2018 BC Enduro Series - What's Next!?
The BC Enduro Series has been a staple of the riding scene over the past 4 years, we've been across the province and back again, showcasing new riding destinations and of course the classics! We've helped develop riders; contribute to local trail clubs with our donations(more than $70,000 to date) and with our 2016 IMBA partnership; and most recently, matched funds by MEC. All of that is really, truly exceptional. But, it's the communities, riders and volunteers that have always and will always make these events, special!
That's why for 2018, we're taking the focus off of racing, and re-aiming our gaze on showcasing communities, creating more accessible experience for a broader range of riders!
I just want to open this post with a deep, sincere, thank you, to all the riders - you folks make the event. Your positivity, willingness for misadventure, and understanding have made this such a memorable scene. The other thank you is to all of the communities, sponsors, volunteers, trail-builders, friends and everyone in between.
We've seen a huge increase in ridership over the past two years, while this undoubtedly is a good thing, it does come with the inherent impacts, both positive and negative impacts. Many people understand the impacts on the trails (both positive and negative), some of you understand the importance of the economic spin-off of the event (approx. $75,000 per 150 participants), and very few will conceptualize that the event reaches much further - we have changed strategic community plans for trail networks, persuaded people to relocate their lives, encouraged kids to ride more and helped trail groups legitimize their status to key government stakeholders.
I'm not asking people to understand the nitty gritty behind the scenes, rather to just acknowledge that by attending these events, you should be proud that you've contributed to truly developing the riding scene in BC, you've helped support the entire riding industry! You're part of the MTBing family and who would have thought that would be the outcome from hurling yourself down in order to get bragging rights over your buddy?
When I was working that first-event in Penticton 4 years ago, it was raw; people got lost on course, there was lots of uncertainty and there were only 60 people! What sparked my interest!? How cool it was to meet new people, explore a new place and truly have the riders of that local community show-off their hard work. The series in my eyes has always been a collaborative affair, 10% Racing, 70% Social, 30% Exploration. As the Canadian National Enduro Series has grown, I've begun to see a clear line from participants, between, serious racers and riders just looking for a good time, while you certainly can be both, sometimes trying to be everything to everyone, all at once, is just not possible. The goal with this change in structure is to narrow the scope of both series, so that the events become more accessible, and everyone leaves with massive smiles and sore legs!
- Ted Morton | BC Enduro and Canadian National Enduro Series & The Revelstoke 3-Day Helicopter Enduro
So what does that mean for 2018!?
Our fastest growing category is U21 followed closely by 30-39, 40+ and Open Women. This fall I held a beginner-focused enduro/xc in Kamloops, we had around 50 riders and it really reminded me of the first few years of events; low-key, super positive and it was all about the journey. I want to get back to the roots, while keeping the Canadian Series the focus of high-level competition.
BC Enduro = Family Fun, Adventures, Accessible, Community Focused, Less about racing, more about the experience.
Canadian National Enduro = All of the above plus; focus on racing, better course marking, harder trails, bigger days, experts only.
With increased pressure on local trail clubs to maintain ever growing trail networks, largely via volunteer labour, I began wondering how we could better support not only the communities, but how could we reduce a bit of that pressure on the trails, while maintaining that rawness of the events?
2018 will see the BC Enduro Series (BCES ONLY, not CNES) no longer be a cumulative race series, this means the following:
- There is no set BC Enduro schedule as of yet, it depends on the number of applicants.
- No points or overalls.
- No double black diamond trails.
- Short Course at every venue.
- Reduced registration cost (set by host organizer).
- Capped entry at 200 riders.
- No Pro Men or Pro Women Categories - these races aren't for pros.
- Less media production (to keep registration prices down and focus on fun!)
- No formal course release, we want to cool down the shuttling and amount of practice laps - so we'll just post the route to Facebook on Saturday morning.
- Option for races to be held on Saturday's.
- Not every venue will have food and beverage apres.
- No formal awards ceremony - to let people leave early to get home, we'll announce the winners, but it will be pretty informal.
- More $$$ back to the trails - by narrowing our scope, this will leave more cash and opportunity for capacity building in the local community trails!
- No prize money at events.
- No pre-race email - just a simple post on Facebook on Saturday night, with the course route and where registration will be held.
Essentially, the BC Enduro Series will become an event manager, providing timing and minimum guidelines to host organizers. The major change is that the series will now operate more as a collective, where local communities who really want to host an event can utilize the BC Enduro expertise, framework, and systems. This will ensure the focus of the event is even more community centric, rather than focusing on high-level racing, it will be focusing on intermediates and serious recreational riders who really just want to ride awesome trails, B.S. with their buddies, and have a no-fuss weekend of riding with marked trails.
