Race to the Hills

Racers will leave in OMBC division waves every two minutes beginning with E-Bike followed by Pro/Expert men to distribute the field. This year's race is NOT a WVMBA point race.

There will be a MTB pre-race meeting: 11:50 p.m. 

Campground will be closed to the general public from the last gate back for the event. Event participants may camp in the closed portion of the campground. Click here to learn more.

• $40 Online-Pre-Registered Adults. $50 on race day.
• $20 Online Pre-Registered Novice Junior High and High School divisions.
• $10 Online pre-Registered Kids Race, 10 and under.
• Timing Anklet Fee: All racers will be required to purchase a timing anklet that is good for the entire season. There is a one-time fee of $6. Once you have a timing anklet, you will be required to enter the anklet number for each race when you register online. 
• MTB Race Plates: $5 refundable fee; If you already have an OMBC race plate, you will be asked to enter it at registration.
• Forms of Payment accepted: Credit cards/debit cards are accepted for online registration. There is a $5 refundable fee for an OMBC number plate plus applicable entry fees.
  

• Expert Class, Including Class 1 E-Bike, Singlespeed, Men's and Women's Expert, Expert Masters: 30 miles: From the start/finish, follow race signage up the gravel road to a  connector trail toward Copperhead Trail. Follow Copperhead to Bobcat until you reach the water station at the 4-way intersection. From the 4-way, follow Wildcat to Copperhead. Pass the yellow "FINISH" sign and repeat loop. Turn left at the yellow "FINISH" sign toward the finish line on the second time through only! Then follow the trail up to and down the paved road then left back to the start/finish.
• Expert Women Only: On Second lap only, Expert Women will be making a 180 degree turn at the 4-way intersection onto Copperhead. This shortens the course to 23 miles. Follow the "novice" and "Expert women only" sign at the 4-way on your second lap only.
• All Sport Class Racers 17 miles: From the start/finish, follow the gravel road and signage to the connector trail that leads to Copperhead Trail. Follow Copperhead to Bobcat through the water station at the 4-way intersection. From the 4-way, follow Wildcat to Copperhead. Turn left, uphill, at the yellow "FINISH" sign, up to then down the paved road then left back toward the start/finish. 
• All Novice Class Racers 9 miles: From the start/finish, follow the gravel road and signage to the connector trail toward Copperhead Trail. Follow Copperhead to Bobcat to the water station located at the 4-way intersection. From the 4-way, Follow the large “Novice Racers Only” sign and make a 180 degree turn onto Copperhead. When you reach the yellow "FINISH" sign, turn left and up the steep trail to then down the paved road, turn left uphill and back to the start/finish.
• Kids Race: All Finishers will receive an official OMBC finisher’s medal. Division winners may also receive prizes.
• Age Divisions 7-8, 9-10 (About 3 miles) From the start/finish, follow the gravel road to a new connector trail toward Copperhead Trail. Follow Copperhead to the yellow "FINISH" sign. Turn left, up the short, steep, gravel hill then up the paved road about a mile back to the start/finish.
• Age Divisions 3-4, 5-6: The Kids racecourse at Lake Hope is likely too difficult for children in this age group. However, It is strictly up to the parent to decide. Parents are welcome to ride along with their kids as long as they are not interfering with the race.
• The greatest obstacles will be other kids or roots. This course is the most difficult of the kid’s race courses with four-foot dips in and out of small washes and a rigorous climb near the end of the race. Kids and parents are welcome to pre-ride the course to determine whether it is within the ability of your child.
  

Parking will be on Long Ridge Road. There will be NO PARKING allowed at the race start/ finish. If you park there, you will be sent back down the hill and miles around to the parking area on Long Ridge road. This is for the safety of children and racers.

• This is a self-supported race.
• There will be water and Hammer Nutrition available at the four-way split (about the halfway point) for Novice, Sport and Expert MTB Classes.
• Novice MTB racers will pass this station once and Sport racers will pass this station twice. E-Bike and Pro/Experts will pass this station four times.

1. Racers may finish the race riding, pushing, or carrying a bike that is mechanically impaired so long as all laps have been completed and no short-cutting of the course has occurred. No bike parts, including wheel sets, may be accepted by a racer from a non registered racer along the race course. If a racer leaves the course for any reason, to make a repair for example, they must return to the point that they went off course in order to re-enter the race. All parts, including wheel sets, must remain near the start/finish or race parking area. Failure to follow these rules may result in disqualification from the race.   
2. Racers must ride with courtesy at all times, and allow faster riders to pass when trail space allows.
3. Unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated, and may result in the issuance of a DNF by a race official.
4. Falsification of registration information will result in the issuance of a DNF.
5. Race/rider protests may be filed with a race official within 20 minutes of completing the race.
6. Sport and Novice level series division winners are required to move to a higher class the following season.