The mountain bike community can expect some changes in the 2009 season. It was recently announced that the National Mountain Bike Series (formerly NORBA National Series) will cease to exist following 2008.
Executives from Team Sho-Air, a California based trade show transportation company, have taken it upon themselves to pick up where the NMBS left off. They have proposed a seven race series dubbed the "United States Cup". At first glance, the U.S. Cup looks similar to the former NMBS, featuring XC and DH races at familiar locales like Fontana, CA, Fountain Hills, AZ, and Mount Snow, VT.
The difference comes in the details, Sho-Air promises significant changes focused on enhancing the racing experience for Pro and amateur level athletes as well as making races more spectator friendly. Highlights of the proposed changes for the Pros include modified courses to create more spectator excitement, dual racing lines to encourage more extreme riding options (think Traverse City water jump), more exposure to top pro athletes, and a total prize purse of $115,000 for the XC series, with equal pay out for men and women. Amateurs racers can expect an elevated racing experience, Series Champion jerseys, more swag, series points, and increased acknowledgment for their efforts. Sho-Air also proposes increased focus on marketing of the series, it's sponsors, and athletes.
While Sho-Air has laid out the path they hope to follow in creating the United States Cup industry support is still needed to make the series a reality. Sho-Air must secure industry commitments for $200,000 before October 3rd 2008 to cover marketing and promotion of the series as well as UCI inscriptions and prize money. If Sho-Air is unable to obtain industry commitments to cover the cost of the U.S. Cup in 2009 the United States will be without a National mountain bike race series for the first time in two decades.
Tentative U.S. Cup 2009 Schedule:
March 21-22 – Fontana, CA "Fontana National" UCI C1
April 4-5 – Fountain Hills, AZ "Nova Classic" UCI C2
April 16-19 – Laguna Seca, CA "Sea Otter Classic" UCI C1
April 25-26 – Los Olivos, CA "Santa Ynez Cup" UCI C2
May 24-25 – Angel Fire, NM "Chile Challenge" UCI C3
June 27-28 – Windham, NY "Windham Cup" UCI C2
August 8-9 – Mt. Snow, VT "Snow Shootout" UCI C1