Kenda Cup East Series: Mountain Bike Racers Face Off in Six Venues Beginning
May 3, 2009:Tanasi Challenge (SERC Race#5)Ducktown, TN; Ducktown, Tennessee, may be just a dot on a map to most, but for mountain bikers in the
Southeast, its home to some of the best trails and best races around, including the first race in
the Kenda Cup East series. David Berger, who runs Gone Riding (www.goneriding.com), organizes the South Eastern Regional Championship Series, which includes the Tanasi Challenge, on the Tanasi trail system and starting at the Ocoee White Water Center.
Its hard to believe its our tenth anniversary of a SERC race on the Tanasi trails, says Berger. These trails have always impressed me as national caliber, and having the race as part of the US Cup lets us prove it to the folks who matterthe racers.
Get ready for climbing right from the start, six miles to the peak. About half way into the tenmile course comes one of Bergers favorite trails. Riverview really rolls and flows well, its a beautiful ride. The last four miles are descent, and Berger warns racers Make sure your
brakes are working. Thunderock Express is two miles of downhill its a blast to ride though you can be doing 20 mph without even pedaling! Berger credits the Forest Service and the staff at Ocoee for the great mountain bike experience at Tanasi with continuing improvements to the trail system. Accommodations are somewhat limited in Ducktown, and racers may want to look into
hotels/motels in Cleveland, Tennessee (about an hour from the venue) or Blue Ridge, Tennessee (about 45 minutes from the venue). The park is open daily, and the Ocoee office will have maps of the course for those who want to pre‐ride. Berger has one other warning for racers whove never been to Ocoee or ridden the Tanasi
trails. Keep an eye out for bears, they can appear out of nowhere.
May 31, 2009:Bump and Grind,Birmingham, AL
BUMP & GRIND was first hosted in 1995 by the Birmingham Urban Mountain Pedalers (BUMP)
as a fundraiser and promotion tool to support the Red trail at Oak Mountain State Park. Over 15
years, both the race and the trail at Oak Mountain have grown immensely. Chris Straynar, promoter for BUMP & GRIND, explains how the course has grown. From 1995
to 1998 the race course was a 7.5 mile loop. In 1999 the completed Red trail brought the course distance to 17.5 miles per loop. The loosely connected sections, with whimsical names like Mr. Toads Wild Ride, Foreplay, The Chimneys, and the BUMP Trail allow racers to experience everything from smooth flowing single track, challenging rock gardens, rocky
switchbacks and dense woodsy climbing. The trail has a famous technical section called Blood Rock. The name originates from the red paint used to mark this section as part of the red trail. This is usually a favorite spot for race photographers and spectators, Straynar says.
Oak Mountain State Park was chosen as the pre‐Olympic training site for the 1996 Mountain Bike Team, and in 2001 BUMP & GRIND hosted both UCI DH and XC events. In addition, the Red Trail is used by Xterra every year for the Southeast Regional race. BUMP is hosting a new n
event festival on Saturday, May 30, to support its Bridge the Gap fundraiser.
Strayner recommends that out‐of‐town racers pre‐ride the course which will be open all day Saturday, May 30. The BUMP website (www.BUMP.org) describes the trail sections, running counter‐clockwise, in detail, but Straynar notes that the race will run clockwise.
June 7, 2009:21st Annual Massanutten Hoo Ha
Massanutten, VA
In 1989, there were only eight races on the East Coast, and everyone traveled if they wanted to
race. The Massanutten Hoo Ha (http://www.massresort.com/v.php?pg=220) was one of the eight originals. 21 years later, the Massanutten Hoo Ha still going strong and is now part of the Kenda Cup East. Massanutten has played host to a variety of mountain bike events, including the 1997 World Downhill championships, So George Willetts and Kenny Hess, Mountain Bike Director, are more than ready to give the cross‐country competitors a great race. The
Massanutten Hoo Ha is also part of the GT Golden Race series, and the Hoo Ha is usually billed as Virginias biggest, baddest race. With good reason Hess describes the course as 20 miles of fun lots of climbing, and some great natural rock formations.
Thanks to the Shenandoah Bicycle Valley Coalition for all the trails we ride and race. The volunteers and local cyclists have built fun, flowing trails on Massanuttens Western Slope, says Hess. We encourage racers to pre‐ride the course, any time May 30‐June 6.
June 21, 2009:Cowbell Summer Solstice XC,Davidson, NC
Summer Solstice marks the start of summer, and for The Cowbell Summer Solstice XC is the
fourth race in the Kenda Cup East. Part of the Cowbell Challenge Race weekend (www.cowbellchallenge.org), the US Cup race really does fall on summer solstice, June 21, at Fisher Farm Park in Davidson, NC. Fisher Farm has some really awesome flowing single track,
some nice technical spots, and a few surprises, says Taylor. Its also great for spectators,
which can be hard to come by in mountain bike race venues. While the elevation gain is not as much as in several of the other Kenda Cup East venues, racers
should prepare for heat and humidity. By the time mid‐June rolls around, temperatures can easily be in the mid‐90s, Taylor warns. And with humidity usually hovering in the 80 percent range, racers should plan their hydration strategy accordingly Sunscreens not a bad idea either!
