June 13, 2004 ( Snowshoe Mountain, W. Va.) -The 2004 NORBA National
Mountain Bike Series featured mountain cross competition on Saturday
as some of the world’s top gravity riders descended upon the resort
town of Snowshoe Mountain, W. Va. to contest the fourth of eight
rounds. Competing with a World Cup event in Les Gets, France this
weekend, the NORBA stop in Snowshoe still managed to attract a
world-class field of top competitors.

At the end of the day, Jill Kintner (San Jose, Calif.) and Ross Milan
(Lakewood, Colo.) each captured wins. Milan’s putting him on the list
of future gravity riders to keep an eye on and Kintner’s solidifying
her lead atop the overall standings after four rounds.

Earlier in the day Kintner, Tara Llanes (Los Alamitos, Calif.),
Michelle Dumaresque (CAN), and Melissa Buhl (Chandler, Ariz) posted
the top four qualifying times respectively on their way to securing
the top four seeds in the finals. As competition progressed, three of
the four would make it through to the final round of four as Lisa
Sher (Capistrano Beach, Calif.) managed to ignore her 10th seed to
sneak through to the end. Dumaresque however outrode her three
competitors in the consolation round to take fifth place.

In the final, Kintner took the win ahead of Llanes, Buhl and Sher
respectively. Kintner’s win now gives her an 18 point lead in the
overall standings ahead of Llanes.

In men’s qualifying, Milan was well on his way to the eventual
victory after posting the best time and taking the top seed. Brian
Schmith (Lancaster, Calif.), Eric Carter (Temecula, Calif.) and Rich
Houseman (Pasadena, Calif.) rounded out the top four seeds based on
qualifying times.

Houseman and Carter would falter in the round of eight and fail to
make the finals while Milan and Schmith cruised through along with
eighth-seeded Mike King (San Diego, Calif.) and sixth-seeded John
Kirkcaldie (NZL). After Carter took the consolation round for fifth
place, the stage was set for the final four.

A late run crash by King that also took Kirkcaldie out of contention
left Milan and Schmith alone to battle it out in the closing meters
for the win. Milan took the advantage and the win, his first ever on
the NORBA circuit.

Carter’s fifth place finish gave him enough points to retain his lead
by 51 points ahead of King in the overall standings.

Final Results:

Men
1. Ross Milan (Lakewood, Colo.)
2. Brian Schmith (Lancaster, Calif.)
3. Mike King (San Diego, Calif.)
4. John Kirkaldie (NZL)
5. Eric Carter (Temecula, Calif.)

Women
1. Jill Kintner (San Jose, Calif.)
2. Tara Llanes (Los Alamitos, Calif.)
3. Melissa Buhl (Chandler, Ariz)
4. Lisa Sher (Capistrano Beach, Calif.)
5. Michelle Dumaresque (CAN)

Overall Standings After Four Rounds

Men
1. Eric Carter 724
2. Mike King 673
3. Rich Houseman 589
4. John Kirkcaldie 560
5. Michael Robinson (AUS) 547

Women