2023 Rendezvous Enduro

Deep breath in, one pedal stroke and you are off. Descending nearly 4,300 ft. across 5 unique stages and covering 15 miles, the final stop of the Montana Enduro Series is the definitive diamond of the tour. Held at the illustrious Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, this stop has everything an enduro athlete could ask for: technical downhills and lengthy cross-country portions with small climbs to test the athlete's physical fitness and maneuverability. The times from each stage are added together to form an overall time – and the individual with the fastest time wins.

One of the best parts of participating in this competition is the formal invitation to take your bike up the mountain on Big Red (also known as the Aerial Tram). Normally, biking from the top of Rendezvous Mountain is prohibited as is the notion of putting your bike on the Tram. But not on race day.

Pre-Race Thoughts

I’ve run to the top of the mountain and I’ve skied off the top, so biking was the final feather in my cap; to say I was excited is an understatement. Serving as my first official bike race, I was keen to test out the trails and my own personal abilities as a mountain biker. Personally, the biggest challenge was going to be Dirty Harry, or as I have nicknamed it "Scary Harry". It’s a gnarly run, with tight turns down incredibly step terrain and loose, dry soil. Dirty Harry puts your maneuverability to the test, making you feel euphoric when you finish the run. It is a challenging run for even the most experienced bikers. 

The Forerun

The Friday afternoon before the race allows for the forerunning, where riders are allowed to take a practice run on all the stages before the main event. Everyone has their own strategy: some ride it as fast as possible while others ride it slowly, trying to commit it all to memory; however, Friday afternoon brought in thunderstorms and lightning canceling the opportunity to test run the upper sections of the course. As race day arrived, each of the riders sent the stages blind, seeing the course for the first time as they raced it.  

The Race: The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly

The Good: 

Of the five stages, my personal favorite was a toss-up between the first and third stages. From the Aerial Tram along the ridgeline into the Rock Springs loop was the first stage. It had two small cliff shelfs that made for exciting riding. On one hill, competitors had to make a quick decision to either run or pedal up. I ran it, anticipating that it would be faster to run it and be in high gear on the downhill than to try and change gears. At high speeds, quick reflexes were the name of the game and not knowing what was coming next was equally exciting and nerve-racking. 

The longest stage was the third, speeding from the Wildflower Trail into Solitoga Trail. It was nearly 8 miles of downhill. By the end, my hands, legs, and lungs were on fire. Wildflower was challenging because it is usually used as a hiking trail with sharp switchbacks and narrow passages between trees. The Solitoga portion was not as technically challenging, but much more physically demanding with a need to pedal fast on the mostly-flat terrain.

The Bad & Ugly:

Saving the best (or worst) for one of the last stages, Dirty Harry is not for the faint of heart. Riding this trail ignites type two fun (challenging in the moment of trial, but fun to accomplish and claim victory). For the race, a skidder track was built into the run that kept riders on the edge of their seats (literally). Personally, I was relieved to finish this run.

Post-Race Takeaways

The general consensus among the riders was that the stages were well designed were indeed an improvement upon last year's course. The challenging transfer to stage four was a long pedal up the Hoback trail that definitely tested riders' physical abilities but made for some really breathtaking views. I am grateful to have been able to participate in the race and complete the course, and I was thrilled to learn I took second in the pro womens category.  

I would be highly remiss if I failed to mention the “vibes”. Everyone was so excited and joyful that it was hard not to be grinning the entire time. Regardless of ability level, it was fun for everyone to be out there doing their best. The support and comradery at the event were incredible: from cheering for one another as each dropped into the line, or support from other riders upon confessions of nervousness, it was amazing to be a part of it. 

Thank you to JHMR for hosting the event! 

full results