words : Steph Vetterly photos : Shan Moore Snowshoe , WV ( June 26 , 2021 )
The ninth round of the 2021 Grand National Cross Country ( GNCC ) series saw competitors take to the beautiful venue of the Snowshoe Mountain Resort in Snowshoe , West Virginia , the last race before summer break . Thought to be the most unique and toughest venue on the schedule , this year ’ s race did not disappoint .
As a hat-tip to the infamous Blackwater 100 race , deemed “ America ’ s Toughest Race ,” the Snowshoe GNCC is a live-engine start in the main village of the resort , with riders lined in groups of five and leaving the start every 10 seconds . Start position is determined by the current points standings . After the pristine town is in the rear view , terrain turns to nothing but roots , hills , and mud bogs , some of which would not be passable without the help of GNCC fans . In the Blackwater 100 days , these fans were referred to as “ mud fleas ,” a very appropriate name considering the conditions .
After missing the first round due to injury , AmPro Yamaha ’ s Steward Baylor has been on a rampage to reclaim the points lead , and with five wins to his name against FMF KTM ’ s Ben Kelley , winning Snowshoe would
VOL . 6 ISSUE 8 - AUGUST 2021 // PAGE 63