Enduro World Series- Northstar

Enduro World Series Northstar California Recap by Kim Rafter and Sara Schneider

Northstar California hosted the 7th of 8 Enduro World Series (EWS) races over the August 23-25, 2019 weekend. The event offered three levels of competition: EWS (qualified international competitors), EWS100 (open class racing the full EWS course), and EWS80 (open class racing 80% of the EWS course). MTB Experience race team members participated in one of each of these competitions. Congrats to all who competed, especially those representing the ladies!! 🤘🏼

MTB Experience EWS80 racers

The weekend started out with training on Friday. The schedule was strategically organized such that racers practiced the course with their competitor group at a specific time – we only had one shot at practicing each stage. This introduced racers to the loose, raw trails of Northstar. EWS80 racers practiced all four of their stages on Friday and raced their course on Saturday. EWS and EWS100 racers practiced four stages Friday and two stages Saturday, and they raced two stages Saturday and four stages Sunday.

Riding the lift up to practice.

Stage 1: Sticks & Stones > (New) River Styx > Flameout > Woods > Manure Pile > Kickback

This was the shortest stage. It started out with a new section of raw chunky goodness that lead into some hang-on-to-your-hats wild loosy goosy. Back to some chunky mixed with flow down to mid-mountain.

Heidi Kanayan rolling rocks like a boss on the EWS/EWS100 section of River Styx (Photo credit: @studioundefined)

Stage 2:

EWS80: Sinuous > Karpiel > 502Rd > Lower Sticks

EWS/EWS100: Sinuous > Karpiel

Racers started stage 2 on loose flow before things got steep and techy. EWS80 racers ditched lower Karpiel for Lower Sticks, while EWS/EWS100 racers continued on to the spicy-ness that lower Karpiel has to offer.

Kim Rafter sending the Daytona Berms table

Stage 3: (Queen Stage). The winner of this stage gets bonus EWS points.

Tahoe Trail > (New) Tahoe Trail Cut > Upper Karpiel > Sticks & Stones > Pho Dogg > Mineshaft > Liftline

This was the longest run of the course – from top to bottom of the mountain. If your legs didn’t burn during this run, you either didn’t try hard enough or you’re superhuman. While the burn was painful, the course was a ton of fun, featuring all types of terrain Northstar has to offer: fire road, steep, loose, pedaling, steep and loose, drops, chunky, chunky chunk, flow, jumps. Man I’m exhausted thinking about that run – but seriously, so much fun too.

Emilie Schneider dropping it like it’s hot on Upper Sticks

Stage 4 (EWS80)/ Stage 6 (EWS/EWS100)

Boondocks

Boondocks is a local favorite with plenty of line choice down the mountain. Racer can get creative and dial in a favorite route. There are lots of features mixed in with loose sand and hard rock to keep you on your toes. It was a great way to end the day and use up what was left in the tank.

Kristen Martin del Campo dropping Big Daddy

Stage 5: EWS/EWS100 Dog Bone

After snaking their way back up the mountain in the longest transfer climb of the weekend (insert stats), it was time for racers to check off one last notable waterfall rock garden before claiming that free racer beer. Coming off the fire road intersection with a little heat, racers either pinned or pin-balled their way through the keg-sized rocks filling the track to loose and chunky (words of the day) turns to find themselves in the buffed burns signaling the end of the stage.

Stage 6: EWS/EWS100 Tell No Tales

TNT was a hair raiser for many – racers and spectators alike. Starting with a steep rock garden to drop in, this was the fan favorite to watch racers challenge themselves on a brand new trail built specially for the race. This trail kept the challenge going with a road gap and more loose and chunky terrain racers learned to expect on this mountain.

Sara Schneider slaying the Tell No Tales drop in chute

Congrats to MTB Experience racers who placed top 3 in their categories:

Kristen Martin del Campo (EWS100 Women Masters 2nd place) and Kira Deschaux (EWS100 Women Masters 3rd place)

Sara Schneider (EWS100 Women 2nd place)

EWS Northstar was full of so much excitement – challenges, crashes, mechanicals, and fun! It was so cool to see such elite riding on our home terrain. Thanks to the race organizers for putting together such an outstanding event! And thanks to our sponsors for keeping the wheels spinning:

– Deity Components
– Maxxis
– Mike’s Bikes
– Industry Nine
– Mucoff