World Hard Enduro Podcast

Tarryn, Brandon
  • 4.3 (6)
  • Sports

Welcome to the World Hard Enduro podcast. We bring you deep dives into all things Hard Enduro, featuring interviews with industry legends, epic storytelling, and conversations that matter to the riding community. Follow along as we share industry news , race reports and noteworthy information in the space. The ultimate goal is to grow the sport of Hard Enduro. 

  1. From Setbacks to Junior Title Contender | Ashton Brightmore Ready to Make His Mark | S2E13

    3d ago

    From Setbacks to Junior Title Contender | Ashton Brightmore Ready to Make His Mark | S2E13

    In this episode we had the opportunity to chat with the youngest of the Brightmore brothers - Ashton. A long overdue interview with a rider who has been making waves in the hard enduro scene fr a few years now, especially in the junior championship. A very insightful episode getting to the roots of how his riding career started from a young age in trials. Ashton was a competitive rider from the beginning and as he shares in the episode, always seemed to have a liking for speed. It was no surprise then when he pushed to move to the big bikes and found himself front of the pack from the beginning.  It was very interesting to hear how Ashton believes he and his brother differ in their approaches to riding. While their techniques are quite similar their styles are certainly different from cool and level headed to more aggressive and competitive. You’ll have to listen to the episode to find out which is which though! Ashton has had a successful career already in both Super Enduro and Hard Enduro. Starting off with the TTR Squadra Corse team to tackle his first year as a sponsored rider and really stepping into the European riding scene. Ashton has gone on to have some standout rides especially the Red Bull TKO event in the US where he finished top 5 in the premier class on a pretty stock standard bike. It’s amazing what some riders can do even when going into a race for the experience and with no expectations.  It was inevitable that we would see a team snatch up these two riders and what better fit than the X-Grip team? We were genuinely stoked for both the team and the riders and it seems to have been a perfect fit. Ashton’s career has not gone without a few setback with both a knee and ankle injury in 2025 resulting in him having to sit out most of the racing season but this also came with unique opportunities to learn from others on the sidelines.  This year the 2026 hard enduro season looks like it is gong to be a tight battle against the top riders of the junior championship. We can only assume that Ashton would be aiming to follow in his brother’s footsteps for a championship title. Red Bull Erzbergrodeo is the next race and challenge coming up. Will we see him finally cross that finish line and add to the successful X-Grip riders to see the finishers flag? Chapters: 00:00 Intro 00:42 Meet Ashton Brightmore  01:19 Where it all began 03:04 Making the switch to an 85  04:33 First taste of enduro racing  07:31 Signing with TTR & stepping onto the European scene  10:42 Competition between brothers  11:57 Riding styles compared 13:34 Going full professional: Signing with X-Grip 16:35 Bike setup 20:21 Knee injury  21:58 Ankle injury 24:27 Alestrem hard enduro 25:29 Red Bull TKO 28:43 2026 HEWC 29:07 Ashton Brightmore vs James Moore 31:38 Preparation for Erzberg The junior championship battle between Ashton and James Moore is only just getting started. Who do you think takes the title this season? Drop your prediction in the comments below↓↓↓ Support the show Whether you're driving to work, heading back from a weekend ride or working on the bike in the garage make sure to tune in and if you're feeling generous you're welcome to buy us a coffee to support our efforts with the following link - https://buymeacoffee.com/worldhardenduro You can also connect with us on socials such as Insta and Youtube Instagram Youtube

    32 min
  2. The New Kid on the Block | Toby Martyn's Hard Enduro Journey on the Stark Varg | S2E12

    May 15

    The New Kid on the Block | Toby Martyn's Hard Enduro Journey on the Stark Varg | S2E12

