Sunday Showdown at the 2nd Annual Thredbo Super Enduro Presented by Maxxis

With a record field of riders, three gravity tracks, five hours, one bike and fickle mountain weather, the scene was set for a big day on the mountain at the second Thredbo Super Enduro presented by Maxxis and what a showdown it was.

Around 300 riders raced Thredbo’s three gravity trails – the Cannonball Downhill, Kosciuszko Flow Trail and the All-Mountain Trail.  The field was a great mix of women and men, amateurs, pro’s, young pinners and master riders and with over $20,000 in the prize pool, every second mattered.  The best times from each track were tallied to crown the winner.

Dubbed the thinking riders race – this year’s event certainly tested tactics. With practice sessions dry, loose and dusty, come race day the tracks were wet, soggy and slick after rain soaked the mountain overnight. This called for a change in the game plan with riders having a re-think on bike, tyre choice and run order.

The morning showers cleared by lunchtime and the sun even popped out, drying the track making for exciting afternoon laps.

“The last couple of hours were hectic as things started drying out and times were dropping dramatically. You could lay down a good time in the morning but that didn’t matter as things got so much better by the afternoon but you didn’t know what the weather was going to do, it was pretty tricky” said pro men’s winner Jared Graves.

Pro’s men’s podium placer Josh Carlson remarked “The weather panned out well, it was crazy in the morning but by the afternoon the dirt was absolutely perfect.”

The men’s pro category saw a world class field with Enduro World Series riders Jared Graves, Richie Rude and Josh Carlson, riding into overall first, second and third respectively.  The top three played cat and mouse all day with only six seconds splitting the first and second podium places.

“I just love this format of racing, as it’s just not the one run that counts, there’s no pressure in thinking you have to pull it together in just one run, you can try things and push yourself all day long” said Graves.

Late afternoon uninterrupted laps saw riders sneak seconds of all important time with only one rider Tim Eaton riding sub five minutes on the downhill course.  The Flow Trail picked up the pace once the clouds parted with Graves posting a 7:48 – the hottest time of the day, slicing a minute of his first run.

The pro women’s was another tight finish with Mandy Davis claiming first place with a quick lap of the Downhill giving her valuable seconds over Sara Mills.  Wollongong young gun, 15 year old Ashleigh Weinert, clocked the fastest female rider of the day with impressive riding particularly on the Downhill track.

It was a weekend that threw it all at the riders, they headed home weary and muddy many with podium places, personal bests, room for improvement and a what could have been.  The excitement of riding alongside the world’s best, on great gravity tracks, with categories for all makes this event a must do on the Australian Enduro calendar.

A final massive thanks to all of the sponsors who helped bring this event to life: Maxxis, Joes No Flats, Ride Mechanics, Dynaplug, Jetblack, 661, DhaRCOO, GoPro, Fireball and Red Energy.