Montana Enduro Series: 2023 Enduro Pescado event

MES Racers-

Welcome to the 2023 Enduro Pescado Whitefish Mountain Resort is always a fun stop, and we’re looking forward to this year. This is a long email, but there is a lot of important information to communicate. Make sure you read thoroughly to know where to park, how to camp, and where to find results after the race.

Racer Check-In
The MES base area will be located near the bottom of Chair 1. You have two options for check-in. Look for the MES tent.
• Friday 8/11, 4:00-7:00
• Saturday 8/12, 7:00-8:00
Planning ahead with check-in gets you a more relaxed morning before the race. YOU MUST CHECK IN BY 8:00 AM SATURDAY, at which time we will release unclaimed spots to waiting racers. We encourage checking in Friday to reduce crowding and wait times Saturday morning.
If you check in Friday and become unable to race Saturday, please return your timing chip to us as soon as possible.

MES and WMR Waivers
You need to sign our MES waiver. You begin the check-in process by signing a waiver and bringing it to the MES tent to collect your timing chip and number plate. If you’re under the age of 18 you will need to have a parent or guardian present at check-in. Your 19-year-old buddy doesn’t count. In addition to the MES waiver, you need to sign an online WMR waiver for the event. We recommend doing that online prior to arrival. Follow the link below, and choose “MT Enduro Series” from the drop-down menu.
https://shop.skiwhitefish.com/s/events/p/smr-bike-event-waiver-acknowledgement-of-risk

Timeline

Friday 8/11
The course will be open for inspection and practice. Please remember that Whitefish Mountain Resort remains open to the public and other trail users will be present during practice on Friday. Please ride under control and be courteous to any other trail users you encounter. Note that our volunteers may be out setting and buttoning up the course throughout the day. Make sure to give them smiles and high fives.
• 10:00 AM-5:30 PM Bike park is open for practice.
• 4:00-7:00 PM: racer check-in at the MES tent beside Chair 1

Saturday 8/12
• 7:00 AM: racer check-in at the MES tent
• 8:00 AM: unclaimed racer packets released for on-site registration
• 8:00 AM: volunteer meeting
• 8:15 AM: racer meeting (MANDATORY)
• 8:30 AM: race start
• 3:00 PM: course closed
Late afternoon: Podium celebration

RACE ROUTE
You'll start the day off by pedaling up Limelight and then up a service road.
STAGE 1: Skynyrd to Maiden
Transfer through the base area to the Summit Trail, and climb to the junction with Runaway Train, just short of the top.
STAGE 2: Runaway Train to Careless Whisper
Transfer through the base area, and load Chair 1. From the top of the mountain, descend Kashmir roughly halfway to find the start of Stage 3.
STAGE 3: Mid-Kashmir to Cindy's Loppers
The stage ends where Cindy's exits the trees. Transfer carefully across Stage 4 and make your way to the summit trail, pedaling back to the top of ZZ Top.
STAGE 4: ZZ Top all the way back to the base area.

Navigation: There are a lot of junctions on the mountain. If junction markings are damaged during the race day, you are still responsible for navigating the course, so it pays to familiarize yourself. To help with that, the route is published on Trailforks. There are a few ways to find the routes in the Trailforks app. Although Trailforks now limits unpaid use of the mobile app to your home area, race routes are still displayed and available to you for navigation on course. There is no limit on the desktop version of Trailforks, so you can preview the course and the bike park without any restrictions. The easiest way to find the route in the app is to open the Events tab when you arrive in Whitefish. It automatically loads nearby events, and the routes will be available there. Alternately, if you’re reading this on your phone, you can click this link:
https://www.trailforks.com/route/montana-enduro-series-2023-enduro-pescado/
The link will open in the app and update the Whitefish Mountain Resort riding area. If you’re reading this on a computer, you can click Add to Wishlist at the top left of the page, and the route will be added to your account. Then inside the app, open Your Wishlist on the table of contents.
Venue-specific information from Whitefish Mountain Resort:

LODGING
Discounted lodging is available to MES racers, families and teams. Valid for stays from: August 10th to August 15th and available to book reservations today.
Please follow the link below to receive 20% off lodging at WMR -
Promo Code: MTENDURO23
https://book.skiwhitefish.com/packages/mt-enduro-lodging-promotion/72415?code=MTENDURO23

TICKETS
Lift tickets needed to ride on race day are part of your MES registration. Lift tickets are still good on the day of the race until 5:30pm. Standard ticket prices apply for days leading up to the race. Access via the Summit Trail is free, though not recommended from 12-5pm.

