Proud of our first Ixtem-Games: trail riding, motorcycle games and great encounters

On the weekend of July 14, 2023, the first Ixtem-Games took place in Champagne. 40 participants, the Ixtem-Moto team and volunteers pumped up, trail riding and games centered around three fundamental values: a passion for motorcycling, curiosity and mutual support. These are the pillars of what we wanted to offer. What's the concept? What were the highlights of this first edition? How did it go? Were the participating bikers won over? Spoiler alert: it was all good fun!

This event started germinating in our minds only 5 months ago. The concept of the event is simple: motorcycle rides and games. In addition to the off-road rides, each team has to take on a series of challenges that can be completed by helping each other. Agility, slow courses, bike lifting, blindfolded riding: the aim is above all to have fun. What's more, it's not a race, and the final ranking doesn't depend on speed.

Who is the Ixtem Games for? Trail enthusiasts! We've come up with some nice, doable, well-balanced trails for our big, everyday bikes. The idea is to have fun in beautiful landscapes without the hassle. If you want to suffer, there's the Hard Defi Tour! But all the same, participants had to contend with sand, mud, ruts, undergrowth, etc... However, the distances to be covered were reasonable to avoid rinsing our drivers. Not like the Gibraltar race, eh!

What's special about the Ixtem Games? Teams are drawn at random. The participants didn't know that. In fact, during the administrative checks, they each picked a number which then determined the composition of the different groups. At first dubious, the bikers played the game of separating from their buddies. In the end, these forced encounters created a wonderful sense of group cohesion. A shepherd was appointed to each team. His or her role? To ensure the safety of his team, communicate with the organization and make sure that all members got home in one piece.

Friday, July 14, 2 p.m. sharp, hostilities begin

After the welcome briefing, the bikers set off on the trails, while we keep 5 teams at the campsite for the first trials.

During the briefing, we also ask competitors to take part in a photo challenge. The aim? Take the team's funniest photo and send it to Michel before Saturday 7pm, so that it can be voted on by fans of the Ixtem Facebook page. And every team complies! Proof of the great spirit that will reign at the event.

First challenge? Bodybuilding. Each group of 4 has to ground and raise a motorcycle 12 times in the shortest possible time. It's a real arm-buster! 2nd workshop: trailer! The aim? Mount and strap your bike onto a Cochet trailer as quickly as possible after completing a course between the tents. It's great fun to watch everyone develop their technique to get the best time. And some of them were really impressive!

What about the other 5 teams? They set off to explore the tracks that Nicolas has ingeniously devised. But be careful, because in the middle of the course, an agility test awaits them. At a standstill, with the rider on the saddle and his right foot on the footrest, each competitor must pass the first one and start off without putting his foot on the ground. They must then dismount and get back on the bike while riding. It's quite a balancing act! But wait, there's more. Finally, they have to take out their crutch while riding and drop onto it in a little square drawn on the ground, without putting their feet on the ground of course. What I loved about this challenge? Many people thought it was impossible, but in the end a good number of competitors succeeded.

At the end of the day, we all have dinner together. How cohesive is the team at this point? Still fragile. The bond between the members of these freshly-formed teams is not yet very strong. But it will come!

Saturday July 15, trail running, games and group spirit are born

Today, all teams set off on a trail. The surprise? They arrive at Hermonville's motocross course. And no fewer than 7 challenges await them! The gutter, the garage, the plank, a slowness contest - we had no shortage of imagination (thanks Nicolas, our diabolical games master!) Michel supervised the "don't lose your wheel" challenge. A team member has to dismantle the wheel of a motorcycle, pass it on to a second rider who then completes a route on foot, before passing it on to the 3rd rider who does the opposite, so that the 4th rider can reassemble the wheel. A challenge that's both physical and fun.

Another funky challenge? The Ray Charles. Two on a motorcycle, the rider is blindfolded, while the passenger guides him/her with a tap on the shoulders. Under these conditions, following the set course requires a good deal of cohesion between the two team members. Another great moment of complicity!

Once evening arrives, it's time for a debriefing. The pleasant surprise? The cohesion is there. It's really incredible. The team members have found each other. It's really heart-warming, because for us, this notion of sharing is essential in trail running. With the exception of one group in which the difference in level was really too great, everyone was able to make the best of each other's abilities. A fine example of biker solidarity! The best part? The competitor who told us: "We have to come here to meet bikers from our region". Bikers from all 6 corners of France have come, and they're all playing the game of teaming up with strangers. "It really warms my heart. It's my best moment of the year at Ixtem" (says Michel).

