Born into the trenches: WHES Juniors.
Whet Ya WHEStle is probably the most relaxed event in the WHES calendar. At the start of the year it is a bit of a "this is what you are in for". But at the end of the year it is a bit more like "Whatever is left in the tank - let's light it up".
And if you've been following socials you'll see that the W.A. Hard Enduro fraternity really does know how to 'let it all hang out' when the chequered flag is consigned to stay in the trailer for the day.
To be quite honest, last Saturday saw MounTurner looking somewhat like the set of National Lampoons Animal House.
But, while the big kids were over 'that' side of the paddock behaving like toddlers in a sweet shop, something quite special was happening on the other side.
For the final event of the 2026 calendar WHES and Enduro Bikes WA teamed up to put on the first full-scale WHES Junior Ride Day!
Similar junior events had been done before, yeah: but not done to this extent. This was a full day of riding for the Juniors on their own dedicated track!
So much was going on throughout the day that the volunteers stepping up to help could barely stay on their feet.
EBWA's Jason Bale had laid out a full day of action for riders as young as 8 years to test their skills and their tenacity, lap after lap.
The day was structured like a proper event, enabling both the kids and the parents to become fully immersed in the WHES experience.
After the riders brief, the track was opened for a sighting lap. The morning session was run clock-wise and then, to mix it up, it was reversed to double the challenges the kids had to overcome.
The tailor-made 2 km track had it all.
Sloppy water crossings, edged either side with mud more slippery than an airbox diaphragm post seizure. Gnarly hill climbs had the kids working the clutch (if they had one) or frying auto clutches if they did not.
The track even had some Gold line splits.
There was a step up that was easily +1m with a gnarly little clip-lip on the base of the face. It had to be seriously managed with a solid approach to prevent a full loop-out. I'm not kidding - I rode it!
No punches were pulled and the kids rode until they could ride no more.
The hardest part of the day wasn't keeping the juniors riding; it was actually keeping the parents placated. There were some nervous mums and dads that were loathing and loving every cringing moment of every single obstacle their kids were throwing themselves at.
But when the kill switches were hit and the track was closed for the day the one thing that resonated with me was the comraderie I had been witness to - all day!
We talk all the time of the bonds that are formed when blood is spilt in the mud out on the track. And Hard Enduro epitomises the exact type of human challenge that is specifically dependant upon mateship and grit. If you are not there for your mates in Hard Enduro, you might as well not be there at all. Ego counts for nothing and if that is all you've got, you'll likely not last a race. You'll certainly not last a season.
All day, over and over, time and time again, I looked out over the junior track to see the bigger kids lauching off their bikes and racing to the aid of the smaller ones that had fallen and were struggling to get up and get going again.
And when they peeled the lil fellas out from under their bikes and dusted them off, they just motioned them to one side while they got their bikes started. It was incredible to watch.
There were no tears, no tantrums and no dummy spits
Even the better riders that overcame the challenges quickly still managed to make the most of every moment of track time.
As they became more comfortable with the obstacles, they just rode them faster. By early arvo packs were cutting up the track, mixing lines and bumping bars.
Hard core Hard Enduriacs this lot! Is it learned behaviour or is it genetic?
If you reckon this is just what the doctor ordered for your young one then hit up Enduro Bikes W.A. for some lessons and then get on board with WHES to sign up for Season 2027.
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