Gallery: 2014 California Enduro Series Round 1
California Enduro Series: Round #1 Battle Born Enduro from VP Components on Vimeo.
Photos by Scott McClain, Called To Creation
Words by Matt De Young
ctc_0341 (1)-landscape_practice1300.jpgThe 2014 California Enduro Series kicked off the season with the Battle Born Enduro on Peavine Mountain, just outside Reno, Nevada.
The course featured some classic high-desert riding with exposed, scrubby terrain and loose, drifty dirt, popularly described as having the consistency of kitty-litter.
Registration for the race was full-up, with 275 racers on course Saturday. Smiles for miles.
Megan Melack on the gas.
Marshall Eames was beaming Saturday morning before the race. With a kit that bright who wouldn’t be? Unfortunately, he suffered a mechanical on course and had to bail out early.
Ryan Gardner, riding for Kona, was getting a feel for the loose dirt in practice on Friday. This was his first race coming off an ankle injury that has left him a bit leery of dropping a foot and getting sideways in loose, tight turns higher on the course. This didn't keep him from laying down some solid times. Gardner finished out the race in sixth place in the pro class.
A racer tests his traction on Peavine Mountain, during practice Saturday. Many of the turns had faux-berms–a pile of sand that looks deceptively like a berm. One racer commented on the number of golf balls that had been lost in the turns.
Racers check out their times. Bike Monkey delivered spot on timing for the event.
Casey Coffman (Felt, SR Suntour), local Reno pro ripper and all-around stand up guy, put in a solid day of racing Saturday taking third, even after flatting and bending a rotor on the final stage. Casey was happy to share his local knowledge during practice, showing out-of-town racers around, organizing shuttles and walking lines with the masses.
Liam Ruff throwing down some steeze for the camera. This young blood is in it for the glamor and glitz.
The Poedunks, the local Reno Bike Advocacy Group, who helped to put on the race made sure the racers were taken care of after the race.
Pro women podium: 1st Teal Stetson-Lee, 2nd Amy Morrison, 3rd Megan Melack, 4th Lauren Gregg, 5th Allie Donovan.
Pro men podium: 1st Doug Thayer, 2nd Gregg Stone, 3rd Casey Coffman, 4th Jason Moeschler, 5th Ryan Thym.
Round 2 is in June 20-22 at China Peak.
www.californiaenduroseries.com
