[NY_Star]

Full Press Release Here
http://www.usacycling.org/news/user/story.php?id=4710

Gravity Team

"Gravity athletes representing the U.S. at the Continental Mountain Bike Championships were all discretionary picks. (AKA No Funded Positions) Chris Van Dine (Park City, Utah/Cannondale), Shawn Neer (Arvada, Colo.), and Brian Buell (Boulder, Colo.) will don the red, white, and blue in the elite men’s downhill and four-cross competitions. Joining the pair for the downhill contest will be Joey Schusler (Boulder, Colo./ Yeti Fox Shox Factory Race Team), Geoffrey Ulmer (Troy, NY), Luciano Worl (Woodinville, Wash./Corsair-Atomlab), Ethan Quehl (Grayson, Ga.), and Graeme Pitts (Nevada City, Calif./Team Geronimo-Banshee Bikes)."

Congrats to all thoughts selected

 

[sethimus]

anyone else get a virus warning when visiting the link above?

 

[davetrump]

funny how Van Dine is defending Champ and USAC can't even have a guaranteed or funded spot for him.....

and who are some of the other guys on that list? not hating, just curious?

I know in the past it has been pulling teeth to even get USAC to take the time and effort to enter a DH team, so it is good to see they are at least "acknowledging" it...

 

[Beast]

Here's the full list, including the ladies:


Elite Men’s Downhill
Chris Van Dine (Park City, Utah/Cannondale)
Joey Schusler (Boulder, Colo./ Yeti Fox Shox Factory Race Team)
Shawn Neer (Arvada, Colo.)
Geoffrey Ulmer (Troy, NY)
Luciano Worl (Woodinville, Wash./Corsair-Atomlab)
Graeme Pitts (Nevada City, Calif./Team Geronimo-Banshee Bikes)
Brian Buell (Boulder, Colo./Team Geronimo-Banshee Bikes)
Ethan Quehl (Grayson, Ga.) - Discretionary Pick

Elite Women’s Downhill
Katie Holden (Scotts Valley, Calif.)

Elite Men’s Four-Cross
Chris Van Dine (Park City, Utah/Cannondale)
Shawn Neer (Arvada, Colo.)
Brian Buell (Boulder, Colo./Team Geronimo-Banshee Bikes)

Elite Women’s Four-Cross
Katie Holden (Scotts Valley, Calif.)

 

[Eastern States Cup]

Should be an interesting trip for the racers, here's a little info on Guatemala:

No one could pretend that Guatemala is a very safe country. There are just too many stories of robbery, often armed robbery, for that. Rapes and murders of tourists have also happened. The two most frequently reported types of nasty incident involving tourists are highway robbery, when a vehicle is stopped and its occupants relieved of their belongings, and robberies on walking trails.

Vehicles carrying tourists, such as shuttle minibuses and buses, along heavily touristed routes seem to be a prime target for highway robbery. On this basis, some people argue that chicken buses are the most risk-free way to travel, but chicken buses are certainly not exempt from holdups. No road in the country is exempt from this risk.

Other potential dangers are pickpocketing, bag-snatching, bag-slitting and the like in crowded bus stations, buses, streets and markets, but also in empty, dark city streets.

It is impossible to remove the element of risk from traveling in Guatemala

 

[jonKranked]

so who's brilliant idea was it to host the race in Guatemala?

 

[stiksandstones]

Maybe they will see Robin Quivers while there...Doubt anyone will get that, but o well.

Ya, guatemala...genius.

 

[theBigHeezy]

some well deserved names up there, and some.... (thumper rule). congrats to those that made the team. i expect to see at least 3 of those guys on the podium or in the top ten at least.

 

[gemini2k]

At first I was gonna ask why none of the WC American racers are racing, but I think Voodoo cleared that up. What is this race anyways?

 

[Jim Mac]

so who's brilliant idea was it to host the race in Guatemala?

sweatshop labor race rates.

 

[schwaaa31]

Maybe they will see Robin Quivers while there...Doubt anyone will get that, but o well.

Ya, guatemala...genius.

She'll be doing a coffee enima on the beach...

 

[sofa king slow]

At first I was gonna ask why none of the WC American racers are racing, but I think Voodoo cleared that up. What is this race anyways?

Joey's an American WC racer now.

