It was the final weekend of the season for the Yukon Cross Country Motorcycle Association but it was a good one.

Some 45 riders turned out for Saturday’s Enduro-X races and for Sunday’s Harescramble races at the Schirmer Family Ranch located of the Carcross Road near Kookatsoon Lake.

Riders ranged in ages from the very young to the very experienced for events of endurance and not speed.

Association president Mike Beacon said in enduro racing, it’s not how fast the bike is, it’s about how technically proficient the rider is.

Enduro tracks are a great equalizer, he said.

“Most of the races we are doing is from first gear to third gear out of six gears,” Beacon said. “It is not high speed racing. It is endurance racing.”

The president said when the riders finish an event, particularly the more advanced riders racing longer courses, they are exhausted.

It’s said that moto-cross and enduro racers are some of the fittest athletes there are, Beacon said.

He pointed out in the weekend’s Expert AA Harescramble Team Event, teams were taking between two and three hours to complete two laps of the 15-kilometre circuit.

It was decided to go with a team event with more experienced riders matched with the less experienced to create an opportunity for the less experienced to pick up pointers as they navigated the course together, he explained.

The course, for instance, involved a steep hill that the riders had to use ropes to assist their teammates and others to reach the top.

There were tires to climb over and piles of firewood.

“Each loop is designed to challenge the riders physical endurance, technical riding skills and navigation skills according to their class,” Beacon said of the different classes.

“The racing is designed to be fun and a good outdoor physical activity. Keeping it more about the adventure and camaraderie.”

In the AA team event, Hans Gatt and Steve Thomas finished first ahead of 15-year-old Ethan Davy and his dad Jarrid Davy in second with teammates Chris Lane and Sam Schirmer placing third.

On the Harescramble two-hour intermediate B trail, Frank Smith placed first. Amanda McCarthy finished first on the one-hour intermediate trail ahead of Heidi Stiles in second.

In the under-15 junior event on the one-hour B trail, Terje Kristensen was first, Cameron Geier was second and Ryder Brulotte was third.

In Sunday’s mini category for riders generally between the ages of six and 10 years old, Kayden Brulotte was first, Sawyer Johnson was second and Mia Raymond was third.

In the pee wee category for riders generally between the ages of four to seven years old, riding moto-cross bikes with 50 cc engines, Memphis Nolan was first, KJ Raymond was second and Casey Hadley was third.

Beacon said providing the young participants with a safe place to ride allows them the opportunity to develop riding skills, to learn about safety and the proper use of safety equipment, and to learn about equipment maintenance.

The shorter tracks for the younger riders are visible from the main staging areas, and often have parents along the course in tougher spots so they can help get their kids through the soft sand and such, he said.

For Saturday’s Enduro-X event, there were three 10-minute heats per class, with riders scored on how many laps they were able to complete and who finished first.

Tim Schirmer finished first in the expert A category, Sam Schirmer was second and Tony Watson was third.

Ethan Davy finished first in the intermediate A class, James Verville was second and Cole Beaman placed third.

In the intermediate B race, Chad Watson placed first ahead of second-place Terje Kristensen and third-place Derek Kindervater.

Ryder Brulotte finished first in the under-15 class. Soren Kristensen was second and Aven Muir was third

In the mini event, Kayden Brulotte was first followed by Kaelob McGovern in second and Michaias Walker in third.

Memphis Nolan was first in the peewee division with KJ Raymond placing second and Casey Hadley in third.