October 31, 2003 – USA Cycling announced today the addition of the NORBA National at the California Outdoor Championships in Sonoma, Calif. to the 2004 NORBA National Mountain Bike Series on May 13-16. The original occupant of that date, the NORBA National at Big Bear, Calif., has been changed to May 20-23, 2004 to accommodate the expansion of the series.

The new event, to be held at the Infineon Raceway in Northern California, will consist of cross country, short-track, mountain cross, and dual slalom events in conjunction with various other outdoor competitions such as road cycling, trail running, and rock climbing. The result is an outdoor sports festival that is reminiscent of the existing Sea Otter Classic or the now defunct Telluride 360 Degree Festival, both of which have been widely successful events for both the cycling and the outdoor sports communities.

The addition of yet another NORBA National Mountain Bike Series event is consistent with the visions of both USA Cycling and co-organizers of the series, Blue Wolf Events and Team Big Bear. “The expansion of the series allows us to service the widest range of our membership base,” says USA Cycling CEO, Gerard Bisceglia in reference to the exposure the new event provides to both existing and potential members. “As we build the series there may unfortunately be conflicts when it comes to World Cups and other UCI-sanctioned events, but those coincidences don 't really affect the majority of those who contest our national series. With regards to the pro teams and the upper echelon of elite mountain bikers, the choice between two prestigious and high quality events in a few cases is a good problem to have. It's a testament to the popularity and growth of our sport.”

Currently the entire 2004 NORBA National Mountain Bike Series is UCI-sanctioned with the exception of two events, the newly added stop in Sonoma and the penultimate leg at Snowmass Resort in Aspen, Colo. scheduled for August 5-8, 2004. Traditionally, the whole NORBA National Mountain Bike Series has been included on the UCI Calendar.

The expansion of the NORBA National Mountain Bike Series from five events in 2003 to eight in 2004 plus a stand alone one-day national championship presents NORBA members with more options and opportunities to participate in world-class mountain biking events. Also, new relationships between NORBA and established events, such as the recently announced Wisconsin Off Road Series (WORS), highlight NORBA's efforts to emphasize its membership-based roots.

A complete calendar of the 2004 NORBA National Mountain Bike Series follows.

2004 NORBA Series

March 11-15
Waco,Texas XC/ST/TT/Marathon
May 13-16
Infineon Raceway, Sonoma, Calif. XC/ST/DS/MTNX
May 20-23
Snow Summit Resort, California XC/ST/DH/MTNX
June 10-13
Snowshoe Resort, West Virginia XC/ST/DH/MTNX/Marathon
June 17-20
Mount Snow Resort, Vermont XC/ST/DH/MTNX
July 29-August 1
Schweitzer Mountain Resort, Idaho XC/ST/DH/MTNX
August 5-8
Aspen/Snowmass Resort, Colorado XC/ST/DH/MTNX
August 26-29
Durango Mountain Resort, Colorado XC/ST/DH/MTNX/Marathon