USA Cycling Announces 2011 Gravity National Championship
An excerpt from USA Cycling's latest press release:
In its first year as a separate event, the USA Cycling Gravity Mountain Bike National Championships will head to the Great Smoky Mountains. Scheduled for September 24-25 on North Carolina’s Beech Mountain, the event will feature downhill and four-cross racing for gravity enthusiasts of all ages.
Let's hear it Vital members, what do you think? Who's been there? What's the terrain like? Your thoughts on hosting it so late in the year?
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47 comments
Bearded Clam
12/23/2010 7:56 AM
OH and a World Cup??!!
Bearded Clam
12/23/2010 7:55 AM
hum sooooo the east coast gets the U.S. Open and National Champs and the west gets interbike???
TRex
12/22/2010 11:43 PM
All the dates are bad for scheduling, seems to me like this choice was about as good as any. If it was earlier in the year on an open weekend, would big teams and support rather criss cross the country multiple times for St. Anne, Windham, Crankworks, Idaho (for xc), back to Beech and then back to Interbike later? It may not be better than earlier, but its not that much worse either. All we should really care about is the courses. Can I put in a request for a smooth, flat 4X and very safe DH with nothing to hit? All the other stuff is just no fun.
E.T.
12/22/2010 8:32 PM
I'm actually kinda stoked on this...I feel like National Champs had too much emphasis on World Champs selection in the past. This will obviously change that. I'm only a little bummed that it is on the East coast purely due to logistics and personal funding. Other than that, bring on the East coast GNAR!!! YEAH!!!!
sideshow
12/22/2010 7:24 PM
huh...well, i guess it is cool that there is some new exposure for a new location/region.
however, i will say this: that is a terrible, terrible date. just think about what percentage of the necessary turnout at a national is within the age range of college and high school kids. also just the time of year and various preceding events add an unnecessary twist.
Herndon
12/22/2010 7:00 PM
The date was originally July, probably not a big deal for most non pro racers. For a lot of the top US pro guys they are contracted for Crankworks. I personally know people that have and would skip National Champs for Crankworks. There were very few dates available and after contacting a handful of top US pros, USAC did listen and was willing to not conflict Crankworks. As for Worlds selection, National Champs was good for junior selection but I feel a clear definition of the races USAC will use will be just as good. For pros the World Cups determine who should go anyways. I was selected for a 3rd place finish one year at National Champs and while it was an honor to go, there were other riders that were better suited for that caliber of competition, and in my opinion those are the guys and girls that excel at the World Cups.
BenMx26
12/22/2010 6:51 PM
....wtf....bummed
mickey
12/22/2010 6:45 PM
Beech MT- The end of the yellow brick road. Really.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utyP6QqfeHI
There is an abandoned wizard of OZ themed amusement park at the top of the mountain. AND the paved road down the mountain is going to be gnarly as fuck on 2.5 hookworms. Something like 11 gnarly switchbacks and 2+ miles of paved chunder.
The betting pool for the road race starts now.
That sucks to hear that there might be a 4x race though. I was really hoping that that stupid fucking sport was finally going to die, especially since it's killing gravity racing in America.
I suggest all y'all Lindsey Wilson kids pass the hat and we can race the REAL gated championship on your DS track.
chequamie
12/22/2010 6:35 PM
And it just gets better....WTF are they thinking with these dates?
BarryNobles
12/22/2010 6:19 PM
East coast! Stoked!
Yuroshek
12/22/2010 6:00 PM
I'll be there... working for....
should be fun!
BenC
12/22/2010 5:59 PM
This doesn't seem real.
drewfis
12/22/2010 5:53 PM
What a joke. This means a shit ton of sponsors aren't going to be there because of interbike. There's no way in hell they're going to get half the turnout.
NY_Star
12/22/2010 5:40 PM
Looks like i will be skipping a few classes next year. 3 weeks after worlds is a HORRIBLE IDEA
sspomer
12/22/2010 5:27 PM
i got bets on herndon or beytagh FTW!
sspomer
12/22/2010 5:25 PM
glad there is an event and having it east coast is cool, IMO. with the quality of riders in that neck of the woods, the mountain should be able to put on a good show. the odd thing about the date is worlds selection. based on last year's usa worlds team, national champs seems like it played a pretty big role in who went. for 2011, that doesn't seem to be the case. the industry is burned out after interbike and the venue is 2077 miles from las vegas according to mapquest. it will be interesting to see what the support rig/industry turnout looks like.
MattPatt
12/22/2010 5:19 PM
I'm unpleasantly surprised by both the venue and the date....
jhart15
12/22/2010 5:01 PM
why the hell would it be in September!!!!! awful date
Downhill Mike
12/22/2010 4:44 PM
As Quinton said "We have a nationals championship!"
1 week after Interbike and 2 weeks after the Whiteface 5 K DH!
JoeySchusler
12/22/2010 4:38 PM
Time for some easy coast action! Looking forward to both events, although Sept 24-25 is an odd date to have nats...