Canaan MTB Festival 2019: Skills Lunch
The Canaan Valley in central West Virginia is a place of MTB legends. I can distinctly remember reading about “Almost Heaven, West Virginia” in a Dirt Rag article many years ago and wishing I could one day experience it for myself. Since moving to the other Virginia a few years ago I’ve found that West Virginia really is a special place. A place where the trees are a little bit greener, the mountains are a little more remote, and where cell phone service mysteriously cuts out the minute you cross the border. Plus the trails are phenomenal!
11 years ago, a group of Canaan locals started the Canaan MTB Festival to showcase the magic of the Canaan Valley, and celebrate the joy of riding Mountain Bikes. You can imagine my delight when I received an invite from my good friend Sue Haywood to assist at her MTB Skill Lunch clinic the first day of the festival. I had the honor of working with Kelly Hazlegrove and the co-ed all-levels group, teaching basic progression through obstacles and maneuvers, and generally having a great time in a fantastic venue. After a morning of riding we wrapped things up with a catered luncheon, before heading out to Zach Adam’s Run What You Brung Trials completion. Good times were had by all, and I’ve definitely put a marker on my calendar for the 2020 Festival!
