okie sprint

Okie Sprint Out Run the Pack Day 2 This weekend was a make-up race for the Okie Sprint series with a change of location. Most of the races have been right off of I44, around the Tulsa area, this one was in Poteau, OK at Big Fox Run which is near Fort Smith, AR. Usually at a sprint enduro there is no practice but Saturday you could pay to do practice. Which was great but I had to fit it into my schedule. Beta USA Demo Tour came to Missouri this weekend and even in our neck of the woods, so I could not miss that! I attended the morning session but I left early to head south to get my practice in. I will talk more about the Demo in a different post! After what felt like the longest drive ever, I got to the Big Fox Run just after 5 which gave me a hour or so for practice. With the type of terrain this place had to offer, a rider would be at a massive disadvantage if they did not do practice. The cross test was going to change a lot by race time but it was going to change for the better. On the enduro test, it was on a ridge above a creek with constant up and downs. If you over jumped one, you would risk the chance of not being on the trail anymore and about 50 feet down. I played it safe and just rolled them and got speed in other areas. The enduro test offered a bit of everything, hills, off cambered slopes, mud puddles, mini EnduroX track, roots, it had it all. Both tests were super-fast. Sunday morning, I was still kind of sketched out about the trail but as soon as I got on the bike, that feeling left me. The long course had to do each test four times total. This time, we got to do whatever we wanted in whatever order we wanted. Since I knew the cross test would be better at the end of the day, I started with the enduro test. I made a few mistakes in the first go at it. But I was ready to go faster at the next time on that test. I felt really good and smooth. After I finished all four on the endure, I took a little break before heading to the cross test. The cross test is mostly field. Most of the field was under water with some mud and a few good drier spots with good corners. Let’s just say, if you saved the cross test for last, you might have been at an advantage. Corners got cut and it got faster. I felt good all day and finished 2nd in B. I always enjoy the Sprint Enduro formats and I always have an absolute blast. I find it fun going fast and trying to shave seconds off every time out! If you have not yet, go check out an Okie Sprint, the series takes a break for the summer and picks back up in the fall. Not including myself, there was only one from the Bonecutter Off Road crew raced this one. Steve Leivan finished 5th in Pro on his Sherco! More Posts Back To Blog Page

Okie Sprint Enduro – The Sprint 111 Ranch Round 3 of the Okie Sprint took place this past weekend in Maramec, OK. According to Google this is an old ghost town, it is roughly a 5 and half hour drive from Mid-MO. This event was co-sanctioned with Black Jack Enduro Championship (BJEC), so the format was a little different. Split into two groups, long course which included B and above and the short course which included C and below. Two sections, long course had to do each section 4 times each and had two hours to do one section 4 times, plenty of time. Come and go as you please but must finish in the time limit. I race B class, so I was in long course group. I arrived Saturday early enough to walk one of the sections. Looked like there could be a few potential trouble areas, mud holes. Luckily, the rain cloud missed the 111 ranch so for the most part the trail would be pretty good. Saturday night, I got treated to a nice, thick juicy steak from Asa Hancock and his buddies. It is a good feeling when you are away from the normal race crew and people still know ya. It is interesting. Anyways, SHOUT OUT AND BIG THANKS TO THEM, IT WAS A GOOD STEAK! Race day, long course group started on the loop I did not walk. I felt like it was pretty muddy and I struggled to find my flow. Roots were slick, the ruts were deep, and the small amount of rocks present were slippery. My second time around this loop, I took an inside line on a corner (I did take it my first time around) trying to get around someone and sunk my bike. No joke, it was deeper than swingarm deep like to the bottom of my plastics deep. First thought was, well shit. I tried everything I knew to do, wedge it out with sticks, make the rut wider to lift it out, tried laying it over, put a shoulder under the rear fender to use my legs to lift it out. It was not gonna budge by myself. Luckily for me, some nice older gentleman decided to stop and help me out. I was very thankful for that. We tag teamed lifting it out and I was finally on my way. I lost about 6-7 minutes here. When something like that happens, it is all on how you react. A person can get a crap attitude, give up and quit or you can get back on the bike and race your heart out. It is all in your reaction. After I finished that lap, I will admit I was frustrated but I cleaned my goggles and lined up to go out for my 3rd loop. This time we were routed around another trouble area and I knew to not take that inside line in the other area. Finished it and immediately went and got the fourth one done. I still did not feel like I had a good flow. I checked the live results after I was finished during the break before the two groups switched sections. Looked like I was around 6 minutes down from the person in front of me and not in last. From what I had seen walking, I knew this section would be way more fun for me. I got my positive pants back on and was ready to rip. Patiently waited my turn in the long line of people, waiting to get back out there. Finally, my turn and I was feeling pretty good. Leaving the last part of the trail before the massive field section there was a big terrace that I had forgot about. I definitely sent it over faster than I would have had I known it was there. But it was fun and I stuck the landing. Each time out I had more and more fun. It was fast flowy trail and the grass track was fun too. After my last time out, I was not ready to be done and would have loved to keep riding, that section was that good! I made up 3 minutes on one guy and gained a position in the class finishing 13th for the BJEC part of it and the Okie Sprint combined some of the classes to fit their classes available so I am not positive what I placed with the combined part. I was not super thrilled with my finish but what can you do when you decided to bury your bike in a deep rut. I am already looking forward to round 4 and 5 this upcoming weekend! Great job to the other Bonecutter Off Road riders who were there! Pro – Steve Leivan 5th (Sherco) A – Broc French 7th (Beta) More Posts Back To Blog Page

