DANSVILLE, N.Y. — The 22nd annual hill climb returned to Poags Hole Saturday.

“This is the place to be, this is the battleground. It’s the east versus west kind of deal," Professional hill climber Austin Cardwell said. "Everyone from coast to coast is coming to throw down at the biggest and baddest hill climb around.”

Dozens of professional motorcyclists gathered to compete, taking on a 600-foot hill.

“It’s fun, it’s exhilarating. It keeps you on your toes," said spectator Morgan Henry. "You never know what’s going to happen.”

The motorcycles are all custom, using nitromethane fuel to generate more than 300 horsepower.

“All adrenaline, everything happens so fast," Cardwell said. "We put the bike over the hill today in 18 seconds. 600 feet in 18 seconds isn’t very much time to think about what you’re doing.”

The competitors came all over the country, and even a competitor from Poland.

“It’s amazing to see the amount of control that they have against insurmountable odds it would seem,"  said spectator Greg Pais. "It’s fortunate anyone can get over there.”

The event drew in nearly 10,000 spectators just like Pais.

“Of all hill climbs I’ve ever been to, this is the biggest turnout from spectators," said professional hill climber Austin Teyler. "And this is huge, and what is awesome about our sport. The crowd, the louder they get, the more wild we get.”

​The event always takes place the third Saturday of August, and is planned to return next year.

“You guys literally have to come out here and visually see what we’re going up against," Teyler said. "It’s high horse power, the hill is gnarly — it’s epic.”