Jill Kitner And Bryan Atkinson Join The 2012 Norco World Team

Vancouver, BC – January 4, 2012 – Norco Bicycles Welcomes Jill Kintner and Bryn Atkinson to Norco World Team

Norco Bicycles has partnered with Jill Kintner and Bryn Atkinson, as title sponsor, to re-launch the Norco World Team. For 2012 the team will racing the downhill race scene aboard the newly designed AURUM downhill bike. Bryn and Jill are dedicated to reaching podium positions at every race they attend and representing Norco on the world stage.

Jill Kintner is one of the most successful female cyclists to compete on two wheels. With a collection of titles in BMX, 4x, slalom and downhill that spans from an Olympic medal, to world titles in 4x, and multiple national championships in all 4 disciplines she is a dominant figure on the race circuit. She finished 9th place overall for 2011 in her first year of World Cup downhill, and for 2012 is looking to come back with vengeance and best this result. 

“With a new trainer and new bikes, we are now running a program with a fantastic list of sponsors; it feels like everything is clicking into place! The new Norco bikes have an incredible feel; I especially notice with the shorter rear end a difference in my balance point and turning ability thanks to the Aurum’s GRAVITY TUNE. These bikes are really well designed, and I am honored to be a part of the Norco family.” – Jill

Bryn Atkinson has an inspiring presence on a downhill bike. With a highlight reel that includes numerous top 10 World Cup results, 2 US Open championships, a Pro GRT series championship, and many feature video segments, he has the speed, style, and ability to get the job done.

After a great start to 2011 with an 11th place finish at the first round of the World Cup, Bryn broke his femur and elbow, and was forced to sit out the remainder of the season. This injury fueled his motivation to get better on the bike, and come back stronger in 2012.

Healed up and “ready to rip”, Bryn is back in top form for 2012 – “I’m super excited to start fresh with a company like Norco. Their 2012 line of bikes ride smooth and are really capable, I can’t wait to get em’ world cup dirty!”

The team will be hitting premier events such as: all UCI World Cups, Sea Otter Classic, Kokanee Crankworx, select USGP events, etc. Jill and Bryn will also compete in their respective National Championships.

“Norco Bicycles is excited to have both Jill and Bryn join the Norco family. Their experience and expertise will be a great asset to the continued development of the bikes and the engineered technology platforms we are so proud of. Everyone at Norco would like to wish Jill and Bryn the best of luck in the coming season and welcome them to their new home here at Norco.” – Pete Stace-Smith, Norco PR Marketing Manager

Partners of the Norco World Team:

• Norco Bicycles- Frames – Aurum, Sight, Rampage, Custom Slalom
• Crank Brothers- Wheels, pedals, Seat Posts
• Fox Racing Shox- Suspension
• Shimano- Drive train
• Renthal- Bars, Stems, Grips
• Maxxis- Tires and tubes
• Lezyne- Pumps, Tools, Mini tools, Inflation systems, Bottle cages, saddle bags, Led Lights
• 5.10- Footwear
• e*13- Chain guides
• Dakine- Riding apparel
• Oakley- Eyewear
• Fi:z’ik- Seats
• Cane Creek- Head sets
• Alpinestars- protection
• Tld- Helmets.

X-Fusion Announces 2012 Slopestyle Athletes

Andrew Taylor, Jack Fogelquist and Tyler McCaul will continue through
2012 riding X-Fusion suspension. This trio of slopestyle personalities
offers more than just fresh web edits and big time local contests.
All three riders live within pedaling distance of the X-Fusion US
headquarters in Santa Cruz, CA. The unique ability to work closely
with riders on product development and marketing projects has
created a comfortable and beneficial relationship for all. X-Fusion
looks forward to another year with all three of these athletes and the
continued success we hope to share.

 

Andrew Taylor first signed with X-Fusion in 2007 making this his 6th
season. He is the longest active member of the team. During his time
at X-Fusion we have watched him go from a young contest rider to
a mature contest organizer/promoter, launch his own company and
maintain the ability to strike the podium at various freestyle events.
X-Fusion will be proud to support AT with whatever he ventures into
next!

Jack Fogelquist enters his 2nd full season with X-Fusion in 2012. This
online megastar keeps us all entertained and unproductive at work
with his successful video series, “Fogelsodes”. Fogel was also featured
in the 2011 online release “X Gon Give It To Ya”. He will continue to
shred, produce and promote X-Fusion through 2012 and we are very
happy to have him back!