Apply to Host an Event
Applications are open to anyone, we're looking for solid community champions, and communities that want to host an event for some of the most interesting riders in B.C.!
There is no set schedule for BC Enduro events, the schedule will depend on the amount of inquiries. Please email to find out the list of appropriate dates.
Email Ted@bcenduro.com with the following information:
This doesn't guarantee an event, I will email back an application overview form and we'll start this awesome process.
- Proposed dates. Saturday's are ok!
- Proposed location/trails - ensure you know the land managers and land base of the trails.
- How many volunteers you expect you'll need.
- Who is going to be the key contact for the race - this person needs to be dedicated, a community champion
- First-come, first-served
CANADIAN NATIONAL ENDURO SERIES
The Canadian National Enduro Series has quickly become the flagship enduro series in Canada, with events in BC, AB, ON, QC, the series represents a solid Canadian competitive stage for athletes focusing on the Enduro discipline to garner serious mileage, while using this series as a stepping stone to the EWS. Last year we had three EWS Qualifiers, that provided excellent opportunities for a rider to secure their entries for the 2018 EWS.
For 2018, the focus of the CNES will be once again; expert riders only, technically/physically demanding stages, BIG days, with some new venues thrown into the mix. The schedule will be released late November, expect 4-6 events - 3 in BC, 1 in AB, 1-2 in On, 1-2 in QC!
*New for 2018*, we will be hosting a typical Championship style. In the past, we've simply held the championship as a cumulative championship. In 2018, we will host a Canadian National Enduro Championship, that will be a stand-alone race. One event, to crown the Canadian National Enduro Champion. We will continue to award the overall champion based on points, at the end of the year.
Why are we doing this? We've seen interest from serious riders who want to have a more formal championship, so we're delivering!
Championship Dates
The championship will take place prior to EWS Whistler, so that the winner can represent Canada at the only EWS stop in North America
Dates: Currently the proposed date for the Championship will be June 17th or May 27th, it will be at a brand new venue, and you can expect to be punished. This course will test riders in every faucet.
Need something? More information?
• Website
• Athlete Inquires | athletes@bcenduro.com
• Volunteer Information | admin@bcenduro.com
• All other inquiries | ted@bcenduro.com (Event Director)
The podium winners from Fraser Valley showing off their flashy yellow, Kazoom Custom Cycling jerseys.
MENTIONS: @bcenduroseries
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You're also right, with so many toonie and local group races, I didn't want to dilute the scene and take away from those communities.
As we've grown I've needed to consider the impacts on volunteer built trail networks by these awesome communities!
Also, we're the only province with a provincial series - previously, the BC series utilized the majority of the same events for the Canadian Series. So the real difference is there will no longer be a provincial champion, which in the past we split between East and West anyways.
The BCES will still remain a stepping stone to the CNES, think of it like this.
1) Start at Toonie Races, see if you like it
2) Move to BCES, travel a bit, knowing you're getting the best venues, more competitors and professional organization.
3) Race the CNES - travel more, ride harder, challenge yourself
4) EWS Whistler - Send it!
5) EWS - Sell everything you own for racing!
I'd also argue we're the only province with a provincial series and championship because we're lucky enough to have so many rad spots.
What could be cool is all the local toonie races uniting under the BC Enduro Series banner, which could bring more volunteers and organizational power into the mix. Not that I need to tell you guys how to organize a race though, you've got the recipe dialed.
I've been a big fan off all the races put on in the past and hope 2018 is another banger season!
Thanks for supporting us!
While you won't get the title of Provincial Champ, you'll still be able to list your individual results at BCES races.
Also, not much travel is needed for the Canadian Circuit - With 2-3 events out East, and 3-4 on the west, you'll be able to stay provincially and travel (likely as much as last years BCES) and gather the points you need without ever leaving the province! How sick is that!
You're also right, that we have so many amazing spots in BC, but that doesn't always mean that they are suitable for large races or events, lot's of layers.
What you proposed is essentially the BC Enduro Series, events are on the rise, so sometimes it's taxing on a community, volunteers and the trails to have more events. Just food for thought!
Thanks for the discussion!
@Tmackstab I'm sure the sponsors would love to see insta posts about how I placed a solid 69th out of 420 at the last race with no podium shots and no big banner with their logo on it.
When you're competing against another local shredder with another 1000 followers and just as much street cred those race results make all the difference. Especially if it qualifies you for the next level of racing to step up to the top.
Racing does nothing for the prestige of any other sport right
Pemberton Enduro
Gryphon in Squamish
NSMBA Fiver series
Phat Wednesday’s
Right across the border you have the whole Cascade Enduro series which is closer to you than almost all the BCES race.
