Oregon Enduro Series Race #4, Sisters Report

Sisters, Oregon was the host for the 2012 Oregon Enduro Series race #4. This was the first time race organizers decided to use this small, western-style town located about 20 miles from Bend, OR as a base for this event. Since the nearby trail network is more compact than most this was to be a one-day-only series of stages to determine the winners. The race featured three stages:

Stage #1. This was the longest stage with a few high altitude creek crossings utilizing the Metolius/Windigo horse trail. It included loose downhills, a few small uphill sections and was rounded out with rock gardens aplenty.

Stage #2: Rocky with fast soft, drifty corners with a few sections with open vistas of the Sisters Mountains. It wasn't a difficult stage per-se but reports were that riders were starting to wear down at this point which caused some blown out corners and extracurricular banging of rocks with pedals, etc.

Stage #3: Started with open vistas with steep and rock-laden sections which transitioned to super-fast wide open fire road-type trails, also with plenty of rocks.

While the turnout for this event wasn't quite as large as some of the previous races there was definitely no shortage of talent and travel. The Pro Men's class has powerhouses Adam Craig (Bend), Aaron Bradford (Santa Cruz, CA), Josh Carlson (Vancouver, BC) and Duncan Riffle (Santa Barbara, CA ). The Women's class included past race winner Kelli Emmett (Colo. Springs), Lindsay Trimble (Burnaby, BC) and New Zealand's Rosara Joseph (listing Bend, OR as hometown).


Although there were no reports of major injuries to riders there were plenty of flats, torn sidewalls and mechanicals to go around. Pro ride Matthew Slaven (Kona) had to use an empty gel packet to patch his tire in order to finish stage #2.


The post-race gathering included a keg of beer and burritos for racers/volunteers along with a raffle of prizes from race sponsors. The crowd was serenaded by local rock band Strive Roots while waiting for timing to be completed and awards to begin. Finalizing the timing was a definite challenge to complete as race organizers had to travel into Sisters to get a wireless signal to upload times from the race iPods. As the planned 5pm awards ceremony was pushed beyond 6pm (and possibly later) the organizers decided to present the awards for this event at the final race at Mt. Hood in a few weeks. Final results were available online later Sunday night.

For more information on the final race of the series (Mt. Hood) Click Here
Click Here For Full Results
Oregon Enduro Series Web Site

Results:

Cat 1 Men (19-39): Andy Olsson - Hood River, OR
Cat 1 Men (40+): Stosh Bankston - Nevada City, CA
Cat 2 Jr. Men [13 - 18]: Winter Nason - Santa Rosa, CA
Cat 2 Men (19 - 39): Tony de Cordoba - Portland, OR
Cat 2 Men (40+): Ryan Andrus - Boise, ID
Women Cat 1 (open): Jennifer Johnson - Hood River, OR
Cat 2/Cat 3 Women: Kristen Fellers - Chico, CA
Cat 2/Cat 3 Women (35+): Terry Blankenship - Summerville, OR


Pro Men (open):
1) Adam Craig - Bend, OR [Rabobank/Giant Offroad] 24:28.1
2) Aaron Bradford - Santa Cruz, CA [Santa Cruz Bicycles/Easton/Shimano/Fox] 24:38.8
3) Josh Carlson - Newbury Park, CA [Giant Factory Off-road Team] 24:47.3
4) Lars Sternberg - Seattle, WA [Transition Bikes] 25:17.0
5) Dylan Wolsky - Whistler, BC [The Nomads] 25:36.3

Pro Women (open)
1) Rosara Joseph - Bend, OR [Rabobank-Giant Offroad team] 28:00.2
2) Kelli Emmett - Colorado Springs, CO [Giantbicycle.com] 28:49.6
3) Lindsay Trimble - Burnaby, BC [Rocky Mountain Bikes] 31:46.5
4) Mary Moncorge - Fairfax, CA [Santa Cruz Bikes/ Kali / Endura] 32:00.5
5) Tina Brubaker - Salem, OR [Upper Echelon Fitness] 33:24.7


Local Central Oregon cyclist, Luke Mason has been lighting it up on the mountain and road lately. 2nd Place in Cat 1 Men (19-39) category and 11th overall, including the pros.

Oregon Enduro Series executive director Devon Lyons (left in blue shirt) has a pre-race meeting with race volunteers. No volunteers = no race.

Jacob DesBiens rolls through a flattish section of stage #2 with Brokentop mountain showing in the background.

A little snafu in the timing gave the band 'Strive Roots' plenty of playing time to wow the crowd with their "Roots Infused Power Groove"€ after the event.

Competing in the Cat 3 Men's category, Matt Capozzi from Portland, OR rides a nice section of stage #2 with N. Sister mountain peaking through the trees.

Bend's Cog Wild shuttles riders all over Oregon and they are actively involved in trail maintenance and advocasy in and around Central Oregon.

Ryan Andrus made the trip all the way from Boise, Idaho for the Sisters Enduro race. The Sisters mountains are in the distance background.

Riding for Transition Bicycles, Ian Fitzpatrick traveled all the way from Eagle, Idaho for the race.

David Carr handles one of the many soft corners of this year's Oregon Enduro Series in Sisters, OR

Stage #1 included a couple of small creek crossing and also this section. Jamie Sage from Vaughn, WA.

Hailing from Ashland, Oregon makes Nathan Riddle no stranger to the loose and rocky terrain near Sisters. Here is uses the foot-out technique to stay fast and upright in this twisty, rocky section of stage #2. 9th place Pro Men.

Womens Cat 1 race winner Jennifer Johnson enjoys the upper section of Stage #1 as it meanders towards Sisters, OR.

Whether she's on her mountain, road or cyclocross bike...Tina Brubaker kills it. 5th place in the Pro Women's category.

This photographer's survival gear: PocketFuel, the newest and tastiest quick energy food (from nearby Hood River), my cheap ($40usd) Canon backpack that holds my basic gear and fends off the dust, ants and other critters. And my trusty Redline D660 29er to get me down the mountain.

Tyler Horton (Dirty Fingers rider out of Hood River), keeps his focus on the trail through this super-soft section of stage #2.

Lars Sternberg (Transition Bicycles) wore a tank top for this event because, as he put it, "It's a beach out there". Lars finished with an impressive 4th place in the Pro Men category...and look at those guns!

This 165lb Mastiff named Wyatt is the unofficial mascot of the 2012 Oregon Enduro Series.

Timmy Evens continues to be one of the most entertaining riders to watch during this series. He's got 'style for miles!' 10th place Pro Men.

Jon Collins (Bikeco.com) made the trip all the way from Lake Forest, CA to compete in this event.