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2012 World Cup Dates

- seb

Turbo Monkey
Apr 10, 2002
2,924
1
UK
xco/dh/4x 17-18/03/12 Pietermaritzburg
xco/xce 14-15/04/12 Houffalize
xco/xce 12-13/05/12 Nove Mesto Na Morave
xco/xce 19-20/05/12 La Bresse
dh/4x 02-03/06/12 Val di Sole
dh/4x 09-10/06/12 Fort William
xco/dh/4x 23-24/06/12 Mont Sainte Anne
xco/dh/4x 30/06-01/07/12 tbc - America
xco/dh/4x 28-29/07/12 Val d'Isere
dh/4x 15-16/09/12 Hafjell (Norway)

DH ones in the site: http://www.rootsandrain.com/calendar.html?year=2012&wc=1

World Champs is Leogang, September 2nd.

More details here: http://www.uci.ch/Modules/ENews/ENewsDetails.asp?id=NzM5Mw

A long 2.5 month break between rds 1 & 2, but after that there's then four races in the space of five weekends!

And two - maybe three - new venues. Good times!
 
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- seb

Turbo Monkey
Apr 10, 2002
2,924
1
UK
I wonder who's got the bids in for the US date.....if any right now.
"America" in this context means North America + South America - apparently somewhere in Argentina is being rumoured at the moment.
 

- seb

Turbo Monkey
Apr 10, 2002
2,924
1
UK
Haven't Windham caused problems two years in a row now? Constantly on the verge of being cancelled etc? And now has no 4x course? I wouldn't be surprised if they don't go back in 2012...
 

kidwoo

Artisanal Tweet Curator
Yeah fvck windham. I'm sure their inability to run a 4x race pissed some people off. I wonder what it would take to get whiteface in there. They've certainly got the hosting facilities and plenty of terrain to play with. I wish mammoth had their act together for this. Would be cool to see some different terrain than what's kind of more the norm.


How's the winter in argentina?
 

slimshady

¡Mira, una ardilla!
"America" in this context means North America + South America - apparently somewhere in Argentina is being rumoured at the moment.
Villa la Angostura, near Bariloche, in The Rio Negro province, Argentina. According to the local media, the place has been confirmed both for the WC in 2012 and the World Championships in 2013...

This is in Spanish, and basically says what I've stated above.

Curiously, the whole Village is covered by volcanic ashes right now, since the Puyehue volcano has started spitting them about two weeks ago...

Besides that, it's a lovely place to visit, with a lot of singletrack and FR lines. The 2011 Snow Season might be screwed (we're at the verge of Winter down here), but we hope everything will be in place for the WC.
 
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Huck Banzai

Turbo Monkey
May 8, 2005
2,523
23
Transitory
Windham's 4x last year was awesome, having it missing for 2011 is definitely lame. I can see that making a huge difference in attendance. Walking the DH course was difficult, and you only get to see the section where you are, very few open areas for large amounts of people to spectate.

The 4x was a spectators dream (?! :P ) - I rode the chairlift over it up and down 7 or 8x and snapped shots -- simply fantastic.

If it does get cancelled for 2012 (if it hasnt already based on the posted schedule) - it would make sense.

I do know that it cost a ton to build versus the DH, and that was a big concern.


Boo..


The DH trail was pretty sweet, not astounding, but pretty sweet nonetheless. Does anyone know if it has changed for 2011?


Edit - Whiteface could build a real, big, WC course. Last years 5k downhill had a lot of super tech (especially due to slop) and pro winning times of 7m45s is bananas....
 
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'size

Turbo Monkey
May 30, 2007
2,000
338
AZ
Villa la Angostura, near Bariloche, in The Rio Negro province, Argentina. According to the local media, the place has been confirmed both for the WC in 2012 and the World Championships in 2013...

This is in Spanish, and basically says what I've stated above.

Curiously, the whole Village is covered by volcanic ashes right now, since the Puyehue volcano has started spitting them about two weeks ago...

Besides that, it's a lovely place to visit, with a lot of singletrack and FR lines. The 2011 Snow Season might be screwed (we're at the verge of Winter down here), but we hope everything will be in place for the WC.
not saying this isn't happening, but that page as well as others online are saying the 2012 WC race is taking place in march not june/july as the official UCI schedule says for the as yet unnamed venue.
 

slimshady

¡Mira, una ardilla!
not saying this isn't happening, but that page as well as others online are saying the 2012 WC race is taking place in march not june/july as the official UCI schedule says for the as yet unnamed venue.
Yes, I know what you mean. That's why I wrote "this site says...". Anyway, June/July down here would be a mess. I don't think WC racers like snow that much...
 