    In this episode we sit down with Toby Martyn, a trials champion who has had an interesting career so far, moving to super enduro and now competing in the hard enduro world championship. Not only is he new to the scene but he is also completely new to hard enduro. Undoubtedly a tough sport to jump head first into, but despite the odds, Toby seems to be taking to it like a fish in water. Toby started his off-road journey quite young, getting into MX but quickly transitioning to a trials bike and becoming an internationally recognized rider. With a junior world championship title amongst others, Toby excelled in the sport but surprisingly still found it challenging to make it a financially viable career, choosing to take a step back. Toby then made the shift to Super Enduro. A very different challenge to trials and competing on the world stage once again, against the toughest and fastest in the sport. A season later, Toby would have a conversation that would completely change the trajectory of his career. A chat with Stark opened an incredible door to the team and a chance to race the super enduro season once again, but on the Stark Varg. A big adjustment for someone who spent the majority of their life on a trials bike that demanded finesse with the clutch. Moving to the new bike took some time to adjust and Toby shares what this transition was like. Ultimately, it was an incredible season, a level up from the previous year, finishing with the Manufacturers' Award. Now we get to hard enduro. A challenge Toby did not see coming but welcomed with open arms. Stark is looking to show what their bike can do and hard enduro was the next step for the team. Many people probably won't know that Toby has very little experience in the discipline and essentially jumped into the deep end entering the 2026 Hard Enduro World Championship. We're currently two races into the season with Alestrem being essentially a warm-up for Toby to get into the swing of things, but then came Lagares. An unforgiving few days on the bike and a reality check of what hard enduro truly is. What's next for Toby and the team? Erzberg Rodeo, One of the most iconic races in the world, and a chance to show that this bike and brand truly belongs. We are extremely excited to see the hard enduro landscape changing and will certainly be keeping an eye on this team throughout the season. We hope you enjoy this episode! Chapters: 00:00 Intro 01:21 Toby Martyn  01:44 Where it all began 03:31 Trials career highlights 04:28 The reality of making a living in trials  05:12 Racing trials in the US 06:38 Moving to enduro  07:05 The moment everything changed  08:15 Jumping to Super Enduro 10:27 The biggest learning curve 13:09 The Stark call 14:55 Electric bikes in trials: 15:09 Riding the Stark Varg  19:53 Converting sceptics 21:03 The 2025/26 Super Enduro season on the Stark: Manufacturers' Award  23:35 Part of the team 26:29 Transitioning to hard enduro 29:02 How a trials gives an edge in hard enduro   30:44 Talking about the Stark Varg 35:38 Toby’s hard enduro experience 36:54 Nutrition & hydration 39:06 Season goals Erzberg Rodeo is just around the corner. Are you backing Toby and the Stark Varg to make history? Drop your prediction in the comments and subscribe so you don't miss our coverage when the results are in ↓↓↓ Support the show Whether you're driving to work, heading back from a weekend ride or working on the bike in the garage make sure to tune in and if you're feeling generous you're welcome to buy us a coffee to support our efforts with the following link - https://buymeacoffee.com/worldhardenduro You can also connect with us on socials such as Insta and Youtube Instagram Youtube

    44 min
  3. 2026 Extreme XL Lagares Race - Behind the scenes with Mike Skinner | S2E11

    May 6

    2026 Extreme XL Lagares Race - Behind the scenes with Mike Skinner | S2E11

    Firstly, we’d like to make a special note about Felix Bähker who had a very unfortunate accident during race day 1 and sustain some serious spinal injuries. Hard enduro is a tough sport and at times the circumstances riders are in can be quite dangerous. A Go Fund Me page has been set up to support Felix. Every small amount counts to help this young rider on his road to recovery - https://www.gofundme.com/f/felix-muss-zuruck-auf-die-beine?attribution_id=sl:bb77b834-df88-46e5-bd53-efa074719dde&lang=de_DE&ts=1777798296&utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&utm_content=amp20_t1&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=instagram_story.  We had another great chat with Mike Skinner about round 2 of the HEWC that took place at the XL Lagares hard enduro race in Portugal. This round had some brilliant live coverage on the main race day and fans can find plenty of race content online however there is nothing quite like have a good post race chat to get a real idea of what it was like on the grown from a rider, media and spectator perspective.  In this episode we cover a variety of topics from how the terrain and racing differed this round compared to the previous race, the tight competition between the top pro and junior riders as well as a deeper understanding of what happened on track from the riders perspective.  We hope you enjoy this episode! Chapters: 00:00 Extreme XL Lagares  01:49 Felix Bähker 05:04 Event format breakdown  07:26 Points allocation   08:29 Riders race strategy 10:12 Wade Young  12:38 Media & coverage improvement  13:06 Day 1 results 16:09 Day 2: 120KM 19:53 Teo’s mid-race advice approach 21:12 What makes Manny so dominant? 23:00 Day 2 results 24:33 Points system debate 27:44 A game changer for spectators  30:29 Day 3 35:51 Manny vs. multi-lap racing 37:25 Junior class recap If you'd like to support Felix Bähker on his road to recovery, the GoFundMe link is in the description — every little bit counts. And if this episode resonated with you, drop a comment below and let us know your thoughts on the racing at Lagares ↓↓↓ Support the show Whether you're driving to work, heading back from a weekend ride or working on the bike in the garage make sure to tune in and if you're feeling generous you're welcome to buy us a coffee to support our efforts with the following link - https://buymeacoffee.com/worldhardenduro You can also connect with us on socials such as Insta and Youtube Instagram Youtube

