Dec. 17, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Tony O'Leary
304-558-2286
toleary@callwva.com

West Virginia events, locales top magazine's 'Reader's Choice' list

SOUTH CHARLESTON - Readers of Blue Ridge Outdoors, an outdoors magazine that covers people, events and destinations throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, chose a variety of West Virginia offerings for the publication's 2004 "Reader's Choice Awards."

Readers chose from four categories: Athletes, Destinations, Happenings and Trail Mix and West Virginia connections were present in each.

Topping the list and their categories were:

• Cranberry Wilderness for Most Likely Spot To Get Lost
• Sue Haywood of Davis for Best Mountain Biker
• Sweets Falls of the Upper Gauley River for Best Rapid To Watch Paddling Carnage
• The New River Gorge National Recreation Area for Favorite Climbing Spot
• 24 Hours of Snowshoe for Most Punishing Bike Race
• New River Bike Fest for Favorite Mountain Bike Event
• The Animal Upper Gauley Race for Best Paddling Competition
• Endorphin Fix (New River Gorge) for Best Adventure Race
• Bridge Day (Fayetteville) for Best Outdoor Festival
• Cathedral Café (Fayetteville), Siriani's (Davis), Purple Fiddle (Thomas) for Best Post-Trail Hangouts.

Other West Virginia connections selected as runnerup included the Upper Gauley and New rivers (Best Paddling Rivers), Glade Creek (Best Swimming Hole) and Wild Zone on Snowshoe Mountain (Most Likely Spot To Flip Over Your Handlebars).

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