The only U.S. stop of the Enduro World Series in 2016 begins today in Aspen Snowmass.
"The two-day event will blend high altitude riding adventures mixed with some of the biggest descents and best riding in the area," the resort says on their site. "Come witness the only U.S. stop of the Enduro World Series mountain biking competition. Expected to draw a heavy pro presence, the elite mountain biking event will take advantage of the Snowmass Bike Park trails as well as new trails that have never been raced on. The largest cash payout of any 2016 BME event as well as a free concert on Fanny Hill afterward — featuring Chali 2na — make this a must for any mountain bike enthusiast."
The Endro World Series says the fact that the event will feature lift access will offer an almost European flavour of enduro whilst deep in the heart of the American Rockies.
"It may be one of the most famous ski resorts in the world, but Aspen is also a haven for mountain bikers," they wrote on their site.
According to presenter Big Mountain Enduro, the series offers some of the biggest and most challenging terrain in and around the mountainous landscape.
"With many of the top-ranked trails in the country, BME events tie in big backcountry terrain, as well as combining lift-accessed stages throughout the series ... the 2016 Big Mountain Enduro Series will encompass over 70,000 vertical feet of descending world-class single track and bike park terrain throughout the entire season," Big Mountain Enduro wrote on their site. "Each course is specially designed to give participants a unique riding experiences, including high altitude trails and big descents that test athlete’s pure strength, endurance and bike handling skills. In sum, the BME series showcases some of the best trails in North America, while hosting many of the top all-around mountain bikers from across the globe, ultimately catering to all types of riders in an entertaining atmosphere for the entire family and local communities to enjoy."
Schedule
Training Thursday July 28 : Aspen stages only
Friday July 29: Snowmass stages only
Race Day Saturday, July 30: Day 1 Racing
Sunday, July 31: Day 2 Racing
Number of Stages: 3 stages per day; 6 total.
Approximate total GC time: 70 minutes
Course elevation: Climbing = 1,700 feet/519 meters, Descending = 15,000 feet/4,572
meters
Terrain type: High speed, high alpine, fall line stages, mixed with wooded terrain and raw open ski runs, combined with some well maintained bench cut single track. 15,000 feet of timed descending over two days. Very little bike park terrain.
Here's a statement from Snowmass about the event:
The combination of the Aspen Mountain and Snowmass Bike Park terrain and the surrounding trails in the Roaring Fork Valley offer some of the most diverse mountain biking in the country. Aspen Mountain and Snowmass Bike Park are the only lift served biking in the U.S. that can take riders on 4,000-foot single track descents, beginning above tree line and ending in the high mountain desert. Riders should expect to see six stages and over 15,000 vertical feet in descending, with both lift served and back country access to the starts and with a wide variety of gnarly terrain and raw, gravity-fueled additions that riders are looking for. Snowmass has supported mountain biking and gravity riding for over 15 years going back to the NORBA Nationals and World Cup level Downhill racing. Throughout all the years, Snowmass has remained progressive every step of the way and is now excited to show off new trails to the exciting world of Big Mountain Enduro.
