OSTR’s Finn Chapman’s 2020 World Series experience.
After a delayed start to the season, the first enduro World Series race took place in Zermatt, Switzerland. The race was originally scheduled for 4 gruelling stages, but when the time came the weather in the Matterhorn mountain range had different plans. Bringing rain, thunderstorms and even snow meant the race had to be held across two stages. But Enduro World Series riders are made of tough stuff and they weren’t going to give up that easily. We caught up with UK and Outskilltherisk team rider Finn Chapman after his first ever EWS race, to find out how he got on.
Hey Finn, great to hear from you. First let’s talk about your race prep. How did you personally prepare for your first EWS race ?
Well it’s no secret we’ve been in a pandemic, so when lockdown was lifted and I could get to France it was the first thing I did. I spent just over a month in the Morzine Alps so I could set my bike up with suspension settings, changing the geometry on the bike, and using different tyre compounds and styles to find out what works on different terrain and tracks. After that the bike was ready for anything. Once I was happy with the set up of the bike I gave it a strip down and service of components to keep it fast and reliable.
I have been working in the south of Spain doing some bike guiding for Ride Southern Spain, which has given me the chance to get lots of time on the bike and the opportunity to ride some tracks with aggressive rocky switchbacks, which is completely different to Morzine in all aspects. In terms of nutrition preparation I have been eating well with healthy meals, lots of fruit and veg, then loading up on carbs leading up to the race. I always make sure I have plenty of food, water and energy bars for the practice and race. It’s important not to forget to give yourself fuel and get the necessary 8-9 hours sleep needed.
Geometron G1, Fenwicks, Avs racing, Hope Technology.
On reflection, is there anything you would have changed or done more of ?
It would have been good to move to Spain sooner to ride the trails. They’re perfect for EWS training. One thing that really caught me out in the first race on the second stage was the weather. The terrain was completely white and covered in snow, especially on the mountain top. 2 out of the 4 stages had to be cancelled. What’s worse, I didn’t have enough wet weather gear for the track or to keep myself warm in between sections. If I were to do it again I’d bring a proper waterproof jacket, trousers, socks, shoes and a spare pair of goggles. I’ve got a single bag on my bike at the moment, but from now on I’m going to put two to carry a bit more equipment and food.
What advice would you give to someone coming into their first EWS?
Be prepared for anything weather wise. The weather in the mountains can change so quickly. Pack some wet weather gloves, socks and mud tyres. Make sure you do track walks and study the course beforehand. I would say that is the biggest thing as you only get two runs down each section on the bike: one in practice and one during the race, but you can walk it as much as you want.
When I track walk, some of the sections are between 10-15 minutes long. I remember certain features, some because they are technical and I want to take a certain line through, and other sections so I know if I can have a rest from peddling and just coast to conserve my energy for the next part. I learnt so much from doing this. My final piece of advice would be, regardless of everything going on, keep yourself fuelled and energised. When you’re in the zone it’s easy to forget about yourself.
Being out with the best in the world, were there any riders you kept an eye out for?
I was mostly watching the e-bike competitors' lines while they were on their runs during my track walk. Following Jack Moir, a canyon rider, I saw a line he took hopping onto a rock and followed that line. This helped me learn how to time myself and flow from section to section. When watching the e-bike riders on the tight switchbacks, I saw them doing an endo 180 around tight sections. This is such an awesome trick I want to add to my bike skill arsenal.
What tips did you pick up watching and speaking to others?
It was a big help watching other riders with line choices to see how they were tackling certain sections. Andrew Weames from Ride Southern Spain helped me keep myself fuelled throughout the stages. When you’ve just completed a 10 minute downhill section and straightaway you need to get yourself to the next section in a certain amount of time, you sometimes forget when the best time to eat and drink is. If you have to make repairs or fix punctures as well you need to make sure to manage your time in your head.
At these races there are usually snack bars between sections. Because of COVID they weren’t giving them out, so packing as many energy bars as possible as well as equipment was important. On one of the stages in Zermatt, it got cold quickly and one of the mechanics in the Shimano tent gave me a useful tip about wearing a pair of latex gloves underneath my riding gloves to save my hands.
Finn completed the race finishing an impressive 44/79 even with serious weather conditions and a crazy start to the year with COVID. The fallout of race cancellations and travel issues made the season look like it wasn’t going to happen, so it was amazing to see him on the track wearing the Outskilltherisk logo in style. If you want to get your hands on an Outskilltherisk shirt, head to our store by clicking here.
Finn Chapman in Zermatt with his custom Geometron G1.