    43 min

  4. Apr 27

    Matt Stevens: From SA National Champ to USHE and why he's betting on the US over Europe | S2E10

    In this episode we're chatting to a young rider who is an up and coming South African talent who has already made a name for himself, Matt Stevens.  We get straight into the topic of why Matt has chosen not to focus on riding in Europe and the HEWC and why his sights are on USHE. We touch on the financial investment of both options and which would give a young rider the best chance for success. We clarify what Matt's plans are for his time in the US and which races he plans to participate in and other opportunities that the US presents.  In South Africa trials bike riding is not common for riders to adopt at a young age, but it is certainly a benefit to improving technique. Matt touches on a great topic of learning from others, especially those who's skills may be more advanced. An example of this was the time Matt spent riding with the top athletes in the world at the Roof of Africa 2025.  Of course as a hard enduro podcast we had to talk about bikes. Matt rides both a 2T and a 4T and shares his experiences and preferences. Justin from Shock Logic suspension has been on the podcast before and is a key part of Matt's team ensuring his bike is perfectly tuned without making it complicated.  Training for hard enduro doesn't just happen on the bike and in the mountains but needs to be supported with off the bike training to support fitness and strength. Matt has been focusing on power recently in the gym and has noticed improvements during racing.  We wish Matt all the best on his journey to the US. If you are based close to the races he plans to attend and would like to support his journey, please reach out to Matt directly via his social media - @mattstevens.43 We hope you enjoy this episode! Chapters: 00:00 Intro 01:31 Meet Matt Stevens 02:36 SA talent at Alestrem 03:08 America over Europe 07:57 Passion vs. profession 09:35 The US plan: Hollow Point & Tennessee Knockout  10:27 What the US hard enduro series offers vs. the HEWC 11:51 GNCC & cross-country racing 13:08 Trials Bikes 14:34 Learning from better riders 16:33 Sponsors or a team for the US 18:42 Bike talk - The KTM 300 2-stroke  19:51 2-stroke vs. 4-stroke in hard enduro 21:39 250F for technical hard enduro terrain 24:31 Shock Logic Suspension - Keep it simple 27:04 Off-bike training 32:15 Roof of Africa 37:41 Well wishes and support for the US Would you make the same call as Matt... USHE over HEWC? Drop your thoughts in the comments, we'd love to hear where you think the better opportunity lies for a young rider trying to build a career in hard enduro ↓↓↓ Support the show Whether you're driving to work, heading back from a weekend ride or working on the bike in the garage make sure to tune in and if you're feeling generous you're welcome to buy us a coffee to support our efforts with the following link - https://buymeacoffee.com/worldhardenduro You can also connect with us on socials such as Insta and Youtube Instagram Youtube

