To push themselves to the very limits riders have to tackle obstacles previously thought impassable.
By definition Hard Enduro is intended to be anything but easy. Put simply it’s man and machine against the elements… And more often than not some pretty extreme weather, too. A crucial element of Hard Enduro is the obstacles that the riders must push themselves to the limit to overcome.
Even the world’s elite sometimes get stopped in their tracks. But through sheer grit and determination, it’s usually not for long. “There are times when you’re on the limit of what you can do – you just hit at obstacle and hope for the best. If at first you don’t succeed, then you just try again,” confesses Graham Jarvis – the world’s leading Hard Enduro rider. “Sometimes you just hang on, even though you’re almost out of control.”
“Technique is everything – it’s in my body,” adds Germany’s Andreas Lettenbichler, who finished second overall in the 2012 Red Bull Romaniacs. “If you have the technique, then you just do it without thinking – the feeling comes naturally.”
But to become the best in the world, the techniques needed to conquer near vertical climbs and successfully tackle gigantic boulders take time to learn. Even for a rider like 2012 Erzberg winner Jonny Walker trial and error has played a big part in his journey to the very top.
“A lot of the time I’ve ended up hitting an obstacle way too fast and crashing hard. Personally, that’s been the hardest part to learn. Sometimes you need to slow down to ride faster.”
So take the Pro’s advice contained in this video put together with our friends at Throttle Entertainment. Take your time, find the path of least resistance and conquer what you previously though impossible…