Women of Enduro

by linda guerrette

The fifth stop on the Enduro World Series was held in conjuntion with the Colorado Freeride Festival in Winter Park, Colorado. The best MTB enduro racers in the world were poised to experience oxygen debt and dry fast dirt, which for some would be different than the European riding they've grown accustomed to. The 7 stage event was held on sections of the Trestles Bike Park as well as other regions of the Winter Park ski area. The racers were challenged with fast and flowing courses with plenty of craggy rock and root gardens, steeps and tight trees were also thown in the mix. In the end, this type of riding was received with mixed reviews but everyone enjoyed the adventure. 

The women’s field was stacked with heavy hitters with the likes of Anne Caroline Chausson, Tracy Moseley, Anneke Beerten, Heather Irmiger, and Kelli Emmett. Big Mountain Riding is more about being one with your bike than where you’re riding or for that matter, what your riding. Some of characteristics needed to meet the Big Mountain Riding challenges are razor like focus, physical/mental strength, bike skills, tenacity, unshakeable confidence, and a sense of adventure. The Women of Enduro posses all of these as well as adding finesse and agility. They exemplify ‘power through grace.”

The Women of Enduro can certainly hold their own with the guys and the Big Mountain challenges but they choose to "Ride Like a Girl."

Sarah Rawley, Heather Irmiger, Syd Schultz riding from stage 6 to stage 7

     Sarah Rawley, Heather Irmiger, Syd Schultz riding from stage 6 to stage 7.

Anneke Beerter enjoying the smooth flowing bits of the course on stage 2

     Anneke Beerter enjoying the smooth flowing bits of the course on stage 2.

Tracy Moseley was looking for speed everywhere but in the end Anne Caroline Chausson was a few seconds fast on 7 stages.

    Tracy Moseley was looking for speed everywhere but in the end Anne Caroline Chausson was a few seconds fast on 7 stages.

Under threathening skies Sarah Rawley leaves a trail of dust as she uses finesse in this swooping bend.

    Under threathening skies Sarah Rawley makes quick business of getting through the big swooping bend at the top of stage 2.

Ines Thoma is all buisness off of the steep and gnarly section on stage 5

     Ines Thoma is all buisness off of the steep and gnarly section on stage 5.

Riders heading out to meet the challenge of the mountain.

     Riders heading out to meet the challenge of the mountain. 

     Brittany Clawson with lazer beam focus matched with mental strength charging her way down stage 5.

     Isabeau Courdurier know her way around bike maintenance a well as a challenging singletrack. 

     With no room for error, Kelli Emmet uses her compact style and excellent bike handling skills to thread the needle around jagged rock cropping on stage 5.

     Valentina Macheda used her finesse all weekend to make the best of the flowing tracks and getting around all of the rocky sections of the stages.

    In the end, Anne Caroline Chausson, the queen of speed, takes the win with a quiet confident style and love for Big Mountain Riding. 

    Results for Enduro World Series #5:

    1-Anne Caroline CHAUSSON Open Women Ibis  00:50:01.966

    2-Tracy MOSELEY Open Women Trek Factory Racing Enduro  00:50:13.645 

    3-Anneke BEERTEN Open Women Specialized Racing  00:51:06.041

To all of the women who competed in this year's Enduro World Series # 5 congratulations on some incredible riding and more importantly for being a role model to all of us, women and men. 

Full results can be found here

http://www.enduroworldseries.com/downloads/results/2014/Colorado%20all.pdf