Est: June 2007

The toughest, most spectacular and most unique race on the whole GNCC tour, the Snowshoe GNCC made its debut in 2007 and will not soon be forgotten. The race is set in the upscale ski village at Snowshoe, West Virginia’s largest ski resort. The surroundings are not only several steps above the typical GNCC course, they’re also plusher than many luxury resorts. The array of hotels, shops and restaurants provide plenty of entertainment off the race track, and the facility also hosts an amazing golf course and some of the best mountain bike trails in the country.

The famed Blackwater 100 was the original GNCC race, and it took place in the same part of the state as Snowshoe. So to celebrate the Blackwater heritage, the Snowshoe race starts “in town.” Unlike a typical GNCC dead-engine start in a field, riders at the Snowshoe line up on a paved road in groups of five. They start live engine every five seconds, which makes for a spectacular scene.

But once the riders are on the course, everything beautiful disappears. A few miles of the course make up simply the roughest, toughest section of GNCC track you’ll see all year. Deep mud bogs, massive tree roots and near-vertical hill climbs are enough to stop almost everyone, and if not for the help of the ever determined “mud fleas” (GNCC fans) some sections may not be passable at all.

In the tradition of the old Blackwater, which was known as the “World’s Toughest Race,” the Snowshoe GNCC is the ultimate test for a cross-country racer. Luckily, the course also features a few miles of gravel road, which provides a much-needed rest.

To further keep riders on their toes, Snowshoe sits at 4242 feet of elevation, so jetting becomes an issue for most machines. Except it tends to be pretty cold, too, since you’re so high up.