    39 min
  5. 2026 Alestrem Race - Behind the scenes with Mike Skinner | S2E9

    Apr 21

    2026 Alestrem Race - Behind the scenes with Mike Skinner | S2E9

    Round one of the 2026 Hard Enduro World Championship recently took place at Alestrem in France. To get a better idea of how this race went and a more in-depth understanding of what happened behind the scenes, we sat down with Mike Skinner who was on the ground and deep in the action.  We touch on a variety of topics such as Stark in hard enduro, media coverage of the race, the unpredictable weather and how that created confusion for the final lap. We also discuss how competitive the top 20 are and how exciting that is for the future of the sport and the rest of the season.  We hope you enjoy this episode!  Chapters: 00:00 Intro 01:02 HEWC Round 1 at 24MX Alestrem 01:35 Race overview: Friday and Saturday 03:18 Season opener atmosphere 05:00 The rainstorm 07:04 Stark Varg & the Jarv-E 07:53 Toby Martyn 10:06 Graham Jarvis 13:52 Standout riders 15:28 Billy & Mani's big gap 16:35 Race result confusion 19:10 Media  23:32 Live Broadcast 29:33 Final results recap 32:13 Looking ahead to HEWC Round 2: Extreme XL Lagares Enjoyed this one? Subscribe so you don't miss our Round 2 breakdown from Extreme XL Lagares. If you watched the live overage, drop your thoughts on how you think it could be improved in the comments ↓↓↓ Support the show Whether you're driving to work, heading back from a weekend ride or working on the bike in the garage make sure to tune in and if you're feeling generous you're welcome to buy us a coffee to support our efforts with the following link - https://buymeacoffee.com/worldhardenduro You can also connect with us on socials such as Insta and Youtube Instagram Youtube

    34 min
  6. Matt Green's American Dream | Racing the US Hard Enduro Series with Champion Brick Racing | S2E8

    Apr 13

    Matt Green's American Dream | Racing the US Hard Enduro Series with Champion Brick Racing | S2E8

    In this episode we chat to an iconic duo of Matt's. Matt Green is a returning guest to the podcast and Matt Adams has been his main support while racing in the United States. We got to sit down and chat to both of them and reflect on their time together. This was truly an intercontinental interview across three time zones. In 2026 Matt Green did something no other rider in the world championship has done... he took on part of the US Hard Enduro Series. Heading to the US with minimal plans in place, he took a chance and it certainly paid off! He had some great results and loads of stories to share. We dive into his experience, the differences between the US and Europe and even touch on how to take on some of the challenging races the US has to offer.  Matt Adams was the go-to man for this time in the US and the team owner of the Champion Brick racing team. A man with a passion for dirt bikes and a story that would inspire anyone to get out there and enjoy life to the fullest. He shares what it was like to host a world championship rider, what it's like running his team and the big plans he has in place for 2026.  This was a great episode and we hope you enjoy it!  Chapters: 00:00 Intro 02:25 Meet Matt Adams  06:00 How Matt Green & Matt Adams Connected 08:07 Inside Champion Brick Racing 10:25 What Inspired Matt Adams to Build the Team  16:10 Matt Adams first impressions of Matt Green 18:37 Matt Green's Race Results Across the First 3 US Rounds 19:00 Was the US Good Enough to Stay?  21:00 US Hard Enduro vs. European Hard Enduro 27:57 How Matt Green's US Trip Could Open Doors for Others 36:18 Funny Stories from Life on the Road Together 37:00 Hilton, South Africa: Matt Green's Secret Weapon for Hawaii 38:02 Bike & Tyre Setup for Hawaii's Terrain 43:00 Grinding Stone 50:35 US Hard Enduro's Growth 52:00 Matt Adams' 2026 Season Plans for Champion Brick Racing 54:05 Matt Green's HEWC Season Preview: Ready for Round 1  57:20 Closing Thoughts Matt has showed what's possible heading over to the US. Do you think we'll see more riders take a similar path in the future? Let us know in the comments ↓↓↓ Support the show Whether you're driving to work, heading back from a weekend ride or working on the bike in the garage make sure to tune in and if you're feeling generous you're welcome to buy us a coffee to support our efforts with the following link - https://buymeacoffee.com/worldhardenduro You can also connect with us on socials such as Insta and Youtube Instagram Youtube

    58 min
  7. Teo Kabakchiev | Training Smarter, Racing Harder | Season 3 with Sherco | S2E7

