wow…. I remember now why I don’t really do forums much. A few people asked me about it, so I thought I would share my view and pictures from the event.
I heard so many great comments and yes some thought it was going to be different and more Enduro/DH based but this wasn’t advertised by the organisers from what I saw before hand. I understand that you can never please everyone but you have to understand the logistics of organising an event like this to appreciate that connecting 4/5 days of riding in Wales will have to include fire road sections. After the first stage many realised that if they wanted to go for the Trail King/Queen they had to either push on and get to the sections first or hang back and wait for a reasonable gap before they dropped into the timed sections. The XC riders just pushed on and treated it like a stage race and wanted to be first back each day and from what I saw most of the others enjoyed the scenery, riding and atmosphere of being in an event like this.
I ride Enduro races when not behind the camera and I would have enjoyed this event from what I saw. Most enduro races I have raced in have at least one stage if not more that have flat and uphill sections within it anyway.
I am sorry rotel that you didn’t enjoy although I feel some of your points are unfair. That is your view though and I am not going to argue. I am just a photographer that loves being outdoors and seeing others enjoy the outdoors.