Teal Stetson-Lee: EWS Travels
SCOTT enduro rider Teal Stetson-Lee traveled to South America in mid-March to race the first two Enduro World Series races in Corral, Chile and Bariloche, Argentina. It is the first significant international race trip she has undertaken as a solo rider, but fortunately she is fluent in Spanish and had friends to meet up with.
“The best part about the race world is you are never completely on your own,” said Teal.
She connected up with a Chilean mountain bike team in Santiago, the Boost Enduro Team. “I also visited my Chilean family and friends in Talca, Chile, from when I was an exchange student in 2005,” said Teal, “And then I continued to travel south to the incredible breath-taking trails, vistas and race courses of Corral, Chile. Along the way, I connected up with other riders, teams and sponsors on the circuit and the comradery and support was spectacular.”
Teal’s first events of the season were eye opening, but she handled every obstacle with energy and a great attitude. “The terrain was challenging and rugged and I survived some tough crashes and long days,” she said.
Racing in Corral, Chile the trails were rooty, dusty, slippery and fast. Teal held her own and loved every minute of the descending with spectators watching at the bottom of every stage. The views from the courses were absolutely incredible. The rolling, technical trails dropped all the way down to the ocean coast.
“My first day, competing in Corral, I managed to have one of the most epic crashes of my career,” asid Teal. “On some of the super steep, loose, dusty switchbacks I flipped over the bars and "tomahawked" down the switchbacks, swimming in the dust and packing my goggles with dirt. I was a little rattled after the crash and insanely dirty but unscathed.”
Teal traveled from Santiago with the Boost Enduro Team and they made her an honorary member with a customized jersey lettered with her name.
She finished 17th in Corral and 16th in Bariloche, earning her 2nd American in both events. Look for Teal to make progress all season as she continues her Enduro campaign across the Americas.
