May 26, 2004
West
Virginia Governor Bob Wise today declared June as West Virginia’s
Mountain Bike Month at a ceremony in Charleston today. After reading
the proclamation, the Governor presented it to Cai Clothier, the youngest
member of Team Bon Jovi/West Virginia. Governor Wise also took the
opportunity to recognize Steve Ware and Doug Wayne, founders of Clay County
School’s Mountain Mudmasher Bike Club, and WV Mountain Bike Association’s
Executive Director Greg Moore.
The proclamation reads as follows:
Whereas, West Virginia has established itself as a premiere mountain bike destination providing hundreds of miles of picturesque trails and rail trails for mountain bike enthusiasts; and,
Whereas,
mountain biking is an integral part of the state’s tourism industry
and provides quality-of-life recreation for state and non-residents alike;
and,
Whereas
mountain bike racers from across the country and around the world travel
to West Virginia for events like 24 Hours of Snowshoe, the National Off-Road
Bicycle Association (NORBA) National Championship Series, the West Virginia
Mountain Bike Association races and the Fat Tire Festival; and,
Whereas,
West Virginia is home to some of mountain biking’s most notable
racers, promoters and advocates who tirelessly promote the state’s
great destinations while making the sport better for everyone;
Now,
Therefore, Be it Resolved that I, Bob Wise, Governor of the State of West
Virginia, do hereby proclaim June 2004 as:
Mountain
Bike Month
In
the Mountain State and encourage all citizens to experience the enjoyment
of mountain biking and recognize all our state has to offer.
Press Release from WV Office of Communication concerning Mountain Bike Month.
From the Governor's Office of Communication:
For
Immediate Release Contact:
Jodi Omear
May
26, 2004 304-558-3848;
541-1686
CHARLESTON,
W.Va. – Gov.
Bob Wise today proclaimed June as Mountain Bike Month in West Virginia.
Wise
remarked how mountain biking in West Virginia continues to be a positive
mainstay of the state’s tourism product. The
International Mountain Bike Association ranked only one state above
West Virginia for creating a friendly mountain bike state. Wise
also noted that state rail trail groups continue to secure Transportation
Enhancement (TEA 21) federal grants to enhance and expand the state’s
rail trails. Three West Virginians were selected for
the U.S. World Mountain Bike team in the September 2003 world championships
in Switzerland.
Wise
praised the many mountain bike enthusiasts in the private and public
sector who work hard at promoting and maintaining the state’s
lofty mountain bike destinations.
“Mountain
biking continues to be a key component of our outdoor recreation tourism,” Wise
said. “Many individuals have worked hard
to help West Virginia earn its reputation as a world-class mountain
bike destination. Research
shows that outdoor recreation, including mountain biking, is one of
the top activities for visitors to this state.”
June
is the state’s busiest month for high profile mountain bike events.
The Tour de Canaan mountain bike races begin the first week of June
followed by the NORBA national races at Snowshoe Mountain and the 24
Hours of Snowshoe at the end of the month. The prestigious West Virginia Mountain
Bike Series has events from June through September.
A year ago, Gov. Wise proclaimed June 2003 as Mountain Bike Month and in March, the West Virginia Legislature passed a resolution calling on the Governor to “take suitable public notice each year” to recognize June as Mountain Bike Month in West Virginia