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Highland Mountain OverMountain Enduro Race

Highland MTN

Chimp
Apr 8, 2008
16
0
NORTHFIELD, NH—Highland Mountain Bike Park, America’s Premier Bike Park has teamed up with the leader in innovation and technology, Cannondale Bicycles to bring the OverMountain Enduro to the East Coast on Saturday October 22, 2011.
Highland has brought in the big guns in the enduro world to design this course; with input from Cannondale’s top riders and racers, Mark Weir, Ben Cruz and Aaron Chase; Dave Smutok and the Highland Trail Crew are delivering what is set to be a top-notch event.
“This event has caused me many sleepless nights trying to design the perfect event. After a great talk with Mark Weir, we made the decision to update the course and format; the new structure will make for a fun, challenging, and progressive event,” explains Dave Smutok, VP of Business Development at Highland.

Updated Format:
The race will be made up of 3 timed “Specials” which will be added into one combined time. Athletes will have start times for each Special and once a Special is complete riders will have a extended time limit to make their way to the next stage.

1st Special: Start at the top of the mountain and head down ODB to Threshold. Come down a new section of trail through the base area and into our XC loop.
Estimated 1st Special time is 6-7min.
After 1st Special you will have a short break to allow yourself to make your way to the 2nd Special.

2nd Special: You will continue on the XC loop.
Estimated 2nd Special time is 5-6min.
On completion of 2nd Special riders will have to ride the XC trail up to Easy Rider and continue to Highland’s summit for the 3rd Special.

3rd Special: You will start at the summit and race down a new section of trail/glade linking pieces of existing trails to the bottom finish.
Estimated 3rd Special time 4-5min.
Results will be based on the 3 Special’s times combined.
Climber’s prime – Riders who want to race to the summit can continue racing through the finish of the 2nd Special and to the summit. The fastest rider from the start of 2nd Special to the summit will win the climber’s prime.

For additional details on format and registration visit Highlandmountain.com.
 

bigh

Chimp
Jul 17, 2008
16
0
Omacron Persei 8
Wow way to take what sounded like a fun race and ruin it. What part about this new format is "enduro". 45 minutes to get to the top of the mountain? I could walk a DH bike up to the top in half that time. The Whiteface 5k requires more endurance than this race.
 

Banshee Rider

Turbo Monkey
Jul 31, 2003
1,452
10
Bummed about the format change. Why not just ride a downhill bike? You've only got to pedal the thing for 5 minutes, and there's enough time to practically walk it back up. The format makes sense in Europe with long descents, and would maybe work if there were 2 circuts back up, but 15 minutes of timed racing? It sounded like a much more proper challenge before.
 
Last edited:
Jun 20, 2007
349
9
This format change sounds like a bad idea. Isn't the challenge of an enduro race about the ups and the downs (all in a timed format)?
 

Pegboy

Turbo Monkey
Jan 20, 2003
1,139
27
New Hamp-sha
Without disclosing too much, I will say the format change was not entirely Dave's, or Highland's, idea. That being said, everbody is really focused on making it a fun event, as most things at Highland are. There will be trails, or at least sections, that are new for this event only, that have never been riden before.

Lets face it, everybody knows that you can put more time into someone on a climb than you can on a Downhill. Highland is small (winning course time this weekend was 2:22) which makes it even more difficult to make any gains on the DH. We'll see, I'm sure they'll make the necessary adjustments now and in the future to make it successful.
 

epic

Turbo Monkey
Sep 15, 2008
1,041
21
I like the format change. Like Pegboy said, there needs to be a balance. Gain 10 seconds on teh DH and lose a couple minutes on the climb, you could have a roadie win the thing.
 

Matchew

Monkey
May 26, 2006
511
0
NH / Mass (ugh)
Also keep in mind the original format had a wave start, If you were not in the first wave you would have a serious disadvantage before you even started. Ill take the changes as It does level the playing field more and make a bit more sense. Think of it as more of a MTB rally, gotta be quick but consistent and there isn't much time in between to fix any flats/mechanicals due to the time cutoff to get to the next stage.
 
Last edited:

wiscodh

Monkey
Jun 21, 2007
833
121
303
hrmp,
session88 or fuel ex??? im sure i could get to the top in 45min with the session, but the flat part will suck with a dh bike. I can rally the EX on the home trails pretty easily ( perry hill in waterburry for referance).......

wish i had a slash or remedy..
 

