Hoo-Ha time of year! This weekend June 6th & 7th.

Sometimes it happened in May, sometimes in June and even in our hotest month, July...  Yes it is Massanutten Hoo-Ha time of year again!  The Massanutten Hoo-Ha is one of the oldest and longest consecutive running  cross county mountain bikes races in freedom land, US of A, only a few miles from Harrisonburg.

The Hoo -Ha race has been going on for over 25 years and dates back to the early days of mountain biking.  The Hoo-Ha began with no suspension, no clip-less pedals, tires were never bigger than 26 x 2.0 and endo's were a common occurrence of any ride. Even though the equipment has changed over the years and the trails are drastically different, the reason to ride the Hoo-Ha is the same, to have fun!

Rigid Fork and going the wrong way but still all smiles!

I am not saying this race, or any race, is easy but the adrenaline you get pushing your body uphill or the thrill of going downhill as fast as you can is something that can only be achieved in a race.

I remember my first Hoo-Ha in 1989, it was only my second mountain bike race. I was still new to the sport, everyone was new to the sport, it was the early days of mountain biking. The details are still a little foggy but I remember the speed of going down the lower Hannenkamm Trail and thinking I have never gone this fast on a bike! The early courses of the Hoo-Ha were hot,  riding through the fields made up a larger portion of the course and long sections of the paved road (yes the western slope road was all pavement back then) made it presence on the course.  The 89' Hoo Ha was also my first introduction to Harrisonburg and the bike scene that has remained strong, vibrant and inviting for the past 3 decades.

Soon after the start gun, 15 years ago.

The races used to be based out of the field above the pond. The drive to the start seemed so long, so overwhelming for a flat lander from suburbia.  The mountain loomed in the background with so much terrain yet unexplored.  Maybe the pond start will come back in years to come. Kenny Hess and I  even joked this past Thursday at trail work to bring this tradition back next year!  Maybe we could even rebuild the old lake jump ramp!

Registration closes later this week so make your plans now! I hope to see you out this weekend!