Six golden tips from Extreme enduro legend Graham Jarvis
Another fantastic year of hard enduro is over. And what a great year that was for Graham Jarvis. The super popular Englishman - good for more than 1 million likes on Facebook - won Romaniacs again and added a fifth victory in Hells Gate to his list of achievements. In addition, he also triumphed in Sea to Sky, the Ales Trem Extreme Enduro, Hixpania Hard Enduro, Extreme Ravines and Minas Riders in Brazil…
We couldn't find anyone better to give us some tips before we start in our first hard enduro next year! To keep up with his incredible Romaniacs record - which saw him reach the top podium for the sixth time - Jarvis gives us his six quick tips!
1. Work on your wheelie
Graham Jarvis: “We're not talking about a quick wheelie, or brawling on the street. I'm talking about a slow wheelie. A controlled and slow wheelie is the key to smoothly overcoming so many obstacles in extreme enduro. It's all about controlling the throttle, your clutch and of course the balance with your front wheel in the air. That precision in terms of your control allows you to overcome many more obstacles with confidence.”
2. Go to a competition in your best shape
Jarvis: “A week before a tough multi-day extreme enduro, you can't really do anything in terms of sporting preparation. You just have to make sure you are ready to perform at your best level: make sure you are well rested, drink enough, eat well and healthy and take on the challenge with enthusiasm. Try not to think about what is yet to come and how hard it will be!”
3. Be quick but never rush
Jarvis: “A lot of newcomers give way too much gas, like you would do in motocross. In general, however, it pays to take your time in the difficult sections. Choose a line, see what the other riders are doing. Usually it is better to go slower so that you are more precise. Think about how you want to get over the obstacles instead of flying into them and making a mistake that will ultimately cost you a lot more time.”
4. Finishing is a victory in itself
Jarvis: “Believe it or not, even for experienced riders like myself, crossing the finish line is still the greatest satisfaction in hard enduro races. If you can't win, that really gives you the biggest kick. Crossing the finish line is a great achievement in itself. More than just competition, it is about that sense of adventure and your own top performance.”
5. Don't be an idiot, you need your competitors
Jarvis: “In the longer races you will of course often ride alone. However, on sections where you drive with GPS, you often converge at a certain point. Then you have to rely on each other, sometimes you will even navigate together. That's why you want to stay on good terms with the other riders. Even though the competition is deadly serious, the camaraderie just makes it so much more fun to hang out with the other guys and have fun. In my case, this is my job, the competition is of course tough, but you also have to have fun with it.”
6. The biggest secret
Jarvis: “I have to disappoint you, because there are no real secrets! You just give up, never give up. You always keep going. That's basically it, you should never let yourself be overwhelmed by the entire circuit or one particular section. You just move forward step by step to make your way over the difficulties. You know, just keep grinding! And keep your wits about you. Don't forget that everyone suffers during an extreme enduro. But remember that you also enjoy the beautiful parts, the fantastic terrain or if you are on a very flowing, nice walking part.”
Photos: Future7Media
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