Video & Race Report: Eastern States Cup Enduro #1 – Powder Ridge, CT

SLIPPERY SLOPE Maxxis ESC Stan’s Enduro #1 – Powder Ridge, Connecticut

The 2023 Maxxis ESC Stan’s Enduro Series was back at Connecticut’s Powder Ridge for the first round. Like the first DH race here a few weeks ago, rain was a factor, with over two inches falling on practice day. Despite the slick conditions, all 302 racers were psyched to be back at the races with the Maxxis ESC community. This weekend riders battled it out on five short yet diverse stages, all accessed via pedal power with a roughly 550′ vertical transfer. Shorter tracks mean tight racing and no room for mistakes, which is a tall order when your bike is sliding all over the place. Keep scrolling to see who kept it rubber side down and kicked off the season on a high note.

Practice day was tough, with over two inches of rain pouring down most of Saturday. Although the trails were slick in spots they drained well, and Sunday’s forecast was thankfully free of rain.

Two pieces of good news Sunday morning; sunny skies and rider meetings with Chris Gilbert are back.

Warm ups are simply more fun when the resort has a killer pump track like Powder Ridge.

Five stages the hard way this weekend, nothing like a transfer next to the lift to remind you how easy it could be.

The Motorex Ebike class would have first crack at the damp trails Sunday morning. Chance Longley clears out the puddles for the rest of the field on his way to take the win at his first race.

Tucker Shearer finds the flow at the bottom of Stage 1. He would lead the charge for a slew of fast young riders moving up to the Pro men’s class this year, fourth place this weekend in a field 30 deep.

Should’ve brought Flat Tire Defender inserts, be the fastest amateur racer on Stage 1 and you could win them for free.

Nathan Sterckx scrubs his way into the chip out of Stage 2, he would round out the Pro men’s top five.

First race with the Pro Men for Luke Mello, he would finish the day in thirteenth place.

Aiden Sand keeping the vibes positive on the pedal transfer.

P2 in the U20 class for Dan Moon, his best result to date.

Anthony Lapedota points it over the rough, rocky sections of Stage 3, he would take P3 in the 20-29 men’s class.

Adam Robbins goes flat out at the bottom of Stage 3, the long time Maxxis ESC racer would finish up in 8th place for the Pro Men.

Tyler Anniello picks the most direct line through the Stage 3 rocks, he would best the highly competitive 30-39 men’s class by seven seconds.

Holding speed through the corners of Stage 4. Justin Gagne would go on to earn the fastest U20 time with a trio of stage wins.

Nick Sokol gaps for extra speed to push him through the peanut butter at the top of Stage 4, he would finish runner up in the 30-39 men’s class.

Stage 5 is normally home to our DH races, so you know it’s rowdy. Kyle Wolmer switched back to a bike without pedal assist this season, turns out he’s still pretty fast, finishing fourth in the 30-39 men’s class.

Amateur women’s class winner Sierra Young hangs onto the outside line to avoid the rough stuff on Stage 5. She would win four stages and the race by over 44 seconds in a dominant performance.

Nick Frazier on an absolute heater at the bottom of Stage 5, he would win three stages and earn the GT U16 win by over ten seconds. He was also our fastest amateur racer on Stage 1, winning tire inserts from our friends at Flat Tire Defender.

The GT Boys U16 class had over 50 riders, so the top three took home big checks thanks to our friends at Kate’s Real Food.

Chelsea O’Connor kept it smooth and consistent to take third place for the Pro ladies.

Kale Cushman followed up her Intense DH podium result here three weeks ago with another one, second place and plenty more mud riding practice.

Canadian Charlotte Gaudreau drops into the base area to take the Pro class win at her first Maxxis ESC race. She would take four stage wins with a total race time of 12 minutes.

Pro Women: 4th – Isabel Georgian, 2nd – Kale Cushman, 1st – Charlotte Gaudreau, 3rd – Chelsea O’Connor

Third place to start off the 2023 race season for Vermont speedster Isaac Allaire. He’s got the #1 plate for a reason and will be looking for more as the season gets going.

2022 Stan’s Enduro champion Kory Nagy would secure P2 with a pair of stage wins, 6.79s off first.

Max Beaupre made the trip north to kick off the season with us like old times. He would take the W over a stacked Pro men’s field with three stage wins and total race time of 10:03.

Pro Men: 4th – Tucker Shearer, 2nd – Kory Nagy, 1st – Max Beaupre, 3rd – Isaac Allaire, 5th – Nathan Sterckx

Signing off from our second wet race of the year, hopefully that means we have a couple dry ones coming up. Stan’s Enduro racers, we’ll see you at Glen Park in Stroudsburg, PA June 4th. Intense DH racers will be back at it June 18th at Jiminy Peak. Register for both before they sell out! Have a great Memorial Day everyone, we’ll see you soon.

Words and photos: Andrew Santoro
Video: Seth Merritt

Full Results
Race Recap Podcast
Easternstatescup.com

2023 MAXXIS ESC PRESENTED BY KATE’S REAL FOOD SCHEDULE

INTENSE CYCLES DOWNHILL SERIES
April 30 Powder Ridge, CT
June 18 Jiminy Peak, MA
June 25 Killington, VT
July 23 Sugarbush, VT
July 30 Mount Snow, VT
Aug 20 Sugarloaf, ME
Aug 27 Blue Mountain
Sept 17 Thunder Mountain, MA
Oct 8 Powder Ridge, CT
Oct 15 Killington, VT Series Finals

STAN’S ENDURO SERIES
May 21 Powder Ridge, CT
June 4 Glen Park, PA
June 18 Jiminy Peak, MA
June 25 Killington, VT
July 8 Arrowhead, NH – Outbound Night Enduro
July 23 Sugarbush, VT
Aug 6 Burke, VT
Aug 20 Sugarloaf, ME
Aug 27 Blue Mountain
Sept 10 Arrowhead, NH
Sept 17 Thunder Mountain, MA
Oct 1 Woodstock, VT
Oct 29 Thunder Mountain, MA Series Finals

OAKLEY SHOWDOWN SERIES
June 18 Jiminy Peak, MA
June 25 Killington, VT
July 23 Sugarbush, VT
Aug 20 Sugarloaf, ME
Aug 27 Blue Mountain, PA
Sept 17 Thunder Mountain, MA Series Finals

MOTOREX EBIKE ENDURO SERIES
May 21 Powder Ridge, CT
June 4 Glen Park, PA
July 8 Arrowhead, NH – Outbound Night Enduro
August 20 Sugarloaf, ME
Sept 10 Arrowhead, NH
Sept 17 Thunder Mountain, MA
Oct 1 Woodstock, VT
Oct 29 Thunder Mountain, MA Series Finals