The Snowshoe Downhill Mountain Biking race will be held at Snowshoe Ski Resort in Snowshoe WV, between July 17 and July 23. The championships include downhill, dual slalom, enduro or cross-country, and short track cross-country events. Three courses will be laid out on Cheat Mountain at the Snowshoe Ski Resort: the pro downhill course, the amateur downhill course, and the endurance course. Racers qualify at state and regional events throughout the year. Competitors are separated by male and female, age groups, and skill levels. Levels 2 and 3 compete in the non-championship events. Level 1 competitors are vying for the championship. The top 15 competitors in each group qualify to compete.
Race To Feature Variety Of Biking Styles
If you are not completely familiar with any of these events, here is a little background. Competitions at the Snowshoe Downhill Mountain Biking race are either endurance events or gravity-oriented such as the downhill. In downhill, competitors are timed as they race downhill individually. The person with the fastest time wins. The rough course includes jumps and drop-offs. Downhill bikes have a full suspension to provide a smooth ride, and the riders wear body armor, pads, and full-face helmets.
Dual slalom events pair two riders against each other on identical side-by-side courses. Riders weave in and out of gates as they descend the course. Then riders exchange courses and make a second run. The rider with the best time after two runs moves on to the next round. The other rider is eliminated.
In Snowshoe Downhill Mountain Biking Cross-country events, all the competitors line up at the start line and take off at the same time. The course varies from unpaved fire roads to single lane areas with ruts, rocks, roots and changes in elevation. The course length is usually 16 to 22 miles for women and 22 to 28 miles for men. A race lasts about two hours. A cross-country bike has wide knobby wheels. Cross-country racing requires being alert to your surroundings, good bike-handling skills, and a driven, competitive nature.
Short Track Cross-Country is off-road racing on a short circuit It is an endurance event that gives spectators a chance to see more of the action. Short track races last about 20 minutes.
Schedule Of Events at Snowshoe Downhill Mountain Biking Race
July 17
- – Practice
July 18
- – Practice, Qualifying for the non-championship Dual Slalom, and Finals for non-championship Downhill and Dual Slalom.
July 19
- – Practice, Finals for non-championship Cross-country, Qualifying for Dual Slalom championship, and Endurance championship stages 1 through 4.
July 20
- – Qualifying and Finals Dual Slalom championship, Cross-Country finals for some championship groups, and Endurance Championship stages 5 through 8.
July 21
- – Cross-Country finals, Seeding for Downhill finals, Finals for Dual Slalom Championship and Finals for Short Track Cross Country.
July 22
- – Finals for Downhill and Cross-Country in some age groups.
July 23
- – Finals for Downhill and Cross-Country.
Snowshoe Mountain Resort – Pocahontas County, WV
Snowshoe Ski Resort, in Pocahontas County, WV, is a great location for the 2017 USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Championships because it is more than just a ski resort. It is a year-round destination with off-road tours, horseback riding, golf, swimming, other water activities, concerts, a spa, weddings, shopping, dining, lodging, and, of course, mountain biking. The bike park on Snowshoe Mountain has a 1,500 vertical foot descent and almost 40 trails with trails designed for first time riders, cross country lovers, and pro downhillers. They have trails for everyone. So plan to attend the 2017 USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Championships and make Snowshoe WV your destination spot year-round.