The Red Bull Outliers was an unbelievable experience!
We headed out on Thursday afternoon from Kamloops, B.C. with dog and dirt bikes in tow. We made it to Canmore, AB by midnight where we spent the night in our trucks in a McDonald’s parking lot. The next day we completed the drive to Steveville, AB arriving mid-day to check in at the race site and walk the course.
The event was extreme, increasing in difficulty as each Outlier obstacle was opened up. The course designers (Shane Cuthbertson and his crew from RAD 2.0) utilized the best of what the badlands had to offer picking a challenging 10km loop. The course included steep climbs (basically cliffs), descents that make a mountain goat cringe, sink holes that would easily swallow a bike and rider and crumbly knife edge trail features to keep you on your toes. Just to finish a lap was an incredible challenge!
Canada’s own Trystan Hart from Invermere, B.C. (who has been making a name for himself on the Hard Enduro world stage) came away with the win in the pro class completing an impressive seven laps and 32 Outliers!
Bowen riders Liam Scrivens (who broke his handlebars falling off a cliff during the qualifier) competing in the amateur class and I competing in the veteran class completed the race placing 13th and 11th respectively. We both plan on heading back to the badlands next year to challenge the course again!
