Riders lined up for the start at the far end of the parking area in easy view of the spectators . With the flash of the green flag , the riders are out of sight and into the woods quickly where they are greeted with a stretch of fresh singletrack that soon begins to follow a small stream ’ s meandering flow as the trail snakes up and down the adjacent banks . Climbing one last time up the streams bank , the course jumps into a mix of sweet back-and-forth action through a stand of immature pines and an open fast grass-track . Don ’ t let the grass-track ’ s perceived flatness fool you though , being a reclaimed strip mine area , there are plenty of hidden bumps , g-outs , and abrupt nastiness hidden in the tall grass . It is best to stick to the mowed areas here ! A final long grass straightaway provides a great opportunity to outgun someone as the course moves into the true woods ’ goodness of the property . Here the course enters the higher ground to the north of the parking area where the topography is a mix of natural elevation changes as well as remnants of man ’ s work through years of mining and relocating
VOL . 7 ISSUE 9 - SEPTEMBER 2022 // PAGE 105