XpBonaire IslandLife Feature Story
Stephen Thuell (Steve) has been a resident of Bonaire for many years. After his recent training in Spain, he returned to the island with a new found passion that he now wants to share with us.
Steve has done many things throughout his life. Some of you might know him from windsurfing, mountain biking, dirt bike riding, quad riding, sailing and do not forget, singing.
ENDURO RIDING
Motorbiking is one of the sports that have been in Steve’s life since he was 6 years old and has continued to this day. During his stay in Spain, he had the opportunity to ride and learn with the best. He is grateful for the experience and the skills that have changed this rider’s life. Baz (Barry Fleming) and Kaz (Karen Waind) located in Mijas, Andalucia, Spain are the owners of the Adventure Rider Center specializing in enduro riding, teaching you the skills of off road riding, improving and retraining you mentally and physically so you end up enjoying your ride even more. They teach beginner to expert level riders with a team of professionals and well known riders from around the world.
Since it has made such a difference in Steve’s riding experience, he wants to share his skills with anyone who is passionate about off road riding or wants to learn it. Enduro riding is not about wild speed, but about skills and retraining your brain to change the human fight or flight reflex in dangerous situations into a preemptive, skilled way of riding. Overall you learn to climb obstacles, ride edges, drops, mud and sand, deal with nature in any way, shape or form and be safe and use up less energy.
You can contact Steve to discuss the details about what you want to learn, the bike and the gear necessary. He has explored the island a lot over all the years and since his return, he rides specifically on enduro proof trails and other suitable off road locations. Steve describes the in “the zone experience” as a meditative state - you with your bike and nature.
Ironman 2020
Since the beginning of 2019, Steve has set himself a goal to sign up for the Big Baja 1000 off road vehicle race in 2020 in the Ironman Division, which means competing in a 48 hour nonstop solo rider race. Steve will compete, representing Bonaire with the goal of raising money for initiatives on the island that benefit the youth and children. More information about this will be published and posted in the near future.
Baja 1000
Baja 1000 is a Mexican off-road motorsport race held on the Baja California Peninsula. The race was founded by Ed Pearlman in 1967. It is one of the most prestigious off road races, attracting competitors from around the world. The race is the final round of a four-race annual series, including the SCORE Desert Challenge, the SCORE San Felipe 250 and the SCORE Baja 500. The 2017 Baja 1000 marked the 50th anniversary of the race.
The Baja 1000 allows various types of vehicle classes to compete on the same course with classes for cars, trucks, motorcycles, ATVs and buggies. The course has remained relatively the same over the years with every other event being either a point-to-point race from Ensenada to La Paz, or a loop race starting and finishing in Ensenada.
Ironman Class - NO RESTING. NO TEAMMATES.
Baja is a challenge and is no ordinary race. Riders will face a 1,134.4 mile stretch of sharp rocks, sand, miles of silt beds, wind, heat, cold, hill climbs, wild animals and more. The Ironman division is no multi-rider event, they are required to take on the burden of the entire race… on their own for 48 hours nonstop.
Follow Steve
You can follow Steve until December, 2019, on the Facebook page, Race for Children, as he trains and rides to be ready for the Baja 1000 event.
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