Sandwich

Pig my fish!
Staff member
May 23, 2002
21,031
5,918
borcester rhymes
I wonder what it would take to get whiteface in there. They've certainly got the hosting facilities and plenty of terrain to play with.
thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis. that would be an awesome race and huge for that mountain bike program. I know they were working on it, but who knows...
 

gemini2k

Turbo Monkey
Jul 31, 2005
3,526
117
San Francisco
Africa's a big continent with lots of mountains, why does PMB keep getting the nod?
Ya like Libya or Cote D'Ivoire or something!

Yeah fvck windham. I'm sure their inability to run a 4x race pissed some people off. I wonder what it would take to get whiteface in there. They've certainly got the hosting facilities and plenty of terrain to play with. I wish mammoth had their act together for this. Would be cool to see some different terrain than what's kind of more the norm
Ya I think like any "legitimate" ski resort probably has the necessary facilities for a WC. Mammoth would be soooooo sick. We can dream I guess :(.
 

ska todd

Turbo Monkey
Oct 10, 2001
1,776
0
One can only hope for the sake of the athletes & team staffs' health, sanity & travel budgets that the back-to-back June/July dates are within easy driving range of each other. Hopefully not a repeat of 06 where teams traveled MSA to Brazil back-to-back; or worse not a repeat of 05 when teams went MSA>Brazil>Angel Fire on back-to-back-to-back weekends.

-ska todd
 

HAB

Chelsea from Seattle
Apr 28, 2007
11,580
2,005
Seattle
Yeah fvck windham. I'm sure their inability to run a 4x race pissed some people off. I wonder what it would take to get whiteface in there. They've certainly got the hosting facilities and plenty of terrain to play with.
The problem is that NY State owns Whiteface. Makes things a ton harder, especially with how thin the state's land management resources are spread. Basically no time or money or interest in making it happen. It's a shame, because as you've noted the infrastructure (hosting facilities and terrain wise anyway) are very much there. Way more so than Windham.
 

Jim Mac

MAKE ENDURO GREAT AGAIN
May 21, 2004
6,352
282
the middle east of NY
The problem is that NY State owns Whiteface. Makes things a ton harder, especially with how thin the state's land management resources are spread. Basically no time or money or interest in making it happen. It's a shame, because as you've noted the infrastructure (hosting facilities and terrain wise anyway) are very much there. Way more so than Windham.
...and we all know how NY State Govt. is doing nowadays...only 2nd in problems to Cali...

Voodoo: hey, it was a shot in the dark!
 

norbar

KESSLER PROBLEM. Just cause
Jun 7, 2007
11,346
1,587
Warsaw :/
One can only hope for the sake of the athletes & team staffs' health, sanity & travel budgets that the back-to-back June/July dates are within easy driving range of each other. Hopefully not a repeat of 06 where teams traveled MSA to Brazil back-to-back; or worse not a repeat of 05 when teams went MSA>Brazil>Angel Fire on back-to-back-to-back weekends.

-ska todd
Both italian spots are around a 20h drive (if not a bit more) from FT. William and Norway but that is doable. Still you touch a good point and I never understood why the dates are not cost optimised.
 

Jorgen

Monkey
Oct 3, 2003
255
0
Oslo, Norway
Helmetcam from Euro champs in hafjell last year. I would guess the WC track will be based on that.


Very good uplift, gondola or chairlifts, as this is a skiing area during summer.

4x track is to be built, but knowing the trailcrew it will be good! Snorre, the master builder, is a skeleton-athlete and knows berms :-D

Hafjell bikepark is also a fairly short drive from the airport, 2 hours maybe.

Am VERY excited about getting world cup action to Scandinavia again, it's been way too long since Åre World Champs in 99!
 

primo661

Monkey
Jun 16, 2008
412
0
Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
Villa la Angostura, near Bariloche, in The Rio Negro province, Argentina. According to the local media, the place has been confirmed both for the WC in 2012 and the World Championships in 2013...
Weird, one of our commissaires just told us that Pietermaritzburg got the world champs. Someone is going to be very upset when it all becomes official.
 

mullarks

Chimp
May 9, 2008
33
0
The Hafjell course looks legit, a couple of those rock gardens in the trees look nasty and would probably get even crazier in the rain.
 

IH8Rice

I'm Mr. Negative! I Fail!
Aug 2, 2008
24,524
494
Im over here now
Weird, one of our commissaires just told us that Pietermaritzburg got the world champs. Someone is going to be very upset when it all becomes official.
looks like they were right
On the heals of the 2012 UCI World Cup schedule announcement, they UCI issued a press release indicating that the 2013 UCI Mountain Bike & Trials World Championships will be hosted in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. The date was not provided at this time.

http://www.vitalmtb.com/news/news/2013-UCI-World-Championships-Awarded-to-Pietermaritzburg,313
 

norbar

KESSLER PROBLEM. Just cause
Jun 7, 2007
11,346
1,587
Warsaw :/
Im a bit bummed about PMB. The flat spot kills the track, it is far away and kinda lame. There is a zillion great venues in yurp.
 

primo661

Monkey
Jun 16, 2008
412
0
Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
Im a bit bummed about PMB. The flat spot kills the track, it is far away and kinda lame. There is a zillion great venues in yurp.
As a local, I feel your pain. We have always had better options but the politics of it won over quality riding in the end. But with that said, a little birdie told me that the finish is moving to a better area. The possibilities that the new finish brings are more numerous and much better. Its just up to the track builders to take advantage of it. I'm holding thumbs that the people making the decisions see the possibilities that I do. A 3 minute and some change(maybe more) track, without a flat spot it the middle, about 600 meters shorter as the crow flies but with more possibilities regarding a less direct route with the same elevation drop.

