Word by Rhys Verner
Photos by Joel Ducrot & Justin Ross
For as long as I can remember, the Squamish Enduro has been my favourite race of the year. It's typically the first race of the season, and a perfect test piece for everyone to see where they're at before heading internationally to compete against the world's best. Funny enough, the world's best show up anyway, making this a hometown race that is, in my view, the pinnacle of Enduro.
While the World Cups have had their challenges these past few years, the spirit of enduro is alive and well in Squamish. With 3 different courses (short, classic, and full) and over 700 racers competing, there is truly something for everyone. Not to mention the blind stage, hill climb challenges, and hundreds if not thousands of hours that go back into the trails, this race really goes all out. The passion Dylan and the entire team bring is infectious, and is the reason this race is quickly becoming the premier enduro race in the world.
Rhys On Cougar Ridge Photo Joel Ducrot
For me, this year was slightly different. Starting full-time work at RUX has been amazing, but there is no denying that my time spent on the bike was significantly less than in years past. My goals and motivations have also shifted as I've gotten older, and it was a refreshing change to just ride my own race, unhindered by an expected result. Coming in with that mindset and simply leaning into the experience made this one of my most fun races. The stages were amazing, and spending time with the community and the fans was the cherry on top. For anyone who remembers the Test of Metal — Squamish's original premier race — the Squamish Enduro brings a similar level of community stoke and makes me incredibly proud to be from this town. Whether racers or not, the entire town seemed to be out supporting, and with the revival of previously dead trails, the race leaves behind a positive lasting impact.
When it was all said and done, I ended up 6th on the day and about 15 seconds from a top 3 — a satisfying result for a "washed up" racer. My reward was a warm 1L Smirnoff Ice that Ian had hidden in my bag by the time I got back to the RUX booth. These are definitely my people, and there is never a shortage of fun and pranks at RUX. This was our first time supporting the event, and it was a great opportunity to showcase our gear within the mountain bike community. The feed zone was dialled in with RUX 40s and RUX 70s, and the podium Champagne was kept cold all day in the 25L coolers.
All in all, the event was fantastic and will be a new staple on the calendar for me — both as a racer and in my role supporting via RUX. Thank you Dylan and the whole team for bringing a world-class event to our backyard!
