I am up at Snowbird Ski and Summer resort for the 2010 Specialized Global Press Launch mountain bike presentation. Yesterday I saw the new Stumpjumper, the new Epic 29er, the new Safire and era women’s bikes, and the new 27 pound S-Works Enduro. I also got to ride the carbon S-Works Stumpjumper and the Epic 29er. I’m hoping to ride the Enduro today. I’m not going to be able to give you all the details on the new bikes right now because I have another presentation to run off to. But I will leave you with some photos of new bikes and the event here at Snowbird.

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The Red Bull Rampage is back and Mtbr is covering the event!

The last Red Bull Rampage took place in Virgin, Utah in 2004. It was the premiere mountain bike freeride competition at the time and is probably most responsible for the slopestyle competitions that exists now. It looked like the 2004 event was going to be the last and I’m psyched for the Rampage to be back. Even though there are now lots of freeride / slopestyle events, there’s still nothing else like the Red Bull Rampage, where riders can create their own lines on a big open course of mostly natural terrain.
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Leogang, June 2nd 2008 - In just a few days, freeriders and racers alike will be arriving in Leogang for the 2008 Out of Bounds Weekend. A huge sized mountain bike dirt jump course as well as the one and only dual freeride racetrack are waiting for them.

The Out of Bounds Weekend will be in effect from June 5th – 8th at Bikepark Leogang. Besides the 26TRIX, Leogang will host the Kona Top2Bottom Terminator, a dual freeride slalom. Along with an EXPO-area, a diversified evening program and the fact, that the lift-tickets will be 30% off during the Out of Bounds Weekend, a well balanced mountain bike freeride festival is guaranteed. For further information about the tracks at Bikepark Leogang and the simple registration for the Kona Top2Bottom Terminator thru an online form, please visit: www.bikepark-leogang.com .

The highlight of the weekend, the 26TRIX, will unite over 40 of the world’s best freeriders from throwing down on an epic dirt jump course. The jumps are mountain bike-sized, set on a hill with huge gaps and crazy hips, snaking down into the bottom of the bikepark Leogang. Most of the riders have been training and competing at the Nissan Qashqai Challenge during the last weeks, so the level of riding for the 26TRIX 2008 is already at an all-time high level. It will be great to see what can happen when these riders are used to the perfectly built dirt jump course. Last year’s winners Jamie Goldman and Andreu Lacondeguy are only two of a whole bunch of well-known riders that will attempt. But the 26TRIX is not only about the big names in dirt jump only – some rookies will be given the chance to show all their skills on the track, too. Check out the full list in the following:

Alan Hepburn AUS
Chris Soinenen AUS
Andi Brewi AUT
Niki Leitner AUT
Alex Pro CAN
Pascal Breitenstein CH
Mischa Breitenstein CH
Andreu Lacondeguy ESP
David Acedo Rodriguez ESP
Inigo Yanci ESP
Antoine Dubourgnon FRA
Christopher Hatton FRA
Yannick Granieri FRA
Amir Kabbani GER
Andi Wittmann GER
Benny Korthaus GER
Flo Konietzko GER
Hendrik Tafel GER
Marius Hoppensack GER
Mike Plümacher GER
Rob J GER
Simon Kirchmann GER
Andras Szabo HUN
Balázs Mucsi HUN
Ferenc Horváth HUN
Trond Hansen NOR
Bartek Obukovic POL
Igor Putera SLO
John Alm Högmann SWE
Linus Sjöholm SWE
Martin Söderström SWE
Grant Fielder UK
Lance Mc Dermott UK
Mike Smith UK
Ricky Crompton UK
Sam Pilgrim UK
Sam Reynolds UK
Alex Reveles USA
Andrew Taylor USA
Cameron McCaul USA
Jamie Goldman USA

So be anxious to see what these guys will show on the big sized doubles providing maximum airtime. The finals of the 26TRIX are scheduled for Saturday evening (Qualifying on Friday afternoon).