The future is in your hands bro. Make it happen. Lots of opportunity
I like what the series is doing now, separating the more competitive side and essentially splitting it into two. It's going to allow them to showcase some burly trails in the CNES and also keep the average rider stoked on a challenging but not terrifying event at the BCES. I'm all for more rowdy blind racing as I believe that showcases a riders ability to put it all together for a win, hope that's the direction the CNES goes.
I agree that the BCES and CNES basically seemed like the same level of competition and difficulty this year which they shouldnt be but the changes just seem like a bit of overkill, you know?
@theedon Yeah lots of beer league racing around like I said. None of these are a good barometer for stepping up to the CNES and then the EWS though. Now there will be no pros or difficult trails in the BCES which takes away from the competition so the beer league, local, race will be tougher to win than the provincial competition?
Cascade Enduro is great if I want to spend too much money and not support the awesome Canadian race scene and trails I guess?
No love for the Summer Series or Island Cup? C'mon!
Yeah there is tons of racing, I've been doing it for years., I think the changes to this one change the spirit of what constitutes a Provincial Enduro race series.
Really? So entertainers with no bike skills are the sponsored one's?
Anyway this is way off topic from the original discussion of Racing Difficulty and Progression now but great discussion, thanks for it.
'No Awards Ceremony, No Post Event Food/Drink available, No Pro Class ("these races aren't for pros"), No race email; relying on Facebook for communication.
Looks like they're taking a really good high-level provincial series and making it individual sandlot races. A loss on a few levels.
Also, by removing those items you mentioned, I'm able to reduce the registration costs drastically, likely down to the $60-$80 range.
Thanks for the feedback!
email requires a database, somebody has to maintain it. costs time which is money
My sponsors still give me 3 percent off msrp? I agree with slinky Sammy, make them chill but not too chill, gnar but not too gnar, and also lift access or shuttled. And no rain either, just dry, and some corners but not too many. And make it super long and challenging but kinda short. Oooh and do whatever you want Ted it’s your series and you’ve done an amazing job and we should all be thanking you for continuing to run it so we’ve got a place to show case our mediocre skills. Thanx bud! And great idea going forward.
I didn't race as much last year because there was to many events and seemed to be situation if who knew who and how many days of work you could get so you were able to practice more. So that ment did you know someone to have a program set that weekend for shuttling to get as many practice runs in and which in turn was very hard on trails and extra vollys on practice days in high traffic areas. Also money... 3 race weekends in a row cost alot..
I am concerned for alot of guys who are racing for the prize like my self just trying to get a top 10 in pro at 40 years old or making $300 bucks that weekend pay for all the hard work they put in over the winter to train. The National series will give them that and even a old leather boot like myself...
I like this new format seems like if a community wants to bring this on they can make it the best event they want and provide those services like food and prizes if they want. BCES is there to provide the insurance, course marking, timing ect ect. The entry fee is less and that's plus. I like blind racing myself so with a toned down course alot of beginner intermediate riders can show up day of race and not feel like they need to clear some drop or jump they have no idea about..
Some mentioned above the lack of organization well it's alot of work and it can't be perfect and I think this is why Ted is toning it back a bit. I could see a small improvement in course marking but that's about all you need. It really is the easiest form of mtn bike racing and you just go about your day as you want to.
I can go on rarely post on PB but I think it's for the better . National series is still here and the provincial is a great opportunity to sing up last minute and message a friend to show up and we can go race blind and have a blast in a new riding area and not really worry about having new tires, a shuttle for practice and stuff like that. The young guys and serious girls and guys could use these event for practice and bike setup it's really just about having fun and getting new people into the sport.
So much for pushing the boundary of the sport and moving forward... We where the only province with a title, great it makes us the first! Its great that you want to make it more approachable(no double blacks) but
'No Awards Ceremony, No Post Event Food/Drink available, No Pro Class ("these races aren't for pros"), No race email; relying on Facebook for communication.
Really?
CNES, it's awesome how it's going to become more formal and being the Canadian national enduro series, it's to be expected that we might have to travel.
But now with the BCES basically being random races, there is no proper intermediate step. It's toonie or CANADA!
I get that you want to make changes, but I'm not sure about this...
-Just a thought.
Also the award ceremonies could be super cumbersome, especially for out-of-towners. I remember at more than one race waiting 3ish hours from when I finished to when the results were in from all categories to do awards.
