Willow Rockwell Retires From Mountain Bike Racing

Trek World Racing's Willow Rockwell (USA) has announced that despite her best efforts to return to the sport of mountain biking after taking time out to have her daughter, the reality of the situation is nothing like she had imagined. In this past week Willow has decided definitively that it's time to stop racing for good and focus on her new family.

Recent experiences at the opening round of the World Cup and in training back home have acted as wake up calls for Willow who's found herself needing to be honest about being able to push herself so hard whilst also being the mother of a new-born baby.

The 34 year old has had an illustrious career in the sport which has included 2 bronze medals at the World Championships, as well as numerous Continental and National Titles, and was ranked as high as No.2 in the world on the UCI rankings in 2011. As ambassador for Trek and Gary Fisher bicycles, there are very few athletes who have given so much, since her first days with the Subaru-Gary Fisher program, which she joined in 2005, through to joining Trek World Racing at the beginning of last year. Willow has always been a top professional for all of her sponsors.

Willow released a statement which in part says: "After much soul searching, and many tears, I have decided to end my mountain bike racing career. I committed to racing for 2012 before having my child. There was no way I could have predicted the changes that have occurred within me. Thank you for your support during this time of intense decision and transformation. I especially thank my Team Manager Martin White ley and my team, Trek World Racing, for understanding that sometimes life has other plans. Enjoy every moment on the bicycle, for every moment adds up to create your life!"

Team owner Martin Whiteley says: "It's true that we are sad not to see Willow racing in our team colors again, but it is equally true that we are fully supportive of her decision, and we are grateful for every day we had Willow with us on the team. Eternally positive and a great spirit, she will be missed not only from our family, but from mountain bike racing in general."

Willow's retirement is effective immediately and she will not appear at this weekend's World Cup event in Houffalize or the Sea Otter Classic as previously planned. Trek World Racing has no plans to replace Willow for season 2012. Willow's husband Myles continues with the team in his highly valued role as Downhill Rider Liaison.

2012 Plattekill Season Announcement

Plattekill Bike Park located in Roxbury, NY is proud to announce the 2012 Plattekill downhill riding season. Plattekill has been hosting downhill mountain bike riding and racing for over sixteen years. That will continue full force in 2012. The bike park will open for riding April 14-15 weekend, the earliest in the East and the earliest ever at Plattekill. Plattekill Bike Park extended the 2011 Riding season into December in 2011 making for the Longest lift assisted mountain biking season in North America.

The first race of the season will be the Third Annual Gravity Open on Memorial day Weekend, May 23-27, 2012. The Gravity Open will be part of the prestigious USA Cycling National Pro GRT and the POC Eastern States Cup Series’. The race takes place Memorial Day weekend and will feature many national and international stars. Previous winners have included UCI World Champions. Plattekill Bike Park will host four POC Eastern States Cup Series races, the finals of the USAC NYS State Championships and the USAC Eastern Regional Championships.

Due to the early start of the riding season and a late March snowstorm the bike park will spread 5-work weekend during the season. The goal this summer is a groomed trail fro top to bottom. Stay tuned for more information.

The trails at Plattekill are endless and offer something for riders of all abilities. The fall line trail sections are steep. The natural terrain offers loose shale with large rock drops. Plattekill Bike Park uses two lifts accessing two distinct peak areas. Lift attendants place your bikes on the chair for the ride up. The base lodge offers a cafeteria, bike shop and restrooms. On the deck great burgers and refreshments will be available. 

Regular Season Opening April 14-15 Weekend

2012 Ride Fees:

All Day Lift                         $35

Two Day Same Weekend Lift $55

After 2pm Lift                     $25

One Time Lift with Bike         $10

Trail Access (no lift)             $15

Skyride                               $ 5

Season Pass                      $329

SEASON PASS SPECIAL UNTIL MAY 1, 2012……$279

Plattekill Mountain is the longest operating bike park in the Northeast with
over 60 miles of bike-specific lift accessed trails operating two lifts to
two mountain peaks.

Roxbury, NY (607) 326-3500 

www.plattekill.com

http://www.usacycling.org/progrt

www.easternstatescup.com

Mountain Creek Bike Park ANd GT Bikes Partner For 2012

Vernon, NJ – April 3, 2012 – Mountain Creek Bike Park and GT Bicycles are pleased to
announce that they will be working together for the 2012 bike season. GT Bicycles, one of the
world’s foremost bicycle manufacturers will be named the “The Official Bike Partner” of Mountain
Creek Bike Park and will be available for rental at the Bike Park starting on opening day, May
5th. Additionally, Mountain Creek Bike Park has partnered with SixSixOne to offer the best in
protective equipment for rent or purchase.

