TRENT ELLERMAN
Trent Ellerman is a 15 year old Enduro racer based in Arizona. Not only is he winning numerous races in his age category, but he’s making a name for himself taking on races in the adult series…and still winning
I’m originally from California but moved to Arizona during Covid. I really enjoy off-roading, lots of dirt bike riding and driving our side by sides. I do online school so I am really lucky to have lots of free time for riding bikes and doing the stuff I love.
I started riding bikes ever since I could walk. I got into BMX racing early and I lived in a neighbourhood where we could ride from our house to mtb trails, so I got to ride quite often. My dad is the main reason I am who I am today. He was the one building me super nice custom bikes when I was little - making it pretty hard for me not to have fun riding bikes!
My Dad took me all my first races and did a lot for me when I was little - he still does. Right before Covid happened I did an enduro race at Big Bear and really liked it. Covid hit and mtb racing shut down so I went back to BMX racing for a while since it was still running during Covid. 2021-2022 mtb racing opened back up and I got back into it!
2023 was a great year for me. I raced 4 separate enduro series and won all of them overall. I won the Big Mountain Enduro 15-18 advanced boys class and the Youth Enduro Series 15-18 advanced boys. I won the Bikesmith Cyclery enduro series with no age class - I was the only kid - and won the MBAA enduro series in the expert/pro men class at 15 years old.
My riding style is to go fast. Going fast is when I’m having fun - that converts to anything I do really!
My approach to training is pretty simple - go faster than the last time I rode! I’m definitely always battling Strava times trying to take all the KOMs on the good trails in my town.
My favorite spot to ride is Big Sky Montana. It’s the closest thing to Whistler that I’ve ridden and the trails are just awesome and super well built. I do also love the riding in the town I live in, Prescott Arizona.
I guess the technique I have to win races is to try and ride as smoothly and calmly as possible. There’s definitely some other tricks I have up my sleeve but that’s not to share haha!
I don’t have much fear anymore from riding new sketchy obstacles. I really try not to think about the obstacles too much and just do them. I’ve found when you try and nit pick obstacles and overthink them, this is when you end up crashing or messing up. I really just tell myself to “just do it” in my head and that’s it.
To be honest, I built up my Highlander II with the stuff I get the best deals on! I feel I can ride any suspension brand as fast as I can ride the other. This is the same with drivetrains or any component on the bike.
I really enjoy riding the Highlander more after coming off the Claymore. It’s just easier for me to ride since I’m not a crazy strong. The Highlander is truly an amazing bike because of how versatile it is. This is a big claim but sponsorship aside I think the Highlander is the best bike I’ve ever ridden in my life so far (and I’ve ridden a lot of bikes and a lot of different brands…).
My plans for 2024 is to race the BME in the semi-pro class. I’ll race the Bikesmith Cyclery Enduro, and I’ll race the MBAA enduro. Hopefully I can get a taste in racing the EDR World Cup but that may be one for next year!
Keep up to date with Trent’s training and racing season on the link below:
