MTBO America Turns 1-Years-Old!
To celebrate MTBO America turning 1-years-old, we’ve dropped all our prices on MTBO America Gear! Get yours today! Happy Birthday MTBO America!
In celebration of our first MTBO America Anniversary, we’re offering MTBO America gear through Cafepress.com at reduced prices. When you buy Official MTBO America Gear, a portion of the proceeds goes towards supporting our advocacy to bring mountain bike orienteering to the United States!
MTBO America supports Mountain Bike Orienteering in the United States.
As MTBO America finishes the final draft on our Bylaws, we’ve come to a disagreement regarding our views regarding the official recognition of the United States Orienteering Federation (USOF). Now we want to know you you think!
Buy MTBO America gear and support our cause!
Support MTBO America by getting official 2009 MTBO America Gear via Cafepress.com!
In celebration of our new 2009 MTBO America logo, we’ve started offering MTBO America gear through our partnership with Cafepress.com. When you buy through the MTBO America Cafepress.com stores, a portion of the proceeds goes towards supporting our advocacy to bring mountain bike orienteering to the United States! Check back often to see the other additions we plan to release throughout the year!
You can also support MTBO America by sending us a donation. All donations over $100.00 will automatically include one of our MTBO America Gear items of your choice! Check out our Donations section for more information on how you can help MTBO America today!
2009 MTBO America Logo
Our new 2009 MTBO America logo was approved by the Board of Directors over the weekend! This branding initiative represents our overall strategy that includes bring mountain bike orienteering to all 50 states in the Union.
The field of 50 stars complimented by the 13 red and white stripes takes after the flag of the United States of America. The mountain bike 44/32/22 crankset outline combined with the compass rose pointing North represent our sport. The compass rose maintains the respected position of being on top of the crankset to establish that “orienteering” as a sport is the organization from which mountain bike orienteering was conceived.
The entire field is placed within a black shield. The black represents our rebellious nature to be the “black sheep” of the orienteering family in America, and the shield stands for our willingness and readiness to fight for the inclusion and establishment of mountain bike orienteering in the United States.
The logo was designed by Leafbreeze Productions in Burke, Virginia. Enjoy!
Are Mountain Bikes really that big of threat to the American orienteering establishment?
MTBO America was recently asked the following question from a racer in Utah: “Is the way forward [for mountain bike orienteering] to get already existing orienteering clubs to incorporate MTBO or do you think separate MTBO clubs need to be set up?”
Interestingly enough, this question inspired a huge conversation out here on the East Coast. Some agreed that the best way would be to change orienteering clubs from within, the same way XTERRA has started to gain acceptance from triathletes. Others took a more rebellious — albeit very American — viewpoint that supported the “go it alone” approach, not much caring what the orienteering establishment has to say about it. However, before we can truly identify which way would be the best way to bring mountain bike orienteering to America, we all agreed that we must first understand why it’s not here in the first place.
I believe the reason has to do with two very unique issues: (1) the rise of proven race templates, and (2) and the reluctance of the American orienteering establishment to embrace the mountain bike.
MTBO America is dedicated to bringing Mountain Bike Orienteering to the United States of America.
Welcome to MTBO America!
The Mission of MTBO America
MTBO America is dedicated to bringing competitive Mountain Bike Orienteering to the United States of America.
Race organizers in the US have from time-to-time produced MTB Orienteering races. However, no organized effort has ever been attempted to bring MTB Orienteering into the forefront of American orienteering competitions. Additionally, there are no American MTBO teams represented in any World MTB Orienteering Championship events, there is no active effort to form a competitive process for creating MTBO teams for international competition, and even the US Orienteering Federation has yet to place any emphasis (or resources) on MTB Orienteering within the US.
MTBO America hopes to change all that! We believe that the United States is ready for Mountain Bike Orienteering and have begun a movement to expand MTB Orienteering advocacy throughout the country! If you would like to be a part of the MTBO America movement, please contact us today!
About the Association
MTBO America is a non-profit organization founded in 2009 to bring competitive Mountain Bike Orienteering to the United States of America. In 2009, MTBO America became the only Mountain Bike Orienteering association in the United States and hopes to partner with the United States Orienteering Federation (USOF) by 2010. Additionally, MTBO America is planning on producing MTB Orienteering events in 2010 at various local, state, national parks in the Mid-Atlantic region as part of our MTB Orienteering pilot program. These public events will include seminars, beginner instruction, and courses for all MTB Orienteering skill levels.
Our Five Year Plan
MTBO America’s primary goals are to promote mountain bike orienteering through event production, online communication, educational programs, and national organization. To accomplish these goals, we will begin our first phase of five phase plan by standing up a competitive MTB Orienteering series for racers located in Virginia, Maryland, and the Washington DC Metro Area by 2010.
Upon the success of our 2010 Mid-Atlantic Region MTBO pilot program, we plan proceeding with a new phase in 2011 that will begin our westward expansion across the United States. By the completion of our Five Year Plan, we expect have a MTB Orienteering series established in every major region across America by 2015.
Building our First US National MTB Orienteering Championships
With the conclusion of each new and existing MTB Orienteering series of events, MTBO America also expect to produce a National MTB Orienteering Championship beginning in 2012. Ultimately, this championship event will include the top MTB orienteers from each regional series and culminate into a US National MTB Orienteering event each year. The first US National MTB Orienteering Championship will be held in Northern Virginia, just outside the US Capital, Washington, DC. With each new regional series added to MTBO America’s calendar, the US National Championship will be relocated to take place within one of the States located in the that region. The championship event is expect to become the “welcoming ceremony” for that region’s inclusion into the MTBO America community.
Building our First US MTB Orienteering Championship Team
Created from the rankings of the US National MTB Orienteering Championships each year, the top racers will be selected to participate with the US MTB Orienteering Team and have their entrance into the International Orienteering Federation (IOF) World MTB Orienteering Championships sponsored by MTBO America.
The Grand Strategy
The final goal of MTBO America is to create a highly successful, competitive MTB Orienteering environment with the United States, that wins us the privilege of hosting the World MTB Orienteering Championships on American soil for the first time ever. We hope to make this goal a reality by 2020, with our first World MTB Orienteering Championship event tentatively scheduled to take place in Northern Virginia, just outside the US Capital, Washington, DC. Since this is the location that will launch MTBO America’s MTB Orienteering event series in 2010, we think it fitting that the first North American World MTB Orienteering Championship be held where it all began. It will be the perfect conclusion to our Ten Year Plan and a fantastic accomplishment to all those who will help make the vision of MTBO America a reality.
Join Us
We believe that the United States is ready for Mountain Bike Orienteering and have begun a movement to expand MTB Orienteering advocacy throughout the country! If you would like to be a part of the MTBO America movement, please contact us today! Or send us a donation to help us bring our Mountain Bike Orienteering revolution to your region tomorrow!