“GT is one of the largest bike makers in the world and has such a rich history in bike racing and
mountain biking specifically. We couldn’t be more excited to be partnered with them for our first
season” says Hugh Reynolds, Marketing Manager. “The Fury is one of the best DH bikes on the
market and we think our guests will be stoked to get on the same bike that the Athertons and
some of the top racers in the world ride.”

The Mountain Creek Bike Park rental fleet will consist of thirty-five, 2012 Fury Alloy 2.0 bikes as
the standard rental model as well as a limited number of Fury Carbon Team bikes available as
high performance demo rentals for those who want to ride a World Cup ready rig. In addition to
the Fury Carbon Team, Mountain Creek will also offer the much anticipated 2012 Devinci Wilson
RC for high performance demo rental. This season’s rental pricing will be $89.99 plus tax for full-
day standard rentals and $189.99 plus tax for full-day high performance demo rentals. All bike
rentals come with complimentary SixSixOne protection rentals including: full-face helmet, elbow
and knee pads.

For those Bike Park or hotel guests looking to get out and pedal for their turns, Mountain Creek
Bike Park will also be renting the 2012 GT Sensor 3.0 cross-country trail bikes. The Sensor is
the perfect bike to tackle the Bike Park’s mountaintop cross-country trail network (opening June
2012) or any of the abundant single track and trail riding in the area surrounding the resort.

All the bikes at the Mountain Creek Bike Park will be meticulously maintained by our staff of
in-house bicycle mechanics. “We want to provide our guests with the best riding experiences
possible, and that all starts with the bikes.” adds Marc Tremain, Bike Park Operations Manager.

“We’re very excited about our partnership with Mountain Creek Bike Park for this season.
Mountain Creek offers some of the best riding in the East and in hearing about their plans and
vision for the future of the park, we know that great things lie ahead.” says Chris Hopwood of GT
Bicycles.

The Mountain Creek Bike Park opens for the 2012 season on Saturday May 5th and will play host
to the Mountain Creek Spring Classic a USA Cycling Pro GRT POC Eastern States Cup series race
on the weekend of May 20th. To keep up with all the latest news and events at Mountain Creek
Bike Park, be sure to follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/mountaincreekbikepark and visit
our website at Mountaincreekbikepark.com

About Mountain Creek Bike Park
Mountain Creek Resort is a unique gateway to the mountain lifestyle for millions of local urban
and suburban adventure seekers. Mountain Creek Bike Park is the NY metro area’s closest
lift-served biking destination, located just 47 miles from the George Washington Bridge in
Northwestern, NJ. Mountain Creek offers Downhill Mountain Biking for riders or all ability levels
with 45 natural and manmade downhill biking trails, more than 60 freestyle terrain features and
1,040 feet of vertical serviced by the high speed Cabriolet open-air gondola. Mountain Creek
Bike Park is proudly supported by: Red Bull, Shimano, SixSixOne/One Industries, GoPro, and GT
Bicycles.

2012 POC Eastern States Cup

Eastern States Cup and POC Sports are proud to announce the 2012 POC Eastern States Cup Downhill Mountain Bike Race Series. The series is the USA Cycling Eastern Regional Championship and five USA Cycling State Championships are being contested within the series. The POC ESC has over $35,000 available in cash prizes to amateurs and pros in 2012.

Reaching new heights during its third season, the POC ESC has grown to 14 races and welcomes three new venues. Returning is the $1000 POC Team Challenge and new this year is the $1000 Loeka Women’s Challenge. The POC ESC’s championship payouts for Cat1 Juniors, Men’s Pro and Women’s Pro Classes have been increased and a finals cash purse for the top three men in Cat1 19-29 has been added. The pro payouts at each race have increased up to $1600 with up to $500 going to the pro winners.

“We are very excited about our partnership with The Eastern States Cup” Said Willie Ford, Director of Marketing, POC USA. “We are honored to be part of such a great series and we’re all looking forward to a great season of racing. It’s going to be fun.”

The Series starts off with two USAC Pro Gravity Tour National Series races. The POC ESC/Pro GRT races each have $5000 purses and are used to qualify racers to the USA World Championship Team. The best national and international racers will be there to compete against the POC ESC regulars. Pros like Aaron Gwinn, current UCI World Cup Champion and Amateurs will compete on the same courses as at the renewed Mountain Creek Bike Park and at Plattekill Mountain on consecutive weekends. The Mountain Creek race will be the inaugural USAC New Jersey DH State Championship. Mountain Creek’s new course will feature the infamous Rock Garden section. Plattekill will showcase a new Pro GRT track on the super steep North Face side of the mountain.

Every POC Eastern States Cup venue offers big mountain racing in a close geographical area. Mountain Creek, Jiminy Peak and Windham are new to the series this season. Jiminy Peak’s race will be USAC’s first Massachusetts State DH Championships on what’s guaranteed to be a really fast course. The Windham Mountain track will be the same one used for the 2012 Windham UCI World Cup. The series will be part of the 11^th Annual Pats Peak Mountain Bike Festival in New Hampshire. In addition to downhill, the festival offers XC and 6-12-24 hour endurance racing.

