Video & Race Report: Enduro Lite - Burke Mountain, VT

Jul 11, 2018
by Eastern States Cup  
Views: 2,325    Faves: 4    Comments: 0





Fresh off the first CLIF Enduro East stop of the year, the series switched gears and headed to Vermont's Northeast Kingdom this weekend for the second annual CLIF Enduro Lite at Burke Mountain. This event focuses on introducing riders to the world of enduro racing in a relaxed, judgement free environment. Burke Bike Park and Kingdom Trails put together four challenging, yet approachable race stages linked by legit pedal transfers. Pros were on hand to ride alongside our racers, talk strategy and provide encouragement, keeping the stoke high and smiles wide throughout race day. It's a race weekend like this that reminds us all why we started doing this in the first place.


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For those who have visited East Burke or ridden Kingdom Trails before, it's a no-brainer why we chose to host an introductory race here. Mountain biking is a huge part of the culture in this town with people pedaling and smiling everywhere you look. It's like a snowmobile town for bikes.

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The heat wave finally gave us a break and we're back to beautiful summer weather here in New England, perfect for camping out on race weekends.

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The event had over 80 competitors of all ages join us this weekend, including a ton of kids and ladies eager to dive head first into enduro racing.

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You've probably seen these guys and girls topping the CLIF Enduro East and the MAXXIS ESC podiums and featured in the race reports before. Pros like Adam Morse, Knight Ide, Alisha Darin and Ella Skalwold along with experienced young guns like Daymien Ide and Adrian Hayden rode with their assigned classes all day, providing tips and support to riders. To be honest we're not sure who had more fun, the pros or the racers.

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Lesson One: Any good enduro race has plenty of climbing, racers faced a proper pedal transfer on the way to Stage 1, heading up Shire followed by the CCC Road. Pro enduro racer Emmett Avery teaches riders how to keep spirits high on long transfers, wheelies and beautiful views.

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After a quick rest riders hit their first stage of the day beginning on the smooth, tacky dirt and technical, tricky corners of Dead Moose Alley which led into New Blacksmith. Sara Ellen Godek avoided the stump and bested the Amateur ladies on all four stages.

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New Blacksmith features a slew of switchback corners, careening in and out of the woods. Michael Gilbert kicks up dust while making the transition from light to dark, he would end the day in second place for the 15-17 year old boys.

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Dillon Delano won the Amateur Men's class and clocked our fastest total time of the day, a blistering fast 13:47.

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Stage 2 was our shortest of the day but Little Chief drops into steep, loamy terrain which demands a rider's full attention right off the bat. IdeRide team member Riley Miller is part of the next generation of ripping riders from Vermont who know these trails well, she beat the rest of the 12-14 Girls class by over three minutes.

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Annan Rutherfurd sends it over a log further down the stage on her way to take fourth place for the Amateur Women.

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After a short pedal transfer riders hit their third stage of the day with Black Forest starting at the top of the Sherburne Express lift. Tristan Murphy takes full advantage of an opportunity for hang time, gapping out of this berm and earning some extra style points while taking third place for the 9-11 year olds.

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Lucas Sourbeer was flying out there, clocking the second fastest time on two stages for the 9-11 year olds but a flat on Stage 2 would cost him valuable time as he finished the day in eighth place. That's racing, next time!

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With a combination lift and pedal transfer, racers made their way to Stage 4 on Lower J-Bar for our most taxing stage of the day due to its length mixed with technical terrain and short, yet exhausting uphills. Kate Powell enjoys the downhills on her way to top the Beginner Women with a clean sweep, winning all four stages.

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George Isbester maneuvers his way through one of the final rooty sections of Lower J-Bar, he would finish in third place in the 15-17 year old boys class.

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Local rider Simon Miller keeps the throttle wide open into the final straightaway, taking the win for the 9-11 year olds by over a minute.

Bike Check

Seven year old Airline Cycles rider Hudson Nablo entered his first Maxxis ESC Enduro last year and hasn't looked back since. You can find this kid taking laps long after the races are over but we got him to stand still just long enough to grab a photo and rundown of his pint-sized Giant Trance Jr. "The Savage" as the other kids call him, has become a regular on our CLIF Kids class podiums but was finally able to earn his first win this weekend with a final race time of 8:51 through three stages.

