Rockhampton State Enduro Championships – A Weekend to Remember

There are weekends where the results matter, and then there are weekends that remind you why you love mountain biking.

This was one of those weekends.

I haven't spent much time on my trail bike over the last 12 months. Between work, family and everything else life throws at you, riding has taken a back seat. But there was no way I was going to spend the weekend sitting at home while Mason lined up for his first Queensland State Enduro Championships at First Turkey Mountain in Rockhampton.

The goal wasn't for me to chase results. It was to support Mason through his first State Championships and share another chapter of his racing journey together.

So we loaded the bikes, packed the truck and hit the road.

The drive from the Gold Coast to Rockhampton is a solid 7.5 hours, but it didn't take long to realise it was worth every kilometre.

One of the best parts of the weekend was catching up with a great group of mates. My good friend and absolute legend Stu "Tug Boat" Cali kept everyone laughing as always and made sure I actually entered the race. Alongside Stu were Rory McKenzie, Kade Wise, Steve Pourcel, Ehren Keidel and Harry Reibelt.

The SEQ crew absolutely dominated the event. Rory McKenzie and Kade Wise finished first and second in Elite Men, Steve Pourcel claimed second in the 45–54 category, Ehren Keidel won the E-Bike category, and Stu took the win in the 35–44 category.

Unfortunately, Harry injured his shoulder on Smokescreen during practice and wasn't able to race. After making the long trip north, it was a disappointing way for his weekend to end before it had really begun.

Friday was all about learning.

We rode all six stages, covering around 40 kilometres with more than 1,000 metres of climbing. I'd heard plenty of great things about the First Turkey trail network, and after one day I could see why it has such a strong reputation.

For me, practice confirmed two things.

First, I hadn't spent enough time on the bike.

Second, Mason was ready.

While I struggled to find a rhythm and confidence on unfamiliar trails, Mason looked comfortable from the first run. Watching him build confidence with every stage was far more satisfying than worrying about my own riding.

Race Day One featured Think Tank, Peg-Pig-Whip and Whitey-Cactus—three incredibly technical stages packed with tight switchbacks, constant pedalling and very few opportunities to relax.

Mason handled it brilliantly.

With only one practice run on the trails, he finished the day sitting fifth overall against one of the strongest junior fields in Queensland.

Then came one of those moments every parent remembers.

He beat me on a stage.

I honestly couldn't have been happier.

Sure, it was a little humbling, but that's exactly what you want to see as a parent. You want to watch your kids improve, grow in confidence and eventually become faster than you.

My own day was one to forget. Brake issues, a loose rear axle, shifting problems and a lack of riding all caught up with me. But if I'm honest, I wasn't thinking about my result at the finish.

I was far more interested in hearing Mason talk about his runs, what he learned and where he thought he could improve.

Day Two featured Smokescreen, Megatron and K9.

I knew local knowledge was going to be a huge factor. Everywhere I looked there were Rockhampton MTB Club jerseys, and it was obvious there were plenty of riders who knew every line, every compression and every opportunity to carry speed.

Having won a Queensland State Championship on my home trails a few years ago, I understand just how valuable local knowledge can be. This weekend reminded me that sometimes you're the local, and sometimes you're the one trying to catch up.

After sorting out my bike overnight, I rode much better and finished fourth overall. Honestly, that was probably where I belonged considering how little riding I'd done.

But once again, my result wasn't really what mattered.

Mason was putting together an outstanding weekend and looked set for a top-five finish.

Unfortunately, on the final stage, K9, he made a small mistake and went off the trail. Trying to make up time, he rushed, crashed again and slipped back to seventh overall.

He was disappointed, and that's completely understandable.

But once we sat down afterwards and talked about the weekend, the bigger picture became obvious.

This was his first Queensland State Enduro Championships.

He proved he has the speed to race with the best juniors in the state.

He learned that every second counts.

He learned how important it is to stay calm after making a mistake.

Most importantly, he drove home wanting to come back faster.

As a dad, that's all I could ask for.

Looking back, the best part of the weekend wasn't a race result.

It was spending three days together doing something we both love.

The road trip.

The pub dinners.

The conversations in the car.

The laughs with friends.

Watching the guys encourage Mason, offer advice and treat him like one of the crew meant a lot to me. That's what mountain biking is all about.

A huge thank you goes to the Rockhampton MTB Club and everyone who has invested countless hours building and maintaining the First Turkey trail network. The event was exceptionally well run, the trails were outstanding and the whole weekend showcased everything that's great about our sport.

A special thanks also goes to Aaron Hutton for loaning me a full-face helmet after I turned up with only my trail helmet. It turns out I wasn't quite as prepared for State Championships as I thought!

Being a first-time "Dad Team Manager" also came with a few lessons. Somehow I completely missed that Mason needed elbow pads for the event. In true Dad fashion, I ended up buying a set of knee pads and having him wear them on his elbows just so he could race. It wasn't exactly textbook preparation, but we made it work. Safe to say I've got a much better checklist for the next one.

This weekend was also our first real road trip in the BYD Shark, and it couldn't have asked for a better test. The truck, fitted with Method Race Wheels, was incredibly comfortable over the long drive, and having a fridge running in the tub all weekend made life so much easier. Keeping food and drinks cold meant we could spend more time supporting Mason and less time worrying about where our next meal was coming from.

The RockyMounts bike rack was another standout. Travelling more than 1,500 kilometres with complete confidence that both bikes were secure made the trip stress-free, and the swing-away hinge made unloading them each night at the motel quick and easy.

Nutrition is something we never leave to chance. Throughout practice and race weekend we relied on Ryno Power Hydration Fuel, Carbo Fuel, gels and Manna Bars to stay fuelled and hydrated. Long race weekends are demanding, and having nutrition you trust makes a huge difference.

When I think back on the weekend, I won't remember finishing fourth.

I'll remember watching Mason race his first Queensland State Championships.

I'll remember seeing him beat me on a stage.

I'll remember watching him learn, grow and leave more motivated than ever.

Being part of that journey is worth far more than any race result.

For me, that's what made the trip to Rockhampton one we'll never forget.

Bikes We Rode

Michael Sleeter: Intense Cycles Tracer 279
https://intensecycles.com/products/tracer-279

Mason Sleeter: Intense Cycles Primer 279 (Custom Build)
https://intensecycles.com/products/primer-279

Products We Used

Useful Links

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