But it’s also the evenings of the Out Of Bounds Weekend that are promising to be just as exciting as the days: a Barbecue Party at B3 including a bunny hop contest, in which you can compete with the pros, on Friday night from 8pm, as well as the big “DE BUAM” party after the finals of the 26TRIX at Leogang’s event hall on Saturday from 9pm. Be sure the riders will party hard after a day filled with dirt jump action, but be aware that some of you might have to show their best during the finals of the Kona Top2Bottom Terminator on Sunday midday.

The Out of Bounds Weekend has got everything a good mountain bike freeride festival needs: perfect shaped bike park tracks for everybody, reduced prices for lift-tickets, a thrilling freeride dual race you can join, the best dirt jumpers worldwide showing their incredible skills and finally also some great parties. So be there or be square!

source: rasoulution

Rabbit Valley, Fruita, CO - The Mountain States Cup, one of the nation’s leading mountain bike race series, kicks off April 12-13 with the Rabbit Valley Rally.
The series opener treats riders to a blistering off-road time trial and a traditional long-loop cross country race. Both events start at the Rabbit Valley parking lot near the Utah border, and they take full advantage of the area’s high-desert backcountry terrain. Racers will need a well-rounded blend of fitness, skill and resourcefulness to negotiate the trails and stay ahead of the tough competition.

Hundreds of racers and their families attend each Mountain States Cup event to enjoy the riding, racing, expo areas and the strong sense of community. Age groups range from 12 and under to 50 and over, and skill levels run from first timers to world-class pros. The Mountain States Cup provides competitions for every style of rider.

• The MSC Endurance Series, brought to you by Dale’s Pale Ale, consists of time trial, short track, circuit race and cross country. The series opener and closer will feature long-loop cross country courses — classic mountain biking at its best.

• The MSC Gravity Series, brought to you by Santa Cruz Bicycles, Fox Racing Shox and the all-new Shimano Saint, includes downhill, mountain cross and dual slalom. These gravity-aided events put a premium on skill and confidence.

• The MSC Super D series marries the disciplines of endurance and gravity. A typical Super D course is mostly downhill, with some short climbs. For many racers, it’s the fun part of the rides they do every weekend, and it’s a great first event for those who want to try mountain bike racing.
The 2008 Mountain States Cup visits some of the most ruggedly beautiful venues in Colorado and New Mexico, including Snowmass, SolVista Bike Park, Crested Butte Mountain Resort, Eldora Mountain Resort, Breckenridge Ski Resort and Angel Fire Resort.
The Mountain States Cup has grown dramatically over the past several years, and 2008 promises to be the biggest and best year. Highlights:

• There will be 10 events at nine venues. Rabbit Valley, SolVista Bike Park and Breckenridge are all new to the endurance series. SolVista Bike Park in Granby, CO, will host two gravity events.

• Five of the endurance events and six of the gravity events are part of the USA Cycling National MTB Racing Calendar —the most prestigious race series in the United States.

• Two of the gravity events are sanctioned by the International Cycling Union (UCI). These events provide pros with the UCI points they need to compete internationally at the sport’s highest level, World Cup.

• The Endurance Series Finals will be held at Breckenridge Sept. 6-7.

• The Gravity Series Finals will be held at SolVista Bike Park Aug. 29-31.

• Women’s teams will be tracked and awarded separately. Women who race on co-ed teams will have their points count toward both their primary (co-ed) team and their secondary (women only) team.

• The new G3 format has been incorporated into the gravity series. At a G3 event, racers complete two downhills and one Super D run, with the fastest combined time winning the overall. G3 debuted in 2007, and it was a big hit among racers, who relished a busy weekend on three different courses.

• The Aug. 1-3 Sol Survivor at SolVista Bike Park will be held in conjunction with the Colorado Crankworx event at Winter Park. These venues are only 20 minutes apart, giving racers a chance to enjoy twice the racing action on two very different mountains. The Dual Slalom at SolVista will be a night-time event.

• The Chili Challenge at Angel Fire, NM, May 23-26 will mean a lot of things to a lot of racers. It will count as a gravity world’s team qualifier; a National Mountain Bike Race Series event for downhill, mountain cross and Super D; a cross country, downhill, mountain cross and Super D for the newly created USA Cycling National MTB Racing Calendar; and the national championships for professional mountain cross.

• Mountain States Cup timing and results will be expertly handled by CJ Timing.