Piedmont‐area locals wanting to check out the eight‐mile course can participate in the Fisher Farm Shootout, a mini series of six Thursday‐night races that start with existing trails and build up to the full CSSXC course on June 18. Racers can pre‐ride the course on Friday, June 19, between 10 am 6 pm.
August 8‐9, 2009:Snow Shootout, Mt. Snow, VT
Even the name sounds grueling, and since the early days of mountain bike cross‐country,
Mount Snow (www.mountsnow.com) has earned that label. Back in the day of Mountain Bike Glory, Mount Snow was the place to be for a stop on the World Cup or the Chevy Trucks National Mountain Bike Series, says Greg Fisher, promoter of the Snow Shootout. Riders faces and names have changed but the level of competition still remains one of the strongest if not the strongestfield on the East Coast.
Mount Snow's XC course has changed very little in the past twenty years, probably because it is recognized as one of the most difficult in the country. The grueling five‐mile cloverleaf lap crosses treacherous New England style mountain terrain and riders from across the world enjoy the true challenge this race brings every year. Competitors start off on a mile north loop ascending a rocky work road before heading into a single track wooded section. After popping out, it's a fierce downhill right back into the Main Start Finish line area and the crowds of spectators, Fisher explains. After the feed zone the climbing begins through thick woods,
roots, and rocks. Often times drummers hang out along the climb to encourage riders to continue on. After reaching the 1200' mark it is back downhill through mostly single track downhill before heading back into the base area.
Among the most famous of Mount Snow's traditions associated with the race is The Naked Crit. Originating back at Camp Haystack, riders would get down to their birthday suits for a fun race around camp fires, Fisher explains. Now that Haystack is closed the race has moved to Mount Snow's Sundance Base Area, but still remains a Saturday night tradition.
Fisher notes that the resort area offers plenty in addition to great mountain biking. Mount Snow's valley is home to tons of restaurants including two five‐star wine cellars at the Inn at Saw Mill Farm and the Hermitage. The Deerfield River runs through town and flows into Harriman Reservoir where boating and swimming can be enjoyed. I would plan early though.
Our race engulfs the town and many people plan way in advance to attend. With the addition of the Trek Women's Triathlon this year lodging will be at a premium. Fisher and crew are working on securing camping at one of the satellite base lodges.
August 15, 2009:Windham Cup,Windham, NY
The Windham Resort (www.windhammountain.com), site of several national events, including
NMBS races, over the years, hosts the Windham Cup as the final race in the Kenda Cup East series.
May 3, 2009:Tanasi Challenge (SERC Race#5)Ducktown, TN; Ducktown, Tennessee, may be just a dot on a map to most, but for mountain bikers in the
Southeast, its home to some of the best trails and best races around, including the first race in
the Kenda Cup East series. David Berger, who runs Gone Riding (www.goneriding.com), organizes the South Eastern Regional Championship Series, which includes the Tanasi Challenge, on the Tanasi trail system and starting at the Ocoee White Water Center.
Its hard to believe its our tenth anniversary of a SERC race on the Tanasi trails, says Berger. These trails have always impressed me as national caliber, and having the race as part of the US Cup lets us prove it to the folks who matterthe racers.
Get ready for climbing right from the start, six miles to the peak. About half way into the tenmile course comes one of Bergers favorite trails. Riverview really rolls and flows well, its a beautiful ride. The last four miles are descent, and Berger warns racers Make sure your
brakes are working. Thunderock Express is two miles of downhill its a blast to ride though you can be doing 20 mph without even pedaling! Berger credits the Forest Service and the staff at Ocoee for the great mountain bike experience at Tanasi with continuing improvements to the trail system. Accommodations are somewhat limited in Ducktown, and racers may want to look into
hotels/motels in Cleveland, Tennessee (about an hour from the venue) or Blue Ridge, Tennessee (about 45 minutes from the venue). The park is open daily, and the Ocoee office will have maps of the course for those who want to pre‐ride. Berger has one other warning for racers whove never been to Ocoee or ridden the Tanasi
trails. Keep an eye out for bears, they can appear out of nowhere.
May 31, 2009:Bump and Grind,Birmingham, AL
BUMP & GRIND was first hosted in 1995 by the Birmingham Urban Mountain Pedalers (BUMP)
as a fundraiser and promotion tool to support the Red trail at Oak Mountain State Park. Over 15
years, both the race and the trail at Oak Mountain have grown immensely. Chris Straynar, promoter for BUMP & GRIND, explains how the course has grown. From 1995
to 1998 the race course was a 7.5 mile loop. In 1999 the completed Red trail brought the course distance to 17.5 miles per loop. The loosely connected sections, with whimsical names like Mr. Toads Wild Ride, Foreplay, The Chimneys, and the BUMP Trail allow racers to experience everything from smooth flowing single track, challenging rock gardens, rocky
switchbacks and dense woodsy climbing. The trail has a famous technical section called Blood Rock. The name originates from the red paint used to mark this section as part of the red trail. This is usually a favorite spot for race photographers and spectators, Straynar says.
