At the World Enduro Championships in Parry Sound

I am Marshalling the Extreme Test this weekend at the Parry Sound stop for the World Enduro Championships, and it looks like it will be a great event.

Out of the paddock, the riders will be challenged during the transition to the the Enduro Test, as it is rocky Canadian Shield with occasional drops, mixed with lots of Granite, and slippery sections.

The Enduro Test is a 8 km fast rocky section that is the easiest of the three tests.

The Cross Test is next and is a tough (some say harder than the extreme test) sandy track with lots of energy zapping sand uphills, down hills, drops and offcamber turns.

The next test is located on the harbour front of the town of Parry Sound and is all rock! A very tough rocky 800hm, with steep rock climbs and decents. The test uses many sections of an annual trials event.

Back to the paddock they go. Followed by another 2 loops, so 3 loops each day. It will be a tough event with temperatures expected to be above 30 degrees CA each day, pushing 40 with the humdex.

There are actually more Husabergs than Yammies, Hondas or Suzuki's......Go Husa!

Were are all you USA Husa riders? We have a Canadian Junior Husa entered!

I'll provide more updates after tomorrows 1st day


David

OK, got home this morning.....

here is the results page:

http://www.abc-wec.org/wec_online/2006/liveresults.htm

Here is the event official website:

http://www.worldendurocanada.com/

On Saturday I marshalled the rocky downhill on the Extreme Test. Not too many crashed over the three times they passed. But it is amazing how much better the euro's are than ANY of the North American riders. The top Riders (David Knight especially) made every thing look easy...

No shows for the event included Jimmy Lewis, who was listed to be on a Berg, and Mike Lafferty. Both I think were injured prior and did not make the trip......?

After Saturday, riders said they loved the course, but thought the enduro test was a little too long.

On Sunday I was on the shoreline standing knee deep in Georgian Bay, with the job of righting bikes that fall into the bay......

Unfortunately one of the riders I had to help was Bjorne Carlsson on his Husaberg. Around a rocky point, he hit a rock and got deflected and into the bay he went. I ran through the water, got the bike up, but it was quasi watered out through the pipe... 2 plus minutes later he got it going. Now I know how to properly kick my berg......

Next time through he did a nice over the bars crash.....not a good day for Bjorne. The Bergs did seem to be bouncing in the rocks more than the other bikes...might have been a setup issue.....

Watching David Knight dab only twice in a section that all other riders were paddling through, was amazing!

The junior, Joakim Ljunggren, did very well with a 2nd and a 1st.

In all it was a great event and a real eye opener. I hope to post some pictures later this week.

David

Photos now in my gallery. My wife, Cecile Gambin, is the photographer and gets the credit........Had to encourage her to take pictures of Berg riders, as she has a KTM and Gas Gas

Sorry there aren't more pictures, but we were both marshals and it was hard to take photos at the same time.

On another note, I really hope the WEC will return next year, as this is a great event for Canadian and American riders to see and experience what it takes to compete against the Worlds best. And with this experience, compete for the podium in the future.

Canadian Junior, Cory Graffunder (KTM), put in excellent rides both days, finishing 5th in both. And as a locally sponsored rider, won a free all expenses trip to Austria to meet and tour the head office for finishing 5th.....so the announcer said....