By Tom Rohrer
While competitive mountain biking has long held a home in the Thurston County area, a new type of race format will be coming to the Capitol Forest this weekend, and may be a sign of things to come in sports future.
On Saturday, Sept. 15, riders from across the region will ascend to first annual Diamondback Capitol Forest Enduro Race presented by One Industries.
Featuring four non-timed transition climbing stages, along with four more timed special stages with a total of 4,100 ft. of descent, the Enduro style race figures to bring in every-day and weekend warrior racers a like.
Starting at the top of Capitol Peak (elevation 2,659 ft.) the race finishes at Fall Creek, where competitors have the option of downing a well-earned adult beverage.
The event is the creation of independent race promoter Trey Wilson, the race director for the upcoming event. Wilson heard about Enduro racing from some local riders who had participated in the Oregon Enduro Series. After researching the style of event more, Wilson loved what he saw and thought the Thurston County area would be an ideal location for such a race.
“I got the idea from some local bikers who were a part of the Oregon enduro series,” said Wilson, a native of Georgia who re-located to the area in 1992. “I looked into it and realized what it was and where it came from and that it’s the fastest growing race format in the world. It’s gaining steam here and I thought it was a great opportunity.”
Enduro race courses, which originated in Europe at the turn of the last decade, differentiate from the common Super D courses, a staple of American racing for years. While the Enduro Course features challenging climbs and elevation gains, those sections are not timed, allowing for a high focus on the speedy descents.
“There has been a lot of push from racers, in that Enduro races are more racer friendly,” said Matt Jaeger of Olympia, who will compete in the upcoming race. “The transition stages between races allows for a more social and fun atmosphere. There are more chances to make up time and it’s a combination of those things that are pushing Enduro racing in popularity.”
Around 200 competitors are expected to participate in the first time event, with riders from Idaho, Oregon and British Columbia making the trek to Capitol Forest, which is considered an ideal location for such a race.
“I think as the format continues to grow in popularity, the Pacific Northwest will remain a great place for Enduro events,” said Jim Graham, who served as a consultant for the event’s formation. “Capitol Forest is the perfect area really, there is such a great variety of terrains and it’s still very accessible.”
Armed with a website that provides pictures and route descriptions, the mountain biking community is expecting it to be top-notch and an annual event. Wilson has put together a professional plan that has hit the right chord in the community.
“He’s done the hard part, invested the time with local land managers and has gotten sponsors within the industry and locally,” Graham said. “I think what’s going to set Trey’s event apart is that he hired a chipped timing company. There will be a receiver at start and finish that will electronically record times with 100 percent accuracy. No one else has done that for an event in Capitol Forest.”
“I’m really excited about the potential for this,” Wilson said. “There’s been so much hype and enthusiasm from every aspect of mountain biking. We have guys coming out of retirement to participate in the race, and hearing those types of things are really cool.”
Graham also believes that the Capitol Forest area will benefit from more riders exploring the vast amount of trails.
“The more mountain biking in the area, the better,” Graham said. “It brings more attention to the forest, which in turn brings better management and appropriate focus and maintenance. These types of events will be hugely beneficial.”
Last year, when the Oregon Enduro Series took place, the only type of its kind, it featured a collection of events with heavy participation. There is a high possibility a Washington or Northwest Series may be formulating within the near future.
“I know there has been talk of a series in the future,” said Jaeger, who will race for Diamondback Bikes. “The Oregon series was the only one on the west coast, and generated a lot of participation. I think if that could expand to Washington, or another series could run independently, it would take (enduro racing) to another level in this area.”
A citizen of Olympia, Jaeger is excited to compete in his home area. “To welcome in all the out of town competitors will be cool, but to be a part of a local event in the area I live in, that’s pretty special. I’m really looking forward to it.”
Wilson is adamant that while there is a competition, the race provides an ideal social setting for all kinds of riders.
”The big thing for me is that it’s a race for anyone,” Wilson said. “You don’t have to be intimidated and I think that’s where there is potential for the sport to grow. It used to be that you had to have the latest, greatest gear and be in terrific shape. Here, you don’t have to be super fit and it’s more of a social race rather than highly competitive. It’s about having a good time.”
For more information and to register for the Capitol Forest Enduro Race presented by One Industries, click here. All photos courtesy of Capitol Forest Enduro and Konrad Photography.
