The creation of the Scottish Enduro Association marks a significant step forward for the discipline in Scotland. Enduro, which has been the most popular mountain bike discipline in terms of participation since 2014, will now have a dedicated body to oversee its development and organization.

 

Graeme McLean, Head of Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland, expressed his enthusiasm for the initiative:

"The launch of the Scottish Enduro Association provides an opportunity for the discipline to have a sustainable structure, made up of passionate, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable people from a variety of backgrounds, who can drive the discipline forward."

Supporting Events and Athletes

The new association will be responsible for delivering the Scottish Enduro Championships and, depending on the development of a strong officials workforce, running a Scottish Enduro Series from 2025 onwards. This structured approach aims to replicate the success seen in other mountain biking disciplines such as cross-country and downhill.

 

Fraser Johnston, Head of Development (Clubs & Events) at Scottish Cycling, highlighted the potential impact:

"We believe that this model can help replicate that success for the Enduro discipline, helping riders enjoy our sport and provide athletes with a pathway of events to achieve on the world stage."

Roles and Responsibilities

The Scottish Enduro Association is seeking volunteers to fill various key positions, including:

1. Chair
2. Secretary
3. Treasurer
4. Marketing & Communications specialist
5. Course Designer(s)
6. Rider Representative

Each role comes with specific responsibilities, and interested individuals are encouraged to submit their applications by November 28th, 2024.

Looking Ahead

With the recent success of the British Enduro Championships held at Ae Forest, the formation of the Scottish Enduro Association comes at an opportune time. The association aims to support event delivery, liaise with trails associations, develop athletes, and provide strategic direction for enduro in Scotland.

 

As the mountain biking community awaits the association's first meeting in mid-December, it's clear that this initiative has the potential to significantly boost the enduro scene in Scotland. By providing a sustainable structure and harnessing the passion of the mountain biking community, the Scottish Enduro Association is set to play a crucial role in shaping the future of the sport in the region. More details here. 

 

So kicking off the conversation this is an interesting and ambitious plan. Enduro has had some big knocks recently with the demise of Tweedlove and PMBA and seems to be trying to find itself and maybe reinvent itself. Has this model been tried elsewhere successfully? How does it work? Definitely, I wish this initiative luck and be interested in folk's views, especially from those who participate in these types of events (that's not me btw). Thoughts?