 

[IH8Rice]

hell yeah for Geoff!!

im assuming they all had to pay their full way there, hence "no funded position"

 

[Eastern States Cup]

Gravity Project a new yet unannounced East Coast Downhill Mountainbike team is happy to release their first success story. Team rider Erik Gosselin was recently selected to the USA Cycling Pan Am Continental Championship Team. Gosselin, an 18 year old second year pro/elite racer from Bedford, NH will be competing in his first international event April 10th in Guatemala. The race will feature riders representing countries from South, Central and North America.

Gosselin who recovered from a serious ski accident in 2009 is thrilled to get a chance at wearing the Stars and Stripes and representing the USA. He has been racing across the east coast for several years and is a past National Champion. Gosselin feels this is his chance to shine on the international stage.

Gravity Project has a mission and that is to help young riders progress to the higher levels of downhill mountainbike racing. Their goal is to have riders on the UCI World Cup circuit and ultimately participate at the World Championship Level. This was the first step with plenty more on the horizon.

 

[thom9719]

At first I was gonna ask why none of the WC American racers are racing, but I think Voodoo cleared that up. What is this race anyways?

It's an "easy" way to get UCI points so you can race world cups. (which I am guessing is why most of those guys are heading down there)

I heard it was a pretty good deal though. IIRC, it was you had to pay your own way there, and then 500 dollars to USA cycling covered everything else (food/ tavel from airport/race fees etc)

-KT

 

[Eastern States Cup]

It's an "easy" way to get UCI points so you can race world cups. (which I am guessing is why most of those guys are heading down there)

I heard it was a pretty good deal though. IIRC, it was you had to pay your own way there, and then 500 dollars to USA cycling covered everything else (food/ tavel from airport/race fees etc)

-KT

1st thru 26th get at least 20 UCI Points, so yes it is a good way to earn UCI points. Airfare plus 425 this year, yes a very good deal. Just sucks its in Guatelama.

Racers will be met at airport by police, taken to a secure area in airport. Travel in a police escorted shuttle and not be allowed to leave the police guarded hotel or venue. It seems like they have everything covered. It is a seriously scarry lawless place. Over 40 Americans murdered in the City alone in the past five years with one conviction. Google Guatemala and you wouldnt believe a place like this exists in the western hemisphere.

That said I hope they have a good time and do well.

 

[NY_Star]

That was a unexpected addition!!!

 

[gemini2k]

Google Guatemala and you wouldnt believe a place like this exists in the western hemisphere.

That said I hope they have a good time and do well.

Jesus you weren't kidding:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1129.html

I don't think 20 UCI points or whatever are worth it. Certainly no one will question the dedication of the participants.

 

[bfrich]

Gravity Project a new yet unannounced East Coast Downhill Mountainbike team is happy to release their first success story. Team rider Erik Gosselin was recently selected to the USA Cycling Pan Am Continental Championship Team. Gosselin, an 18 year old second year pro/elite racer from Bedford, NH will be competing in his first international event April 10th in Guatemala. The race will feature riders representing countries from South, Central and North America.

Gosselin who recovered from a serious ski accident in 2009 is thrilled to get a chance at wearing the Stars and Stripes and representing the USA. He has been racing across the east coast for several years and is a past National Champion. Gosselin feels this is his chance to shine on the international stage.

Gravity Project has a mission and that is to help young riders progress to the higher levels of downhill mountainbike racing. Their goal is to have riders on the UCI World Cup circuit and ultimately participate at the World Championship Level. This was the first step with plenty more on the horizon.

Congrats Erik....Travel safe and Good luck!

 

[theBigHeezy]

really, congrats to everyone that made the team, its an amazing experience for any one of those guys, and i have respect for anyone on that team and do not discredit any of there abilities. i have had the chance to do some big races, and its amazing, all thsese guys will have a great time.... but in reference to USA Cycling, shouldnt a guy who's raced in 2 WC's in the last year and placed top 15 at both canadian cup and us national championships events in the last year be a shoe in over some kids that have very little experience in that? i'm just saying...

 

[Matchew]

Congrats to Geoff and Erik, two great riders with tons of potential that definitely deserve the opportunity.

Virulent rumors of child stealing and murder for organ harvesting continue to be reported in several different areas of Guatemala frequented by American tourists.

Hang onto those kidneys!