Big things are brewing for two-wheeled enthusiasts of all ages in Waco, Texas March 11-14, 2004. The opening race of the NORBA National Mountain Bike Series will visit Texas for the first time since 1987, bringing professional mountain bike racers from around the world to compete for $10,000 in cash. 2004 is an Olympic year and the NORBA National Mountain Bike Series is an important tune-up for top athletes on their way to Athens. Also on the schedule is a Marathon event at Broken Oak Ranch in Valley Mills, TX, a 100K off-road race that challenges endurance athletes.

The event is hosted by the Texas Mountain Bike Racing Association (TMBRA) and will feature plenty of racing for all the amateurs as well as the pros. Texas racers and teams will have Texas Championship Points on the line so there is sure to be some exciting finishes throughout the weekend with $15,000 in prizes up for grabs in 50 amateur classes. The festival kicks off with the Marathon event in Valley Mills then moves to Cameron Park for a three-day stage race that will include a time trial, a short track, and a cross- country event for pros, semi-pros and experts. The cross-country course in Cameron Park has distances ranging from four miles for the 10 & under racers to 30 miles for the pros.

Bring the kids along with their bikes and helmets for the free Flat Rock Ranch/Shimano Kids Kup featuring nature walks, bike safety, bike skills and racing for all kids age 12 and under, including training wheels! The Velopulooza will host the Huffy toss, barrel racing, bicycle horseshoes and the slow race with a kids play area set up the entire weekend.

Road racing enthusiasts are also welcome as Saturday, March 13 the Junior League will host the second annual Heritage Square Criterium as part of the TXBRA Series (www.txbra.com). The off-road pros will appear on Saturday night to sign autographs before using the same course around the streets of Waco to compete for $2000 in prize money in the Fatboy Crit.

Cameron Park, the site of the TMBRA NORBA National Outback Blowout presented by Michelob Ultra, is the second largest municipal park in the country. Baylor University, Cameron Park Zoo, the Waco Suspension Bridge, The Dr. Pepper Museum and downtown Waco are all within a two-mile radius of the park and the stage-racing action.

Many thanks go out to local sponsors, Michelob Ultra, Brazos Higher Education Authority, Wells Fargo Bank, ISC, Kelly Realtor, Gary Fisher Bicycles, Sean McCarthy M.D., Karr-Hunter Pontiac GMC, Common Grounds, Packless Industries, BIB Bikes, Waco Transit, Arm-Tex Corp., Hill Country Bicycle Works, Bicycle Heaven, Bicycles Outback, Bicycle Sport Shop, and Giro Helmets.