EWS launches new Continental Enduro Series
The new Continental Enduro Series will host a stop in Aspen, Colorado, which hosted an EWS race in 2016.
The Enduro World Series has launched the new Continental Enduro Series. Taking place across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, the series will incorporate at least nine events in its first year, with plans to expand to South America and Africa in the future.
Bridging the gap between qualifying events and the main EWS races, these events allow up and coming riders to compete in existing events closer to home, gain ranking points, and get the chance to win a new championship title. The news comes just a week after EWS organizers announced the expansion of its qualifier events to 25 countries and 50 races.
Continental Series races will feed into a new global EWS points structure, allowing EWS members to gain EWS ranking points. EWS membership will be available for purchase from February onwards. Ranking points can also be earned through the qualifier races, and these will be combined with any Continental and main EWS races competed in to give an overall EWS ranking. Full details about the new points structure can be found here.
The North America Series kicks off in Aspen Snowmass in August and will be run by our friends at Big Mountain Enduro. It then moves to Northstar with the California Enduro Series three weeks later. The series will conclude in Vermont in September with the Clif East Enduro Burke Mountain/Victory Hill.
The Europeans start their season with the organizational powerhouse that is Superenduro in the Italian Dolomites in Canazei in June, before heading to Les Orres with the Enduro Series French Cup in July. Finally, they will take on the high mountains of Switzerland in Zermatt in September. October sees the last European event of the year take place with No Fuss Events on the iconic trails of Fort William in Scotland.
The first outing for Asia-Pacific will be in November and it’s back to Tasmania for some more of the Derby goodness that proved so popular at round No. 2 of the EWS in 2017. Derby will closely be followed by a trip to Mt. Bueller in Australia in December, with both events run by EMS Enduro. There are plans for two more Asia-Pacific events, details of which will be released soon.
Chris Ball, Managing Director of the Enduro World Series, said: “Everyone at the EWS is really excited about the potential of the Continental Series. There’s an ever growing field of talented riders out there and we’re glad to be able to offer them more chances to earn spots in the World Series. We recognize that most amateurs and privateers can’t afford to fly around the world to compete, but the new continental series allows them a platform closer to home to hone their skills and show what they can do.”
“For the first year of the Continental series we’re working with select partners we already have a relationship with,” added Ball. “But next year we’ll be accepting new bids and really hope to see Continental events in South America and Africa as well. It’s great to see the evolution and globalization of the sport, and it’s good to see a new title for racers to aspire to. We look forward to crowning our North American, Asia-Pacific and European Champions later this year.”
More details and entry information on the Continental Enduro Series can at www.enduroworldseries.com.
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