NMBS Adds Two New Venues in 2007

[bustamove]

National Mountain Bike Series Adds Two, Loses One

Series finds two new events to replace one lost

PARK CITY, UT. (Feb. 15, 2007) - The National Mountain Bike Series will be traveling to two new venues in 2007. Series owner Jeff Frost of Blue Wolf Events is excited to announce these two new additions to the NMBS: the Firestone Santa Ynez Valley Mountain Bike Classic presented by Platinum Performance, taking place in Santa Barbara on April 27 th – 29 th, and The Chile Challenge at Angel Fire Resort, taking place in New Mexico on May 26 th – 28 th. These two new stops on the circuit will replace the Cougar Mountain Classic, which departed from the series earlier this month.

A full slate of racing disciplines is offered at each of the new venues, but at least for the 2007 season NMBS points will only be offered for a selection of disciplines from each race, with the split occurring along the line between gravity and endurance. Thus, the Firestone Santa Ynez Valley Mountain Bike Classic will offer NMBS points for its short track and cross country races, while The Chile Challenge at the Angel Fire Resort in New Mexico will offer NMBS points for its 4X and downhill races. Pre-announcement buzz within the industry has shown great support for the additions, and much is being said about the high quality of courses at each venue.

Jeff Frost has nothing but praise for Mike McCormack of Big Foot Productions, owner of The Chile Challenge, and Mike Hecker of SG Productions, owner of the Santa Ynez Valley Mtn. Bike Classic, as they were able to work with him at the last minute to incorporate their events into the NMBS. He is very excited about the opportunity to partner the NMBS with these two much-loved and long-running events; as he says, “I was a little worried with that unexpected void to fill in the calendar, but it’s worked out way better than I could have imagined. Having The Chile Challenge and the Firestone Santa Ynez Valley Classic join NMBS is just a dream.”

For their part Hecker and McCormack are equally excited about the new partnership with NMBS. “When the National Mountain Bike Series approached us to see if we would be interested in affiliating ‘The Classic’ with the NMBS we were ecstatic,” said Mike Hecker, owner of SG Productions. “We are proud to be asked to take part in this, the most prestigious of all mountain bike race series. The first ever NORBA National was held in 1983 in the Santa Barbara back-country…it will be an honor to return a national race to its birthplace.” Mike McCormack of Bigfoot Productions said, “We’re excited to collaborate the NMBS, and the host venue is thrilled to receive the extra exposure that comes with the NMBS designation. For its part, Angel Fire Resort has some of the very best gravity courses in North America – I think it’s safe to say that followers of both series are in for a treat. The NMBS has a loyal following of elite athletes and it’s going to be a lot of fun for fans and up-and-coming gravity riders as they watch the best from both camps go head-to-head.”

For more information about:

NMBS #2, April 27-29 – the Firestone Santa Ynez Valley Mountain Bike Classic in Santa Barbara, Ca. http://ridesb.com

NMBS #4, May 26-28 – The Chile Challenge at Angel Fire Resort in New Mexico. www.racemsc.com

About The National Mountain Bike Series
The National Mountain Bike Series (NMBS) is the premier mountain bike racing series in the United States , and is sanctioned by the national governing body of cycling sports, USA Cycling. For more information and to see the complete, revised 2007 NMBS calendar, visit www.mtbnationals.com. For all other inquiries, please email info@mtbnationals.com

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[Heath Sherratt]

Great stuff!