Missouri Enduro Series
The Missouri Enduro Series brings all of the components a racer expects. From never-before-seen raw cuts and challenging lines to shredding down your favorite gravity fed trails, a new-for-this-year team village and a weekend atmosphere that couples music, friends, the outdoors and the bike, we know you will not want to miss a single MES this coming spring.
Before diving into the schedule, we want to announce the Team Village. Whether you have a full-blown factory kit squad or its just you and your best bud, please reach out to mjohnsonmtb@gmail.com to secure your tent space right at the HQ area for Saturday and Sunday. This will be a pedestrian/bike only area for pits, awards, music, food and yes…. Camping (where applicable). Each venue has its space capacities so please secure your spot right away. This area is FREE for any registered racer (camping fees may apply if you stay overnight).
When you hear gravity fed gnar trails in MO many people pause. Once you experience an MES, you will begin to see how special Missouri is for riding these trails. MES volunteers take the time to look at your daily trail and find unique ways to make it be even better for enduro style riding. The volunteers also have the ability to put in brand new raw cuts to keep even the seasoned local on their toes. Missouri trails are constantly engaging with rocks, cliff bands, roots, steeps, and varying dirt. Don’t believe us? Just come to the first race.
MES is welcoming for ALL ABILITIES. We want beginners and folks new to enduro to experience the love and comradery we all share for this sport. All MES events will have A/B lines (or go arounds). There is NEVER mandatory air to complete a stage. Finally, one thing that is so important to remember for enduro….its about completing the adventure. Its ok to walk sections and take your time. Enduro is about experiencing back country trails in as much a natural state as possible. On practice days’ work with your friends and others to get through a section. This is all a part of the sport. To finish, you and your bike need to complete a multi stage event. Strategy of how a rider takes a stage is as important as how fast they try to ride it. If you are new, please do not hesitate to ask questions. Whether on the FB pages or directly to MES or others at an event or on the trail.
Speaking of that first race…..Dropping in 3…2…1….
March 5 – Zombiewood Enduro, Bluff View and Castlewood Parks
What better way to highlight an MES than by going to a location no one thought could be worthy for an enduro. Well….anyone who came for the “sneak peak” back in the fall knows that this enduro is legit. It has it all. Castlewood is a mix of old school hiking trails that have evolved very little. What does this mean? Perfect enduro trails. Couple this with some little known secrets and some MES sprinkling of raw lines at Zombie and we have the makings of a great enduro. You think you know this area? You don’t know SAS. We think you may never ride this area the same again once you race it.
March 26 – Greensfelder Enduro, Wildwood
In our opinion, what makes the Greensfelder race so special is the entire park has a mix of new and old trails. It makes getting around to stages enjoyable all while giving racers a chance to see old trails they may have never known were there. Our volunteers go through and clear these older existing trails and bring them back to life. After you race an MES at Greensfelder, it is easy to go back and keep riding many of the great stages that are there. From the now famous raw cut trails of “Triple Deuce and Matt’s Crack” to the fabled “best chunk line in MO” The Spiral of Death…..This enduro will keep you smiling the entire day.
April 30 – The Chubb Enduro, Eureka
This venue needs absolutely no introduction and is simply known as THE Chubb Enduro. This is where it all started for enduro in Missouri. Before Big Mountain Enduro, before Shepherd, before MES there was Chubb. How do we keep Chubb fresh every year? Well, part of the fun is giving you the classics like the Steps and Chubb connector. With that said, every racer will tell you that there are plenty of surprises that our team finds including all new raw cuts and a few pucker up roll ins. This is the locals proving ground and on any given day you will see the best riders in the area out here working on their skills.
June 4 – St. Gnarles Enduro, Matson and Klondike Parks
When we announced the first St. Gnarles event a few years ago people didn’t pause…they laughed. “There is nothing gnarly in St. Charles to ride” they said. Then came race day and the introduction to possibly the steepest stage in the MES. We dubbed it “NGA”. To quote one of our top female pros, “That trail is proper!” Couple that with an amazing urban stage at the brewery and the best after party of any enduro, St. Gnarles became the series finale and a must-do for all racers. That’s right ALL racers. XC, enduro, cycle cross, BMX, unicycle, roadies…we don’t care. Come out to this amazing event and atmosphere. Now in its 3rd year, the crew from Bike Klub has pulled out all of the stops. We are talking brand new raw cuts, new lines and even more new gnar. This race, more than any, shows MES’ ability to change the narrative on what is truly possible for riding in Missouri.
What about non racers? We cannot wait to see you, your family and friends at the races. There are so many easily accessible viewing spots to see a racer compete. In addition, each location will have a “heckler zone”. These form naturally and just simply ask around the team village where people think it will be located for a given race. For spectators we ask that you have good hiking boots. Please leave your bikes at the car and walk into the locations. We also ask that you leave your furry friends at home as pets can be a hazard to racers. Please stay behind the tape for yours and the rider’s safety and finally, please take a lot of video/photos and tag Missouri Enduro Series.
These events will happen rain or shine. If we have to adjust courses and stages based on safety and trail conditions we will.
….Go Fast, Stay Fast….
Thank you and remember to RideMOenduro
–The MES