Sea Otter Fuego XL

The Sea Otter Fuego XL kicked off the 2024 Life Time Grand Prix series on April 19, 2024, at the iconic Sea Otter Classic in Monterey, California. This two-lap marathon mountain bike race covers roughly 68 miles and around 8,500 feet of climbing through the sand-laced, flowy singletrack of Fort Ord National Monument.

The Fuego XL has quickly become one of the premier endurance MTB events in North America. In 2024, the pace was blistering:

• Keegan Swenson claimed his third straight Fuego XL victory in just over four hours, three minutes faster than his 2023 time.
• Sofia Gómez Villafañe repeated as women’s champion, finishing 13 minutes faster than her winning ride in 2023.

For the amateur fields, the race remains a daunting mix of chaos, speed, and attrition. The opening miles at Laguna Seca Raceway, the sandy ruts of Fort Ord, and the endless rollers test both technical skills and endurance. It’s as much about surviving cleanly as it is about racing fast.

Before the Race

Preparation for Sea Otter 2024 was as much about equipment as it was about fitness. Leading into April, I rode a mix of Pacific Northwest trails (Grand Ridge, Duthie, Issaquah) before heading down to Marin, Santa Cruz, and eventually Monterey. By bringing only my MTB on the two-week road trip, I forced myself to log consistent off-road miles and get comfortable with the setup.

This year, I went all-in on upgrades. I installed a RockShox Charger Race Day2 damper, remote lockout, and shortened the bars. I swapped drivetrains to a “SRAMano” mix: Shimano XT 12-speed with an XO AXS electronic derailleur. It worked flawlessly and spared my hands from fatigue over six hours of constant shifting. New brake pads, fresh Specialized tires (Renegade rear, Fast Trak front, both 2.3 with Vittoria inserts), and a Bike Yoke Revive 2.0 dropper rounded out the build. By race morning, I felt like I had no excuses.

The atmosphere at Laguna Seca was electric. Pros roamed the expo, the infield buzzed with booths, and we caught up with friends, including Gabe at his Carbs Fuel tent. Parking and logistics were a bit of a grind, but walking through the iconic venue and pre-riding part of the course the day before cemented the anticipation. I was nervous, but ready.

Race Narrative

Chaos at the Start

The opening ten miles at Fuego XL are pure survival. After a fast rollout, the pack funnels straight into the Mazda Raceway climb — 2.5 minutes at 340 W for me — and then immediately into sketchy, sandy descents. Riders dove for lines, elbows out, jostling for space. I knew from the pre-ride what was coming, but with 500+ riders stacked together, it was sensory overload. Somehow, I stayed upright and avoided crashes, though I had plenty of close calls.

Settling into the Middle

By 41k and 54k, I was holding ~52nd in my age group, riding aggressively but starting to see power fade 20–30 W compared to the first lap. I never once dismounted, rolling straight through with one bottle hand-up at the aid station. My Osprey pack full of Roctane plus gels kept me on track for ~80 g carbs per hour, and I never felt close to bonking.

The sandy descents and rutted trails were punishing. I could close gaps on climbs but lost time when gravity favored the more skilled descenders. On a hardtail, I had to manage traction carefully, and I found myself wondering how much a full-suspension rig might have smoothed things out. Still, I rode smart — conservative on risky lines, letting faster riders by when needed, focusing on staying upright.

The Final 20k

At the 74k split I was up to 29th, but fatigue wore me down by the finish, slipping to 37th. My Lookout Ridge climb splits were almost identical lap to lap, but normalized power fell to 199 W for the full six hours. Not a blow-up, but the sharpness faded. It was survival mode: keep pedaling, don’t make mistakes, get across the line.

Crossing the finish was pure relief. I had no crashes, no mechanicals, and I’d executed my nutrition plan. I didn’t hit every placing goal, but I felt proud — I had raced hard, smart, and safe at one of the toughest MTB events on the calendar.

Final Results

The splits tell the story of my day at Sea Otter. At the 41K checkpoint I sat 324th overall and 53rd in my division, steady but still buried mid-pack. By 54K I was 351st overall and 52nd in division, essentially holding ground through the chaos of the first lap. The big move came in the middle third: between 54K and 74K I surged forward, climbing to 224th overall and 29th in division. That section was the highlight of my race — steady pacing and smart fueling allowed me to move through dozens of riders.

From 74K to the finish, fatigue started to show. I slipped back to 261st overall and 35th in division at 95K, before crossing the line 284th overall and 37th in division with a finish time of 6:00:26 (11.17 mph average). My normalized power came in at 199 W for six hours — not a collapse, but definitely a fade compared to lap one.

One important factor in these numbers: attrition after the first lap. At 54K there were still 619 riders being tracked, but by 74K only 434 remained. Many either dropped out or opted for the one-lap “Medio” version of the race. Simply staying in for the full 100K meant moving up the field as others quit. That context makes my mid-race surge even more meaningful, and finishing without crashes or major issues was a win in itself on such a demanding day.

What Went Well

• Equipment dialed: Electronic shifting was a game-changer for reducing hand fatigue. The new damper and remote lockout also paid off on the climbs.
• Nutrition execution: ~80 g carbs/hr, steady hydration, no stomach or heat issues. One of my cleanest fueling days ever.
• Consistency: Never crashed, never unclipped for 100k. Executed the plan and managed energy wisely.
• Mental focus: Stayed calm in the chaos, avoided unnecessary risks, and kept perspective in a deep, competitive field.

Needs Improvement

• Descending speed: The sandy, rutted descents exposed my limitations. More MTB time and better technical skills are needed.
• Fatigue resistance: Power drifted 20–30 W by lap two. High-intensity intervals late in long rides could help maintain sharpness.
• Equipment consideration: A full-suspension bike may be the better tool for Fuego XL’s sandy, choppy terrain.

Takeaways

Sea Otter Fuego XL 2024 was my second long MTB marathon and a huge learning experience. It confirmed that I can handle the distance, fuel properly, and ride smart in chaotic conditions. Compared to gravel, the demands are higher — but that’s exactly what makes it appealing.

This race left me with confidence for the season ahead. I know I can hang, I know what to work on, and I’m already motivated for the next test.