Singletracks: Canadian Enduro Championships Rounds 1 & 2

Sponsored by: 

Sorry for the delay, but here it is, the race report on the opening weekend of the Canadian Enduro Championship in Blairmore, Alberta.  This column is brought to you by RTR Performance in Kamloops.  RTR is a major supporter of off-road racing - they currently sponsor Bobby Prochnau and Ryan Durkee, among others.  So, next time you need something for your Honda or KTM, give them a shout.

The pits were at the arena in the town of Coleman.  Combined with the technical trails of the area, the whole event felt like a true enduro. Steve Shannon Photo

After a hugely successful inaugural year in 2009, the World Enduro Canada crew worked hard all winter to make 2010 even bigger and better.  As racers pulled into the arena parking lot in Coleman, it was evident the series has matured in its sophomore season.  The manufacturers have stepped things up, especially Husqvarna with their new team and rig.  Other noteworthy setups was Honda’s support of Jason Schrage, RTR/KTM with Bobby Prochnau and Ryan Durkee, and the Corner Grass Racing Team.  

The Feeding Performance Husqvarna pits were very professional. Steve Shannon Photo

Wandering around the pits, it was great to see old friends as well as new people out to check out the premier off-road series in Canada.  Attendance was up 25%, making the racing even more exciting.  The one downer while walking around the pits was seeing Bobby Prochnau in a sling.  After injuring his thumb and elbow in April, Bobby was finally healed up a few weeks ago when he dominated the Piston Run.  Unfortunately Bobby crashed while training a few days before the opening CEC round and injured his shoulder, putting him out indefinitely.  Bobby’s injury left everyone guessing who would step up to be the dominant rider in Canada, and by the end of the weekend it was clear.

The Blairmore round of the CEC is definitely the most scenic of the series.  Combined with some incredible singletrack, it's the stuff most racers dream about. Gnarly Parts Helmet Camera Photo

The Full Gas crew (though I think they should be the Corner Gas crew, since they would all fit in on that show) set up a cool course starting right in the town of Coleman.  After about 5km of road riding the course ventured into the woods, climbing up the Rocky Mountains.  A short trail ride led racers to the first special test.  Test #1 featured a long hill climb and tight woods along with some off-cambers and rocks to keep racers on their toes.  The test was short, making it tough to settle into a groove.  After special test #1 the course lead racers up!  Taking full advantage of the vast trail system in the Crowsnest Pass area, the course climbed out of the valleys and onto alpine ridges.  It was tough to concentrate on the trail as the 360º panoramic view was incredible.  The trails were just as good as the views, featuring technical rocky singletrack that eventually headed down the mountain and into the woods.  The woods section featured slippery roots and tight trees leading to special test #2.  

RTR's Ryan Durkee dominated the small bore E1 class and ended up on the overall podium on day 1. David Shannon Photo

Special Test #2 was the longest and most difficult test and became the central focus of the weekend.  It started in the valley bottom, crossing a creek then following the valley bottom over slippery roots and through deep mud holes.  If racers weren’t huffing and puffing after battling the slippery conditions down low, a climb up a rocky creek bed into the alpine ensured they soon would be.  After the creek climb the test sped up into a combination of wide open fields and singletrack flowing through the trees.  The test finished with a loose rocky downhill into the finish.  This test took even the best racers over 10 minutes and one unfortunate soul nearly an hour to get through after burying his bike in one of the mud holes.  Test #3 started almost immediately after the second test, though it wasn’t nearly as relentless.  Starting on top of a ridge, the test started off fast and rocky then slowed down as it dropped off the ridge and finally onto faster trails to the finish.  The test took less than five minutes.  After the third test the transfer trail climbed one more mountain before bringing racers back to the arena.  Pros and A riders did 3 laps each day, B rider, Vets and Super Vets did 2 and the C and women did one lap.  

Got rocks?  Racers had to be careful about pushing it too much in sections like this. Gnarly Parts Helmet Camera Photo

Saturday morning dawned cool and windy with some ominous clouds looming over the Crowsnest Pass area.  It was a chilly ride up the roads to the trails, but racers quickly warmed up as they got onto the singletrack.  The first test made for lots of controversy as racers failed to notice an arrow for one corner and most racers ended up lost.  Some got so lost that they eventually ended up back at the pit area!  The first time through Special test #2 was an eye-opener for many racers as the valley trails became rutted and thoroughly chewed.  Bikes boiled and tires spun as racers tried valiantly just to make it through the test.  The final test of the lap was much more relaxed, though the fast rocky sections kept everyone on their toes.  

