Athlete Series: Sturdy Dirty Race Recap by Jess Freeze
I started racing mountain bikes back in 2021, mostly competing in local Mountain Bike the Tetons events and regional events like the Montana Enduro Series. This year, my racing goal was to sign up for events where I would really challenge myself and compete against some of the best enduro riders in the country. Most enduros are only ten percent women, so you’re lucky if you even have a full podium in your category. While I love racing our local trails in Jackson and Teton Valley, I needed to travel a bit farther to meet this goal. Enter the Sturdy Dirty…
The Sturdy Dirty is a Pacific Northwest-based, female-identifying only enduro that is in its eleventh season and has built a reputation as an event fostered by an empowerment-first and intimidation-free vibe. Riders range from beginners to seasoned pros. The sign-up for the Sturdy has historically sold out in less than five minutes, so I knew I had to plan ahead if I was going to get a crew of gals together to race with me. I sent out a group message floating the idea of a trip back in January, and I was able to get some ladies to agree to join me. My best childhood friend, her mom, my mother-in-law, and another friend all signed on. On Valentine’s Day, we waited anxiously for the registration to open, and the group text blew up as each of us got our confirmations- we would be going to Washington for everyone’s first mountain bike race! This was the perfect race for it because there are multiple categories with varying trail difficulties and lengths. We had a racer in every category from beginner to Pro.
This year’s enduro was hosted at Raging River in Snoqualmie, Washington where 272 racers from 15 states and Canada gathered for one epic weekend. This seemed like a great opportunity to get the competition I was looking for. Our group came from Denver, Lander, and Jackson. We also met up with a Teton Valley, ID crew once we arrived. On Thursday of the race weekend, our crew arrived at Raging River. First things first, practice time! Day 1 consisted of pedaling and practicing the first and fourth stage of the race–and wow, we were pleasantly surprised! Although the locals bemoaned how dry the dirt was, we were elated at what the Tetons would consider ‘tacky’ dirt. If I can ride behind someone in the middle of July and not have the trail obscured by dust, I consider that a monumental victory. The trails were just the right amount of tech and flow to keep you grinning from ear to ear all the way down. The day finished off with a post-ride dip in the river and an epic camp spot nestled in the PNW forest.
On Friday, the crew riding the beginner course went off on their own to practice their final 2 stages, and the remainder of the group went to practice stages 2 and 3 of the expert/pro course. These steep and rooty black tech trails were certainly a step up from the day before. Everyone pushed themselves to first conquer the more difficult features, and then ultimately ride them with more pace and confidence. We spent all day enjoying ourselves as we scoped our lines and gave them a few practice runs. I believe this day was so valuable for building up the confidence of my fellow riders that were practicing for their first ever enduro race. Much to my excitement, after pre-riding the course, my two friends both decided to move up to a higher difficulty level. This is what I love about racing: after just two days of practicing, both women were ready to push themselves onto a course they had initially believed to be too difficult!
On Saturday morning, we woke up and let the husbands cook us breakfast while the ladies did a last-minute bolt check and got race ready. The on-site camping area was buzzing with nervous energy as hundreds of gals got dressed (many in costumes and glitter). We took off on the climb at a brisk but steady pace, knowing we had a long day ahead. Every aid station was staffed by the boyfriends/husbands of the racers, what a refreshing change of pace! There were Jello shots, a BB gun shooting range, and snacks galore. Our Teton crew was the last group to finish the race; there was too much fun to be had on course! This is what makes this event one-of-a-kind, and I was elated to be able to include friends and moms who pushed themselves to try something new.
The Sturdy Dirty is such a unique race environment because the organizers have successfully bridged a pathway for women who love to ride bikes into women who race. When I have invited women to join me in other races, the common response is, “But I’m not fast.” In my opinion, this misses the point. You don’t need to be “fast” to participate. Men don’t seem to think that way, perhaps they already feel like they belong in this competitive space regardless of their ability level. But for me personally, it wasn’t until I started racing that I began to get faster. The practice days leading up to a race where we session difficult sections and look at line choice are where I began to improve my riding. The Sturdy Dirty is a perfect entry point for the race-curious as well as a great event for the pros to compete. They have created a community where they prioritize inclusivity, getting out of your comfort zone, and sharing a love for riding bikes. Going fast is just part of the fun.
So how can we get the ratio to improve from a 10% female field? How can we foster this Sturdy environment at every enduro? Grab your gals and show up. Bring the glitter if that’s what makes you go fast. Don’t take yourself too seriously. Finish last, who cares? It’s the process and the race that is the fun part, not exclusively the result. Share it with the people you love and meet some wonderful friends along the trail. I hope this gives women the confidence to step out and enjoy a Mountain Bike the Tetons event, a local Stravaduro, or a DH race at JHMR. I’d love to see you out there.