Oak Mountain State Park was chosen as the pre‐Olympic training site for the 1996 Mountain Bike Team, and in 2001 BUMP & GRIND hosted both UCI DH and XC events. In addition, the Red Trail is used by Xterra every year for the Southeast Regional race. BUMP is hosting a new n
event festival on Saturday, May 30, to support its Bridge the Gap fundraiser.
Strayner recommends that out‐of‐town racers pre‐ride the course which will be open all day Saturday, May 30. The BUMP website (www.BUMP.org) describes the trail sections, running counter‐clockwise, in detail, but Straynar notes that the race will run clockwise.
June 7, 2009:21st Annual Massanutten Hoo Ha
Massanutten, VA
In 1989, there were only eight races on the East Coast, and everyone traveled if they wanted to
race. The Massanutten Hoo Ha (http://www.massresort.com/v.php?pg=220) was one of the eight originals. 21 years later, the Massanutten Hoo Ha still going strong and is now part of the Kenda Cup East. Massanutten has played host to a variety of mountain bike events, including the 1997 World Downhill championships, So George Willetts and Kenny Hess, Mountain Bike Director, are more than ready to give the cross‐country competitors a great race. The
Massanutten Hoo Ha is also part of the GT Golden Race series, and the Hoo Ha is usually billed as Virginias biggest, baddest race. With good reason Hess describes the course as 20 miles of fun lots of climbing, and some great natural rock formations.
Thanks to the Shenandoah Bicycle Valley Coalition for all the trails we ride and race. The volunteers and local cyclists have built fun, flowing trails on Massanuttens Western Slope, says Hess. We encourage racers to pre‐ride the course, any time May 30‐June 6.
June 21, 2009:Cowbell Summer Solstice XC,Davidson, NC
Summer Solstice marks the start of summer, and for The Cowbell Summer Solstice XC is the
fourth race in the Kenda Cup East. Part of the Cowbell Challenge Race weekend (www.cowbellchallenge.org), the US Cup race really does fall on summer solstice, June 21, at Fisher Farm Park in Davidson, NC. Fisher Farm has some really awesome flowing single track,
some nice technical spots, and a few surprises, says Taylor. Its also great for spectators,
which can be hard to come by in mountain bike race venues. While the elevation gain is not as much as in several of the other Kenda Cup East venues, racers
should prepare for heat and humidity. By the time mid‐June rolls around, temperatures can easily be in the mid‐90s, Taylor warns. And with humidity usually hovering in the 80 percent range, racers should plan their hydration strategy accordingly Sunscreens not a bad idea either!
Piedmont‐area locals wanting to check out the eight‐mile course can participate in the Fisher Farm Shootout, a mini series of six Thursday‐night races that start with existing trails and build up to the full CSSXC course on June 18. Racers can pre‐ride the course on Friday, June 19, between 10 am 6 pm.
August 8‐9, 2009:Snow Shootout, Mt. Snow, VT
Even the name sounds grueling, and since the early days of mountain bike cross‐country,
Mount Snow (www.mountsnow.com) has earned that label. Back in the day of Mountain Bike Glory, Mount Snow was the place to be for a stop on the World Cup or the Chevy Trucks National Mountain Bike Series, says Greg Fisher, promoter of the Snow Shootout. Riders faces and names have changed but the level of competition still remains one of the strongest if not the strongestfield on the East Coast.
Mount Snow's XC course has changed very little in the past twenty years, probably because it is recognized as one of the most difficult in the country. The grueling five‐mile cloverleaf lap crosses treacherous New England style mountain terrain and riders from across the world enjoy the true challenge this race brings every year. Competitors start off on a mile north loop ascending a rocky work road before heading into a single track wooded section. After popping out, it's a fierce downhill right back into the Main Start Finish line area and the crowds of spectators, Fisher explains. After the feed zone the climbing begins through thick woods,
roots, and rocks. Often times drummers hang out along the climb to encourage riders to continue on. After reaching the 1200' mark it is back downhill through mostly single track downhill before heading back into the base area.
Among the most famous of Mount Snow's traditions associated with the race is The Naked Crit. Originating back at Camp Haystack, riders would get down to their birthday suits for a fun race around camp fires, Fisher explains. Now that Haystack is closed the race has moved to Mount Snow's Sundance Base Area, but still remains a Saturday night tradition.
Fisher notes that the resort area offers plenty in addition to great mountain biking. Mount Snow's valley is home to tons of restaurants including two five‐star wine cellars at the Inn at Saw Mill Farm and the Hermitage. The Deerfield River runs through town and flows into Harriman Reservoir where boating and swimming can be enjoyed. I would plan early though.
Our race engulfs the town and many people plan way in advance to attend. With the addition of the Trek Women's Triathlon this year lodging will be at a premium. Fisher and crew are working on securing camping at one of the satellite base lodges.
August 15, 2009:Windham Cup,Windham, NY
The Windham Resort (www.windhammountain.com), site of several national events, including
NMBS races, over the years, hosts the Windham Cup as the final race in the Kenda Cup East series.