TooWhen the Canadian Enduro League announced its new structure and 2023 race calendar over the weekend, there was far more information than just race dates and a name change. Formerly the Canadian Enduro Series, the new Canadian Enduro League is aiming for a broader appeal, without losing the elite, focus, and more opportunities for riders across the country.
A short list of the changes includes new ownership (with some familiar faces returning), a return to Ontario and Quebec for the first time since 2019, three new women’s race categories and an “open” category and the addition of Eastern Cup and Western Cup regional events.
Oh, and all of this is backed by one heck of a refund policy.
RELATED: 2023 Canadian Enduro League calendar spans from B.C. to Quebec
That’s 10 events, new sponsors and a bunch of big ideas. But it is all backed by an experienced team and solid plans to make it happen smoothly. We talked to Ted Morton, who returns to the helm of Canadian Enduro League as part of the new five-person ownership team, to get into the details of everything that is happening this year.
Canadian Enduro League returns to the east
One major addition to the Canadian Enduro League is the addition of Eastern Cup and Western Cup events. These regional championships are intended to add a level between regular series events and the Canadian Enduro National Championships. Adding regional events meant returning to Ontario and Quebec for the first time since 2019.
“If you’re going to be a national-level event, you’ve gotten be going across Canada as much as you can,” Ted Morton said when asked if he had any doubts about expanding so far east in the new ownership team’s first year. “Obviously, there are some challenges with that. But I think the benefits outweigh the costs. Knowing the venues that we’ve been at in the best, whether that’s Blue Mountain, Bromont or Camp Fortune, they’re just such iconic riding destinations that it’s logical to bring racing there.”
It’s not just the new venues that have Morton excited about returning east, though.
“I grew up in Ontario. Having an event come to town really allows you to see where you stand before you make that jump to travel across the country to race,” says Morton. “Oftentimes, you get surprised and you’re actually more competitive than expected. That can be really motivating to…
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