Port Gamble Forest Heritage Park hosted the Westside Mountain Bike Series’ Port Gamble Race April 21.

About 60 riders participated in what was a distance-style event, similar to what will take place in the Summer Olympics. Bell Lap Productions’ co-founder Michael Copenhaver explained that racers were grouped into one of three categories—expert, intermediate and sport—and subclasses based on gender, age and skill. The event was the season opener and one of a series where riders can qualify for state ranking.

Racers hailed from all over. Ronin Sole and Aiden Foster were in the lineup for Boys Under 18 and had traveled from Gig Harbor while Matt Bayse and Bob Kaminski traveled from Seattle for their first go at mountain bike racing. , Buck Giles, owner of Le Vogue Cyclery of Hoquiam, brought an entire team. He is a sponsor and also worked as a course marshal and ambassador for the sport. He said his involvement is a passion, and his shop’s connection is a mutually beneficial relationship.

Riders are intense at the start of the race.