MTBA announces the venue for the Australian National MTB Championships for 2007-2009

Scott

bAdmin
Staff member
MTBA thanks all the clubs and promoters who submitted bids to host the 2007-2009 nationals. The quality of the submissions was excellent and made the task for the MTBA executive to select a venue very difficult.

However, after going through an exhaustive selection process, MTBA has awarded the 2007-2009 Australian National Championships for Cross Country, Downhill, Mountain Cross and Bike Trials to Canberra and the hosts, Canberra Off Road Cyclists (CORC).

"The National Championships are set to return to the national capital for the first time since 1999 and this is fantastic news for the sport of mountain biking and cycling in Canberra” CORC President, Mr Anthony Burton said today.

The Executive Officer for MTBA, Tony Scott, said "Canberra is an awesome location to stage the nationals. It is centrally located to Sydney and Melbourne, has nationally connected direct airflights from most major state capitals, has a wide variety of accommodation options, has a wealth of alternative cultural activity opportunities and will be conducted on a purpose built mountain bike park, funded entirely by the ACT government."

He added, "The current ACT Government has earmarked $6.5m in the development of the Mt. Stromlo area, devastated in the 2003 bushfires. The development includes buildings for event management, power, water and sewerage and telecommunications and the design and construction of mountain bike trails for all the disciplines. This, in conjunction with the fact that internationally respected course designer Glen Jacobs has been engaged to develop and manage the conceptual and design aspects of the mountain specific tracks and trails, suggests that the venue will the best ever in Australia."

Scott noted that the combined participation of the Mount Beauty XC nationals, the Thredbo DH and MTN X nationals and next week's Bike Trials nationals to be staged at Port Elliot in South Australia, would be close to the largest nationals ever held which was also staged in Canberra in 1999.

He concluded, "MTBA looks forward to working with the ACT Government and the host club, Canberra Off Road Cyclists, currently Australia's largest and most active MTB club, in ensuring that the 2007 Nationals (and beyond) are the best and biggest ever."

More information can be obtained from MTBA: info.mtba@mtba.asn.au or from CORC: president@corc.asn.au
 

johnny

I'll tells ya!
Staff member
3 hours closer to home than Thredbo, woohoo!

Good luck CORC, I look forward to an excellent event. Show RawNRG how it's done ;)
 

Wattsy

Hornsby Cycles
I couldn't think of a more perfect spot to put it. Stromlo is the perfect venue to enhance it's capabilities.
 

BrumbyJack

Likes Dirt
Mugger said:
Very nice, no chairlifts... meh.

Will it be a 4 day race or just a 2 day?
I'm hoping a big longer than 4 days!!! There are more disciplines than DH you know ;)

I guess they would have them all on at the same time and I hope they have consideration for riders that are doing all disciplines... yes, they do exist. I know my kids would be doing 4 of the 5.
 

dhd

Downhill Direct
Mugger said:
Very nice, no chairlifts... meh.

Will it be a 4 day race or just a 2 day?
It will be weeks for me......and probably every other Canberra local!!
But then again I wouldn't put it past them building the course 2 days prior to the event like the Thredbo 4X course........
 

SKT

Likes Dirt
BrumbyJack said:
I guess they would have them all on at the same time and I hope they have consideration for riders that are doing all disciplines... yes, they do exist. I know my kids would be doing 4 of the 5.
Maybe they'll have to choose their disciplines that they prefer and not just enter everything for the sake of it :confused:
They might get better results by focusing on specific disciplines too, rather than going for a "accuracy by volume" style assault.

Its gonna happen to a lot of people no doubt.
 

BrumbyJack

Likes Dirt
SKT that is far too serious for kids!!! They are doing it becuase they like it, at their age they should not have to specialise.

Yes, perhaps they would be better at one if the specialised, but where is the fun in that??? That would mean training and all sorts of boring things like that. Perhaps when they are U/19. Who knows if they will even want to compete by then and one is more likely to be skiing for Oz by then anyway(U/17 actually).

It really shouldn't be too much of an issue, just something that those doing the planning need to consider. There was plenty of people doing all 3 at Eildon last year.

They have been brought up competing in Interschools competitions, where kids are actively encouraged to attempt all events, first snowsports and now MTB.
 

SKT

Likes Dirt
BrumbyJack said:
SKT that is far too serious for kids!!! They are doing it becuase they like it, at their age they should not have to specialise.
I suppose at their level they don't really have any competition anyways so there's no real competetive challenge. Just a fun event for them to get some skills and confidence on track and walk away with a free shirt or tube.

Don't take that the wrong way. Read this part also..........

If the events are going to put on the classes for young riders like yours and you guys are teh only ones that turn up then good for you.
 

donthucktoflat

Eats Squid
god, i am soo excited by this! looks like we will be having some world class facilities now! (anyone know if there are any plans to open up the roads around there more now? (so we can get cars to the finish line))

stromlo is gonna be so killer now.
 

Corty

Likes Dirt
Awesome news for both Canberra and CORC. Stromlo will soon be world class.

That's it. I'm selling my place next to Majura and going to buy something close to Stromlo instead!!:D
 
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