Inaugural Squamish Hard Enduro Marks Canadian Debut for AMA Exhibition Race

The first-ever Squamish Hard Enduro took place over the weekend in Squamish, British Columbia, serving as an exhibition round for the US Hard Enduro (USHE) schedule. This event marked a significant development for the region, where dirt biking is a growing sport amid a landscape more traditionally known for other outdoor recreational pursuits. The Squamish Dirt Bike Association, supported by organizers including Carla and Matt Carey and Shane Cuthbertson of Red Bull Outliers, realized a project nearly a decade in the making with the support of club members and the wider community.

The two-day event, held approximately 45 minutes south of Whistler, reached its maximum capacity with all 300 available racer slots sold out. Friday's proceedings took place at an enduro cross track on the Squamish Oceanfront. All participants completed practice sessions and two qualifying laps before being organized into groups for the finals. Over 1,000 spectators attended, with dozens of vendors present. Weather conditions included intermittent rain, which added complexity to the racing conditions but did not deter the participants or the crowd.

Friday’s finals saw Declan McCahill of Gold Creek Lodge claim the top spot in the Expert class, Sandra Gomez win the Pro Women's class, and FMF KTM Off-Road Racing’s Trystan Hart secure victory in the overall final. Hart, a Canadian national and prominent figure in the sport, drew significant attention from local fans, including autograph and photo requests. US Hard Enduro racers who traveled north noted their own recognition among the local racing community, reflecting the close following of the sport in the region.

The excitement from the opening day carried over into Saturday, which featured a change of venue to a mountain course located about 20 minutes from the Oceanfront. The morning saw the Expert and Amateur classes compete in a four-hour, two-lap race that combined pre-existing hare scramble trails with new, technical hard enduro sections. The Amateur course included a split that led riders higher up the mountain, culminating in a descent of nearly 2,000 vertical feet over terrain characterized by exposed roots, rocks, and slopes where walking was required.

Declan McCahill established an early lead in the Expert class and maintained it through to the finish, completing the course in 2 hours and 21 minutes. Sandra Gomez finished 14 minutes behind McCahill, securing both second place overall in the Expert division and victory in her class. Brodie Waddell, Noel Bolso, and Cole Clarkson completed the top five in the Expert ranks.

The Pro division’s main event began with rows of five riders, seeded by prologue results. Hundreds of spectators positioned themselves along the course to view the competition directly. Early in the race, the first principal obstacle, known as “1995,” saw Hart take an early lead up the challenging, moss-covered hill. A group battle developed between Rockstar Husqvarna’s Ryder Leblond, Bullet Proof Designs KRD’s Ryder Guest, Niko Piazza, and Champion Brick’s Matt Green, with positions changing multiple times before LeBlond emerged in pursuit of Hart.

The remainder of the course included sections labeled “Hart’s Hill,” “5 Things,” and “Carla’s Cafe,” each presenting unique technical challenges. Hart extended his lead as the race progressed, managing consistent lap times of approximately 33 minutes. He completed four laps and finished in 2 hours and 13 minutes. LeBlond secured second place, followed by Green in third, with Guest and Piazza rounding out the top five positions in the Pro category.

The event was noted by organizers and participants for its challenging courses, level of organization, and the strength of the local dirt biking community. The Squamish Dirt Bike Association’s efforts in course development and event execution were recognized as significant, with the success of the inaugural event raising expectations for future participation and the emergence of new competitive talent from the region.

The Squamish Hard Enduro’s status as a USHE Exhibition race encouraged American competitors to attend, serving as both a competitive opportunity and a means to increase media exposure for the series. The event also contributed to strengthening cross-border ties in the North American hard enduro scene.

Looking ahead, the AMA National Hard Enduro Championship, presented by IRC Tire, is scheduled to resume with the Hollow Point Hard Enduro in Wellsville, Ohio, on August 8-9. The AMA East Hard Enduro Regional Championship, presented by Klim, continues with the River Monster Hard Enduro in Glen Lyn, Virginia, on July 18-19.

The Squamish event’s turnout and execution are being cited by observers as evidence of growing interest in hard enduro in British Columbia, with local role models such as Trystan Hart cited as factors inspiring new participants. The successful hosting of an AMA-affiliated event is anticipated to contribute to the ongoing development of the sport in Canada.