The problem with only euro tracks is that the UCI is being pushed for more venues outside Europe to make it a world cup and not a european cup. Why is this so important? Well we hosted a world cup in 2009 with maybe one rider aside from Needles and Minnaar that was good enough to be on a world cup team. It opened all our eyes as to what was possible and the level of riding out there. Before 2009, we thought Greg was one of a select few that could ride the lines he does, while what we were witnessing was more the norm than the exception to the rule. Now we have 3 from Pietermaritzburg alone on a very similar level, with one of them being lucky enough to get a ride and up until blowing out at leogang, he was on the brink of breaking into the top half of the field in the overall standings as an 18 year old. And if its going to put more riders with potenial on the map and help them realise that potential, I'll put up with a fire road of a track in Kenya, Thailand or Chile once a season, happily.
 
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Sverre

Monkey
Aug 26, 2004
400
0
Norwaii
Hafjell Bikepark, from Wikipedia:

Hafjell Bike Park is renowned as the best Bike Park for downhill riding in Norway and some of the bike trails have a vertical drop of 830 m, varies in difficulty with jumps and drops for the ?nut balls? and easier lines for the beginners.
Since its early inception in 2001, Hafjell Bike Park has exploded into a world class Bike Park. It started with the ?Wednesday Club?, a group of local riders doing shuttle runs in the area that soon became tired of blasting down the Hafjell fire-roads and craved more demanding trails. In Feb, 2002 a meeting between Snorre Pedersen and the manager of Hafjell Alpine Centre, Geir Olsen occurred, resulting in support from Hafjell Alpine Centre, ending the Illegal trail building.
Snorre Pedersen is the architect of the Park, and is described as a magician with bike trails, and back in 2003 he started as a pioneer, digging and constructing the NC-trail, together with the help of volunteers putting in hundreds of hours of manual labour. Hafjell did on this trail later on host a National Downhill race in 2004. This was the start of the designing and transforming of the hills of Hafjell, and this turned it into a true paradise for the downhill enthusiasts.
Altogether 14 trails are now carved into the alpine wooden landscape. Whether you prefer downhill, cross-country or trail riding, Hafjell can make your biking better through its gondola and lift accessed mountain biking experience.

Tricopter video from Hafjell Bikepark, Norway.

Tricopter VS. Downhill Duds - FPV on Vimeo

Some pictures from the racetrack:









 

norbar

KESSLER PROBLEM. Just cause
Jun 7, 2007
11,346
1,587
Warsaw :/
As a local, I feel your pain. We have always had better options but the politics of it won over quality riding in the end. But with that said, a little birdie told me that the finish is moving to a better area. The possibilities that the new finish brings are more numerous and much better. Its just up to the track builders to take advantage of it. I'm holding thumbs that the people making the decisions see the possibilities that I do. A 3 minute and some change(maybe more) track, without a flat spot it the middle, about 600 meters shorter as the crow flies but with more possibilities regarding a less direct route with the same elevation drop.

The problem with only euro tracks is that the UCI is being pushed for more venues outside Europe to make it a world cup and not a european cup. Why is this so important? Well we hosted a world cup in 2009 with maybe one rider aside from Needles and Minnaar that was good enough to be on a world cup team. It opened all our eyes as to what was possible and the level of riding out there. Before 2009, we thought Greg was one of a select few that could ride the lines he does, while what we were witnessing was more the norm than the exception to the rule. Now we have 3 from Pietermaritzburg alone on a very similar level, with one of them being lucky enough to get a ride and up until blowing out at leogang, he was on the brink of breaking into the top half of the field in the overall standings as an 18 year old. And if its going to put more riders with potenial on the map and help them realise that potential, I'll put up with a fire road of a track in Kenya, Thailand or Chile once a season, happily.
I see your point. I only think we should think if we are at the stage when the sport(by sport I mean not only big teams but photographers, privater riders etc) can afford going all over the world. It is good that it introduces new riders to the sport but Im afraid if the cost to race the WC goes up we might really get into a formula 1 status - few can afford to enter even if it is all over the world. I know some people for whom far away events are a problem in slopestyle even though they had some stellar results but the best thing would be for someone who goes on the world cups and knows the cost.
Fraser ?