Okie Sprint Enduro – Discover Your Speed Round 1 and 2 of Okie Sprint took place this past weekend in Sand Springs, OK just outside of Tulsa. I have never raced a sprint enduro and the format is different. In Sprint enduro’s riders are given two separate tests that must be navigated three times each. Each test is roughly three miles long and should take 10-15 minutes. Riders are staged by class at the start of test one and will be released one at a time in numerical order, every 15 seconds. Once a rider has cleared Test 1, they will have approximately 20 minutes before starting Test 2. Riders will stage by class in front of test two and be released one at a time. After test two is completed, riders will have approximately 40 minutes before heading back to test one for their “second lap” in which they repeat the process but now sorted by placement within their class. Basically, it is fast paced, go as hard as you can immediately! Sounds fun, right? YESSS This was my first ever solo race trip….and of course it had to be a mudder! I kept my attitude positive and was looking forward to riding my dirt bike on this adventure. Early Saturday morning, a massive rain storm came through and put tons of moisture in the ground. I had the pleasure of driving through it, almost pulling over three times because of the lack of vision. Thinking to myself, “oh boy, what did I get myself into.” Lol. Another thing to note, there is no practice at these events. I arrived, unloaded, did my registration, and got ready. I have never ridden in this area prior to this race so I was unsure what to expect. I had heard it had some rocks and a few small hills. The ground ended up having a hard base in most places so there was a bottom. Race time rolled around and the sun was out bringing temperatures to the upper 60s!! WHICH IS AMAZING!! I signed up in B class, it was stacked with 21 additional racers. The trail for the first go on both tests was wet and a little slick. The second go was a much different story. It had changed so much, deep ruts, massive roots. The third go it started to be sketchy because of all the unknowns, which line is safe? Am I going to drown my bike in this water hole? I had no issues, scraped mud off my bike in between each test, and only wrecked two times!! Those of you who do not know my abilities in the mud, THAT IS REALLY GREAT AND IMPRESSIVE FOR ME! I finished 10th out of 22. Sunday was a different story. A few course changes were made to eliminate the trouble spots. But believe me it was possible to still get stuck, I witnessed a few people take the wrong line. The mud was not really wet anymore and became “sticky” which makes it harder to ride, in my opinion. My plan was to stay warm (it was in the upper 30s) and ride consistent, not get stuck. My transponder was not working correctly so at one point I had to start last, in a way that was beneficial for me. I ended up riding faster because I did not like the thought of being last. I wrecked a little more than I did the day before but it was just piddly wrecks. I finished 13th out of 20. Overall, sprint enduro formats are a blast. I had so much fun this weekend! Beware, my heart rate was much higher than it would be at a normal restart enduro or harescramble so be ready for that! I enjoyed camping in my van, getting to experience a new series and meet new people. If you have never raced a sprint enduro, put this series on your list to try, Oklahoma really is not that far from Missouri! I am looking forward to the next one! Great job to all of our Bonecutter Off Road Riders: Saturday: Pro – Steve Leivan 3rd (Sherco) A – Broc French 1st (Beta) A – Nick Smith 16th (Sherco) B – Tayler Bonecutter 10th (Beta) Women – Lindsay Williams 2nd (Beta) Sunday: Pro – Steve Leivan 3rd (Sherco) B – Tayler Bonecutter 13th (Beta) Women – Lindsay Williams 4th (Beta) More Posts Back To Blog Page