Each year on Labor Day weekend, Seven Springs Mountain Resort hosts the Ford 24-Hour Champion Challenge. This year, Mr. Angelo Ross, a science teacher at GS, and junior Alex Cox participated in this mountain bike race.

Riders can choose between biking solo, with a partner or on a team of either four or five. There is also a corporate class for teams of eight. All winners received challenge jerseys, except for corporate teams who received a trophy.

Before the race began the first rider of each team lined up at the starting line. This is known as Le Mans style and its purpose is to prevent injuries by having riders race on foot to their own bike about 1,000 meters away.

Ross described the course as “one of the most technical around” and “completely grueling,” referring to approximately 12 miles of rocky trails and sharp turns which included two “massively big hills.”

Scottdale Bank & Trust sponsored Ross and his seven teammates. This was his second year participating. In their division, his team placed fourth.

Cox participated in the race on a five-person team. As an experienced biker, he helped his team place first in their division. Cox also participates in other bike races in Vermont and West Virginia.

While rules and regulations do exist, the only requirements for the race were a helmet and light.

During Cox’s lap at 3am, his light burned out. That didn’t stop him from continuing, though. “I used the moonlight to ride,” he said.

Another obstacle for both was the bicycle itself. Cox said his back tire “popped” toward the beginning of the race. Ross also experienced some mechanical problems and ran some of the course. All in all, they made it through and are proud of their finish.