Banshee Rider

Turbo Monkey
Jul 31, 2003
1,452
10
Without disclosing too much, I will say the format change was not entirely Dave's, or Highland's, idea. That being said, everbody is really focused on making it a fun event, as most things at Highland are. There will be trails, or at least sections, that are new for this event only, that have never been riden before.

Lets face it, everybody knows that you can put more time into someone on a climb than you can on a Downhill. Highland is small (winning course time this weekend was 2:22) which makes it even more difficult to make any gains on the DH. We'll see, I'm sure they'll make the necessary adjustments now and in the future to make it successful.
I completely agree that more time can be made up on the climb, and this format essencially keeps the race from being won there. But really, 30 minutes? I guess that's my gripe. At least make the time alotted a challenge if it's not going to count. If it were 20 minutes the DH slugs would have to earn the time they made up on the two downhills, or get DQ'd. And inversely, make the weenies think about riding like men on the DH because the climb isn't there to make the time up. Right now it's just comes off as a two-run DH race with some pedaling.

Whatever, it's rad they're guinea pigging an Enduro, and I hope this serves as a stepping stone to getting these kind of events going in the Northeast. With the right format, these things take the best parts of mountain bike racing, and showcase the dudes who don't just DH, or wear spandex, but just downright frickin' shred.
 

woodsguy

gets infinity MPG
Mar 18, 2007
1,083
1
Sutton, MA
Why not just put equal weight on each event. You get third in the downhill - 60 points. First in the climb - 100 points, second in the xc singletrack - 80 points etc.
 

Smelly

Turbo Monkey
Jun 17, 2004
1,254
1
out yonder, round bout a hootinany
Right now it's just comes off as a two-run DH race with some pedaling.

Whatever, it's rad they're guinea pigging an Enduro, and I hope this serves as a stepping stone to getting these kind of events going in the Northeast. With the right format, these things take the best parts of mountain bike racing, and showcase the dudes who don't just DH, or wear spandex, but just downright frickin' shred.
QFT
I could get into something like this, but it'd have to be 10x longer than this. There's nothing "enduro" about 15 minutes of riding.
 

woodsguy

gets infinity MPG
Mar 18, 2007
1,083
1
Sutton, MA
Why not just put equal weight on each event. You get third in the downhill - 60 points. First in the climb - 100 points, second in the xc singletrack - 80 points etc.
I also like the idea of putting in options in the race course. You could take a shortcut through a rock garden or a big drop/gap. Or an option of a longer route but if you are really good at maintaining speed in the turns could be faster than the shorter route.
 

epic

Turbo Monkey
Sep 15, 2008
1,041
21
Well, I 'm going. Anybody else? I tried pre-reging today, but their system wouldn't let me pay. I wanted a lower number, so I guess I'll try to be the first one in the door on Saturday.

Gonna use my TranceX, might throw some Comp16s on it instead of my usual XC oriented tires.
 

Matchew

Monkey
May 26, 2006
511
0
NH / Mass (ugh)
Ill be there! Not entirely sure if I want to do AM or get manhandled in PRO. Ill be on either my clapped ASX or a very generous friend's SB-66. Either way It's gunna be a blast!
 

Banshee Rider

Turbo Monkey
Jul 31, 2003
1,452
10
Looking forward to getting a proper schooling in pro on my carbon Trance X. I heard a rumor that Marc Beaumont might be there. That dude will clean up if he shows.
 

Pip3r

Turbo Monkey
Nov 20, 2001
1,112
0
Foxboro MA
Event was fantastic! I was bummed about the format change as well, but i am %100 certain they made the right decision and was glad it was the 'rally' format that they ended up doing. Even still, it was won by a guy on a 29er, but at least he was like 6'5". He also won the climbers prime which is insane.

Courses were very unique and were definitely not suited to a DH bike. Well done to Highland as there was clearly a lot of work put into the event, especially in preparing the courses and sacrificing a lot of trail for their freeriders for the day. Cant wait for the next one!
 

epic

Turbo Monkey
Sep 15, 2008
1,041
21
It was really good. If they grow it to the 200 riders they want for next year though, it seems like major logistical SNAFUs would pop up pretty quickly.
 

Banshee Rider

Turbo Monkey
Jul 31, 2003
1,452
10
Event was fantastic! I was bummed about the format change as well, but i am %100 certain they made the right decision and was glad it was the 'rally' format that they ended up doing. Even still, it was won by a guy on a 29er, but at least he was like 6'5". He also won the climbers prime which is insane.

