Local rider to rip it up abroad

Jordan Brandt’s gentle demeanor is a stark contrast to his obvious affinity for danger. The way the Boulder Creek native sits calmly with his wife, Maria, and 7-year-old son, Cristiano, makes it hard to guess that he professionally tears up terrain on his dirt bike.
And the 30-year-old off-road aficionado’s latest achievement is no small feat — Brandt is one of 30 chosen to represent the United States at the International Six Days Enduro in Portugal.
Touted as the Olympics of off-road dirt bike racing, the ISDE started in England in 1913 and is held at destinations all over the world.
In recent years, the six-day, 1,250-mile race has attracted riders from more than 30 countries and is the International Motorcycling Federation’s longest-running event.
“This is one of the toughest races in the world. You have to ride as fast as you can, but you also have to be careful not to crash and wreck your bike,” Brandt said.
Brandt said in addition to the terrain and length of the race, the trickiest aspect is that mechanics are not allowed to work on contestants’ bikes during the six-day race. All problems have to be fixed by the rider during 15 minutes allotted at the end of each day.
Brandt was invited to represent the U.S. in the ISDE after he completed a qualifying two-day race in Idaho, where he spent eight hours a day on his KTM 530.
“It was close to ISDE format — all off-road through the woods and desert with tight trails, wide enough for a motorcycle,” Brandt said.
Brandt’s days as a riding junkie started because his father, who was also a rider, started the boy on a bike at 2 years old. Brandt rode every weekend until high school, when he took a break from dirt bikes and devoted himself to BMX racing for a decade.
To his wife’s relief, Brandt quit BMX after breaking his back and ankle three times each.
“I went back to dirt bike riding because I needed a safer sport,” he said with a laugh.
Brandt races weekends with the Salinas Ramblers Motorcycle Club, where he’s been a member for six years.
By day, Brandt works as a union pipe fitter in Scotts Valley, installing fire-suppression sprinklers.
This year’s ISDE will be Brandt’s third time qualifying for the event.
Brandt attended the 2006 ISDE in New Zealand and the 2007 ISDE in Chile.
“The race in Chile was brutal,” Brandt recalled. “I broke my bike on the first day. It was really rough, because I couldn’t finish.”
At the ISDE in New Zealand, Brandt finished with a silver medal and was just one minute, four seconds shy of a gold.
“This year I am definitely more prepared, more focused and more experienced. I’m ready,” Brandt said. “There’s no way I’m coming home this time without a gold.”
At a glance
WHAT: Fundraiser for Jordan Brandt’s international dirt bike race
WHEN: 112 Bernard Lane, in Santa Cruz
WHERE: 1 to 5 p.m. Sept. 12
DETAILS: Silent auction and raffle, with prizes including electronics and vacations
INFO: www.jordanbrandt.com