I’ve been riding super twisty trails on my V4 Ripley for about 6 months, I wouldn’t sweat the cornering capability (east coast rider here too) - but consider going to a 51mm offset fork if snappy cornering is a priority for you. I’m a hold out for this offset selection as the fashion for shorter offset forks seems to become more the norm. Nutshell for 29" fork offset; 44 offers more high speed stability at the price of low speed maneuverability, while 51 gives up a little high speed stability but offers a snappier feel when navigation turns. Don’t let the marketing sway you, just because a bike brand recommend shorter offsets doesn’t mean you have to. Plus, consider where Ibis is located - those trails are very different from our east coast.
Oh, and allow me to gush a bit - this bike is in the running for favorite mountain bike ever and I’ve owned my fair share. The only downside for endurance racing might be the frame weight, there are lighter bikes out there but I definitely keep the Ripley on the short list.