LIFT HOURS
Normal Lift Operations are 10am to 5:30pm. https://skiwhitefish.com/hours-and-dates/

BIKE PARK INFO AND MAP
https://skiwhitefish.com/mountain-biking-trail-maps/

CAMPING
Camping must be pre purchased online, $40. There is limited space, so please purchase early. Camping is in the Willow Tail Parking Lot for this race. This is located directly across from the base lodge, in the area designated for camping. You can pick up your pre-purchased camping permits at the Lodging Check-In, open 8am-10:30pm.
Camping Info - https://shop.skiwhitefish.com/s/events/p/montana-enduro-series-bike-race-camping

PARKING
Parking is available in all open parking lots. Please do not park any RV anywhere other than the Fir Camping Lot. Parking Info - https://skiwhitefish.com/parking/

SERVICES
In addition to limited food options, there is not a ton of bike supplies at our bike shop, or a wide selection at the general store. Please plan accordingly. Recommended bike shops in Whitefish include Great Northern Cycle & Ski (Central Ave) and Glacier Cyclery (2nd Ave).

CLOSURES
There will be closures and designated timeframes. Anyone caught not honoring this closure will be DSQ’d.

SPECTATOR ACCESS
The best spectator locations, based on sections of course and ease of access are –
Careless Whisper – first thing in the morning. Just above the main lift plaza.
Cyndi’s Loppers and ZZ Top – Good access just above the finish line on the lower forested areas.
Please stay off the tracks and well behind race tape. There are no spectator lift tickets available.

Timing System
We use the SPORTident Air contactless timing system. This gives the best and most accurate results in our sport. You are responsible for following our procedures for checking in and heading out to the course. The timing chips must be switched on to collect time stamps. Crucially, they must be returned to the timing tent for scanning for you to have results. If you lose your timing chip it will cost you $100 to collect backup timing results. Keep the chip on the right-hand wrist outside of your clothing to ensure good time stamps.

Results will be published on the Internet shortly after the event at this link:
https://www.sportident.co.uk/results/MontanaBicycleGuild/2023/EnduroPescado

The results link and all other race information will be available on the 2023 Enduro Pescado Trailforks event page: https://www.trailforks.com/event/7286/

Rules
Our rules are simple and intended to make sure everyone has a high-quality experience. We will cover rules and course-specific concerns during the racer meetings. The basic rules are:
• Enduro format – timed stages are mostly downhill, and transfers are mostly climbs. Transfer stages are untimed, but don’t linger because we have a course closure time.
• Helmets must be worn at all times when on the bike. This includes uphills/transfers. Anyone riding without a helmet will be disqualified immediately. Full-face helmets are recommended but not required.
• The trail is the course. Whether or not a corner is taped, shortcutting the trail tread is a rule violation.
• You must be able to hear an overtaking rider. No earbuds or external speakers are allowed.
• Our complete rulebook is available on our website.
Volunteers will help us assess if we need to penalize any racers that aren’t following our series rules. Keep it fun and throw out high fives all day!

Swag
We have some great swag lined up for you this year. We will also have series T-shirts and pom beanies available for purchase. Cash, check, or Venmo are your payment options.

Volunteers
If any of your traveling companions would like to volunteer out on course, we’d be happy for the help. Also, if you can’t race for some reason on Saturday, we’ll happily refund your registration fee in exchange for your volunteer service. True story: running an enduro race takes a lot of volunteers. Find us at the MES tent in the morning or email eric at montanaenduro.com.
We’ll see you this weekend!