Series schedule
MSC#1 – Rabbit Valley Rally
April 12-13 | Fruita, CO
TT, XC

MSC#2 – Chalk Creek Stampede
May 2-4 | Nathrop, CO
XC, STXC, DS, MX

MSC#3 – Chili Challenge
May 23-26 | Angel Fire, NM
XC, SD, MX, DH

MSC#4 – Wildflower Rush
June 20-22 | Crested Butte, CO
DH, SD, XC

MSC#5 – Blast the Mass
July 11-13 | Snowmass Village, CO
XC, SD, DH, MX

MSC#6 – Sol Survivor
Aug. 1-3 | SolVista Bike Park, Granby Ranch, CO
XC, DS, DH, SD

MSC#7 – Snowmass G3
Aug. 8-10 | Snowmass Village, CO
G3 format: DH, SD, DH

MSC#8 – Eldora Escape
Aug. 23-24 | Nederland, CO
XC, STXC

MSC#9 – Sol Squared
Aug. 29-31 | SolVista Bike Park, Granby Ranch, CO
G3 format: DH, SD, DH

MSC#10 – The Fall Classic
Sept. 6-7 | Breckenridge, CO
XC, circuit race

More information: http://www.racemsc.com

source: Lee McCormack

New Demo Area Steps Up Product Offerings at the Sea Otter Classic Sea Otter Classic to Introduce a New Style of Exhibition Racing: “SRAM Dual Stunt” Course maps now available Sponsor Spotlight: Cytomax, GT Bicycles, Otter Box, Cycle California Magazine and Monterey County Herald

New Demo Area Steps Up Product Offerings at the Sea Otter Classic MONTEREY, Calif. (February 26, 2008) While the Sea Otter Classic has long been known as a “see-and-be-seen” event for athletes, the same could be said for manufacturers and their new products. Multiple companies like SRAM, Thule, Specialized, Clif, and Kenda will be releasing new, never-before-seen products to the public and media inside the Sea Otter Expo. Sea Otter has also taken a few extra steps this year to allow more Expo goers… MORE>>

Course maps now available Updated Sea Otter course maps from Garmin are now available. The courses were tracked using a Garmin GPS device and uploaded to MotionBased (soon to be Garmin Connect™) so you can get your hands on course data and training options before the big race. Check out the Dashboard page for each course to view detailed metrics, including time, distance, speed and elevation. The Map Player feature puts the ride in motion, so you can view and simulate the route on a variety of maps… MORE >>

Cytomax The sport drink the pros have used for more than sixteen years. Studies show that after three hours of intense… MORE>> The GT brand is focused on innovation, technology and performance. Started in 1974, GT has been a consistent market leader, supplying… MORE>> Since 1996, Otter Products, LLC. has designed rugged cases for outdoor enthusiasts. With a complete line of waterproof, dustproof… MORE>> Cycle California! Magazine has the largest calendar of bicycle events for Northern California and Nevada… MORE>> Our corporate mission is to be the leading provider of local news, information and services in our strategically located markets by continually expanding and leveraging… MORE>

RV Rental Reservations Get out of the tent and into an RV Camping Reservations Camping spots are filling up fast-be sure to reserve your campsite today Athlete Registration Remember prices go up Mar 20th Discounted Lodging Reservations Check out the great rates at local hotels Official 2008 Sea Otter Classic Merchandise Prices go up Mar 20th-Buy your official gear today

New Entertainment Added to the Sea Otter Classic Music bands, video premiers and more!Sea Otter Classic Bicycling Magazine Road Tour Saturday, January 12, 2008The 2008 Sea Otter Program is available now! Saturday, January 12, 2008 Download full Program PDF hereIMBA and Sea Otter Join Forces Friday, November 2, 2007

Sea Otter Classic Photo Contest Update: We have THREE winners!Three winners have been picked for the Sea Otter Classic Photo Contest. Go see the current winners and get the full scoop on how to submit your own photos to the contest!Rules and submission information

source: Sea Otter Classic

Sea Otter Classic Challenges Participants with an Overflowing Activity Roster

Knowing the ropes, Ryan Leech suspends belief with his hard-won trials skills

MONTEREY, Calif. (March 13, 2008) Now more than ever before, Sea Otter Classic participants are faced with having to choose from an event schedule aimed at pleasing everyone. Live bands, recreational rides, beer and BBQ, the Mountain Bike Ride Zone, moto stunt shows, movie premiers, events for kids, and festival shows where “loop outs, x ups, augering, can-cans, and dumptrucks” become part of the dialect, pack a full roster of things to do at the 18th Annual Sea Otter Classic. If you thought that Sea Otter was only about BMX, road and off-road racing, which you can read about here, here and here, we’re just getting warmed up. Below is a guide to what else you have to choose from.

