting mercilessly


At the finish line of this stage, first asked question was: "have you got a flat tire?" Dozens of tubes and bent rims are the costs of fun on this trail. SS#5 play-off. Boulders in the upper part after 2 days in the Sudetenland seemed to be something natural and obvious.

But the most important is that at the end of the day all we are one big familly.


Personally for me it was a truly hard race but hardships were rewarded with 2nd spot in the Masters category which is my personal best result as long as I take part in biking competitions. In terms of formal, full results available here.

Elite Winners:


1. Martin Motyka - Romet Racing Team
2. Rummy Ciok - Rummy Bike
3. Darek Zasada - Rowerowy.com

Our team:

2B Enduro Team - 1 place Teams




Personal results:

WT Rider Roman - 1 place Masters
Josef - 2 place Masters
Misiek - 3 place Masters
Marta aka Mysza - 3 place Women
Krystian - 4th place Elite
Bartez - 32nd place Elite

Photograps: Lukasz Szrubkowski - Full gallery available at fb / EMTB Enduro Mountain Biking

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MENTIONS: @JosefBB

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