The junior category was introduced to spark children’s interest in the sport. — Courtesy photos
Competition on track to be a key part of extreme sports calendar
The Mersing Enduro Challenge in Johor continues to grow rapidly as a premier event for the mountain biking community, fostering both local and international talents in the sport.
Held at Bukit Selantai in Pantai Air Papan, Johor, the competition marked its fourth edition this year, attracting a diverse field of participants.
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The competitors comprised 165 riders from across Malaysia and 60 international competitors from countries such as the Philippines, Singapore, Brunei, the USA, Great Britain, Australia, Germany and Spain.
Participants’ views
Usual Suspects mountain biking team manager Paul Welfare, 50, was pleased to see significant improvements to the race tracks, with some sections made much easier.
“It is easier but still very challenging and technical, allowing for a wider range of riders.
“The trail is very loose and dusty, so you can slide easily, and the rest is narrow and twisty.
Scenic trail: Mountain bike enthusiasts stopping for a break on Bukit Selantai to take in the beautiful sea view. — Courtesy photo
“My personal favourite is the new trail, Yip Yep Hooray, which is very fast, flowy and great fun to ride,” he said, adding that a lot of investment had also gone into signage and trail markings.
Welfare expressed hope that the starting point for practice sessions and the actual race could be moved to where the race village is located.
“The practice entrance is currently at Teluk Buih, while the race village is here in Pantai Air Papan, so the larger crowd is here,” he said.
Jagrnjeet says some of the mountain biking trails have challenging features.
He also shared his plans to participate in the upcoming Langkawi Geopark Enduro in November.
“We previously raced at the Bukit 300 Enduro Challenge in Teluk Batik, Perak, in February, and the Denai Peladang Enduro Challenge in Selangor in May,” said Welfare.
Kota Singa team vice-president Jagrnjeet Singh, 34, shared similar plans and said Bukit Selantai was where he first tried mountain biking three years ago.
“I love the whole vibe of the race, the location and the organisers have done a great job.
Low hopes the government can provide support to local trail builders.
“The trail wasn’t very risky, but there were some challenging features, such as the drop near the race village,” he said.
Jagrnjeet suggested splitting practice runs into two shifts to reduce the rotation of drivers and make it less taxing on transport riders in and out of the race.
Singaporean Raw Epics Athlete Development team director Wilson Low, 41, said the shuttle service to transport athletes up the hill could be improved with better turnaround time and circulation.
“This would allow riders to make more runs and rounds on the hill.
Norazmi says the committee aims to develop new and more technical trails every year.
“But overall, the race was good as we had more trail options, especially for first-time racers and experts.
“I hope the government can support the local trail builders; they have done a great job and we want them to get all the support they need,” he said.
Low said Bukit Selantai was a well-known mountain biking trail for Singaporean cyclists.
An aerial view of Bukit Selantai, an important tourism site in Mersing.
“It’s famous for its technical and challenging tracks, and it is good to see the improvements made over the years,” he added.
Heroes of Enduro rider Mustika Ayuni Mustofa, 26, noted that this year’s track was different and much easier compared to the first time the race was held in 2021.
“During my first race here, it was raining heavily and all the racers’ bicycle tyres were covered with mud.
“But this year, we can see a lot of improvement and the track is suitable for all categories of riders,” said Mustika Ayuni, who came in third in the women’s category.
Mustika Ayuni wants to see better facilities at the next race for athletes to rest and prepare.
When asked about improvements she would like to see, she suggested better facilities for athletes to rest and prepare.
“The races start early in the morning, but some of the facilities here are owned by third parties who open later.
“It would be best if the district office provided these facilities themselves,” she said.
Organiser’s vision
As the third circuit in the 2024 Mountainbiker Enduro Championship (MEC2024) series, the race is organised by Mersing District Council, Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry (Motac) and Tourism Johor.
This year’s challenge featured six tracks, namely Jalan Pak Salleh, Jalur Babi, Jalur Kelek Anak, Jalur Senduk Lintang, Jalur 110 and Jalur Yip Yep Hooray.
The championship consisted of three divisions – the Prime Enduro, the E-MTB (electric mountain bike) and the Junior Development.
The Prime Enduro Division had eight categories, while the E-MTB Division included a category for Men’s E-Bike.
Welfare is pleased to see significant improvements to the race tracks.
The Junior Development Division featured one category –Super Junior – for riders aged seven to 13.
Mersing Enduro Challenge race director Norazmi Amir Hamzah said the committee aimed to develop new and more technical trails every year to ensure that the tracks could be enjoyed by a wider range of riders.
“There are a few tweaks here and there, and some of these tracks have their own unique stories, such as Jalur Babi. When we first developed the track, large wild boars would often hinder our work.
“As for Yip Yep Hooray, it is a tribute to a local named Ayep, who guided us on which routes could be turned into trails that the bikers enjoy today,” he said.
This year’s challenge at Bukit Selantai featured six tracks, drawing 165 riders from across Malaysia and 60 international competitors.
Regarding the junior category, Norazmi said it was introduced to spark interest in the sport among children, ensuring a future generation to carry it forward.
“We also hope that the race track in Bukit Selantai will inspire the introduction of more mountain bike tracks in other states, helping this community to grow even larger.
“We chose Bukit Selantai mainly because of the sea view; athletes who bring their families can enjoy riding while their families relax on the beach,” he said.