As always, entry to the Sea Otter Classic is free for kids 12 and under; military active duty, retired and families are two for one (50 percent off - ID card
required).

FESTIVAL SHOWS
Ryan Leech Trials Demos - Megawatt trials rider, Ryan Leech, returns this year to Sea Otter to perform daily shows that will no doubt inspire disbelief if he succeeds in riding such unreliable obstacles like chain links and eight centimeter cables. Leech will huck off obstacles, jump up onto barrels, perform jaw-dropping balancing acts, and generally stun spectators with his hard-won trials skills. He has performed thousands of trials shows all over the world and will be sharing his skills with the public throughout the festival. While chatting to the audience on his wireless mike, Leech will demonstrate his prowess by jumping and balancing his bike on a handcrafted course.

“My course is custom built out of steel, all fits inside a trailer which I also use to ride on,” said Leech, who spends a good chunk of the year towing the trailer around to perform at festivals, schools, and bike shops.

For a preview of just what Ryan Leech is capable of, visit: www.ryanleech.com

Time: check The Sea Otter Daily for daily show times

GT Airshow - Sharing the limelight with Leech will be the GT Airshow, which is a BMX freestyle show that showcases the sport’s very best athletes. GT Airshow riders will perform aerial stunts 20-30 feet above the ramps in addition to flips, jumps, quarter-pipe and half-pipe tricks. The GT Airshow comes to Sea Otter after having toured all around the world, performing at events such as MLB games, NFL games, NBA half-time shows, military bases, bicycle shops, and various fairs and festivals.

Time: check The Sea Otter Daily for daily show times

Magura Moto Stunt Show - “Boy Wonder” Aaron Colton, 14, comes to Sea Otter from his home in Minnesota to show us streetbike freestyle stunting. The youngest stunter in the world, Colton takes command of a streetbike that likely weighs three times more than he does and executes a series of stunts at speed from front and rear wheelies to balancing acts that could cost him big if things don’t work out. You don’t earn a moniker like “Boy Wonder” by bailing on stunts and everything seems to have worked out for Colton so far.

To learn more about Aaron Colton, visit his website: www.aaroncolton.com

Time: check The Sea Otter Daily for daily show times

Ceremonial Send Off’s - A parade led by the Defense Language Institute Joint Service Color Guard, followed by the Monterey high school marching band and flag bearers representing the countries of all Sea Otter participants will march down the racetrack toward the Sea Otter bridge just prior to the midday pro event races both Saturday and Sunday.

Time: Saturday, 12:30 pm; Sunday, 11:30 am

Live Music - Playing at the Sierra Nevada Beer and BBQ Garden, The Rockstone Players will entertain spectators with undertones of Black Uhuru, Sublime, Beck, Buju Banton, and Miles Davis that come together for a sound tailored to Sea Otter crowds.

Time: Friday, April 18 from 11:30 - 3:30

Then on Saturday, “Trusting Lucy” will take center stage at the Sierra Nevada Beer and BBQ Garden.

Time: Saturday, April 19 from 11:30 - 3:30

Breaking the law (gravity, that is) at the GT Airshow

SHOUT OUT TO THE KIDS
Kids’ Carnival - With so many events, you may be getting tired-but chances are, your kids aren’t! Enter the Kids’ Carnival, the single solution to parents’ need for rest and kids’ need to play, play, play. Housed on a soft grassy field amongst the Exhibitor tents, the Carnival offers huge, inflated bouncing structures, a climbing wall, interactive games and more. Parents can comfortably lounge while keeping an eye on junior burning off his rocket fuel. The Carnival is free to kids 12 and under.