2012 marks the 3rd season for Tyler McCaul aboard X-Fusion
suspension. He commented, “The last two years with X Fusion have
been nothing but awesome for me and I'm pumped to be re-signing
with them for 2012! As riders we put a lot of trust in the parts we put
on our bikes, and X Fusion suspension has those parts that I trust
in enough to put on the bikes that I ride. I also like to be in close
contact with my sponsors and the fact that X Fusion's US headquarters
is in my hometown makes it that much easier to continue working with
them in 2012!!”

All three riders will be using a various range of X-Fusion products in
2012. Velvet and Vengeance forks will be found at the front of their
bikes, the O2, Vector and all-new Vector Air rear shock lines will
provide the rear squish on their rigs. Lastly, when these guys are out
training and shredding trails they will be using the Hilo adjustable seat
post to better enjoy every ride.

Learn more about X-Fusion

2012 Zerode G-1 Updates

Zerode Factory Racing has the latest frames built up. There have been a few changes done to the frames. Looks like they may go about it the Santa Cruz way and do slight alterations at each production run instead of doing them based on a year model. Time will tell what we know to have changed is listed below.

1. Anodized with 3 color options: Black, Blue, Silver
2. Weight savings of about 1.5 LBS

2012 Transition Bikes ProGram

"We're taking a different approach this year. We've got our PROgram which are riders who have a very specific plan for the year. We also have athletes that don't fit within these constraints like Casey Groves and Nick Simcik who are media machines and have some very cool things in store. Then there's our list of riders who we support through our network of Dealers. It's about as diverse a list as you can get. Everyone has their place and has room to do what they love to do and achieve their individual goals. We really wanted to put our efforts into the development of riders, and try to look at things a little differently than we have in the past. It's going to be an exciting year!" Says Sternberg.

2012 UCI Elite Teams Announced

The International Cycling Union (UCI) has today announced the 15 “endurance” (Olympic cross-country) teams and 14 “gravity” (downhill and four-cross) teams that will race with the “UCI ELITE Mountain Bike” label in 2012.

These teams will benefit from numerous advantages: notably free entry at UCI Mountain Bike World Cup events and free entry for all races on the UCI Mountain Bike International Calendar. In return, they are obliged to enter at least one rider in all rounds of the 2012 UCI RockyRoads Mountain Bike World Cup presented by Shimano and to display the UCI ELITE Mountain Bike Team logo on their race outfits and team vehicles.

The creation, in 2011, of a higher tier of mountain bike teams was well received and in addition stimulated competition between teams wishing to achieve the status of UCI ELITE Mountain Bike Team.

Invitations to join the Elite teams were issued to the top teams of a UCI ranking established on 26th September by adding up the UCI points of the best riders within each team. They had until 10th December to confirm their interest. A maximum of 15 of the top 20 ranked teams can feature on the list of UCI ELITE Mountain Bike Teams in their category.

Two teams, Trek World Racing and Ghost Factory Racing Team, will have the ELITE status in both the “endurance” and “gravity” categories in 2012.

The final list of the UCI ELITE Mountain Bike Teams for 2012, in ranking order, is:

Endurance:

• Specialized Racing Team (USA)
• Multivan Merida Biking Team (GER)
• Felt Oetztal X-Bionic Team (GER)
• Rabobank-Giant Offroad Team (NED)
• BH SR Suntour Peisey-Vallandry (FRA)
• Scott-Swisspower MTB Racing Team (SUI)
• Cannondale Factory Racing (GER)
• Subaru-Trek (USA)
• Orbea (ESP)
• Luna Pro Team (USA)
• Colnago Farbe Sudtirol (ITA)
• Topeak Ergon Racing Team (GER)
• CCC Polkowice (POL)
• Trek World Racing (ESP)
• Ghost Factory Racing Team (GER)

Gravity:

• Trek World Racing (ESP)
• Scott 11 (SUI)
• Santa Cruz Syndicate (USA)
• GT Bicycles (GBR)
• Giant Factory Off-road Team (USA)
• MS Mondraker Racing (AUT)
• Riding Addiction Commençal (FRA)
• Monster Energy / Specialized Factory Racing (USA)
• Lapierre International (FRA)
• Chain Reaction Cycles.com / Nukeproof (GBR)
• Yeti Fox Shox Factory Race Team (USA)
• Ghost Factory Racing Team (GER)
• Alpine Commençal Austria (AUT)
• Hutchinson United Ride (FRA)