Downhill Southeast #4: Snowshoe, West Virginia

Rising above the Allegheny Mountains in West Virginia lies the site of the final World Cup of 2019. Snowshoe Mountain is very much off the grid and you can feel that as you get further down those winding, twisting roads into the mountains. After driving the 3rd hour without cell service (unless you have T-mobile or AT&T, shame on you Verizon), you will arrive to scenery and accommodations that will take your breath away. The accommodations and village is at the top of the mountain with no services at the bottom, only a lift ride or long walk back up. Unfortunately the race was to be held on the classic race course as the World Cup track was not completely ready. Even if the course was ready, it might have been a little too demanding on the less-experienced riders who have competed in the previous DHSE events this year. This was the 4th and final DHSE of the season and racers battled it out on the long and physical track to be the overall champions of the South. Scroll on down to see how the weekend played out.

Saturday Night Whip Off

Sunday: Race Day

While Friday and Saturday provided sunshine and loose, dry conditions, on the first half of Sunday, the mountain was engulfed in a rain cloud that made visibility impossible at times; rocks and roots that were a piece of cake turned into hazards. Some racers changed up lines while some stuck to their guns causing some broken bones and dislocations before the cloud could break giving way to the familiar sunny dry conditions for the race.

SINGLECROWN CRUSHERS

A common misconception among young and new riders is that they need some fancy downhill rig before they can show up to downhill race, but that just isn't the case. The most popular and growing category up and down the East Coast is the single crown class. These bikes usually double as singletrack rippers and bike park shredders because not everyone can afford two bikes. Just show up to the DHSE and "run what ya brung."

Podiums

That's a wrap folks! For all results and series overall winners check out the Downhill Southeast website. We will be back here for the World Cup September 7-8, see you then! -Jack Rice