This morning, West Virginia’s Snowshoe Mountain Resort launched its mountain biking season by opening over 125 miles of trails. Spread over 11,000 acres, Snowshoe’s trails offer something for every ability level, from old rail grades and gradual graded roads to heart-pounding technical singletrack. Snowshoe has gained a reputation for excellent mountain biking due to its terrain, scenery, and comfortable mountaintop temperatures. Even in the heat of mid-summer, daytime temperatures at the 4,800 foot resort rarely climb into the 80’s.

“We have a mountain biker’s playground here, providing something for all types of riders,” said Bob Koontz, Director of Mountain Biking for the resort. “Most of our riders come from large metro areas and can’t wait to get their bikes off the asphalt and get them dirty,” he said.

The resort operates two bike shops, one located at the base of the resort and one at the Silver Creek area. Trained bike technicians are available to offer trail advice, bike rentals, and guided tours.

On June 10 and 11, the “Toyota 24 Hours of Snowshoe” race will be held at the Silver Creek Area, featuring 500 five-person teams.

“We’re excited about setting up a world class mountain bike course at the state’s largest resort,” said Laird Knight, founder and promoter of the event. “The course is going to be approximately 11 miles in length and with a large amount of technical sections, it’s going to be a challenge,” he added.

Thousands of spectators are expected at the event, which primarily draws racers from the east coast. During the weekend, an industry expo, outdoor cookout and outside entertainment will also be offered.

For more information on The Toyota 24 Hours of Snowshoe event, call the resort at (304) 572-1000 or visit the Snowshoe Mountain web site.