01 March 2017
The Dodzy Memorial Enduro (DME) over Waitangi Weekend is a must-do institution on the kiwi mountain bike calendar. For the 200 odd riders that manage to score an entry, it’s a mammoth weekend of chewing the phat and plummeting downhill - and of course remembering the larger-than-life James Dodds who co-designed the trail network.
About an hour south of Nelson, the Wairoa Gorge terrain is steep and spectacular. The trails are extensive and eye-wateringly good fun. Each shuttle run serves up a massive 800m vertical of snaking descent. Rich and Guy drew the ‘long straws’ at Ground Effect and joined our Nelson-based Revolutionaries for the weekend. Anja, Jamie, Ollie and Tristan all stamped their mark. Tristan delivered the cream with a podium finish in the Masters Men.
Grins all round from Guy and Rich.
Anja, Ollie and Guy between stages.
The Wairoa park is privately owned and developed. Up until recently it was only possible to ride Wairoa during the DME. But late last year the Nelson Mountain Bike Club negotiated access. The Grade 2 and 3 trails are well within the fun zone of experienced mountain bikers. Grades 4 and 5 require bigger huevos. For the ultimate weekend getaway, round up a posse and spend a night or two in the Wairoa Gorge lodge. Discover all you need to know on the Nelson Club website.
Tristan keeps his eyes on the prize. Photo: Digby Shaw
All determination and focus from Anja. Photo: Digby Shaw
The Top-of-the-South frenzy continues next weekend with the NZ Enduro. Three days of classic Marlborough singletrack including Nydia Bay and the Wakamarina. There’s a star-studded international field taking the opportunity to combine this with the Rotorua round of the Enduro World Series a couple of weeks later. The start list includes Ground Effect Revolutionaries Anja MacDonald, Tristan Rawlence and Jamie Nicoll - who is defending his NZ Enduro title from last year.
Master class from Jamie. Photo: Digby Shaw
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