TDS Enduro 2026: Sunshine, Slop, and a Weekend We Won’t Forget
There are race weekends, and then there’s TDS Enduro — a gathering that feels equal parts elite competition, backyard jam session, and full-on community celebration. This year’s edition delivered everything you’d expect from The Ranch… and then flipped the script entirely.
Bluebird Beginnings
The weekend kicked off under perfect Northern California skies. Two days of sunshine set the tone — dry trails, hero dirt, and that unmistakable buzz of riders dialing lines, reconnecting with friends, and soaking in the early-season energy. Practice laps were fast and loose, with riders pushing limits while still finding that rhythm only TDS seems to bring out.
There’s something about those first laps at TDS. The light filters through the trees just right, tires hum over hardpack, and every corner feels like it’s inviting you to go just a little faster. You could feel it in the air — this was shaping up to be one of those special years.
Friday Night Lights: Sprint Enduro Chaos
Friday’s sprint enduro brought the heat early. Short, punchy, and absolutely unforgiving, it turned The Ranch into a pressure cooker. Riders had no room for mistakes — just all-out effort from top to bottom.
And it showed.
From the sidelines, it was electric. Every racer was on the rivet, throwing everything they had into seconds-long runs that demanded precision and commitment. The crowd packed in tight, cheering, heckling, and erupting as riders came through pinned. It wasn’t just racing — it was a show even from the shower.
You could see it in the body language at the finish: heavy breathing, wide eyes, equal parts exhaustion and stoke. The sprint format might be short, but it doesn’t pull any punches. It set the tone for a weekend that would only get more intense.
The Next Generation: Stacyc Kids Take Over
One of the most heartwarming parts of the weekend, as always, was the Stacyc kids race.
Watching those little rippers take to the track is a reminder of what this whole thing is about. Pure joy, no pressure — just kids on bikes (or balance e-bikes), learning, laughing, and sending it in their own way.
Parents lined the course, phones out, cheering louder than anywhere else on the mountain. The kids? They were all smiles, wide-eyed and fearless, chasing each other down the course with the same energy as the pros — just a little closer to the ground.
It’s moments like these that make TDS feel bigger than a race. It’s a full-circle experience, where the future of the sport is right there in front of you, already hooked.
Saturday Speed
By Saturday, the racing settled into its rhythm. Riders were flowing through stages with confidence, linking sections, finding speed where it didn’t seem possible. Dust kicked up behind tires, corners blew out, and lines evolved with every rider that came through.
The competition was tight, but the vibe stayed true to TDS — competitive, yes, but grounded in camaraderie. Between stages, it was all laughs, high-fives, and trail talk. Then the helmets went back on, and it was game time again.
Sunday: From Hero Dirt to Full Mudder
And then… Sunday happened.
Overnight, the conditions flipped completely. What had been fast and predictable turned into a full-on mudder. Rain transformed the course into a slick, unpredictable battlefield where survival became just as important as speed.
Corners that were once railable turned into ice rinks. Braking zones stretched twice as long — or disappeared entirely. Lines that worked the day before suddenly didn’t exist.
It was chaos. The good kind.
Riders fought for control, sliding, drifting, and sometimes just hanging on for dear life. Bikes came through caked in mud, drivetrains grinding, bodies covered head to toe in dirt. Every stage felt like an accomplishment.
And yet, somehow, the stoke never dipped.
If anything, it grew.
Because that’s what TDS does best — it throws everything at you and reminds you why you love this sport in the first place.
More Than a Race
By the time the final riders rolled through and the mud began to dry, it was clear: this year’s TDS wasn’t just another event.
It was a full-spectrum experience.
From sunshine laps to sideways mud slides. From all-out sprint efforts to wide-eyed kids discovering the sport. From cheers in the woods to stories around campfires.
TDS delivered it all even Roman Candle wars late into the evening.
And as always, it wasn’t just about the results — it was about the people, the place, and the moments that stick with you long after the weekend ends.
Here are a few shots from the podiums:
and the spirit award went to Jesse Enduro Bro!
Until next year.
Big thanks to the Sanchez family for all they do to make this happen!
