Some more races for 2005

We all know that last year, NORBA ran Marathon events at some of the National events. Well, they are back for 2005. Plus there are a few twists. Check it out.

MARCH 4-6: NORBA NATIONAL #1
Tapatio Springs Resort in Boerne, Texas
XC, ST & TT Stage Race; MA

Centrally located in the heart of the hill country in the south-central region of the state, the series again kicks off in Texas. Like this year in Waco, a stage race format will kick of a year's worth of racing in a big way.

MARCH 18-20: NORBA NATIONAL #2
McDowell Mountain Regional Park in Fountain Hills, Arizona
XC, ST & TT Stage Race; EN, SD

Traditionally known as the Nova Desert Classic, the NORBA National Mountain Bike Series makes its first appearance in suburban Phoenix. It marks the second and final stage race of the series. Another notable inclusion to the traditional NMBS format includes an ultra-endurance 12 or 24 hour event.

MAY 13-15: NORBA NATIONAL #3
Snow Summit Resort in Big Bear Lake, California
XC, ST, MA, DH, MX, SD

Now in its 17th consecutive running, mountain biking's ground zero will once again open the downhill series with the four-up Downhill Mania.

JUNE 17-19: NORBA NATIONAL #4
Deer Valley Resort in Park City, Utah
XC, ST, DH, MX, SD

Deer Valley rejoins the national series calendar after last hosting a NORBA National in 2001.

CHECK THIS OUT!!!
JUNE 18: NORBA NATIONAL MARATHON #3
Mont Sainte Anne in Quebec, Canada
MA

In a most unusual twist an event that will be used to decide the NMBS Marathon Champion won't even be held in America. The stand alone race will be run in conjunction with the third stop of the UCI Marathon World Cup Series.

JULY 15-17: NORBA NATIONAL MOUNTAIN BIKE SERIES #5
Schweitzer Mountain Resort in Sandpoint, Idaho
XC, ST, MA, DH, MX, SD

Schweitzer Mountain plays host to a NORBA National for the third consecutive season. With a UCI World Cup on the calendar in Angel Fire, New Mexico the weekend prior, a strong international field is expected to be on hand.

JULY 22-24: NORBA NATIONAL MOUNTAIN BIKE SERIES #6
Snowmass Village in Aspen, Colorado
XC, ST, MA, DH, MX, SD

Hosting its second NORBA National, Snowmass will culminate three weekend's worth of elite international competition in America. Many Europeans will use Aspen to prepare for their continental championships that begin the following weekend in Italy.

AUGUST 19-21: NORBA NATIONAL MOUNTAIN BIKE SERIES #7
Snowshoe Mountain Resort in West Virginia
XC, ST, MA, DH, MX, DS, SD

Snowshoe is the first east coast NMBS date and will also include the first and only dual slalom event. The series' only conflict with a World Cup date occurs here with a gravity World Cup scheduled for Pila, Italy on August 21.

AUGUST 26-28: NORBA NMBS FINALS
Mount Snow Resort in West Dover, Vermont
XC, ST, DH, MX, SD

Noticeably absent from the 2005 calendar is a stop in Durango, Colorado; home to the last two series' finals. Next year the finals again return to Mount Snow, which last hosted them in 2002.

MA = Marathon event
EN = 12 or 24 hour race