MTBO America

MTBO America is a proud sponsor of the Dauntless Adventure Racing Team

MTBO America is very excited to be racing in the Soggy Bottom Boys 2010 Orienteering Rogaine and Land Nav Challenge in southern Virginia next week! Starting at 9am on February 27, 2010, orienteers will be racing 3, 6, or 12-hours throughout the Hampton Roads area in and around the Pipsico Scout Reservation in Spring Grove, Virginia. It’s not a pure MTBO race, but when it comes to American style mountain bike orienteering, its has close as it gets for now.

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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!

Orienteering 2009

This year’s first United States Orienteering Federation (USOF) officially sanctioned A-Meet will be the Ran-It Granite at Patapsco Valley State Park, Marriottsville, Maryland (approximately 20 miles West of Baltimore) on March 27, 2009 through to March 29th, 2009.

In conjunction with this event will be the annual USOF Board of Directors meeting that will include, among other things, the presentation of the Bylaws proposals (previously approved by the board) that will be voted on at the Annual General Meeting in June.

Ran-It Granite will feature 3 days and 5 races of orienteering to include two Sprints & Model events on March 27th, a Middle Distance A-Meet and Sprint Relay on March 28th, and a Long Distance A-Meet (USOF Classic) on March 29th. Additionally the event will host the 2009 US Intercollegiate Championships.

As advocates for bringing Mountain Bike Orienteering to America, we find this event to the perfect opportunity to launch our 2009 “MTBO America” Advocacy Campaign. Look for us at the Ran-It Granite event and help us spread the call for bringing USOF sanctioned MTBO events to this A-Meet in 2010!

More details to come in the following weeks leading up to this great event!

Experience the best MTB trails on the East Coast with the Wild 100.

The 2009 14th Annual Wild 100K MTB Endurance Race will be held on Saturday, August 15, 2009.

This race pits soloists and teams against the rough and rugged landscape of Elk River, West Virginia. The Wild 100K is one of first MTBO races on the East Coast with almost 70-miles worth of mountain biking and orienteering.

To experience some of the best single track WV has to offer, we highly recommend staying at the ELK River Touring Center, known as the Eastern America’s riding Mecca, who have hosted this race for 13 years. They have basically put Slatyfork, WV on the map as a premiere MTB ride destination.

For more information visit the Elk River Touring Center website.

Update:

The 14th Annual Wild 100 is a 100K mountain bike endurance race where the course length is determined by your own route choices. Check in at different checkpoints indicated on the Slatyfork Trail Guide that each racer will receive at the beginning of the race. You can decide for yourself which trail, dirt road or (minimal amount) of paved road is the best route to the next checkpoint. The race will begin and finish at Elk River Touring Center in Slatyfork, WV. Classes: Solo Male, Solo Female, 2 person Male, 2 person Female, Co-ed 2 person, First Timer, Over 50, and the WILD 100 PLUS (extra checkpoint).

This is one of the most popular mountain biking endurance races on the east coast, so register early if you plan to attend.

Sign-Up: Pre-registration is $115 (Postmarked on or before July 31) $140 after July 31. Cancellations after July 31 are non-refundable. Registration includes the waterproof and tear-proof Slatyfork Trail Guide with checkpoints marked, a Wild 100 t-shirt, camping Friday and Saturday nights, water and food at three checkpoints, and Wild 100 Survivor’s BBQ Party after the race. To register, please call 1-866-572-3771. Online registration will be available soon.