    Apr 5

    Teo Kabakchiev | Training Smarter, Racing Harder | Season 3 with Sherco | S2E7

    The start of the 2026 championship is a week away and we had the opportunity to chat with Sherco rider, Teodor Kabakchiev. The last time he was on the podcast was just before the Roof of Africa 2024 and honestly, a lot has happened since then. We dive into a variety of topics start with what training looks like for Teo in preparation for the new season. He shares how he is an all round rider and enjoys a variety of disciplines but is very structured with his training. It was particularly interesting discussing how he has incorporated trials into his program and how even a pro rider like Teo finds it challenging compared to a traditional off-road bike. This will be Teo's third year with Sherco factory racing. Following his team mate Mario Roman leaving to go independent, we of course had the question on our minds... who will be joining him in the hard enduro championship. We briefly touch on who this is, and why he seems to be a good fit for the team.    Teo shared some great stories on this episode, with one in particular standing out. He shares his thoughts about Romaniacs and how after a grueling 6 hour day in the saddle, he felt more exhausted compared to his competitors. This lead him on a journey to really take his technical training more seriously and it's clear that has paid off. Suspension is a hot topic in hard enduro and can be very challenging to get right. The communication between the rider and technician needs to be spot on in order for the settings to really hit the mark. This year Teo is once again working with a specialist who understands what he likes and has the mindset of, if something works, why change it? Lastly, Teo shares his suggestions for young riders looking to make a career in dirt bikes. We hope you enjoy this episode! Chapters: 00:00 Intro 02:05 Roof Of Africa 03:14 off-season training 04:55 Bike setup 06:51 Suspension  08:17 Riding with family  10:21 Considerations for making hard enduro a career  11:35 Recovering from Injury 14:43 2026 season 16:34 Alestrem  20:19 New Sherco team mate  22:20 Riding a variety of disciplines 23:49 Trials bike riding 29:41 Advice for juniors Teo dropped some real gems in this one... from trials training to suspension setups to advice for the next generation. What was your biggest takeaway? Drop it in the comments ↓↓↓ Support the show Whether you're driving to work, heading back from a weekend ride or working on the bike in the garage make sure to tune in and if you're feeling generous you're welcome to buy us a coffee to support our efforts with the following link - https://buymeacoffee.com/worldhardenduro You can also connect with us on socials such as Insta and Youtube Instagram Youtube

    34 min
  8. Is Hard Enduro on the Right Track? | Inside the Sport with Mike Skinner | S2E6

    Mar 30

    Is Hard Enduro on the Right Track? | Inside the Sport with Mike Skinner | S2E6

    In this episode we had the opportunity to chat to Mike Skinner who is a legend in the hard enduro paddock and has been involved in the sport for 12 years. He's seen the sport change and evolve over the years and has truly been on the inside of what can sometimes be seen as a sport with many decisions made behind closed doors.  We got to speak to Mike about the 2026 season and if he believes that the sport is on the right track. He shares his hopes for the this new chapter and his belief that everyone needs to work together to grow the sport.  In 2025 Mike took on more of a media role filling a really important hole is hard enduro coverage. He is often able to get to places many aren't and captures some of the best raw footage and rider interviews out there.  Beyond media, Mike is also a world class track setter and is able to share some common mistakes and suggestions for anyone whether it be track setters or race organizers.  We end our discussion with some bench racing, talking about when the juniors will eventually take the top spot, why there isn't a des nations for hard enduro and lastly, his suggestions to young riders looking to make a career out of dirt bikes.  We hope you enjoy this episode.   Chapters: 00:00 Intro 01:52 HEWC 08:21 Media Coverage 16:15 Hard enduro track setting 29:51 Hard enduro ranking system 33:53 Bench racing 48:19 Suggestions for young riders Which country do you think would win if there was a Hard Enduro Des Nations?? Drop it in the comments... and also let us know which 3 riders you would pick from that country↓↓↓ Support the show Whether you're driving to work, heading back from a weekend ride or working on the bike in the garage make sure to tune in and if you're feeling generous you're welcome to buy us a coffee to support our efforts with the following link - https://buymeacoffee.com/worldhardenduro You can also connect with us on socials such as Insta and Youtube Instagram Youtube

    53 min
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4.3
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About

Welcome to the World Hard Enduro podcast. We bring you deep dives into all things Hard Enduro, featuring interviews with industry legends, epic storytelling, and conversations that matter to the riding community. Follow along as we share industry news , race reports and noteworthy information in the space. The ultimate goal is to grow the sport of Hard Enduro. 

Information

  • Creator
    Tarryn, Brandon
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    75
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 World Hard Enduro Podcast
  • Show Website
    World Hard Enduro Podcast

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