January 21, 2004 – USA Cycling  announced today the qualification procedures and guidelines for the newly  created 2004 U.S. National Mountain Bike Championships in Mammoth, Calif., Sept. 23-26. Announced last October, the  one-day format will replace the traditional design of a season-long series to  determine the U.S. National Mountain Bike Champion in several events and  categories.

New in  2004 will be a  stars and stripes jersey for marathon and single speed disciplines in addition  to the traditional cross-country and short track events. In the gravity themed events, dual  slalom makes its return to the national championship level and a super D discipline will be introduced to compliment the downhill and mountain cross  competitions. Observed trials will also return in both the modified and stock  bike classes and in honor of mountain bike pioneers and heroes, a legends category in cross-country and downhill will also make its national championship debut.

There are six possible  ways for riders to qualify and compete in the 2004 United States Mountain Bike  National Championships, including NORBA State or Regional Championship Series or  Events, American Mountain Bike Challenge (AMBC) events, NORBA National Series  events, Alison Dunlap Junior Olympic Mountain Bike events, and USA Cycling  Junior Development Regional Mountain Bike Camps. Also, defending U.S. National Mountain  Bike Champions are automatically qualified to compete at the 2004 U.S. National Championships.

If a particular  discipline doesn't require prior qualification, American citizenship and an annual NORBA license are the only requirements to participate.