Sunday, July 16, we never want to leave each other's side

This morning, the bikers set off on a new trail. No challenge this time, but a little difficulty all the same: a paper roadbook. Not easy when you're used to following a GPX track, is it? Once again, the participants are great. Some stick the directions on their tanks, while others take photos of them to display on their tablets or phones. Then, at three specific points, they have to take a team selfie to attest to their passage. Another great time!

At 1pm, the rankings are announced. From the last to the first team, each competitor receives a prize. Leatherman knives, Kriega backpacks, Acebikes straps, we treat our bikers! They're all very happy. Then it's time to say goodbye, but nobody wants to leave each other! Complete strangers on Friday, they've forged super-strong bonds over the weekend. Some have really become friends. "For me, it's fantastic because it's an aspect of motorcycling that's close to my heart: meeting and sharing." (says Michel, with a tear in his eye).

During these events, the Ixtem Moto team was supported by volunteers to make sure everything ran smoothly. David, Jessica, Stéphane... all people with whom Michel had previously ridden. We owe them a debt of gratitude, because without them, managing the 7 challenges would have been impossible. Many thanks!

And who else? Nicolas Lantenois! Big ovation for him. He did an amazing job before and during the Ixtem Games. He cut down trees, cleared paths and made some really great tracks. A golden guy!

Am I forgetting someone? Phillipe, our "official" volunteer photographer, who accepted our invitation at the drop of a hat. For the anecdote, he broke his ribs during a reconnaissance on the first day! In spite of it all, he took care of business by posting up at the exit of the runs. A great commitment!

And of course a big thank you to Céline and Geoffrey from Camping de la Pointe in Bourg-et-Comin for their extraordinary welcome. We were truly pampered. And thanks again to the Hermonville motocross/trial ground for providing the venue.

For a first edition, the organization was super smooth. Thanks to good preparation, a top-notch campsite and resourceful volunteers, everything ran smoothly. Whether it was challenges, minor problems, briefings or accommodation, everything went off without a hitch. The only hitch was that we forgot the coffee for the workshops on the trial course. No big deal, right? The participants were even treated to a fireworks display! That's right, July 14th. Well, yes, Ixtem-Moto had absolutely nothing to do with it, as it was the neighboring village that broke the piggy bank for the event, but still! Not every motorcycle raid offers this kind of spectacle. To tell you just how well-oiled the machinery was, Michel was able to enjoy the swimming pool on Saturday and even ride with the bikers on Sunday's track. It was a real pleasure to be able to share this stage with all the competitors.

Any injuries to report? Yes, off-road motorcycling is not a risk-free activity. A broken wrist, a sprained ankle and a host of other minor ailments. But every time, the team managed. And that's the main thing.

On Friday's hike, a participant fell and lost consciousness. Naturally, we had provided an assistance vehicle with a trailer to transport his bike, and we took the rider to the emergency room. We don't know whether it was the fainting spell that caused the fall, or vice versa... But he spent most of the weekend in hospital. Poor Cyrille...

But there is one injury that remains absolutely improbable. Would you like to know the details? David's TTR 600 wouldn't start. So Geoffrey, the campsite manager, offered to help him by pushing the recalcitrant machine. It finally started! Except that, surprised by the maneuver, the Good Samaritan waffled and broke his arm. Crazy thing...

The worst part? One competitor didn't even make it to the Ixtem-Games. He "simply" forgot to remove the U from his wheel before starting off to the event. Result: 10 broken spokes. Bummer!

As you'll understand, we've done everything we can to encourage people to get together and help each other. For us, this is the very DNA of trail running. Here's the best example: the Cyrille case. As a reminder, this was the case of the biker who had a fall and felt unwell before ending the weekend in hospital. Rather than leave his bike in the paddock, he lent it to a competitor whose bike had broken down so he could ride. What a nice gesture! David, another biker, made the detour to the Paris region to drop off Cyrille's bike and belongings at his home. Mathilde dropped off a change of clothes and his toilet bag at the hospital. And last but not least, Nicolas stopped by Cyrille's room after the event to check on him.

Isn't this proof that the spirit of the biker community is alive and well? For us, that's what life's all about. You know what we mean? Going beyond the material and financial aspects to devote ourselves to the human aspect. This sharing, this solidarity, this benevolence... We're really pleased that they emerged over the weekend.

On this Sunday afternoon, we watch our 40 competitors leave us with a certain twinge of sadness. What can we take away from this first edition? It was a great success! The bikers left with smiles on their faces, and above all, we succeeded in organizing an event around the values we hold dear. Light years away from elitist raids, the Ixtem-Games are designed for fun, discovery and sharing around a common passion for trail riding. What about the next edition? It's in the pipeline. But after this year's success, it's going to be hard to top it! So let's try to do at least as well!