Words | Amanda Pearce Photos | Henry Jaine
The Mammoth Enduro presented by Santa Cruz was held in Nelson on the weekend of the 26th and 27th of March. Rain earlier in the week had everyone on weather watch leading up to race weekend but sunshine on Thursday and Friday had the trails in near perfect conditions for practice on Saturday. Race day on Sunday was another Nelson stunner as riders put their game face on to tackle the 6 stages on offer.
Race places on and bikes loaded on the shuttle trailer ready for action.
Medics, marshals and starters get their instructions before heading up the hill.
The sunshine made it’s way up Fringed hill early on in the morning, drying out most of the moisture on Black Diamond much to the riders delight.
Stages 1, 2 & 3 were short but physical, with the most pedaling that the riders would see during racing all day. Stage 1 started high up on Black Diamond Ridge, over 800 meters above sea level. This classic Nelson trail has plenty of burley native roots and punchy climbs to keep every type of rider happy. While conditions were dry, overnight dew made the roots just spicy enough to cause problems for some.
There was then an untimed hike-a-bike up to the start of stage 2, Sunrise Ridge. Sunrise ridge or Sunshine Ridge as it is known to some Nelson locals makes you truly feel like you’re in the back country, really getting the heart rate up with lots of pedaling, pumping and awkward features to negotiate.
Then it was on to stage 3, the shortest stage of the day, Dead Stag Ridge. Flowy and fun this track follows the natural contour of the land and was the perfect warm up for stage 4.
Max hides & his Bronson enjoying some roots and rocks for breakfast.
The young ones seem to be getting faster and faster these days. Aidan Robinson having a good day on the bike and sliding into 3rd place in U17 Men.
Jaden Kaempfe and his Ripmo getting acquainted with the Nelson style of tracks.
Stage 4 Whaimana was the first of the 3 long stages of the day. Starting at 660 meters above sea level and dropping over 550m in elevation in 2km to the Maitai Valley floor. The trail starts off fast and flowy, with plenty of off camber goodness to keep the stoke levels high. Then just as you’re really starting to feel the arm pump the last part of the track dives into dusty chutes and steep rocky corners to the finish on a high. Riders then headed back up the hill on the shuttle to the bottom of the climbing track, E Tū pedaling up to the start of Stage 5.
Fallen tree, now worries! Nicole Mesman making easy work of Whaimana’s newest trail feature.
John Butler in stealth mode amongst the towering natives.
Corn flakes everywhere, riding doesn’t get much better than this. Kieran Bennett on his way to 2nd place in Master 1 Men.
Stage 5, Peaking Ridge is the crown jewels of Nelson riding. The trails starts off down a steep, technical chute leading into the infamous ‘Piano Drop’. Once you have negotiated this you are then rewarded with a long, fast rooty downhill that dreams are made of. Weaving through luscious beech forest with natural features everywhere to pop and drop off. The track then ducks down into the Manuka for a few more chutes before finishing up behind the Maitai Dam. It’s then back to the shuttle for the last uplift and climb of the day back up E Tū to stage 6.
Cole Lucas on a flyer down Peaking Ridge. Unfamiliar with the trails Cole mixed it with some fast locals coming home in 2nd place, just 1 second off 1st place.
Blending his fork in with the greenery, Daniel Self came in just off the senior Men’s podium in 4th place, he also proved that consistency was key, taking out the overall in the Southern Crown Enduro Series.
Another young ripper, Ben Odey is all business on his way to 1st place in U19 Men.
Stage 6 Crankenstein/629 was the last, longest and arguably toughest stage of the day. Starting from Sunrise Ridge, Crankenstein is natural and raw, with off camber roots, sharp turns and plenty of chunky, rocky gnar. A new link down some steep, dropping corners shoot you out onto the road with a quick pedal entering 629 at half way. After three linked steep turns the track then turns into flat out, pumpy single track that zig zags its way across the hill side, before dropping back into some more technical fun to the finish line.
Master of all trades Emma Bateup swapped the small bike for the big bike putting her technical skills to the test.
Always with a smile on her face and having the best time, Melanie Blomfield was right up there with 1st place in Master 3 women.
Riders then headed back to the event village for some very well received post race beers, burgers and race day banter before the business end of the day, prize giving.
Congratulations to Brady Stone and Raewyn Morrison taking out the fastest man and woman on the day against some very strong competition.
Last but not least was the coin toss for the Reserve wheel set. This was open to all racers and volunteers. Tension was high as everyone chose their side of the tape, heads or tails. The goal of the coin toss is to correctly pick the order of the coin flip until all but 1 person is eliminated. Finn Mccloy would be the one to come out on top and take himself home a brand new set of Reserve Wheels.
World famous in NZ, everyone line up for the Reserve wheels coin toss with coin master, Jamie Nicoll.
Halfway through the coin toss and the competition is getting thin.
Finn Mccloy got his heads and tails in the right order to take home the Reserve wheelset.
Thanks to the awesome folk who volunteer their time as timers, medics, marshalls, beer pourers, burger flippers and all the other jobs that make these events run smoothly!
We would like to give a massive shoutout to event organisers Hamish Berkett, Mel Schroder and Belinda Crisp for putting together this awesome event and thanks to the Nelson Mountain Bike Club and event sponsors Santa Cruz Bicycles, Juliana Bicycles and Camelbak, until next time!
Race results can be found here