Race Report: Jesse Melamed & Andreane Lanthier Nadeau Win 2022 Squamish Enduro
After a 2 year hiatus, it was back to racing between the tape at the OneUp Squamish Enduro presented by Tantalus Bike Shop. Unseasonably cool and wet conditions through the spring, and a pre-race forecast calling for significant precipitation, meant the course needed to be selected accordingly to both mitigate impact, and challenge an exceptionally talented field of athletes. All told (and somewhat miraculously), the rain held off and racers navigated a true representation of Squamish's dank and wild coast mountain rainforest.
Riders in the Short Course started the day with a massive 850m climb to the upper reaches of Squamish's trail network, just below the snow line, after which they spent the day descending nearly 800m in-stage on some Squamish classics. When the EWS Qualifier, Full Course was released 2 days before the event, it was evident that the race would be decided on the final two stages. Stage four and five would average nearly 60% of the total racing time, dropping 750m over demanding technical terrain with some burly Squamish slabs thrown into the mix. All of that after a 50km day with 2,000m of climbing was a true test for both the engines, and the gas tanks.
The Squamish Enduro always manages to gather some of the fastest riders on the planet, in all categories - and it was a showdown of talent that would be the story of the day. In her first Squamish Enduro appearance Andreane Lanthier Nadeau threw down a blistering pace, taking the win on all five stages to top the Pro Women's podium, with a strong contingent of local shredders not far behind. In the Pro Men's field it was a veritable who's-who of Canadian Enduro MTB, and although Kasper Woolley was able to take the win on the OneUp Queen stage (stage 5), it would be Jesse Melamed who would hang on for the overall win.
A massive thanks goes out to all of the volunteers, trail builders, spectators, sponsors, SORCA, and trail crew, who collectively make the event possible, and make the world renowned Squamish MTB community what it is.
Threatening skies had racers bracing for a deluge
Rain or shine - ready to send!
Depending on where you were on course, there were some epic conditions to be had
All the way up, up, up for short course riders
Back between the tape
Look for it... the statement of an era
Cat Camo - Julia Long clawed her way to a third place finish in the Pro Women's Category
Laura Battista, eyes ahead on her way to a second overall finish amongst the Pro Women
Oliver Lowthorpe, and his co-pilot managed to hang on for fastest overall time in the Short Course
Jesse Melamed on track for the fastest time of the day on the EWS Qualifier course
 | Racing Squamish was flat out! Conditions were 11/10. So much fun, stoked to take the win! |
Turn and burn with a view
EWS all-stars, or your neighbour down the street - the field was loaded with talent. Sam Holland scopes the line.
Team Tantalus rider Thomas Webb engages the power of the moustache
OneUp's Scott Leonard fly's into the corner on the way to a fourth place finish in Open Men, with a time that would have landed him mid-pack amongst the Pro's
It was hard to catch a glimpse of ALN, with the fastest time on all five stages
Seth Sherlock boosts on stage two, and would finish third overall in U21 men
Holding speed through the corner
Homegrown talent, Elly Hoskin battled her way to a fifth place finish in the U21 Women's field
Screaming - Aven Elsberg takes it all in
Lily Boucher took home the prestigious title of Fastest Woman in Squamish in the OneUp Speed Zone, and would finish third in U21 Women
Setting up for the line on Short Course Stage 2 - Hot Tuna
Remi Gauvin pumps through an iconic section on Stage 2 - Angry. Remi was in the hunt before a mechanical on stage 4
Straight line - Rhys Verner held consistent through the day for third place finish in Pro Men
Dillon Melamed takes home the win for best hair - no contest
The essence of Squamish - this one says it all
Lucy Schick looks forward to a fourth place finish in Pro Women
| First race plate of the season and damn it was sick! |
Mckay Vezina floats through stage four and would finish fifth in the Pro Men's field
Power down - Cedric Humbert sprints to the finish on stage 1 of the Short Course
OneUp Team Rider Kasper Woolley laid down some exceptional stage times, and only narrowly missed the podiums top spot
Coming in hot and setting up for the OneUp Speed Zone at the bottom of Stage 5
Mhairi Smart rips through the Dialed In Cycling Speed Zone on the Short Course
The Race to Mid-Pack sponsored by We Are One saw four lucky winners, who finished exactly mid-pack take home a pair of The Union 29 carbon hoops!
Full Gas
Out of Gas - it was a huge day through some big terrain for all of the athletes
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Member since Jun 12, 2017
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#so sad I don't have any pictures of my #
However "pre-race forecast calling for significant precipitation, meant the course needed to be selected accordingly to both mitigate impact". Using Meadow of the Grizzlies, pretty average selection. Trail was not ready for rave run and will have lasting problems and work to be done now