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bike
Monster Park |
Dana Point, CA — bike magazine is hosting the first ever Monster Park Slopestyle Invitational, July 7 and 8, 2004, at Marquette Mountain, Michigan, it was announced today by Ron Ige, Bike Magazine’s Editor. Bike is inviting the top-15 freeride athletes from around the world to participate. A partial list of athletes include team Kona’s Joe Schwartz, Red Bull’s Shaums March and Specialized’s Matt Hunter, who will make this event their last stop on the bike Northern Passage road trip, sponsored by Honda Element.
“We’re excited to be working with some of the world’s best athletes,” said Ron Ige, Bike editor. “This event reinforces Bike magazine’s commitment to the progression of mountain biking.”
Head judge and professional athlete Dave Watson is collaborating with the Bike staff to develop the race format. Watson is known for jumping the 2003 Tour de France peloton as well as the portal drop featured on the cover of Bike’s October 2003 issue. The competition format will simulate a snowboarding slopestyle event by incorporating a variety of hits and jumps as well as judging the rider on the better of two runs.
The unique course, designed by world famous dirt-jump and freeride athlete John Cowan, integrates all of the gravity elements—including dirt jump, street, big mountain and technical stunts—and will have a few surprise features that have never been seen in bike competition before.
“There are a multitude of rider line choices, leaving the creativity limitless for the athletes,” said Kona Clump rider Cowan. “Because the guys at Marquette Mountain are letting us create the sickest bike course and are committed to making this the most amazing bike event ever, Monster Park will push the limits of freestyle mountain biking.”
Not only will top athletes be present, one of the most prestigious film companies in the bike world, Freeride Entertainment, will be on hand filming for their next video, New World Disorder V. Disorder IV won Video of the Year at 2004’s first annual Bike Magazine Reader Poll & Video Awards.
Marquette, Michigan, was named one of “America’s Five Best Mountain Biking Towns” by Bike in 2001. With its vast terrain and rugged beauty, Marquette is the ideal home of the first ever Monster Park. The course will be built on Marquette Mountain, which recognizing the growth of the sport, now offers lift service for riders through October.
Monster Park is supported by: Freeride Entertainment, Oakley, Red Bull, Kona USA, Marzocchi, Viosport Camera Systems, Sombrio, Hayes Brakes, Race Face and Nordic Bay Lodge.
To learn more about the event, please log on to bikemag.com or contact Michelle Lindsay.
Also check out the Element Roadtrip - with Joe Schwartz, Matt Hunter and more.
