This past weekend, folks from up and down the East Coast made the drive to Millboro, Virginia, packing into the Green Valley Hunters Paradise for the Tri-State Cross Country Series. The energy was absolutely unmatched. It was an incredible off-road event for motorcycles and ATVs, but if you look past the mud and the engines, what you really see is a showcase of community, family, and doing something special for the next generation.
By Friday night, racers and fans were already rolling in and checking in for a full two days of action. A massive shoutout goes to the army of volunteers who showed up to lend a hand. From scoring to registration and keeping the event running smoothly, the dedication of these volunteers is the lifeblood of the series. The community support extended right down to the local food and beverage vendors who kept everyone fueled up. The crowds were treated to fantastic local setups like Unbridled Souls BBQ, Sweetz and Swigz, and Promised Land Coffee Co., a faith-based mobile coffee operation out of Virginia that kept everyone caffeinated and going strong all weekend long.
Saturday was a full day of racing from start to finish. It kicked off with the Pro, A, and B classes tackling the massive 14-mile track, and the competition was fierce. Many of these top-tier riders ground it out on Saturday only to pack up and head to another race on Sunday. That is the level of dedication this series brings out. Saturday also featured some of the most heartwarming racing of the weekend, with the younger classes taking to the course throughout the afternoon. The Tykes classes had the tiniest competitors out there on their Stacyc and Strider bikes, followed by the PeeWee classes, the Jr. Mini classes, and the Youth ATV classes. Watching kids that young pour everything they had into a race is something you just cannot put into words. The day wrapped up in unforgettable fashion with the famous hill climb, a super steep run right up the side of a mountain that had the crowd on their feet. Everyone who dared to throttle up that hill had the fans roaring.
Sunday switched to a 7-mile course, and the local riders came out in full force for the Mini and C classes. It was amazing to watch competitors ranging from young kids all the way up to 60 years old sharing the same passion for the sport.
The man who literally laid the groundwork for this weekend is Jess Pritt, who built the track at Hunters Paradise. Jess has been involved in racing since 1999. For him, the countless hours spent cutting trails and moving dirt are entirely about the youth. He wants to give the next generation a platform and build a lasting future for the sport, and the local community in Millboro has backed that mission 100 percent.
Leading the charge for the entire series is Dakota Weddle, the young founder and operator of the TSXCS. Dakota is a prime example of the next generation taking the reins and driving the sport forward. With over 15 years in motocross himself, his personal racing days are behind him, but his passion for the sport has never been stronger.
Putting on an event of this scale is no small feat. “These events take months of planning,” Dakota said. “The track, the course setup, I mean, you talk three months of course setup, a lot of man hours, a lot of manpower to put these things together. But at the end of the day, it’s all about the smiles. This sport by itself is community engaging alone. It brings together families, it brings together friends.”
The TSXCS is running a massive 13-race season this year, but what really stands out is what Dakota does when the weekend is over. Monday through Friday, Dakota owns and operates Big Lick Roofing out of Roanoke, Virginia. Despite the demands of running a business, he still makes time to give back. Through his roofing company, Dakota runs a GAF Roofs for Troops program, extending rebates to active duty military and veterans. Even more impressively, they give away a free roof every single year to a veteran in need.
That is what being a true community hero is all about.
But the moment that truly captured the spirit of the entire weekend happened during the Mini race on Sunday. I want to highlight a young rider named Camden from H&C Racing. During his race, a rider from an older class came flying by, and Camden ended up hitting a stump and laying his bike down. Clint Burke from Hunters Paradise and I got over to him and helped get his bike back up on its wheels. We asked if he wanted to stop and offered to take him in. Camden just dusted himself off, looked right at us respectfully, and said, “No, I want to finish.”
He got back on that bike and took off. He showed immense determination and grit, refusing to quit when things got tough. Later that day, I got the chance to catch up with Camden and his family, and I presented him with a Heroes Media Group challenge coin to honor that incredible moment. If you want to support some amazing young riders, be sure to look up H&C Racing on Facebook and give them a follow.
That is exactly what Jess built this track for. That is exactly why Dakota puts in the hours. And that right there is the heart of the Tri-State Cross Country Series.
A huge thank you to Jess, Dakota, Clint Burke, the incredible volunteers, and everyone out at Hunters Paradise for an unforgettable weekend. Keep supporting your local communities, keep supporting our youth, and keep supporting our troops!
