More Than a Race: The Magic of the Rip Roaring Mini Enduro
- Leanne Wren
- Jul 21
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 11
There’s something different about race day at the Rip Roaring Mini Enduro. Sure, it’s got the adrenaline — the sprint starts, the tight corners, the dusty switchbacks. But what sets this event apart isn’t just the racing; it’s the way riders cheer each other on from the climb to finish line. It’s the laughter echoing through the trees and the spontaneous dance parties at the start. It is the shared sense of we’re doing this together.
This past Sunday, women, femme and non-binary riders from across the Rockies and beyond came together at Arapahoe Basin to take part in our biggest Mini Enduro yet. 100 racers lined up at the start — some taking on their very first race, others returning to ride with friends, push their limits, or simply soak up the energy of the day.
From the focused to the festive, every racer brought their own reason for showing up — and it came through loud and clear. Whether navigating their first enduro course, repping the Rider to Racer program, or hyping each other up throughout the race (Spicy! Sporty! Leisurely!), the collective vibe was unmistakable: strong, supportive, and seriously fun.
📸 Capturing the Moments
More professional event photos are coming soon — but you can already catch a few sneak peeks below.
Please note: All official event photos are the property of VNTRbirds and are for personal use only. We encourage you to share them on social media or print them for fun, but no commercial use is allowed without permission. Please don’t edit the images and remember to tag your photographer – @curtisdevore and @VNTRbirds.
📷 Got photos or videos? Add them to the community album here: [LINK]
Want to see your results? Full race results are live: [LINK]
🎶 You asked for it — here is the start playlist, brought to you by Haley! We kicked things off with an absolute banger of a playlist, curated by the one and only @haley_kit. Whether you're reminiscing about the start gate or just want some fire in your ears, give it a spin: 👉 Rip Roaring Mini Enduro Playlist
Big thanks to Haley for keeping the vibes high from the first pedal stroke!
What’s Next?
We’re still buzzing from the Mini Enduro, but the fun continues:
🗓️ Upcoming Clinics
🏔️ VENTURE OUT Femme Backcountry Festival returns March 2026🧡 Rider to Racer 2026 is already in motion — drop your deposit now to lock in your spot!
With Gratitude
Huge love to everyone who made this day possible — our volunteers, cheerleaders, photographers, and every single racer who showed up with courage and joy.
And a giant thank you to the sponsors who fuel the ride: Yeti Cycles · Alpine Bank · Howard Head Sports Medicine · RMU · Rocky Talkie · Turner Morris Inc. · Industry Nine · Spirit Alchemy · Gritty Habits · Sex Plants Rock and Roll · Axis Sports Medicine · evoDenver · Amazing Brains · Arrow Insurance · Tailwind · Breckenridge Distillery · Sunshine Sauna · SCOMBA · PACT Outdoors · Shift Human Performance · Tits Deep · Ride Wrap · Shimano · Outer Range Brewing · Arapahoe Basin · and our incredible anonymous donors.
If you missed this year’s Rip Roaring Mini Enduro… don’t make that mistake twice. 😉
The Rip Roaring Mini Enduro takes place on the ancestral lands of the Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱ Ute and Tséstho’e Cheyenne peoples. We recognize that these public lands are the traditional territories of Indigenous nations, and that our ability to recreate here is rooted in a history of displacement. With gratitude and respect, we commit to learning from and supporting the ongoing stewardship and sovereignty of Indigenous communities.
See you on the trails,— The VNTRbirds Team 🪶