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Rider height: 4' 2", weight: 60 lbs.
Frame: Giant Trance Jr, size XS
Fork: Fox 34, 20 PSI, 2 spacing tokens
Rebound: 6 clicks
Compression: middle setting
Rear shock: RockShox Deluxe RT, 45 PSI, maxed out with volume spacers
Compression: open
Rebound: 2 clicks
Brakes: Shimano SLX
Rotors: 180mm front, 180mm rear
Shifter and Derailleur: SRAM NX 11-speed
Cassette: 11-46 SRAM GX 11-speed
Cranks: 160mm
Chain Ring: 30t
Chain Guide: MRP SXg
Wheels: DT Swiss FR570 26"
Hubs: Industry Nine Torch
Tires: Maxxis Minion DHF 2.3, 24 PSI front, 25 PSI rear
Saddle: SDG Grom
Seatpost: Giant
Bars: Answer Carbon, 140mm long, 0mm rise
Stem: Answer 30mm
Grips: Easton


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Results and stories rolling in from many of the competitors' first race.

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Kids U8 podium from left: 4th - Declan Macauley, 2nd - Clint Heinrich, 1st - Hudson Nablo, 3rd - Cam Spellman, 5th - Charlie Sterner

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Kids 9-11 from left: 4th - Noah Couture, 2nd - Nick Heinrich, 1st - Simon Miller, 3rd - Tristan Murphy, 5th - Lev Dransfield

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Boys 12-14 from left: 4th - Finn Emory, 2nd - Jack Willard, 1st - Curtis Wheeler, 3rd - Luke McCormack, 5th - Aidan Blake

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Girls 12-14 from left: 4th - Addison Voyer, 2nd - Kalei Foley Rutherfurd, 1st - Riley Miller, 3rd - Clare Willard, 5th - Siri Dunn

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Boys 15-17 from left: 4th - Evan Gaus, 2nd - Michael Gilbert, 1st - Elias Gillen, 3rd - George Isbester, 5th - Adam Tauer

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Girls 15-17: 1st - Alsacia Timmerman

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Men 50+ from left: 2nd - Don Wheeler, 1st - Tyler Gillen, 3rd - Daniel Nordheim

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Beginner Women from left: 2nd - Stephanie Burch, 1st - Kate Powell, 3rd - Jill McNeil

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Beginner Men from left: 2nd - Brad Couture, 1st - Trevor Dodge, 3rd - Chris Boule

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Amateur Women from left: 2nd - Danielle Sweet, 1st - Sara Ellen Godek, 3rd - Zelda Brooks

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Amateur Men from left: 2nd - Shane Murphy, 1st - Dillon Delano, 3rd - Nathan Sanel

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Fist bumps, smiles and encouragement all around, this is exactly why we hold this race. After a weekend like this, who wouldn't want to be part of such an amazingly supportive community of mountain bikers?

Up next is the CLIF ENDURO EAST EWS Qualifier at Thunder Mountain in Charlemont, MA on July 27-29, 2018
REGISTRATION HERE

Words and photos: Andrew Santoro

Full Results
Photos
Enduroeast.com


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Author Info:
Eastern-States-Cup avatar

Member since Mar 14, 2012
238 articles

8 Comments
  • 7 0
 Stoke level was off the charts last weekend, thanks to ESC and thanks to Andrew for the write up on Hudson.
  • 2 0
 The smiles and sense of accomplishment on these racers faces all day Sunday is what will stick w me for a long time. Thanks to all our Pros who guided the next generation of riders through the stages. Most of all thanks to the racers who showed up for another unforgettable weekend.
  • 2 0
 Yeah! it was sweet! Also I don't know if this was an error or not but the results say that Elias Gillen got a time of 13:09 which would be the fastest time of the day.
  • 2 0
 No error, just a fast kid.
  • 1 0
 @Eastern-States-Cup: The photo of Dillon Delano, above, says he had the fastest time of the day, but Elias Gillen actually had the fastest time of the day with 13:09.
  • 1 0
 @Thunderstar: You are correct
  • 1 0
 Fun time, looking forward to racing at Victory too.
  • 1 0
 Great event!!!







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