Jason Schrage has adapted well to his CRF450R.  Riding a nearly bone stock motocross bike, Schrage took the overall both days in Alberta. David Shannon Photo

The course organizers gave everyone ample time for the first lap - 2.5 hours.  For the second lap the allowable time was dropped to 2:15 and the final lap of the day was cut down to 1:45.  The cool, wet weather made for perfect conditions, though some would find it somewhat slippery.  Most racers had smiles though as riding dust free in the mountains is always a treat.

Geoff Nelson dominated the E3 class on his KTM300XC.  Geoff will be looking to move up in the overall standings though. David Shannon Photo

In the pro classes it was Shane Cuthbertson and Shane Watts trading test wins on the opening lap.  Watts came to check out the races after holding one of his Dirtwise schools a few days prior to the race.  Though he stated he was merely out for a nice trail ride, his results said otherwise as he went on to finish 3rd in E2 and 4th overall.  The other Shane wasn’t able to keep it together for the entire day, crashing on the course and down the results.  Another man from Alberta did step up though.  Jason Schrage took his mighty CRF450R to first in E2 and first overall.  After losing out on first place to Bobby Prochnau by 20 seconds in 2009, Jason enjoyed the same 20 second gap in 2010, only this time he was on top.  Charging hard behind Schrage was Ryan Graffunder on the Feeding Performance Husqvarna TXC450.  Graffunder was ecstatic to finish 2nd in E2 and second overall.  

Ryan Graffunder continues to have a great year, finishing on the podium both days in Alberta. David Shannon Photo

In the E1 class, Ryan Durkee absolutely dominated on his way to 3rd overall.  Ryan rode the wheels off his RTR Performance KTM250XCF.  Behind Durkee were Albertans Jared Thomas on a KTM150XC and Jack Sawatzky.  In the E3 class it was 2009 #3 Geoff Nelson taking the win (and finishing 5th overall) on his KTM300XC.  Brent Kroeker took second followed by Husqvarna’s Marty Halmazna.  Vet pro saw 2009 champion Mark Cahill continue his domination of the class.  Behind Cahill was local legend Dan Watt and Team Pagan’s Scott Kinakin.

Mark Cahill showed he still has the speed that took him to the 2009 Vet Pro championship.  Cahill won both days in Alberta. David Shannon Photo

The second day saw everyone looking a little more tired than the day before.  The weather worsened, though for many competitors that worked to their advantage.  The schedule remained the same but the course organizers changed parts of the second special test as the mud holes were becoming bike swallowing deep.

Are we in Quebec?  While conditions were slippery, the hills reminded everyone we were still in the west and not back east. Gnarly Parts Helmet Camera Photo

Once again Jason Schrage took the E2 and overall win, making it a clean sweep of the weekend.  Behind Schrage was Shane Watts.  Watts looked so smooth that he looked slow, but in the wet conditions it worked to his advantage and he took home second in E2 and second overall on his KTM200.  Husqvarna’s Ryan Graffunder had another great day, landing on the final spot of the podium in E2 and overall.  In E1 Ryan Durkee again dominated the field and ended up 5th overall on the day and 4th overall on the weekend.  Jared Thomas again railed his little KTM150 to second in E2 and Ontario native Chris Van Hove moved up to take the final podium spot.

2009 CEC Womens' champion Victoria Hett took on a new challenge for 2010 by entering the Amateur 'A' class.  The long days tired her out, but she posted some respectable test times on her way to 19th and 17th.  Victoria is part of the first ever Canadian ISDE Womens' Trophy Team going to Mexico later this year. David Shannon Photo

In E3 the podium remained unchanged, though Geoff Nelson moved up to 4th overall on the day.  His combined times weren’t quite good enough though and Nelson remained in 5th overall for the entire weekend.  The Vet Pro podium also remained unchanged as Mark Cahill dominated once again.

Yamaha's Brian Wojnarowski was the top rider from the east, finishing 7th overall. David Shannon Photo

Racers from the East continued to struggle with the elevation changes and technical nature of the west.  Steep, slippery off cambers and endless hill climbs to oxygen deprived elevations still wreak havoc on those used to sandier soil with moderate hills and tight trees.  Brian Wojnarowski was the top easterner landing his Machine Racing Yamaha YZ250 in 5th in E2 and 7th overall.  

Right now Jason Schrage is the new king of Canadian Enduro.  Will anyone step up and beat him? David Shannon Photo

That about wraps it up from Blairmore.  A big thanks to my parents, David and Kim Shannon for braving the weather and hanging out at the special tests all weekend taking photos and cheering us on.  Stay tuned for a report from Penticton where racers faced the gnarliest extreme test of the year!