The NORBA NCS Takes a Rocky Descent

Racers have long complained about the diminishing technical singletrack in today's NORBA Nationals, but Sonoma's inaugural California Outdoor Sports Championships (NORBA NCS series No. 2) took things to another level. The short-track XC not only lacked technical trail obstacles, but the parking-lot-like course nearly lacked dirt altogether.

The asphalt-heavy course left racers scrambling for last minute equipment changes. Several riders utilized 700c wheels and slick tires, Travis Brown rocked a cyclocross bike and while warming up, Carl Decker (Giant) opted to exchange his normal race bike for his manager's road bike.

Considering there were short patches of gravel, riding a road bike was a bold move. But Decker kept the rubber side down, railed the paved corners and took the win in a sprint finish ahead of Frank Mapel (Specialized) and Paul Rowney (Yeti). However, the sprint was a photo finish and the camera was in the wrong place. So race officials awarded Mapel the win and put him atop the podium. After the presentation, they reviewed the film and realized they had the wrong guy. It was Decker, on the road bike, who had won, but then came the legality issues. Was that allowed?

Turns out there were no rules against it. Team managers met up with NORBA commissaries before the race and Decker got the green light. Which brings up another question: Why had no one raced road bikes in the all-asphalt Fat Boy Crits that used to be at the Sea Otter Classic. The official word from Josh Kadis--the public relations coordinator for Sea Otter and the California Outdoor Sports Championships--is that there were no prohibitive rules then, either. "Mountain bike racers just went with the spirit of the event. They could have ridden road bikes, but chose not to," said Kadis.

So it seems that old spirit is vanishing along with the technical singletrack. NORBA is undoubtedly stuck in a rough patch. Membership is dwindling along with the pros' cash purse and mountain bike racing clearly needs a revival. With people winning mountain bike races on road bikes, we're taking a big step in the wrong direction.