2001 CHEVY TRUCKS NORBA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP MOUNTAIN BIKE SERIES
Press enquiries - Paul Skilbeck. Tel. 650 367 7797 x 414 <pskilbeck@galeforce.org>
Series web site - http://www.usacycling.org/mtb/?events/events.html

Five of the best mountain bike events in the country make up the 2001 National Series

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. - 15 May, 2001. 'Mountain Biking for All' will be a major theme of the 2001 Chevy Trucks National Off-Road Bicycle Association (NORBA) National Championship Mountain Bike Series. Many of the world's top mountain bikers will be rubbing shoulders with amateur racers and recreational riders in famous mountain venues across the nation. The mixture of Elite racing and a festival atmosphere at NORBA events last year won plaudits from national and international participants alike, and plans are in place to make this an even bigger feature of the 2001 series.

Five of the USA's most famous mountain resorts provide perfect settings for this two-wheeled celebration of the Great Outdoors. A host of new feature activities at each of the five rounds provides an enticing selection of competitive, recreational and fun events in addition to an opportunity to see the world's elite mountain bike athletes competing at venues around the nation.

Access to television coverage of the Chevy Trucks NORBA events is another aspect of the series increased for 2001, with programming on the Outdoor Life Network doubled from one to two hours for each round. Outdoor Life Network - which now reaches more than 30 million homes - provides more cycling programming than any other station in the world.

Key additions to the series for 2001 are visits from schools and youth groups in the lead-up to race weekend, new amateur events like the "Super D" - a 10-15-minute downhill run, the enthralling new SoBe Mountain Cross events, trail running on Sunday mornings, and pro autograph sessions on Saturday afternoon. Add these activities to the mountain of other fun and exciting things to do, and what you get is about as much action packed into a weekend as the most energetic bikers and their families could wish for.

Mr Rick Sutton said: "I expect more Europeans and international riders to participate in the 2001 series. I am looking forward to the increase in television exposure from OLN, and expanded community activities such as fun rides and pro athlete visits to involve local institutions, families and sports enthusiasts in the series."

An important step towards increased local involvement is the introduction of one-day licenses for the Sport as well as the Beginner classes. The one-day Sport licence is $10, and $5 for the one-day Beginner license. Shimano Children's race categories do not require a NORBA license.

According to Rick Sutton, "Cycling is a recreational activity, which everyone in the family can enjoy. Elite level athletes in this sport are more approachable, not only because they make them selves physically more available through organized autograph signings sessions, but also because the opportunites to engage in cycling are readily available to just about anybody, anywhere: all you need is a bicycle. You can engage in exactly the same activity as your hero, in just about exactly the same setting - that's the beauty of it."

Furthermore, says Sutton, mountain biking is a sport that instills values of core importance to society. "When you get into racing, you find it is a sport that demands you stay in shape. Out on the mountain bike course there is nowhere to hide if you're not in shape. There are no time outs, no half-time break, it is honest toil from start to finish. And kids don't have their parents constantly barracking from the sideline. The sporting competition is a an analogy to real life: It teaches you that if your preparation is thorough, your performance will be as good as it can be. The reward for that is the satisfaction of knowing you have explored your outer limits.. This is an achievement that many never get to realize."

Now in its 13th year, the series has grown to include cross-country (XC), short-track cross-country (STXC), downhill (DH) and dual slalom (DS) events. The 2001 series schedule is as follows:
May 31 - June 3 : Snow Summit Mountain Resort, Big Bear Lake, California
June 21 - 24 : Snowshoe Mountain, West Virginia
June 28 - July 1 : Deer Valley, Utah
July 19 - 22 : Mammoth Mountain Resort, Mammoth Lakes, California
Aug. 16 - 19 : Mount Snow, Vermont

"The 2000 series reached new levels," said NORBA's Managing Director Eric Moore. "We built a series that catered to all kinds of races of all abilities. As a result, we witnessed an increase in rider participation, which is always one of our top priorities. We expect the 2001 series to be even better. Our new venue, Snowshoe, allows us to serve our members in the mid-Atlantic, while our historic favorites continue to be a solid foundation for the series."

The Chevy Trucks NORBA National Championships Mountain Bike Series is USA Cycling's premier off-road cycling series. USA Cycling is the national governing body of cycle sport. The series is aired in ten one-hour shows on the Outdoor Life Network, one of the world's leading broadcasters of cycling and adventure sports. Galeforce Sports Marketing is the series management and promotions company.