Killington, Mount Snow and Attitash all have two POC ESC races in 2012. Mount Snow offered some great tracks in the series last year and they’re building more this season. Killington is reuniting their Beauty and The Beast races as part of the series. Attitash Mountain features miles of DH trails, tons of attractions and swimming in the Saco River. Plattekill Bike Park will host The Stephen Porraro Memorial Race in August and three holiday races: The Pro GRT Memorial Day weekend, the Floodwaters Classic on Labor Day weekend and the Plattepallooza Festival during the finals on Columbus Day weekend.

The series will again work with VonCooper Racing and Productions to bring the popular POC Video of the week to the racers and the world. VonCooper produced a 2011 POC ESC DVD that will be available at races this summer. Oliver Racing brings its famous Bureau’s Sugarhouse and Maple Kettle Korn 4^th place prizing to every class at all POC ESC events. Taking pictures for the series is East Coast action Photographer, Matt Delorme. Matt’s pictures and feature articles have been in many national and international magazines and websites. Delorme will also write up a post race reviews.

The Eastern States Cup provides high-level racing, multiple USAC Championships at great venues. The POC ESC strives to provide fun and professional events. The series format will reduce travel, offer fair pricing and provide a set structure to racers.

2012 POC Eastern States Cup Schedule

• May  20 Mountain Creek, NJ    Pro GRT 2x points NJ State Championships
• May  27 Plattekill, NY .              Pro GRT 2x points           
• June  3 Attitash, NH
• June 10 Pat’s Peak, NH
• June 24 Mount Snow, VT
• July  15 Windham, NY
• July  29 Killington, VT
• Aug    5 Mount Snow, VT
• Aug  12, Plattekill, NY
• Aug  19 Killington, VT              VT State Championship Finals
• Sept   2 Plattekill, NY               NY Championship Finals
• Sept 16 Attitash, NH                NH State Championship Finals
• Sept 23 Jiminy Peak MA          MA State Championships
• Oct     7 Plattekill, NY ESC       Finals 2x points

Eastern States Cup

Team BGB/MK Short Film Announced

Get your tickets early and grab your bag of popcorn, Team BGB-Mountain Khakis has joined forces with local N.C. based film makers, Dirt Passion (www.dirtpassion.com), to bring a short film featuring the team and each of its sponsors to the Summer Box Office near you. Well maybe the Box Office is a stretch, but going viral will work just fine.

Sam Anderson, Chris Annesi, and Jacob Teer (pictured below) are three very talented college students that all attend in the University of North Carolina Charlotte and whom call N.C. / Appalachian Mountains “my backyard.” Not only do they share the same passion each of us do, shreddin in the sticks, but also have made a name for themselves as film makers with the imminent release of “Finding Flow.” Finding Flow made its theatrical debut on February 26 locally at the UNCC Campus with a second local premiere to be held in Asheville, N.C. on Thursday March 29. The full 27 minute feature will be released the first week of April free online at Pinkbike. Catch a sneak peak glimpse of the full edit, the film trailer can be seen on Vimeo. We promise you will not be disappointed.

Chris Annesi, “2011 was a great year for us with filming Finding Flow, and now with that behind us we are really excited for the 2012 season. Starting out the year with the new crew (aka Dirt Passion), new projects have been in the works for a while and are something that we are extremely stoked about! We believe that with all professionalism should come fun and good times, which is something that Dirt Passion will be striving for in our edits. What better way of kicking it off with Team BGB-MK. We have been in contact with the Public Relations Director for the team, Jay Schultz, for quite some time planning this edit. Being able to work with a group whom are just as stoked to be in the mountains and around bikes as us is really all we could ask for.”

“We are so stoked to be able to work with the guys from Dirt Passion keeping it local and showing there is quality riding, not to mention talented film making, in North and South Carolina. This will be a great opportunity to get our sponsors, team, and riders some well-deserved exposure” said Jay Schultz, Marketing and Public Relations Director, Team BGB-Mountain Khakis. “They are a good group of characters that LOVE to just have a good time and most importantly, RIDE!”

Shooting of the Team BGB-MK short film will take place in April at a location that will not be named to protect to the guilty. The final 4 to 5 min edit of the Team BGB-MK edit is planned for May 2012, with the intent of making the rounds on the internet, Youtube, Vimeo, PinkBike, VitalMTB, etc. We’ll let everybody know when it’s “LIVE!”

Joining us in this MEGABLOCKBUSTER short film will be all of our 2012 sponsors: Mountain Khakis, Billy Goat Bikes, Rocky Mountain Bicycles, Loaded Precision Components, Black Market Bikes, Feedback Sports, Smith Optics, Zerode Bicycles, POC Sports, Suspension Experts, Dirt Passion.