Drop Bars, Hero Dirt and Over 400 Racers: Inside the 2026 Galbraith Enduro
The Trailforks Galbraith Mountain Enduro presented by Maxxis returned to Northwest Tune-Up Bike & Music Festival on July 12 with a new one-day format, drawing nearly 420 racers to Galbraith Mountain for what many called the best trail conditions the event has seen in years.
An overnight thunderstorm rolled through shortly after midnight, leaving behind just enough moisture to transform Galbraith's typically dry July dirt into ideal conditions for the first few stages of this Race Cascadia CDC bonus round. The addition of mild temperatures and clear skies made for an almost perfect day to race.
With packed categories, full women's podiums across many amateur classes and a mountain blanketed in blooming foxgloves, daisies and fireweed, the 2026 edition proved the streamlined format could deliver everything racers expect from one of the Pacific Northwest's biggest enduro weekends.
Photos: Heather Peterson, courtesy of Race Cascadia
A New Format, Same Galbraith Challenge
The move to a single-day race kept the pace high from the first transfer to the final stage, giving racers an extra day to experience Northwest Tune-Up beyond the race itself. Riders tackled a mix of Galbraith classics before the pro field encountered this year's year's blind stage: Whoopsie Woodle, an XC-style trail slotted between stages three and four—a classic tongue-in-cheek wildcard from Race Cascadia organizer, Cam Sloan.
The addition sparked plenty of conversation throughout the day. Some riders appreciated the change of pace while others weren't convinced an XC trail belonged in an enduro race, but it was exactly the kind of curveball that rewarded adaptability over familiarity.
If there was a unanimous favorite, it was the Devil's Cross to Natural Delight stage, while Spacewolf kept Sport racers honest with a combination of speed, commitment and just enough technical spice to punish hesitation.
Fast Time and Unexpected Wins
The day's fastest ride belonged to Eric Olsen, who blitzed through the course and was back at the finish before 2 p.m., setting a pace that few could match.
Then there was Ian Fay. Racing in the Hardtail category, the Evil Bikes rider showed up aboard a drop-bar Chamois Hagar gravel bike—a choice that raised plenty of eyebrows before the start and even more after he rode it to the category win. In a sport that's constantly experimenting with equipment, it was the kind of ride people were still talking about hours later.
Another encouraging takeaway was the continued growth of the women's field. Nearly every Sport and Expert women's podium was filled, reflecting the steady increase in female participation at one of the region's marquee enduro events.
Tippie on the Mic
Back at the finish line, Brett Tippie kept the energy rolling all afternoon, bouncing between interviews, podium announcements and his signature stream of one-liners. Every first-place finisher got their moment on the mic, with the awards ceremony stretching nearly an hour and a half beyond schedule as Tippie made sure every podium got its moment in the spotlight.
For full results, visit racecascadia.com/results.
| Division | Rank | First Name | Last Name | Overall Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pro Women | ||||
| 1 | Maddy | Bonikowsky | 0:25:57.86 | |
| 2 | Chloe | Bear | 0:26:13.03 | |
| 3 | Jane | Livingston | 0:26:52.01 | |
| Pro Men | ||||
| 1 | Eric | Olsen | 0:22:04.87 | |
| 2 | Mason | Rudolph | 0:22:30.67 | |
| 3 | Brandon | Fisher | 0:22:31.79 | |
Photos: Heather Peterson, courtesy of Race Cascadia