WTB team riders have been on a roll. Brad Benedict returned from his first European world cup at Maribor, Slovenia and, five days later, took the biggest victory of his career at the NMBS downhill race at Santa Ynez, California. The following weekend saw Benedict on the podium at the Chile Challenge in Angel Fire, New Mexico. This weekend he’s representing WTB and the United States at world cup #2 in Andorra.

Mark Weir is on form as well. He’s been putting in major miles and dominating virtually every race that he enters. Weir overcame a nasty bout with the flu to take third place at the Spring Thaw in Ashland, Oregon. He was bedridden for 36 hours and shed 12 pounds in three days. But he came out for the downhill, racing with toilet paper in his jersey pocket (fortunately, he didn’t need it). The race was won by Ashland local, Jared Hobbs. WTB team rider Curtis Beavers finished less than one second off of Hobbs and Weir was another 1.5 seconds off of Beavers. Since the flu, Weir has been on fire, winning a string of local races in preparation for the Downieville Classic and the French Enduro series.

Caption: Local rippers sign the petition

The city of Novato, California held its final meeting with the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department to discuss the possibility of a public pumptrack. Community members of all ages packed the conference room—including at least 25 local high school kids—to propose that a small patch of land be converted into a pumptrack. There were close to 40 people in attendance pleading for the pumptrack, and about five folks in the crowd in favor of a community garden instead of the track.

The Parks and Rec. council were impressed by the turnout from the community, and seemed in favor of giving the kids a safe—and legal—place to ride. The only catch: community gardens are considerably cheaper than pumptracks and its no easy task getting funding from the city. It may take private funding to make the pumptrack happen. Ultimately, the decision is up to Novato’s City Council.

Since WTB employee Mark Weir built his backyard pumptrack in Novato, he’s had all types of people enjoying it; from 6-year-old kids to 60-year-old neighbors, from beginner riders to world champions. Weir’s backyard track has appeared in countless magazines and was even featured on HGTV.

Caption: Not an empty chair in the room. Mark Weir proposes the pumptrack to the council. The bikes were stacked up in the hallway!

We just received this photo from Claudio Caluori, manager of the Tomac Factory Team. The team is in Maribor, Slovenia for the first downhill world cup of the season. The Tomac team is one of many that will be rocking WTB components in the world’s most challenging conditions.
 
 

Check out the June 2008 issue of Mountain Bike Magazine. Editor Ron Koch gave WTB’s Prowler MX 2.1 an outstanding review in the 2008 Parts and Accessories Guide.

Check out the latest issue of Bike Magazine (June 2008). There is a great review of WTB’s Wolverine tire as well as an excellent story about Bobby McMullen among other great articles.

Check out this review in the latest issue of Mountain Biking Magazine (issue number 6, volume 22).