Courses were very unique and were definitely not suited to a DH bike. Well done to Highland as there was clearly a lot of work put into the event, especially in preparing the courses and sacrificing a lot of trail for their freeriders for the day. Cant wait for the next one!
I agree entirely, and really have to retract my previous post about the format change as well. The actual course was nothing like what was initially posted on the site.

To sum it for the guys who weren't there: The course traversed several trails, featured a ton of new dirt that hadn't been touched, and literally had 50' wide sections of open un-raked ski glades. Proper DH chutes that kept 5" bikes on edge, and flats/ups that made you have to work. The first stage extended well beyond the base, through the parking lot, and into the XC loop. It stopped in the middle of the woods, where the 2nd stage started. After the first stage, the riders could begin the next stage whenever they wanted. It was very free flowing and laid back. Super positive vibe from everyone there.

I was pretty bummed about having such a bad race, but am really hoping they push for a series of these races next year. My fire for DH racing is gone, and I hate March winter centuries too much to race XC, so this is exactly the kind of racing I can get behind. I think alot of people feel that way. This needs to take off in New England, big time!
 

ldw222

Monkey
Jun 16, 2009
170
0
Rochester, NY
I agree entirely, and really have to retract my previous post about the format change as well. The actual course was nothing like what was initially posted on the site.

To sum it for the guys who weren't there: The course traversed several trails, featured a ton of new dirt that hadn't been touched, and literally had 50' wide sections of open un-raked ski glades. Proper DH chutes that kept 5" bikes on edge, and flats/ups that made you have to work. The first stage extended well beyond the base, through the parking lot, and into the XC loop. It stopped in the middle of the woods, where the 2nd stage started. After the first stage, the riders could begin the next stage whenever they wanted. It was very free flowing and laid back. Super positive vibe from everyone there.

I was pretty bummed about having such a bad race, but am really hoping they push for a series of these races next year. My fire for DH racing is gone, and I hate March winter centuries too much to race XC, so this is exactly the kind of racing I can get behind. I think alot of people feel that way. This needs to take off in New England, big time!
I couldn't get to this one but really wanted to...I'm excited about this though and hope there's more next year. I race DH and I'm competitive at it but the only time I ride DH is at races. There's nowhere near where I live to ride and practice. I think I could in this mixed type of format though. I know I'm not contributing much to this thread but I'm hoping organizers read our comments and put some of these together...
 

manhattanprjkt83

Rusty Trombone
Jul 10, 2003
9,644
1,214
Nilbog
I spent my first day ever riding at highland on friday, the fresh lines for the saturday race looked awesome. I wish I could have stuck around to race Saturday. Big props to the resort in general.
 

dump

Turbo Monkey
Oct 12, 2001
8,195
4,419
Looking at those results - the dh guys got stomped. An xc/cyclocross guy took the win. Hmm.
 

Pegboy

Turbo Monkey
Jan 20, 2003
1,139
27
New Hamp-sha
Beaumont blew his shock in the first special which had some pretty tech DH but finished with a lot of flat XC style stuff. Moody (DH guy, 3rd in pro) was super disappointed in his performance but still managed 3rd...He actually managed to hit a tree (1st Spec) that he said he didn't even see in an UPHILL sprint. LOL

For all of the comments that it was a DH race, it seems that this was not what the competitors felt. Bike choice certainly played into it. Phil Kmetz (5th in Nationals DH) rode his FTW DH bike with a single crown fork and while he slayed the most technical DH line in the course in the 1st special, it didn't offset the flats and uphill landing him 15th after the 1st special. I think the last special had the most amount of DH grade riding and that seems to show in the results from that special (4 out top 5 strictly DHers).

Seemed like a great event...the only downside that I saw was having the Pro's go off at 3 pm. I can't imagine being a DHer watching everybody rip runs all day while you sit around and "save" yourself for your race run.
 

Matchew

Monkey
May 26, 2006
511
0
NH / Mass (ugh)
I managed about 4th overall in AM and 3rd in my class (19-29). I was on my 37lb ASX and lost a lot of time on flat parts of the first and second special but ended up with the best AM time on the third. So 9th, 9th and 1st with something like a miserable 13th on the climb.

I would definitely do this race again now that I know what I'm in for. Everyone was having a blast and it was a real eye opener to just how fast and fit some of those pros are. The glade sections in the third special were a riot, I'd love to see more of those types of sections in DH/future AM races! Hopefully this format catches on as it really has potential for a lot of different mountains to showcase their terrain.
 

epic

Turbo Monkey
Sep 15, 2008
1,041
21
Here are my photos that Vital did not use.



I really enjoyed watching the contortionist in the Spooky suit ride.