That said, my only concern would be that BCES doesn't get 'dumbed' down. Here I mostly talking about total length of the day and total elevation gain/loss. If the goal of many young riders is to push to CNES, then the BCES full course needs to retain a level of 'hardness'. If BCES starts dropping under 30-35km days and less than maybe 750m-900m vertical minimum, then these athletes will get destroyed if they try to step up. It may also not be worth the travel time to ride what would be a 2 hour race. So, if you're adding a short course to most stages, then make sure the full course remains demanding enough to attract the up-and-comers that can't get to CNES races due to age or $$$. Blue/black mix is fine, as it will just get amped up in speed for those pushing for results, so long as rider spacing and etiquette is on point and well managed by the local organizing committee.
Other than that, I think this approach has merit and could grow the sport without dumbing it down to being nothing more than another recreational series. I saw some of those groms (some really young) at the Sun Peaks finals and it's amazing what is up and coming, so you don't want to bore them. We'll give it a go.
The major difference being that we won't be crowning a provincial champion, which we're currently the only province doing. So I thought let's make it more accessible and intimidating, and send the serious riders to the national series.
In addition, this past year we saw a decrease in the provincial race attendance, and an increase in the national attendance, the serious riders wanted to be showcased on the national stage.
Does that work!?
If you didn't travel within the province and get to enough events in 2016, then you faced the same problem as the CNES, you wouldn't have enough points to win the overall.
I'm not sure why racing for the win at an individual race is less important or valuable than racing for the win at a series. The championship will be held as a one-race event this year - we'll still award an overall champion, but the Canadian Champ will be crowned based on one races results - this is done in pretty much all other disciplines.
If your goal is to get an overall result plain and simple and you can't find any other goal in racing, than that's a bummer, sorry I can't provide that for you.
I think you may be missing that, you don't need to travel across Canada to race seriously. The structure of the CNES, is that there are 3-4 races in BC (1 in AB), so that you don't have to travel to ON, QC, unless needed. Also, the championship is here as well.
For the BC Enduro, the biggest change is there is no longer cumulative points and the courses are not as hard, which also correlates to riding more sustainable trails.
I would love to chat about what other areas are lacking organization, and if you're keen to come lend a hand, I'd gladly welcome the help.
Thanks for your comment!
Also, there's not much said about the difficulty of CNES. Will the distance and technical difficulty be the same as 2017, or will the races become even harder?
I understand Facebook is not a great form, but it reduces admin time resulting in lower registration fees for you, and an easier source of communication for hosts.
However I am a fan of making these races more appealing to different crowds. I didn’t ride my mountain bike all last year, and partook in the BCES from 2014-16. I found that it was hard as an intermediate-somewhat advance rider on the series, as the double blacks almost killed me.
I could see frustration from the more advanced riders in AB & BC though. There is no longer a competitive series in Western Canada, & the BCES seems to be shifting into a casual group ride with trail markings.... Seems impossible to compete against anyone without having to travel thousands of kilometres. Not quite sure if you guys are going the right direction. I always thought that you should have just grown the shorter course option a little more, and kept BCES as is.
There still will be competitive races, the BCES races will be high calibre, just no cumulative points. Including the short-course option at all the races was a bit difficult, we were trying to do and be too many things at once, it was quite taxing. This flexibility and redefined focus will mean that the very serious riders will have a goal, while the intermediate and advanced riders will also be able to set there goals by starting locally and expanding as their skills or motivations grow. Yet the communities and venues get to drive their own path!
With so many events in communities, we had to be cognizant of our impacts, sometimes less is more, especially when you start drawing close to 200-300 people, with multiple practice laps etc.
As the CNES will have 3-4 events in Western Canada, you can for sure see that as enough races to garner points!
Its a great evolution of the series, as many felt the series last year was getting too elite level.
Keep it lit, keep it underground.
So yes, all the social après isn't provided by BCES, but if the host community wants to bring out food trucks, local shops throw in prizes and have a party then that's awesome and we'll support. I imagine it will happen at every event, I just don't want to put the pressure on the hosts. Also, it's better for the racer, as if you gotta get home and miss out on beer and food and awards, you won't have to pay for all of that!
I ran an event like this in Kamloops this year and it was awesome!
I like the concept in getting the community groups to take the organisation of these on. What if Ted was not here? We'd be all left competing on Strava.
Even through racing is de-emphasized, tracking points through the year is good motivation to attend more events, even if no prizes just the accomplishment is enough.
I think most people make weekends out of these, and if the racing is kept low key and blind then the practice day will become more about exploring the area than memorizing the trails. Saying that, I do like the course release on Fridays so we can at least check it out the day before; it is fun playing around with fast lines for a purpose.
Will definitely be out to some of these events next year. Cheers.
Thanks for the comment!
Thanks for the reply!
BTW nice collection of OTB photos for the post!
the rest of it sounds good though.
GSD Ted!