Sunday, April 22, 2001 -- Valley Falls State Park, WV
First Exchange Bank Valley Falls Challenge
WVMBA Point Series #3

[Coverage]
[Overall Results] [Results by Class]
Pictures: [Set 1] [Set 2] [Set 3] [Set 4] [Set 5] [Set 6] [Set 7] [Set 8] [Set 9]

Past Coverage: 1998 1999 2000

A WVMBA Point Series Event

When: April 22, 2001 at High Noon
Registration starts at 9:00 and will close at 11:30 with a pre-race meeting at 11:45. Late entry will be available but will cost you an additional $5 (goes to the Valley Falls Foundation so if you want to sleep in you are helping a good cause).

The First Exchange Bank of Fairmont is sponsoring the race this year and making a sizeable donation to the Valley Falls Foundation. Valley Falls State Park provides a great place to mountain bike with some great downhill and technical trails. Since the park is a "Day Use" park it isn't provided with the same support as "Full Use" parks. The Foundation provides additional assistance to the park and, by hosting this race, is able to supplement that assistance.

This year we will be using a new scoring system that Dave McKain guarantees to work quickly and easily (no, we won't tatoo a bar code onto your forehead).

Entry Fees
Non-WVMBA Members: $25
WVMBA Members: $20
Junior (WVMBA & non-WVMBA): $15

Prizes: The size of the prize table and amount of the expert prizes will vary depending on the number of participants. Based on the attendance over the last several years, we expect to have $1000 prize table and will pay out over $1000 for the expert classes.

Where: Valley Falls State Park

Directions: From I-79 - Take the WV-310 exit, exit number 137, towards DOWNTOWN FAIRMONT. Keep LEFT at the fork in the ramp. Turn LEFT onto WV-310 and go 8 miles. Turn RIGHT onto ROCK LAKE VALLEY FALLS RD. and follow the signs (about 2 miles to the park entrance).
From Rt. 50 (only for the no-so-faint-at-heart) - At the Go-mart west of Grafton (about 3 miles) turn onto WV-310. Wind your way about 6 miles and turn LEFT onto Rock Lake Valley Falls Rd. and follow the signs (about 2 miles to the park entrance).

The Course: The race course this year will be similar to the one used in past years. We are re-routing the course such that there is NO downhill finish and the last section of road travel is minimized if not eliminated. The expert riders will do 3 laps, sport (clydesdale and mens masters included) will complete 2 laps while the beginner, junior and womens masters classes will do 1 lap. Each lap is 7 miles long with a doubletrack dirt/rock road start (about 1 mile), a singletrack/doubletrack climb (about 3.5 miles), a singletrack descent to the river (2 miles) followed by a 1/2 mile slight uphill over an unused and wet rock/dirt road.

Accoutrements:There will be water and fruit available at aid stations. Pizza will be served during the award ceremonies.