Time: Thurs. - Sun. 9 am - 4 pm.

Sea Otter Egg Hunt - Skipper the Sea Otter hosts this event for children 8 and under! Your little ones will love to have the chance to “compete” for prizes on their own, as they search for eggs “hidden” around the lawn! Due to popular demand, the Sea Otter Egg Hunt will take place on Friday, Saturday AND Sunday this year! For more information, go here.

Time: Friday, Saturday AND Sunday at 10 am

Kids’ Bike Rodeo, presented by Nature’s Path Organic - The more fun your kids have on a bicycle, the more they will want to ride! Let your kids ride bicycles with us and we will help instill basic safety rules and teach them how to set up their bikes. The Kids’ Bike Rodeo promises to be as much fun as it is educational - for you AND your family! The Kids’ Bike Rodeo is open to children 10 and under. Due to popular demand, the Rodeo will take place on Friday, Saturday AND Sunday this year! For more information, go here.

Time: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 11 am

Kids’ Races - New for this year, the kids’ races are open for children 10 and under. Watch kids compete for the number one spot as they maneuver through a course designed for the younger set. All races will be broken up by age category. There is no entry fee and every kid is a winner. Go here for more information.

Time: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 12 noon

Kids’ Bike Playground - Not your average playground, the Kids’ Bike Playground allows kids 10 and under to try out their budding bike skills on obstacles appropriate for their age and level. No bullies allowed here.

Time: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 1-4 pm

RECREATIONAL RIDES
SRAM Mountain Bike Ride Zone - The SRAM Mountain Bike Ride Zone, hosted by BikeSkills is a riders’ playground where kids of all ages can play on jumps and learn tricks appropriate to their size and skills. Pros will be on hand to teach younger kids some new tricks while ladders, rails, teeter-totters, and berms will be set up for experienced riders. Click here for more information.

Time: Thursday through Sunday, 9 am - 5 pm

Mountain Bike Magazine’s Off-Road Tours Benefiting IMBA California - Starting Saturday, April 19 with Mountain Bike Magazine’s Off-Road Tours, riders get a chance to ride some of the best singletrack on either a 10 or 20-mile loop through the Fort Ord Bureau of Land Management Area. The shorter loop of 10 miles is a combination of fire road with a bit of singletrack and is ideally suited for beginning off-road riders. More experienced off-road riders can choose the 20-mile loop with extra sweet singletrack to enjoy the pristine terrain exclusive to Fort Ord. Either distance includes plenty of rest stops and on-trail assistance.

To sign up for Mountain Bike Magazine’s Off-Road Tours, benefiting IMBA California, go here. Check out the course map here.

Time: Saturday, April 19 9:30 am

Bicycling Magazine’s Road Bike Tours Benefiting the Davis Phinney Foundation - Bicycling Magazine’s ever-popular Road Bike Tours get underway Sunday morning, April 20 at 7 am with a 100-mile century ride through the scenic backroads of Monterey and the Salinas Valley or a shorter, 15-mile option on the closed roads of Fort Ord. On either route, riders will enjoy well-appointed rest stops and SAG support. Plus, top pro athletes and coaches will be riding along, offering riding tips to all participants.

All riders will enjoy a delicious post-ride BBQ and prize drawings where kids under 12 ride and eat free if accompanied by an adult.

To sign up for Bicycling Magazine’s Road Bike Tours, benefiting the Davis Phinney Foundation, go here.

Time: Sunday, April 20 7 am

Kids 12 and under can ride either tour for free when accompanied by an adult.

About Sea Otter Classic, Inc.
The 18th Annual Sea Otter Classic will be held April 17-20, 2008 at the Laguna Seca Recreation Area, Monterey, California, USA. The four-day “Celebration of Sport” is considered the world’s largest cycling festival, hosting nearly 10,000 professional and amateur athletes and 50,000 fans. The Sea Otter Classic benefits the Davis Phinney Foundation, which supports Parkinson’s disease research and wellness, and IMBA California, which organizes advocacy and trailbuilding efforts statewide and strengthens California mountain bike clubs. More information can be found at www.seaotterclassic.com or by calling 800-218-8411.

Source: Sea Otter Classic News Service