TransRockies Moab Rocks 3 Day MTB Stage Race

I’ve always wanted to ride in Moab and I’ve always wanted to try a MTB stage race. Combining the two seemed like a really fantastic idea! So when my coach, Mike Durner suggested at the last minute that I join him and a few of his other athletes in Moab for the TransRockies Moab Rocks Stage Race, I packed up the car and decided to send it. On a hardtail. On trails that are very technical. With no possibility to pre-ride. Because, well... adventures? More likely because if I didn’t give it a shot this time, it would be that much more intimidating if I waited another year to try. Waiting “another year” is a bad habit, and experiences like this one get missed when we wait “till the timing is right.”

​Stage Races have always fascinated (and intimidated) me.
Each individual race day becomes part of a bigger experience, and the investments you choose to make on any given day can either harm or help your goals for the event as a whole. There are so many factors and questions that become important to bring it all together:

- What is each stage’s route like? Technical? Climbing? Altitude? Weather?
- Do I need to fuel differently for today’s route? Hydrate differently?
-Will there be aid stations or do I need to self-support?
-How much rest and recovery can I sneak in before the next stage?
- How much do I need to eat (hint: a LOT)

Riding in Moab is amazing, and very very physical. Even after a fun morning ride on Pipe Dreams the day before Race Day #1, I could really feel my shoulders and core after the ride. Each time you line up for a race, it becomes really important that you know exactly why you are there, and what you hope to gain from that experience. These goals have to be your own and can make or break how you feel about it all later. When you set good goals, everything is more fun and you can get SO MUCH out of your race experiences.

My goals for Moab Rocks were pretty straightforward for the weekend:

1. Stay in one piece. So no taking big, dumb risks when avoidable.
2. Make the most of some really unique technical terrain, and challenge myself with a new style of riding.
3. Experience my first stage race with no pressure, and learn everything I possibly can about this format of racing.
4. Have a strong last day on the bike so I can enjoy the weekend.

​Over the next three days we raced over terrain unlike anything I’d ever seen or ridden before. The new Kenda Booster SCT (sidewall protection) and my trusty KS Lev Ci bailed me out innumerable times, and slowly helped me build some confidence on the rocky moonscape of the Moab desert trails. It snowed, rained, briefly hailed and the spring winds had great fun blowing us around out there but no one seemed to mind too much- we were out on our bikes and living the great adventure life.

One of my weekend highlights was spending time with Syd & Macky, professional enduro racers and YouTube superstars. Give their rad channel a follow (mine too if you haven’t already subscribed) and check out their videos from the Moab weekend! (They are linked in this blog!) Syd and Macky did a great job following our whole household through the various Moab Rocks stages and documenting our awesome time playing in the desert. Also check out BKXC’s video and channel- he and I were back and forth all weekend and even took it to a sprint on day 3, so much dang fun!

By the end of the race, all goals were met, new and awesome friends were made and an incredible experience was had. If you are debating on a race that intimidates you- sign up. If you are afraid of looking silly, stop. Life is too short and you won’t regret that leap of faith- you’ll probably surprise yourself.

Happy Trails!