The High Voltage US Sprint Enduro weekend was full of adventure. I learned a lot about sprint enduro racing, and I’ll break it all down in this video. Simple fact: grass tracks are awesome, and the US Sprint Enduro crew knows how to lay one out.
This one was far from home—18 hours from North Texas. It took two days to drive out, getting me there just in time to walk the course Friday afternoon. The Cross Test was 4.1 miles, and the Enduro Test was 3.2. Both seemed dry. (We were wrong.) Barry Hawk held a class Friday that I wish I’d arrived early enough to attend. Maybe next time.
Rachel Gutish gave us solid advice on what to look for during course walks. The goal is to connect turns in the smoothest, fastest way possible. She also recommends running the test back through your mind while walking—and again afterward. That helps you visualize the test when you line up for your first race of the day. If remembering every turn is tough, at least mark the danger spots so they don’t catch you off guard.
Racing for adults at a US Sprint Enduro doesn’t start until 11 a.m., but squeezing in eight tests per day with 30–45 minutes between them makes for a long day. You’ve got to warm up, go full-send, cool down, ramp up again—and repeat that eight times.
All the same nutrition and hydration rules apply as a traditional enduro, but because the test sections are shorter, you won’t need as many carbs per hour. A bigger breakfast can be eaten since you’ll have time to digest it, and you’ll need to figure out if you want a light lunch, fruit, or simple carbs since you race through traditional lunch times. Still, intensity is sky-high while you’re in the test, so you’ll need to dial in both pre- and intra-race fueling. Recovery starts as soon as racing ends, so get in a carb- and protein-focused dinner and aim for quality sleep. Sunday comes fast.
Saturday night, things took a turn. A front blew through for about 30 minutes—and brought a small tornado with it. It wrecked tents and even a few RVs. I was in an RV with Max Gerston and Adam Sans, and we were freaking out like 12-year-olds at their first rock concert. The easy-up and canopy damage was seen across the pits. The carnage looked like a horde of giant white spiders had been massacred.
Sunday morning, the terrain was soaked, as expected. It was wet and slick, but not super muddy. The Cross Test was SLICK the first time through—so much so that even the pros added about a minute to their previous times. As the sun came out and racers laid down laps, the course started to tack up and got really fun.
The Enduro Test actually rode better on Sunday. It had been so dry Saturday that moisture from exposed roots just sat on the surface, making it greasy. On Sunday, the ground finally soaked up the rain, which softened the terrain—but those roots were still slick!
Overall, I didn’t ride that well. My three takeaways from the weekend: intensity, adaptability, and experience. You’ve got to hit every turn with 100% effort—something I’m still getting used to. The track changes a lot throughout the day with all the laps, so you’ve got to adapt. And experience means knowing how to tweak your bike—or your style—on the fly. I struggled with all three.
If I try again to qualify for the ISDE Senior Club Team, I’ll need a lot more preparation for the sprint format. I’ll have to be more in tune with my bike and know what to adjust based on feel—or just ride it and not overthink. Honestly, motocross seems like the best place to start. A few racers mentioned some speed drills too, and I’m hoping to film a video of those soon to share.
The US Sprint Enduro format is a fun weekend of racing, but I don’t want it to take over traditional restart enduros. To be competitive, you need to show up Friday to walk or pedal the course, be ready to go by 11 a.m., and finish racing around 4 p.m. both days. That’s a serious time commitment. I still prefer the restart enduro format where you can drive out Saturday, race a bunch of miles on Sunday, and then head home. Especially for local events with six-hour drives max—way easier to fit into a weekend.
I’d definitely hit another US Sprint Enduro if I could, but the travel and cost just aren’t in the cards right now. National Enduros are my focus this year. The ISDE attempt was a pipe dream, and the lack of prep showed in my riding and results.
Next up: Cherokee National Enduro in Georgia. I’ll see ya there from row 41!
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