Downhill mountain biking is a global sport, growing from just a handful of practitioners in the 1980s to being one of the newest extreme sports, popular with fans and sponsors alike. Official championships are now drawing thousands of spectators, with Internet and television coverage available to the rest of the world. There is an official gravity race circuit with major races on every inhabited continent.
Venues
Any country with mountains, or even artificial courses, can host a big downhill mountain bike race, as the ascendancy of riders from Australia, at time of publication, shows. England will have cross-country mountain bike races as part of the 2012 Olympics. Alpine areas in Europe, South Africa, North and South America, all host races on the UCI tour, the official governing body of downhill mountain bike federations.
World Cup Tour Stops
At time of publication, the 2011 World Cup Championship tour stops were in full swing. The season started at Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, then went to races in Europe, two races in North America, then back to Europe for the last in a series of 10 races. The winner is decided on a points basis, with individual and team awards. The 2012 World Cup schedule would add a new venue in Norway.
U.S.A Championships
In the U.S, USA Cycling selects sponsored racers for world championship tours. For example, in 2011, races for team selection qualifying were to be in Port Angeles, Washington; Highland, New Hampshire; Plattekill, New York; North Star, California; Crested Butte, Colorado; and Winter Park, Colorado. A UCI world tour stop was to be in July 2011 at Windham, New York.
Popular Races
The annual July race, the Downieville Downhill in California is the biggest American mountain bike race outside of the official tour. With an elevation drop of 5,000 feet over a 17 mile course, this demanding event draws top qualifiers from around the world. The world's first official mountain bike downhill championship was in Durango, Colorado, in 1990, a U.S. mecca of downhill mountain bikers. The trail is a run down from the Purgatory ski resort and is accessible by both champion racers and casual downhill mountain bike riders.
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