Local mountain bike riders took the fast route to the finish line as the B.C. Enduro Series rolled into the Canmore Nordic Centre, Sunday (June 19).
The local contingent, led by the Rundle Mountain Cycling Club (RMCC), had riders entered from the teenaged to pro levels.
Riders sped through seven timed slick and muddy sections that snaked downhill after wet conditions the previous day.
Canmore’s Mateo Massitti, 14, had a stand out performance for RMCC, finishing seventh overall in the full course and took first place in his U15 men’s category.
“(Massitti) won the category by a minute and 11 seconds,” said Matt Monod, coach and rider.
Also placing in the U15 men’s full course were locals Jack Menzies, finishing second, and Tyler Wickham in fifth.
Andreas Massitti finished fourth in the 16-20 men’s category and tied for 20th overall.
Coach Monod raced as well, placing fifth in the pro men category and fifth overall, despite crashing in the first stage and popping his back tire on the final stage.
It forced Monod to ride to the finish on one tire and an exposed back rim.
“It was kind of funny,” said Monod. “It was totally straight, just scarred up.”
Local Paul Kerfoot crashed twice in the enduro, but rode in for a sixth-place finish in the pro category and eighth overall.
Monod and Kevin Eaton run the All Mountain Program (AMP) of the RMCC.
Mondo said young AMP “padawans” racing enduro all had a strong showing in Canmore.
“The kids are getting pretty quick,” said Monod. “Mountain biking is making a big move on the Canmore scene.”
In the short course of the enduro, the U21 men’s event saw RMCC members sweep the top five spots.
RMCC’s Jack Fraser was first in the category and first overall in the short course.
Finishing 21 seconds behind in second place was Logan Storvold, who claimed silver in the overall standings.
Johan Steinberg was bronze, Jacob Baggott finished fourth and Finn Borstmayer was fifth.
Local Shona Rubens finished first in the short course 21+ women category and was third overall.
The next stage of the B.C. Enduro Series is in Crowsnest Pass this Sunday (June 26).
