Last call! This past weekend Maxxis ESC Stan’s Enduro racers battled it out for all the marbles and bragging rights until next year. Riders would tackle three stages of fast and chunky bike park terrain combined with a pedal transfer for two more stages at the Warfield Trails. Add chilly fall temps along with race day rain and you’ve got yourself one heck of a challenge, even for our most seasoned racers. Even after thirteen Maxxis ESC Stan’s Enduro Series Races over six months, the base area was filled with smiles and good times come Sunday afternoon. Scroll on to see how the fight for the series overall shook out in each class with 125% points on the line.
We’re past peak foliage here in New England and despite temps in the 70’s during practice, they would drop back down into the 40’s for race day.
Shout out to the Thunder trail crew for keeping the tracks running nice and adding new surprises each time we visit.
Stick season coming quick in the Berkshires, soon there will be snow covering these hills.
Last racer’s meeting of the year. If you miss hearing Chris’ voice over the winter, you can watch the virtual meeting on our YouTube channel.
We finished 2023 the same way we started it. Cloudy skies lead to showers starting around 10am and going right through until the last racers were trickling in.
Racers would start their day by taking the lift to the top of Thunder Mountain where they’d tackle Back of the Shack, Thunder Cliffs and Billy Badger for Stage 1. Kory Nagy opts rougher but more direct line at the bottom of Badger, he would finish P4 for the Pro Men with a stage win.
Jac Dahrouge on his way to the bottom of Stage 1 and the two mile pedal to the Warfield Trails for Stages 2 and 3. He would top the 20U men’s class in both the race and the series
There’s just no avoiding some puddles, Carlos Rodriguez Villa cleans some water out for the riders behind him on the way to second place for the 30-39 Men.
Sammy Nelson wiggles his way through the tight corners at the bottom of Stage 2. He would dominate the 40-49 men’s class, winning all five stages and the 2023 championship jersey.
Chris Mari blasts through the leaves to keep his tires out of the mud, he would earn his seventh win of the season to take the 30-39 series title.
Shock and fork seals working overtime out there.
Sean Bicknell needed a quick rest, it’s a long day on the bike.
Parker Downing still smiling after finishing two muddy Warfield stages.
Amazing seeing Oliver Levick back up to speed after a spinal injury a couple years ago. He has done a few races this season and finally returned to the podium this weekend, finishing third in the 30-39 men’s class.
The final stage of the year was perhaps one of the most treacherous, everyone knows Wine Tree in the wet is no picnic. Second place Kate’s Kids 12U class finisher Gaeme Kinnaman stays light over the mud covered roots.
Charlie McLean keeps his eyes on the prize through the slick roots on Stage 5, earning his first 21-29 men’s class win.
Kaleb Guinn navigates through the final few corners, rounding out the 21-29 men’s class top three with a stage win.
Third place to end the year for Kale Cushman, who spent part of the season racing on the world stage. Despite missing some races, she would also finish up third in the overall.
Avery Ellis would lead two stages, earning second in the race as well as the Pro women’s class overall.
Mia Migliorino battled through the wet weather to take the win with a total race time of 33:46. She already had a commanding lead on the overall coming into Finals, but still pushed for the win like a true champion.
Pro Women: 4th – Kelly Dube, 2nd – Avery Ellis, 1st – Mia Migliorino, 3rd – Kale Cushman, 5th – Mary McConneloug
P3 for Adrian Hayden, which would be enough to give him the Pro men’s class overall title by a margin of 54 points.
Tucker Shearer put up one heck of a fight, winning two stages, but would fall short of the race win by just under two seconds.
Veteran ripper Alex McAndrew found himself on top of the podium surrounded by the next gen come Sunday afternoon. He would take his second W of the season after 25:23 of racing in the wet.
Pro Men: 2nd – Tucker Shearer, 1st – Alex McAndrew, 3rd – Adrian Hayden
Everyone’s favorite part of Finals, the prize toss!
The top five in the series overall points battle from each class.
GT 16U class winners Tillie Lange & Nick Frazier each took home $1,000 GT bucks to get their rigs freshened up for next year.
The overall top three were given prize options from our sponsors, Chris Mari is stoked with the Kuat rack earned by his efforts this season.
Course Official Nik Orlando pedals his bike more than anyone in the series, taping courses, setting up timing boxes in the wee hours and then racing. The least we could do is get him a new cooler from Monster Energy.
Pro Women Series Overall: 4th – Kelly Dube, 2nd – Avery Ellis, 1st – Mia Migliorino, 3rd – Kale Cushman, 5th – Serefina Krajewska
Pro Men Series Overall: 4th – Zeke Neubauer, 2nd – Luke Mello, 1st – Adrian Hayden, 3rd – Noah Couture, 5th – Tucker Shearer
Your 2023 Stan’s Enduro series champions. Cheers, you speed demons!
And just like that the 2023 season comes to a close, thank you to everyone who was part of making it so special. Happy Halloween, enjoy your winter, we’ll see you in just a few months!
Words and photos: Andrew Santoro
Video: Seth Merritt
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