photo by: Andrew Hollis

Northern West Virginia Composite Ridge Riders Mountain Bike Team middle school rider Colton Wood is ahead with Morgantown Composite Trail Hawks middle school rider Jude Haggerty on his tracks at the West Virginia Interscholastic Cycling Association Race at Grand Vue Park.

MOUNDSVILLE — Mountain bike enthusiasts headed to Grand Vue Park in droves for the West Virginia Interscholastic Cycling Association Race on Sunday.

The association is accredited by the National Interscholastic Cycling Association with the goal of providing an outlet for students in 6-12 grades to achieve physical fitness.

The single-track, four-mile cross country-style course saw its first race at 9 a.m.

At 12:10 p.m. just before the high school boys race, which was the final one of the day, an announcer came over the speaker system informing everyone in attendance that, due to the inclement weather, the race would be canceled. Rain and high winds would blow through the Ohio Valley later that afternoon.

Following the announcement Grand Vue Park officials and volunteers helped deconstruct the track as racers tore down their teams tents and took their bikes to their vehicles.

Despite that final cancellation, Northern West Virginia Composite Ridge Riders Mountain Bike Team Director Chris Gardill considered the day to be a success.

Gardill originally became involved with the association when his son Kaleb Gardill joined the Ridge Riders eight years ago, when it was in its infancy.

He said that he became a coach midway through that inaugural season, which then led to him becoming the team director the following season.

“We’ve slowly gotten a little bit more and more involved volunteering in various capacities for the state and were able to successfully advocate to get a race event up here at Grand Vue for the first time,” Gardill said.

Kaleb has since graduated but Gardill’s daughter Darcie Gardill is a sophomore at Wheeling Central Catholic High School and has since become involved in racing. She competed in the high school girls division on Sunday.

“We’ve slowly gotten a little bit more and more involved volunteering in various capacities for the state and were able to successfully advocate to get a race event up here at Grand Vue for the first time,” Gardill said.

He added that 23 teams competed from all across the state of West Virginia, and the event brought approximately 1,500 people to Grand Vue Park throughout the weekend.

He said that the RV park, campground, and all of the cabins were completely booked. Gardill added that after Grand Vue became completely booked, attendees spilled over to booking rooms in various hotels in Moundsville, which helped the town’s economy.

Gardill said the association is about more than just racing.

“It’s teaching them a sport that they can do for the rest of their life, while getting them off of their phones and getting active,” he said. “Obviously, the state of West Virginia doesn’t have great statistics as far as obesity in general and obesity in children. So really, that’s what it’s about, more than racing, it’s about getting kids active and teaching them something that is fun and that they can do for a lifetime.”

He added that the organization was created to be inclusive to all skill levels.

“We have regional and national caliber racing, all the way down to kids who joined who could not ride a two wheel bike,” he said.

The race season began in August at Canaan Valley State Park in Davis and concluded on Sunday at Grand Vue Park.

Gardill said those interested in joining Ridge Riders or becoming a sponsor can email coach@wvridgeriders.com or visit facebook.com/WVRidgeRiders.