Drayton resident Branden Petrie is headed to Austria to participate in one of the world’s toughest Hardenduro races.
“It’s the world’s biggest race for our sport,” says Petrie. The Red Bull Hare Scramble, the final race that only the best qualify for, is 35 km of rough terrain, including gravel, forest areas and boulder gardens.
Enduros are similar to motocross in that the contestants ride dirt bikes, but there are a few key differences that set the two sports apart. First, enduro bikes are heavier and are built to be street legal, as some tracks require the bikes to travel on sections of road. How they race is also different. Motocross tracks are manmade outdoor tracks, while enduro tracks are paths marked through natural terrain.
The race in Austria is part of the World Enduro Series. There are events all over Europe and two in North America as well. The Red Bull Hare Scramble is the largest race held in the world.
“The races that we do there are really hard endurance races,” says Petrie. “They are several hours long, through the mountains, with very tough and exhausting obstacles. Basically, this is the pinnacle race that everyone goes to around the world.”
Petrie didn’t have to qualify to attend the event in June. He paid his fees and can enter. However, there are two qualifying races done the week prior to the Hare Scramble that determine if you’ll get to give it a go.
He says only the top 500 contenders out of 1,800 bikers will get to participate in the final race.
Petrie has been on a dirt bike since he was 12-years-old. He says he was inspired by his older cousin who raced professionally in Canada. He says the atmosphere around the games got him hooked, and he’s always thinking about it now.
“It’s pretty fun to see how hard you can push yourself in those races that are five to six hours long. When you feel like quitting when you’re an hour in, but you just push on and see how far you can make it,” says Petrie.
While the race in Austria is going to be a tough one for Petrie, it’s not the first Hardenduro race he’s done. Over the last three years, Petrie has done several races in the States, always able to make it to the final race.
The race is usually annual, but with the recent pandemic, the race hasn’t taken place since 2019. “This is the first year back, so it’s going to be bigger and better than ever.”
Petrie says he’s excited about the upcoming experience. He grew up watching movies and videos about the event, and this is something he’s always wanted to do. “I’ve always dreamed to be here, so it’s pretty exciting to finally get to be a part of it.”
