The 2010 International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) marked a major milestone for Canada: for the first time in the history of the event, Canada sent a women’s trophy team, which consisted of Victoria Hett, Almeda Rive and Karine Gendron. While Rive and Gendron are both relatively unknown, Hett has an impressive racing resume, including the 2009 women’s class Canadian Enduro Championship (CEC). Hett not only won the 2009 CEC championship, she did it in convincing fashion by sweeping all eight rounds and posting special test times that were closer to the pro class times than any of her competitors. After such a dominating performance, Hett set her sights on international competition, starting with the 2010 ISDE in Morelia, Mexico, held November 1 to 6, 2010.
After almost a week of driving from her home in British Columbia's south Okanagan, Hett arrived in central Mexico—though not without issue. She had picked up a cold the day she left Canada; between that and truck trouble, her six-day effort was already far from perfect. Nevertheless, once she was in Morelia, Hett immediately set about finalizing bike preparations and walking the special tests. A twisted knee while riding the test track was a minor setback—as well as tendonitis flaring up in Hett’s left hand—but with help from Rekluse, everything was sorted out and her bike was impounded on Friday. Saturday night was the opening ceremonies and parade of nations, where racers and support crews were treated to over 100,000 screaming Mexican fans lining the streets to welcome everyone to the 2010 ISDE. That same night, Hett opted for a hamburger from a streetside vendor; this would come back to haunt her six days later.
And so the challenge begins
Day 1 of the 2010 ISDE started bright and early on Monday morning. Hett, along with the rest of the competitors, hit the course for two gruelling laps totalling over 250 kilometres of rugged trails in the Mexican countryside. Hett rode well, posting competitive special test times and staying on time during the transfer sections. It looked like a smooth day, until Hett arrived 25 minutes early to the final time check of the day. She soon realized she had been misdirected by a course official and had missed a special test. Racing back to the test, Hett rode her heart out and still made it back to the time control with seconds to spare. After wowing the crowd with a sub five-minute tire change—plus changing an air filter and engine oil during her 15-minute work period—it was back to the condo to rest up for Day 2.
That night all hell broke loose. The results listed Hett as disqualified for completing the special tests in the wrong order, and it turned out Rive and Gendron had also missed a special test—so all of Team Canada was out after the very first day. Luckily, with hard work from team manager Mike Kelly and the jury delegate, Hett was reinstated—though she received a one-hour penalty. This was devastating, as Hett was just one minute off a gold medal after the first day. To top it off, Hett’s hamburger from the opening ceremonies reared its ugly head, making her violently ill.
Finding that inner strength
On the second day, after racing through morning rush hour, the Team Canada women were off for another day of racing in Mexico. Rive and Gendron were allowed to restart but were no longer eligible for medals. Hett and Rive rode together for the entire day with few issues, but Gendron had houred out by the halfway point of the day. The two remaining Canadian women stayed on time, but Hett’s condition worsened with repeated trips to various outhouses throughout the day. Rive crashed hard and injured her wrist, but rode through the pain to finish the day. At the day’s end, the Team U.S.A. doctors gave Hett an IV and some medicine to hopefully help her with the nasty bug she had contracted. Hett spent most of the night sick and got little rest.
Day 3 marked a new course that was supposed to be much tougher. Hett looked extremely tired at the start of the day but rode off into the Mexican countryside once again. The trails lived up to the difficulty, and brought stories of endless hillclimbs and rocky trails that were absolutely punishing bikes and bodies alike. One American racer, who looked particularly tired, talked about one section of over 20 kilometres she spent just crawling along in first gear up a hill covered in rocks that just never ended. The technical trails took their toll on Hett and Rive. Rive's wrist was swollen and painful but she made it through one lap of the gruelling course before calling it quits. Meanwhile, Hett continued to push through frequent outhouse stops and finished the day 30 minutes down and dead tired—but she finished. Somehow in her exhaustion, Hett still managed to whip off a five-minute tire change, then headed to the medical tent as soon as she impounded her bike.
Fiercely determined to finish
The Mexican doctors quickly realized how serious Hett’s condition was and inserted an IV. Exhausted, Hett passed out for hours in the medical tent under the watchful eye of the Mexican doctors and her Canadian support crew. The official diagnosis was a gastrointestinal infection, also known as Montezuma’s revenge. The Mexican doctors were exceptional, providing great care and the proper medicine for Hett. At close to midnight, she was finally able to return to the condo, where she was up most of the night with more sickness.
In order to continue to race, Hett had to be checked by the official doctors the following morning. Looking closer to death than a racer, Hett was advised by the doctors to quit the race and seek more intensive medical attention. Showing incredible determination, Hett convinced the doctors to let her continue the race, then barely made it to the start as she doubled over in painful cramps. Though she didn’t even have the strength to pull her goggles over her helmet, Hett somehow pushed her bike up the start ramp and took off somewhat late—she was determined to finish her first ISDE.
The Canadian support crew was worried sick, but miraculously, Hett's condition improved, and by check 2, she was starting to feel better. The ISDE medical staff continued to monitor Hett throughout the day; although she still needed to make frequent outhouse stops, she made it through the day with time to spare. Day 5 promised to be easier than days 3 and 4, and this optimism lifted the spirits of most of the racers. While the final trail day course was easier, it wasn’t by much. Narrow, technical trails perched up high on mountainside ledges were by no means easy, and it was another exhausting day in Mexico. Hett was still sick, but felt much better than on previous days. She rode with renewed determination and finished the day 36 minutes down, but she finished.
With only a 50-kilometre trail ride and a motocross race standing between her and a finish at her first ISDE, that night Hett was actually able to relax a bit. Unfortunately, that same night the drug violence that has been so prominent in international media flared up, causing the ISDE organizers to cancel the final day of the event. With that decision made, Hett became the first Canadian woman to finish the International Six Days Enduro, earning a bronze medal, finishing eighth out of 20 women and carrying Team Canada to a fourth-place finish in the women’s trophy standings.
Seeking out opportunities
After such an incredible performance in Mexico, Hett has signed with GasGas Pacific for the 2011 and 2012 race seasons. Hett plans on competing in the Canadian Enduro Championships in the highly competitive amateur A class against the guys. She will also be competing in the B.C.-based Pacific Northwest Motorcycle Association (PNWMA) and the Okanagan Hare Scramble Series (OHSS) as well as select events across the Pacific Northwest, including the Desert 100, Orofino LoggerXcross, AMA Endurocross events and the Xtinction Hard Enduro.
Tory, as her friends call her, credits her dad and brothers for helping her become the rider she is today. She enjoys long, challenging races in technical terrain and hopes to continue to race in Canada and around the world. This season Hett will focus mainly on Canadian races, but in 2012 she plans to race the ISDE in Germany and to hopefully improve on her international results. For more information about Hett, visit her website.
At a glance
Name: Victoria Hett
Age: 27
Hometown: Vernon, B.C.
Bike: 2011 GasGas EC250
Sponsors: GasGas Pacific, Gamma Powersports, Rekluse, Fasst Company, LT Racing Suspension, Scorpion Racing, Gnarly Parts & Accessories, Limenine Graphics, Adrenaline Distribution, Steve Shannon Photography, A Vicious Cycle, Advanced Pavement Technologies, BUMP MX and Valley Moto Sport in Kelowna, B.C.
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