Sunday, April 10, 2011 -- Waverly, WV / Mountwood Park
Simonton Windows Challenge at Mountwood - WVMBA #1/OMBC
2011: [Details] [Coverage] [Photos] [Results]
See [additional photos] by Marty Davis of Simonton Windows.
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Record Numbers Kick Off WVMBA Season
Story by Chris Swarr with photos by Julie Black.
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That's what took place this Sunday at Mountwood Park in Wood County, West Virginia at the first race for both the 2011 West Virginia Mountain Bike Association (View Race Schedule) and the Ohio Mountain Bike Championship points series.
The perfectly-timed arrival of stunning spring weather certainly helped as well. An event record 229 racers hailing from several states lined up just after noon under unseasonably warm, blue skies for the start of the 16th annual Simonton Windows Challenge at Mountwood mountain bike race.
The course that lay ahead of them would offer all-new singletrack, heart-pounding climbs and descents, excellent flow, and would showcase the tireless efforts of the River Valley Mountain Bike Association to make the Mid-Ohio Valley a destination area for mountain biking adventure.
And indeed, the resounding consensus from participants was that the course layout and trails in general were a real pleasure to experience. Add to that nearly glitch-free execution for a first race by WVMBA and RVMBA workers, and what else could follow but that mix of joy and pain that make up any great bike race?
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This year's Challenge also put on a skill-development event before the race for younger riders looking to improve their abilities. It was hard to tell if the riders or spectators had more fun at this portion of the day's activities.
But the midday pistol was the main reason to attend for most present, and just under two hours after the race's start the first of the Men's Professional/Expert riders skipped across the finish line after twenty-six miles of intense riding. Chip Meek, who was anything but on a bike, convincingly grabbed first place in this class with a scorching sub two-hour finish.
Kyle Spisak finished in second, and Joey Riddle rolled for third in the Pro/Expert.
Mandy Riddle, Joey's wife, put in a breezy first-place ride in the Women's Pro/Expert division, and Lauren Mika and Chrissy Buerkle took second and third, respectively.
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The Men's Expert Vet class podium was taken by Peter Kotses, followed by Donald Powers and Acie Hylton. Men's Expert Masters saw Michael Boyes cross first. Donald Ciampanelli pegged second place and local hoss Steve Schumaker took third. Matt Schumaker, Steve's talented and speedy son, won the Men's Junior Expert class.
The Women's Sport class witnessed Shannon Tenwalde land first, while Angelina Palermo and Amanda Schmidt touched down in the order of second and third. Meredith Erlewine, very fast spouse of Vet Expert winner Peter Kotses, won the Vet Sport Women's race. Another very fast spouse and mom in a very fast family, Shelly Schumaker, pinned it for second in this class.
Men's Sport was won by Keith Hower; Jeff Cole took silver and Kevin Smyth bronze in this classification. Vinni Kish won Sport Vet, followed by Anthony Dickens and Aaron Ruggles.
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After the dust kicked up by the Clydesdale class settled, local stallion Nathan Whitacre had galloped for first with Camdem Dierkes and Rich Barton thundering into second and third.
J.D. Barnette won the High School division followed by Tristan Broughton and Adam Cook.
Junior 14-and-under was won by Michael Crawford with Clayton Peeples in second. Matthew Gilmore nailed first in Men's Beginner with Tony Mellott and Chris Boland finishing in short order behind.
Women's Beginner was won by Sara Chua; Ranona Mernandez took second place and Jeni Green third.
A major "Huzzah!" goes out to all the racers, volunteers, and sponsors, without whom the Simonton Windows Challenge at Mountwood would not be possible. Thanks to all for your participation and we can't wait to see you next year!
Sponsors Include:
- Simonton Windows; Vienna Bicycle Shop; Parkersburg Bicycle
- Mother Earth Foods; the West Virginia Mountain Bike Association
- Enterprise Rent-a-Car; Mountwood Park; Janney; Leavitt Funeral Services
- Papa John's; Wood County Emergency Communications; Flexmag
- Parkersburg Orthopedics; Miller Door; Solvay; Deerwalk VFD; Foodland
- Forced Air Supply, Inc.; Dimex Corporation
- Conn's Potato Chips; Little Debbie Snacks; audioExtreme
- Barker Bradley Blinn Insurance Agency; Pepsi; Ketel 1 TeamWear
- and the River Valley Mountain Bike Association.
West Virginia Mountain Bike Association (WVMBA) supports the efforts of The International Mountain Biking Association and encourages all riders to adhere to the rules of the trail. Visit them at: www.wvmba.com
More Ohio Mountain Bike Championship (OMBC) Series information at:
ombc.net
The River Valley Mountain Bike Association (RVMBA) was formed to provide education about environmentally and socially responsible mountain biking, promote responsible mountain biking throughout West Virginia and Ohio, and work for increased environmental protection of the area's trails. RVMBA builds and maintains trails in the Cities of Marietta and Parkersburg, Mountwood Park, Marietta Unit of the Wayne National Forest and North Bend State Park.
Find out more about them.
