Vince Nedeff, vice president of the River Valley Mountain Bike Association, readies the racers in a past Challenge at Mountwood mountain bike race. This year is the 30th anniversary of the race and will be held on April 27 at Mountwood Park. (File Photo)

WALKER — One of the largest mountain bike competitions in West Virginia and the region will celebrate its 30th anniversary in April at Mountwood Park.

The Challenge at Mountwood will be held April 27 on the 30 miles of trails at Mountwood Park on U.S. 50 east of Parkersburg where more than 200 riders of all skill levels last year participated in the Challenge, Vince Nedeff, vice president of the River Valley Mountain Bike Association, said.

“Last year we had 204 participants,” he said. “That made us one of the largest mountain bike races in the state of West Virginia.”

The Challenge at Mountwood is held every spring at the park. Since its beginnings three decades ago, the trails at Mountwood Park have been improved and expanded, Nedeff said.

“The Mountwood Park trails have really grown,” he said. “It’s almost a world-class mountain bike destination. There’s further improvements planned at the park that will cement its future as a world class mountain biking location.”

Riders come from West Virginia, Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania, with numerous participants from the region, he said.

They are of all skill levels, from beginner to expert, with the race divided into beginner, advanced and expert divisions including free kids events. Each division has subclasses based on ability, age and gender.

“We have had some relatively recognizable names in mountain biking,” Nedeff said.

Among those are former Challenge pro division winner Ben Ortt and past Challenge champion Sue Haywood.

Some riders are lucky and skilled enough to have sponsors, however, mountain biking is an avocation for them, he said.

“They all have day jobs,” Nedeff said.

The challenge this year also has expanded to include food and coffee trucks and vendors at the Carson Station pavilion, he said.

The Challenge at Mountwood is the only fundraiser for the River Valley Mountain Bike Association, Nedeff said. The association and its volunteers maintain five trail networks of nearly 200 miles of single track within a 45-minute radius of the Mid-Ohio Valley, he said.

“Our volunteers logged almost 1,000 hours of time making sure this area has access to well-designed, sustainable, hiking and biking trails,” Nedeff said.

More information about the race, registration forms and entry fees are available at the association’s website, RVMBA.com or by calling Nedeff at 304 482-8437.

Jess Mancini can be reached at jmancini@newsandsentinel.com