Tuesday, January 20, 2004
USA
Cycling announced today the qualification procedures and guidelines for
the newly created 2004 U.S. National Mountain Bike Championships in Mammoth,
Calif., Sept. 23-26. Announced last October, the one-day format will replace
the traditional design of a season-long series to determine the U.S. National
Mountain Bike Champion in several events and categories.
New in '04 will be a stars and stripes jersey for marathon and single speed disciplines
in addition to the traditional cross-country and short track events. In the gravity
themed events, dual slalom makes its return to the national championship level
and a super D discipline will be introduced to compliment the downhill and mountain
cross competitions. Observed trials will also return in both the modified and
stock bike classes and in honor of mountain bike pioneers and heroes, a legends
category in cross-country and downhill will also make its national championship
debut.
There are six possible ways for riders to qualify and compete in the 2004 United
States Mountain Bike National Championships, including NORBA State or Regional
Championship Series or Events, American Mountain Bike Challenge (AMBC) events,
NORBA National Series events, Alison Dunlap Junior Olympic Mountain Bike events,
and USA Cycling Junior Development Regional Mountain Bike Camps. Also, defending
U.S. National Mountain Bike Champions are automatically qualified to compete
at the 2004 U.S. National Championships.
If a particular discipline doesn't require prior qualification, American citizenship
and an annual NORBA license are the only requirements to participate.
For complete qualification procedures and guidelines for the 2004 U.S. National
Mountain Bike Championships, click
here.
About NORBA
NORBA is the mountain bike member association of USA Cycling. Recognized
by the U.S. Olympic Committee and the Union Cycliste Internationale, USA Cycling
promotes American cycling through its 45,000 members and 2,000 annual events.
For more information, visit http://www.usacycling.org,
or contact Communications Manager Andy Lee at 719 866 4867.
Blue Wolf Productions and Team Big Bear are the series management and promotions
company, and are recognized as the USA's leading cycling and events management
group.