When the race starts and the clock is ticking, the only thing you should be thinking about is the line ahead of you. Whether you’re chasing the podium or just chasing that perfect flow state, your suspension is your connection to the trail—your secret weapon.
Sea Otter isn’t just a festival; it’s a celebration of every type of rider, from the gravity fiends to the XC whippets and everyone in between. And at the heart of it all, pushing the limits of performance across every discipline, is our incredible sponsor and a name synonymous with suspension excellence: Fox Factory.
That’s why we’ve teamed up with the suspension gurus at Fox Factory to create your definitive guide to getting ready for Sea Otter. We’re breaking down the five major events and the Fox forks that will give you the ‘unfair’ advantage, no matter what or how you ride.
Fox 38
The Undisputed Enduro Leader
Composure in the chaos. When the track gets wild at race speed, the 38 doesn’t flinch.
While many challengers have followed with 38mm Enduro forks, the FOX 38 has remained on top since it’s debut in 2020, this past year winning 2025 EDR World Championships under Richie Rude and Elly Hoskings. Now, the latest evolution brings all our most recent developments into a fresh, ground-up design that preserves weight, while increasing performance and fine-tuning ride feel.
Available from 160 to 180mm of travel, the 38 continues to define modern Enduro – built to charge hard, race flat-out, and tackle the steepest terrain with total confidence.
Support Without Harshness
GRIP X2 is the most tunable, supportive and smoothest descent-focused damper ever created by FOX. Sit higher in the travel, keep tires glued to the ground and corner with increased traction, all while reducing overall rider fatigue.
High Stiffness. Low Friction.
Using the learnings gained from the FOX Podium, we increased bushing overlap by 20mm to push the fore-aft stiffness by approximately 9% while reducing friction under load at high speed. The new arch optimizes torsional stiffness even further for steering responsiveness and handling.
Smooth Under Pressure.
The seamlessly compliant FLOAT Glidecore air spring reduces friction and bind by moving with the fork under dynamic load. Large cross-section O-rings dampen and control this motion while also reducing breakaway friction of the air spring. The result? Smoother suspension action
FOX PODIUM
First up, for the shredders tackling the 2-day, 10-stage Smith Enduro, you’ll want the Fox Podium. This isn’t just an enduro fork; it’s a downhill fork in a single-crown package. It’s built for those who ride with no barriers and no hesitation, giving you the complete confidence to hold your line through the roughest terrain.
Fox 36
For the all the gravity action at the Fox Superflow®, the Fox 36 is the only logical choice. The apex of all-mountain performance, this fork brings big-fork energy to your ride with greater steering stiffness and buttery-smooth travel. It’s the perfect balance of an Enduro feel without the weight, ready to soak up whatever the trail throws at you.
Fox 34SL
If you’re eyeing that top step in the Thule XC Marathon, you’ll be looking to shed every gram without sacrificing capability. Enter the Fox 34SL. With unparalleled XC capability in a full-width 34 chassis, this fork is built for technical World Cup courses and demanding downcountry trails, adding more stiffness and suppleness with minimal weight gain.
Fox 32 Taper-Cast
And finally, for the dust-kicking adventure of the Maxxis Gravel event, the Fox 32 Taper-Cast is a game-changer. It’s the lightest suspension fork Fox has ever built, and it’s tuned specifically for gravel. It smooths out the chatter, increases control, and dramatically expands the terrain you can cover, making you faster and more confident on every dirt road.
Get ready to ride, race, and have an absolute blast at Sea Otter Australia! Your suspension is sorted, now all that’s left is to choose your event and hit Mogo Trails and surrounds!
