The Fall 2002 Collegiate Mountain Bike Extravaganza is being held on campus this Saturday and Sunday in accordance with the ETSU Cycling Club.
The Southeastern Conference Cycling Championship (SECCC) is just around the corner and the qualifying events this weekend are as follows: Saturday – Downhill at 10 a.m., Dual Slalom at 2 p.m.; Sunday – Short Track at 9 a.m., Cross-Country at 10 a.m.
The slalom race will take place just below Buccaneer Ridge Apartments and the downhill race will begin at the water tower. The teams that will be represented are as follows: ETSU, Georgia Tech, Lees McCray, Warren Wilson, Bryan College, Life University, Clemson University, Florida State and University of Tennessee.
The race hosted by Warren Wilson last weekend at Wolf Laurel Ski Resort was a great success.
“ETSU finished second as a team, which moved us to second in the conference behind Georgia Tech,” rider Abraham McIntyre said.
“The race this weekend is free to everyone and is totally spectator friendly,” McIntyre said. “Riding with the cycling team has kept me here this long. It’s all about friends, fun and travel from Gainesville to Plattekill, N.Y., Ski Resort.”
“At nationals last year, ETSU finished 22nd in the nation, plus we are the top team without giving any scholarships away,” McIntyre said.
The cycling team is hoping to be able to give away some scholarships soon with the help of the school and alumni.
The results of last year’s race in Plattekill, N.Y., are as follows: Dual Slalom finished 1st, 2nd and 3rd; finished 1st and 3rd in B Class; finished 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th Downhill in A Class. The team went to Division 2 this year because of the student population of ETSU.
“We have a very good chance of winning the championship which will be held in Taos, NM, on October 9th,” McIntyre said.
The ETSU Cycling Club has been active for four years now. McIntyre has been riding for three of the four years.
“We have had lots of success, individually and as a team, but we really need more women riders to join us,” he said.
The dues are $15 and the team rides every Wednesday at 5 p.m. near the Slalom Track.
All of the money the ETSU Cycling Team receives comes from fundraising only.
“The school helps us out as we continue to work with Dave Mueller (coordinator of outdoor adventure programs at the ETSU Center for Physical Activity),” McIntyre said. “Our goal is to win the national championship which would bring recognition to ETSU and, of course, the club and put us on the map,” he said.
For more information, contact either Abraham McIntyre at 434-9599 or Levi Olson at 433-2263. Email the club at ETSUCYCLINGCLUB@ hotmail.com.
“Go support the mountain bike team and we will celebrate the victory afterwards at the tailgate party,” McIntyre said.

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