More than 125 mountain bikers came to Mountwood Park on Sunday for the 30th annual Challenge at Mountwood mountain bike race. They competed in Expert, Sport and Beginner courses with the Expert course covering 21 miles, Sport covering 14 miles and Beginner covering 8 miles. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

VOLCANO — Many called the conditions “perfect” for the 30th Annual Challenge at Mountwood on Sunday at Mountwood Park.

After rain came through the area earlier in the weekend, the sun was out Sunday afternoon with temperatures in the mid-60s and what many called “ideal” weather for the annual mountain bike race through the park.

“Conditions are just about perfect,” Race Director Vince Nedeff said. “They are the best in recent history.”

More than 125 mountain bikers of various skills and ages came to Mountwood Park for the 30th annual race to take on some of the park’s 50 miles of trails, of which 26 miles are specifically geared for mountain biking. There were Expert, Sport and Beginner courses for different riders with the Expert course covering 21 miles, Sport covering 14 miles and Beginner covering 8 miles.

Nedeff said the Challenge at Mountwood is regarded as one of the best races in West Virginia.

Racing gets underway Sunday for the Challenge at Mountwood mountain bike race at Mountwood Park. More than 125 mountain bikers of various skills and ages participated in the 30th annual race. Twenty-six of the 50 miles of trails at the park are geared for mountain biking. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

“The goal is to remain one of the best races in West Virginia and one of the best races on the East Coast,” he said.

Nedeff also is vice president of the River Valley Mountain Bike Association that helps maintain trails throughout the region. It is involved with the Challenge at Mountwood to promote the park and the riding opportunities available there.

“It is truly a destination to come mountain biking,” Nedeff said. “We got a lot of pros and experts from throughout the state.”

Riders came from all around West Virginia and Ohio, Maryland, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and elsewhere, he said. Many also come here to mountain bike, Nedeff said.

“We are trying to get the word out about this opportunity to mountain bike at this park,” Nedeff said. “People don’t realize that this is one of the best areas in the country to mountain bike.”

Sully Daft, 5, of Elkins, cleans his bike as he prepares for the Challenge at Mountwood mountain bike race. The race had categories for riders of different ages and skill levels. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

Attendance for this year’s race was down slightly from previous years. Race officials are attributing it to the economy nationwide.

Wood County Parks Director Jeremy Cross said the Challenge is always a great event that brings a lot of people to Mountwood from West Virginia and surrounding states.

“I hope they were able to enjoy the park on this nice sunny day,” he said. “We are hoping that after the race is over, they will come back and visit the park again for our other events during the year.”

Megan Daft of Elkins participated with her family, including her husband and son. They have mountain biked at Mountwood Park before and wanted the chance to do it again.

The Challenge is fun for the entire family, Daft said.

Steve Worden of Morgantown, formerly of Parkersburg, getting ready for the start of the Challenge at Mountwood mountain bike race held Sunday at Mountwood Park. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

“We just really enjoy the biking community,” she said. “This is a great course, we just love this course.

“It is really fun. It is fast, it flows and it has some technical stuff mixed in to keep it interesting.”

She too felt the recent rain helped the track so it is not as dusty and will help riders navigate the course better.

“There are a number of switchbacks here so it will help riders keep a little grip,” Daft said.

Bruce Miner of Wheeling participated in the Sport class. He has been following the West Virginia Mountain Bike Series and came to support the event.

Mountain bikers were briefed before the start of the 30th annual Challenge at Mountwood mountain bike race Sunday at Mountwood Park. More than 125 riders of various skills and ages participated. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

“We have raced here 6-7 times,” he said. “We love coming down here and it takes about an hour and a half for us to come down here and enjoy the nice day.”

Miner said he and some of the others on his team came down a few days ago to check out the trails.

“It was dry,” he said. “It needed the rain.

“It is really looking nice here. I think we are going to have really good conditions. You can’t ask for much more. It is nice and cool. It is not super hot. This is a perfect day to race a bicycle.”

Brett Dunlap can be reached at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com

The starting line for the 30th annual Challenge at Mountwood mountain bike race held Sunday at Mountwood Park where more than 125 riders of all skills and ages participated. There were Expert (21 miles), Sport (14 miles) and Beginner (eight miles) courses for different riders. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

Bruce Miner of Wheeling gets his mountain bike ready Sunday for the 30th annual Challenge at Mountwood mountain bike race at Mountwood Park. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)