RACE TRIP RECAPBME 2026
A new country. New trails. New challenges. Here's how the BME 2026 series campaign went down, and what I took away from the experience. ⬇️
01. TRIP OVERVIEWWHY BME?
Having heard nothing but great things about the Big Mountain Enduro series, heading to the USA felt like the perfect opportunity to take the next step in my racing journey. Travelling between Colorado, Utah and Idaho exposed me to some of the best riding I have ever done. Coming from Australia we do not have the elevation or landscape that the USA has on offer. It was my first trip overseas and travelling solo we thought it was the best place to begin my journey.With the challenge of being exposed to extraordinarily high altitude, some of the greatest terrain in the world and depth of competition it was the ideal series to challenge myself, gain international experience and see where I stood against a depth of riders. With the goal of progressing towards the professional ranks, Big Mountain Enduro was a valuable first step in gaining exposure to a new racing scene, learning from the experience, and continuing to build towards what comes next.
02. RACE RECAPTHE RACES
Bike parks, desert, alpine. Five races, four states. Here’s how it all played out with Zack’s biggest takeaways.
03 THE MOMENTS IN BETWEENBEHIND THE SCENES
From travel days, riding days and filming content it was so much more than just the results at the end of the weekend. I got to experience a new part of the world, met the most incredible people who I now call lifelong friends. The opportunity to also be apart of a series who want to bring the same experience and the same reason as to why I got into mountain biking. 
04. BUILT BY THE EXPERIENCETHE TAKEAWAY
Travelling to the USA solo to race the Big Mountain Enduro pushed me in all the ways I had hoped. Sitting on the plane on the flight over I felt very apprehensive that I bit off a bit more than I could chew.
An extraordinarily challenging but full of excitement trip, entrenched with appreciation all the same. I learned a lot about myself personally but also my abilities as a rider finding new limits and an increase with confidence. I obtained self efficacy with riding in a new country and it gave me a lot of confidence and valuable lessons that i’ll carry into 2027.
THE SETUP
FRAME: 2026 MEDIUM YETI SB160
DROPPER POST: FOX TRANSFER 30.9 175MM
SUSPENSION: 2027 FOX 38 FACTORY FORK GRIP X2
FOX FACTORY DHX2 434 POUND SPRING
WHEELS: RESERVE 29INCH HD30
BRAKES: SHIMANO XTR 4POT
ROTORS: 203MM/2.43MM THICKNESS
DRIVETRAIN: SHIMANO XTR DI2
HANDLEBARS: ONEUP 760MM WITH 30MM RISE
GRIPS: ODI ELITE FLOW PRO LOCK ON
SADDLE: SQLAB 60X
PEDALS: DMR VAULTS
TYRES: ASSEGAI 2.5
MINION DHRII 2.4
