ECMTB to work with BNS and Velo NB in 2008

For 2008 ECMTB has made independant arrangements with Bicycle Nova Scotia and Velo New Brunswick. East Coast Mountain Biking will provide both BNS and Velo NB with exposure for their respective events, races, clinics and courses. ECMTB owners Chris "Replicator" Kozanczyn and Andrew "O9Man" Lowery recognized the opportunity for the two provincial organizations and drew up a plan that was readily accepted in both provinces.

Velo NB's Executive Director Sheila Colbourne offers that "Velo NB is pleased to have a partnership with ECMTB as we work together to provide excellent cycling events in the Atlantic Region. Velo NB is proud to support the work of ECMTB, our 2007 organizer of the year award winner." At the 2007 Velo NB Organizers meeting, only a few of those present had ever even heard of East Coast Mountain Biking. It seems that ECMTB is a well kept secret outside of Halifax Regional Municipality. ECMTB made quick strides in New Brunswick in 2007 and as Colbourne mentioned, was the recipient of Velo NB's Organizer of the Year.

BNS President Simon Myatt states "New for 2008, Bicycle Nova Scotia is (excited) to work in association with ECMTB to further the sport of mountain biking. This joining of forces brings the racing administration closer to a large mountain bike community and we are hopeful the result is a larger, more diverse racing and riding community in general. There has been some positive interaction and energy between the two groups early in the winter planning season and we are sure more good things will come." ECMTB has always been well known in Halifax Regional Municipality, and Kozanczyn and Lowery hope to build on the website's popularity.

In the past there has been a clear divide between the racing crowd and the casual riding crowd. Local races seem to be evolving into festival type events often offering team options, and or however many laps you feel like doing. This conquors the divide, and everyone gets what they are looking for since they ultimately control their own fate. The racers can ride hard while the casual riders can do their own thing. Interestingly, often some of the hardcore racers like to kick back at some of these events while the occasional casual rider pushes their limit. Regardless, it's these festival events that are bringing in new racers, and they will likely be the salvation of racing as the number of racers in point series events is likely proportional to the number of people at festival events.

ECMTB is looking forward to being a part of bringing the masses back to mountain biking.

Posted by O9man at April 1, 2008 10:57 PM