2023 Montana Enduro Series Round 3: The Rendezvous Enduro by MontanaEnduroSeries

2023 Montana Enduro Series Round 3 The Rendezvous Enduro. Photo by Hayden Fonnesbeck haydenfonnesbeck

The third and final round of the 2023 Montana Enduro Series slipped through the end of a perfect weather window. The day before storms and colder weather settled into Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and Rendezvous Mountain, racers were treated with perfect temperatures, sunbathed trails, and crystal clear views on race day. Never a location to disappoint--even if inclement weather arrives on race day--the Montana Enduro Series sent off the 2023 season in style with high alpine trails, steep tech, and Tram laps.

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Tram rides at sunrise and bikes on the summit. It doesn't get much better than this.

Competitors started their day by loading onto the world-famous Jackson Hole Aerial Tram. Nine minutes later and 4,139 vertical feet (1,262m) higher in the world, racers disembarked and found themselves deposited on top of Rendezvous Mountain and the start line of Stage 1, which was nestled just below the 10,450' (3185m) summit.

Bikes and riders heading up in the Tram.

The MES crew getting final checks in place before sending racers off for the day.

The Grand Teton was on full display.

Stage 1 met racers with lots of speed and then with lots of tech.

Stage 1 left the summit and followed the southwest ridgeline. From there, racers navigated high-speed flat turns and eventually dropped into Rock Springs Overlook Trail. A punchy, mid-stage climb deposited racers into a tech, scree field crossing before winding through tight trees and a trail that dropped off two rock shelves before finishing in the alpine valley below Spacewalk.

Bryn Anderson on Stage 2.

Stage 2 followed the Cirque Trail into the Tensleep Bowl. It was a challenging combination of winding trail through dense forest, wide-open straights, then finally a long traverse below a huge cliff.

Jessica Freeze passing below the cliff bands on Stage 2.

Stage 3 was the big one. Five miles (8km) of Wildflower Trail and Solitoga, and total drop of 2,400' (730m) meant the fastest riders took more than 15 minutes to complete the stage.

From there, everyone but the Sport riders took to Dirty Hairy, a trail that is accurately described as really steep and technical. It is a combination of steep wooden ramps, steep rocks, and some steep corners for good measure.

One ramp, three very different exits on Stage 4. Ollie Allen on the inside line.

Mac Bertelson on the outside line.

And Sage Kandolin on the middle line.

Finally, Stage 5 took riders into the lower JHMR Bike Park and a rip down Quickdraw.

Age-appropriate bubbly and Julbo shades for the Junior Podiums.

Results:
2023 Montana Enduro Series Round 3: The Rendezvous Enduro Official Results

Check all of Hayden's shots right here on Pinkbike!

The Montana Enduro Series will be back in 2024! Stay tuned to www.montanaenduro.com for more information!

Author Info:

MontanaEnduroSeries

Member since Mar 5, 2015
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