After almost five years of gravity riding and racing being suspended it seems like there is a drive to get it back in Big Bear California.

A guy called Henry sent me this today and as he says “…while it may be a big dusty mountain in another country, it would be awesome to see downhill mountain biking returning to the place.”:

Just to recap, Big bear was one of the first permanent venues for lift access downhill racing in the US and quite possibly the world, it held Norba races every year until the access was pulled as well as hosting world cup races too.
It was home to such legends as Kurt Voires and was the second home for for the first wave of Aussie racers on the Norba circuit, with the bluebird skies and dusty rocky trails also provided the backdrop for some of the iconic SOCAL photos and videos that helped defined the sport (think of the section in Sprung 5).

However since a lawsuit after an accident the resort has been closed to any kind of gravity based riding or racing (bikes are allowed on the lifts, but with heavy restrictions in place and riding is only on the xc trails outside of the resort) since 2005

However, there is now a move to try and get it re-opened. Local pro racers Ian Odom and Amy Cone have being speaking to the owners of the resort as well as the team from Whistler in an attempt to show that it would be great to get graivity riding and racing back in the town.

The first stage is a meeting/ party in the town on the 11th of April with SOCAL’s bike industry mixing with the Big Bear locals and businesses at Nottinghams Upstairs Tavern, 40797 Lakeview Drive, Big Bear Lake

at 5 p.m.

While it may be a smallish start at the moment, and while it may be a big dusty mountain in another country, it would be awesome to see downhill mountain biking returning to the place.

For more info check out the webber here.

will downhill mountainbike and gravity racing return to Big Bear in California