October 8 & 9, 2011
Kemer, Antalya, Turkey
If Martin Freinademetz, the former snowboard world champion and Red Bull Romaniacs mastermind, opens a new chapter in the book of extreme enduro, few riders can resist to take a look at what he has to offer. The protagonists of the extreme enduro scene certainly wanted to get a taste of the Sea to Sky and they pretty much all showed up. To mention a few: The three times Roof of Africa winner Chris Birch from New Zealand (KTM), Britain’s youngster Jonny Walker (KTM), Spaniard Xavi Galindo (Husaberg), Darryl Curtis and Riaan van Niekerk from South Africa (both KTM), Germany’s 2009 Red Bull Romaniacs winner Andreas “Letti” Lettenbichler (Husqvarna) and last but not least Graham Jarvis, who dominates the extreme space in 2011 by having won 5 out of 6 races. But not only the pros came to enjoy the Turkish Enduro paradise around Kemer, the Red Bull Sea to Sky attracted 95 riders from 16 nations.
Race day one of two kicked off with two consecutive qualifying heats on the first of two race days: The Beach Race gathered thousands of spectators to watch the riders on a motocross like heat with 15 minutes plus two laps. 20 years old Jonny Walker, who scored an astonishing third place at the Erzbergrodeo, demonstrated his top speed skills in the sandy course and surprised not only those who happened to know him from his trials background by leaving the fearless Xavi Galindo and 37 years old Graham Jarvis behind.The Forest Race took the riders on a nice, but also tiring 35km lap through the Kemer’s beautiful backcountry. Starting at the beach, the track lead from the city into the forest. Rather challenging single trails and riverbeds were followed by a pretty steep downhill with larger rocks. Most of the pro riders didn’t push too hard since they just wanted to make sure they would rank in the top ten to make it into the first starting row of the Olympos Mountain Race on the second day. Walker maintained the lead until he crashed and Chris Birch passed him. Those races are teaching the young gun Jonny many important lessons and it’s got obvious that he is more than eager to learn. Walker secured a second place followed by Graham Jarvis.
The name says it all: The Red Bull Sea to Sky takes the riders from sea level to the impressive peak of the Olympos mountain. And the riders knew that the path to individual glory would be accessible for the majority of the field since the organizers had announced three categories for the Olympos Mountain Race:
Finishing the initial 600m of altitude would bring the bronze medal, a silver medal at 1,700m and gold at 2,365: Bronze is a dream for most enduro riders, silver puts you in a smaller circle of heroes and gold elevates you into the extreme enduro heaven on earth. 12 out of 59 riders actually made it to heaven and while reaching the finish their bright smiles were almost strong enough to wipe away the cold and soaking wet clouds covering the Olympos Mountain.The first one to arrive in this particular heaven however was Graham Jarvis on his Husaberg FE250. We all know Graham as a rather quiet and humble person but Graham was really enthusiastic when he saw the checkered flag – which he greeted with one of his inimitable wheelies. Graham said: “I’m really happy to win this race. Jonny did a great job and it wasn’t too easy to catch him but the more technical the track got, the more I was able to advance. I took it rather easy at the beginning of the race since I knew the hard part would get me where I wanted. It was a fantastic event, not the hardest but the most enjoyable of the year.”
Jonny Walker came in second keeping up with his promise to make it into the top 3: “It feels good to clinch another podium this year. But I ran into a tree, which just refused to step aside so my shoulder is a bit stiff now that I’ve reached the finish.”Chris Birch was extremely happy about his third place: “I fell behind Xavi Galindo in the last third of the race and I had already sort of accepted the fourth place. But I was able to pass Xavi only 200m before the finish, so yes, I’m a happy man. The race was one of the best I rode this year, the difficulty spot on, hard and easy to get stuck but ridable and that’s the way it should be.”
Results, Red Bull Sea to Sky, Kemer, Turkey
1. Graham Jarvis (HUS, UK), 1 hour 59 minutes 42 seconds
2. Jonny Walker (KTM, UK), 02:06:09
3. Chris Birch (KTM, NZL), 02:06:50
4. Xavi Galindo (HUS, ESP), 02:07:00
5. Melchior Faja (KTM, ESP), 02:08:22
6. Riaan van Nieker (KTM, RSA), 02:53:27
7. Darryl Curtis (KTM, RSA), 02:53:31
8. Philip Scholz (KTM, GER), 02:59:09
9. Adrian Broughton (KTM, NZL), 03:03:22
10. Rienk Tuinstra (KTM, ROM), 03:05:12
11. Ismail ?zgul (KTM, TUR), 05:05:24
12. Tommy Kunert (KTM, GER), 07:16:00
