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Sunday, June 1, 2008 -- Mc Gaheysville, VA / Massanutten Resort
Massanutten Hoo-Ha! - WVVUS #3/ USAC-MTB Final (iPO Event Id#: 10575)

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Photo by J.R. Petsko
HOO-HA!!!
Two Words! Hoo-Ha!

Story and photos by JR Petsko

This past weekend we celebrated twenty years of mountain bike fun and excitement with the Hoo-Ha! at Massanutten Resort in Harrisonburg, VA. Around 250 riders showed up to take part in either the XXC race, the Super D or the XC race.

Racers this year taking part in the XC race had a brand new race course to test their skills on.

NOTE TO MASSANUTTEN RESORT: The new course was a hit. I spend my weekends at mountain bikes races all over the east coast and have never before heard so many people say the course was so great. Rider after rider I talked to after the repeated the same words. "That was so much fun!"

The morning started at 9am with the XXC. For some people riding a 20 mile mountain bike race is just not enough so they do the XXC which is more like 40 miles. The XXC was also part of the WVVUS (West Virginia & Virginia Ultra Series) so riders from both states were battling for the win.

Darrell Prillaman would end taking the win in 3:51:50 over West Virginia's Andy Wiedrich. Wiedrich had positioned himself late in the race for the win, but his chain had other idea and cost the WV rider the victory. Wiedrich was able to hold onto second place in the double XC in 3:54:27. Jose Martinex finished in 3:54:52, able to hold on to third place over Drew Scharns who finish in fourth with a time of 4:00:56. Fifth went to Dennis Helton in a time of 4:05:19. Congrats to all of the brave folks who took part in the marathon event.

Photo by J.R. Petsko
HOO-HA!!!
In the regular length cross county event it was all about Nick Wait. The KBS/Trek VW rider took the lead one mile into the race and never looked back. After lap one Waite had a five minute lead over the next competitor and continued to add to his lead on the second and final lap. Waite would take the overall win in 1:50:17 a full nine minutes over the next racer Harlan Price in second. Waite said he is planning to squeeze in a few more mountain bike races as his road racing schedule permits.

Next up on his off-road calendar is the Appalachian Classic in West Virginia. Price finished the race in 1:59:18. Third went to Matthew Bailey in 2:01:18 with another Trek VW rider, Jon Gdowik finishing fourth in 2:03:44. Fifth in the Pro/Expert men's class Jed Prentice in 2:09:30.

In the Women's Pro/Expert class it was a dog fight to the finish between Theresa Richardson and Johanna Hraus. Richardson would cross the finish line first just eighteen seconds ahead of Kraus.

"We kept going back and forth. I ran into a tree and then Johanna dropped her chain," said the eventual winner. Susan Musante took third finishing in 2:41:47 with Anne Kelso taking fourth in 2:53:25. With JB over seas taking part in a word cup event Erin Bishop found time to race herself. Bishop took fifth in the class in 2:54:58.

It been 20 years since the first Hoo-Ha and like a fine wine it just gets better with age. George and all the folks at Massanutten Resort put on a first class event and on a side note, they also take great care of the iPlayOutside reporters, so thanks! I know I will be back for the 21st annual.