The Whole Enchilada: MTB Trail in Moab
The cult trail starts at 3400 metres on the Burro Pass in the La Sal Mountains. From here, it leads down into the valley via single trails, woodland and pastureland. Then a long, technically very demanding downhill starts over rocky terrain down to Moab. Braydon rode the trail the wrong way round.
The idea behind the project
On a trail ride on the Whole Enchilada in Moab, the riding technique expert tried an uphill section that seemed impossible. When he almost made it, he decided to master the whole trail backwards.
Final boss: the key uphill sections of the Moab Trail
Four key sections gave Braydon a headache. An almost insurmountable formation of rock slabs and ledges. The Yank spent days on some of these uphills beforehand without success.
Frustration: More than 50 attempts at individual trail sections
Braydon was supported by a team of ten. Among them was a renowned sports psychologist who helped him deal with the frustration. A good idea! Because some passages required over 50 attempts.
There were moments when I wanted to throw my bike down the slope
BIKE: Braydon, how long did it take for your legs to recover?
BRAYDON BRINGHURST: For a long time. Four days before the campaign, my wife had our third child. So putting my feet up was not an option. It took me a good month to recover physically and mentally.
You rode up the legendary Whole Enchilada, 2638 metres in altitude, partly exposed, almost always technical and blocked. Every single section. Insane! Why did you decide not to set an official Guinness World Record?
That wasn't important to me. I also knew that the project would require all my energy. I needed the right people around me. So I deliberately chose a small team of close friends. I didn't want a stranger photographer, let alone an official from Guinness World Records, fidgeting around me.
Was there a point at which you thought it wasn't working, that the project was dead in the water?
There were moments of frustration when I wanted to thunder my bike against the rocks or throw it straight down the slope. It was at the key section, The Snaggle. I tried again and again, but I just couldn't conquer this nasty steep section. After more than 50 attempts, I finally managed it.
And then you were sure you could manage the rest?
Things got really dicey much later, after all the key sections. The many attempts cost
time, and it was getting dark, the temperature was dropping and it was starting to rain. I knew that if snow was coming, I was in a bad position. The ground was wet and the traction on all the root passages was completely gone. On top of that, I already had over 2000 metres of hard uphill in my legs.
You can hear in the film how you keep talking yourself down. There was also a psychotherapist in your support team. Did he come up with the idea?
Yes, among other things. Dr Manning made me aware of the importance of positive thoughts and how negative thoughts can have a direct impact on your actions. He also advised me to be in the here and now. Not to think about the past or the future. If I had thought about what lay ahead of me after all the failed attempts at one of the key points, I might have given up straight away. I also knew that I had what it takes. And I had to keep reminding myself of that.
Laurin Lehner
Editor
