UCI Mountain Bike World Series Delivers Another Epic Snowshoe Showdown 🚵‍♀️
Oct 03, 2023 2:54 pm
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Mountain Bike World Series hits all the peaks
Peak mountain biking action, peak athletes, peak party vibes, and peak foliage combined for a peak experience atop the 4,848-foot peak of Cheat Mountain at the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Mountain Bike World Series, which returned to Snowshoe Mountain for the fourth time this past weekend. Snowshoe, which is the only U.S. venue on the UCI circuit, quickly earned a reputation for hosting some of the most epic bike battles in UCI history. Thick mud, steep slopes, and those famous WV rocks and roots push downhill and cross-country riders to their limits at speeds that make us mere mortals simultaneously shudder with fear and envy.
Nikki and I were fortunate to gain media access once again, and we always enjoy feeling like professionals alongside the mountain media bigwigs at this world-class event. Here's a sampling of photos we nabbed over the long weekend. Be sure to stay tuned to our website for the full photo essay coming later this week (and if you miss it, I'll dutifully remind you in the next newsletter). Viva la bicicletta!
A women's elite rider sends it off the Cupcake Jump as spectators enjoy the action and fall foliage from the lift. Photo by Dylan Jones
A women's elite rider catches some almost heavenly air over a road gap. Photo by Nikki Forrester
A men's elite racer threads the tree gap. Photo by Dylan Jones
A men's elite racer exits a berm at wicked speeds with that signature downhill aggression. Photo by Nikki Forrester
A men's elite rider catches some stylish air in a technical woods section. Photo by Dylan Jones
Laurie Greenland teeters on the edge before the steepest section of track on the downhill course. Photo by Nikki Forrester
Frenchman Loris Vergier crosses the finish line to the adoration of rowdy fans. Photo by Dylan Jones
Snowshoe made history with Irishmen taking the top two podium spots for the first time. U.S. rider Dakota Norton (right) snagged a third-place win on home soil, while Ronan Dunne (left) finished second, and Oisin O'Callaghan (middle) secured his first-ever elite downhill win.
The winning riders of the women's Olympic cross-country race celebrate while a team manager takes a goopy sip of bubbly. Photo by Nikki Forrester
The mass start of the men's Olympic cross-country race was a whooshy sea of speedy cyclists. Photo by Nikki Forrester
The gnarled roots and rocks of the cross-country race course took a brutal toll on riders and bikes alike. Photo by Dylan Jones
Two U.S. cross-country riders climb against a backdrop of stunning foliage. Photo by Nikki Forrester
Cheat Mountain, known for legendary sunsets, did not disappoint. Photo by Dylan Jones
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Freedom solo
Free-solo is the technical term for rock climbing without a rope, which while insanely dangerous, is said by practitioners to impart a true feeling of freedom and sense of purity whilst climbing. But one need not risk life and limb to experience feelings of independence and commune with nature. As such, I am officially coining the term "freedom solo" for any solo adventure outing that leads to such lofty feelings. I've had many freedom solo trips over the years—mostly in the form of backpacking trips into the wilderness—but embarked on my inaugural solo bikepacking trip two weeks ago. For those who aren't aware, bikepacking is the niche adventure sport of heading out with everything you need to survive (including all your camping gear) on your bike. It's essentially the modern version of bike touring, and takes place on a gravel bike (although my father likes to say there's no such thing as a gravel bike) with specialized bags and other equipment.
Nikki and I embarked on our first bikepacking trip in August of 2021, and I've been slowly acquiring all the requisite bags needed to pull off a solo outing since then. I decided the time was ripe for a freedom solo, so off I went, loaded up with all the necessities (including a beer or two for camp). My route was a lovely tour de Tucker County that meandered along the upper reaches of the Blackwater River, traversed the heavenly top of Canaan Mountain (and my camp for the night), dropped the steep gorge along Red Run, cruised smooth pavement along the Dry Fork River, then climbed the not-too-steep-but-damn-consistent grade along the Blackwater Canyon Trail all the way back to Thomas. Naturally, I stopped at Tip Top for a cappuccino and a pepperoni roll before the final two miles back to our home in Davis, where I officially ended the trip at the Post Office to check our PO Box. The total route covered 36 miles and 3,000 feet of elevation, or, as I said to our favorite USPS employee Trudy, "That was the longest trip to get the mail ever."
My fully loaded steed atop Canaan Mountain.
Campsite on Canaan Loop Road.
Minimalist camp setup. I definitely pushed the comfort limits of my 40-degree ultralight sleeping bag!
Morning along the tannic and serene waters of Red Run.
Had to pay a visit to Blackwater Bikes in Davis before checking the mail.
36 miles, 3K feet of climbing, and one sore butt later. Thanks to local legend Sue Haywood for the snap!
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Remember back when...
...we published recaps of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup? I sure do, and I often find myself browsing these old articles when I need some inspiration to get out on my mountain bike and feel that World Cup fever. Take a look back at previous renditions of the World Cup and get your stoke on!
Snowshoe MTB World Cup Downhill in Photos
Photos and coverage from the inaugural (and epic) event in 2019, which witnessed one of the greatest downhill races ever.
The headline says it all: the world cup returned to the Appalachian slopes for a second round of epic races and historic finishes.
In this edition of the MTB World Cup, riders were treated to a more typical West Virginian dose of moody mist, peanut buttery mud, radical roots, and slippery slopes.
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Winner winner chicken dinner, we finally hit 400 subscribers!
After several desperate pleas from yours truly to reach the coveted benchmark of 400 subscribers, HO fans came out of the woodwork to serve up a glut of new subscribers. We now sit pretty at 409 subscribers, and we couldn't be happier to feel the love from each and every one of you that has signed up to help support the mag.
I'd like to give a special shout out to Keith Fulton from Saint Clairsville, OH, for being our lucky 400th subscriber. To reward Keith's pledge of loyalty to our print publication, we sent him an HO Swag Bag filled to the brim with a shirt, a hat, and a sticker pack along with his copy of the Fall 2023 issue. Thanks, Keith! We're honored to have you (and all of our new subscribers) on the team.
And now, it's time to shoot for 500 subscribers! Be sure to sign up and help us start the long climb to the next benchmark. By doing so, you'll help keep the mag going.
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Stay tuned for our next installment in mid-October, featuring pretty fall photos and new digital articles (including full coverage of the 2023 MTB World Cup), and a special small sale on merch.
Enjoy, and thanks for reading #westvirginiasoutdoormagazine!
Dylan Jones
Editor-in-Chief
Highland-Outdoors.com