Roxbury, NY:   Plattekill Mountain Bike Park recently signed one of their longtime local downhill racers, Geoff Ulmer. Plattekill Bike Park, located in the Catskill Mountains in upstate New York, is one of the pioneers in lift-assisted service for downhill mountinbike riders.

 

     Seventeen-year-old Geoff Ulmer, who started riding at Plattekill when he was just ten, has advanced to the “pro” class for 2008. Geoff will represent Plattekill Mountain Bike Park around the world in 2008. He was recently was selected to Playbiker - Iron Horse UCI trade team, based in Pila, Italy. Geoff will attend the North American and European UCI World Cup Events. He’ll be racing against the world’s top professionals and hopes to represent the United States at The World Championships in Val di Sole, Italy. Ulmer has won numerous titles in the US including the last three JrX Championships at Plattekill and a USAC National Championship last year.

 

     Plattekill Mountain which features over 60 miles of lift-served mountain bike trails will continue their tradition of being the first in the country to open April 26, 2008 and last to close in mid November. Plattekill is host to the USAC New York State Championship series, featuring downhill, dual slalom and cross country races. New this year will be a 6-hour endurance race on June 7^th. This year the Bike Park will host a stop and the finals of the Gravity East Series for the second year in a row. Plattekill’s steep chutes and big drops are known around the world and have given some of the world's best riders a run for their money. The trails at Plattekill range from fast, open runs to tight rocky single-track.

 

     “I’ve always said if you want to get faster, then Plattekill’s the place to be.  The competition is top notch and the races are run perfectly. The terrain is so varied that a beginner can have a ball, while the seasoned pro will find challenging trails to remember for a long time. I’ve been training at the Bike Park for years and it has paid off. ” said Ulmer.

 

       Laszlo Vajtay, general manager of Plattekill Mountain had this to say,” I’m more than happy to support Geoff this season. I’ve had my eye on him for the past seven years and have seen him win championships every year here from the beginner class to the JrX class when he was just 14. There’s a lot of excitement at “Platty” this year. Our first race will be held May 3-4 and will serve as the JrX automatic qualifier to USACycling’s team that will compete at the World Championships. We’ll also be offering Mad March Racing Clinics featuring Shaums March, but more on that and other news shortly.”

   

       Playbiker - Iron Horse sponsors include Iron Horse Bicycles, e.thirteen components, Formula brakes, Kenda tires, Funn components, RMS Component Selections, A-Class Wheels, Alex Rims, SRAM, Rock Shox, UFO Plast clothing, Five-Ten Shoes, THE Industries helmets, Pila - Bike in the Sky and Insight Productions. While Plattekill Bike Park’s Downhill Series is sponsored by Magura, Fox Racing Shox, Racer's Edge Bike Shop, and Monster Energy Drinks. 

 

 

Laszlo Vajtay

469 Plattekill Mountain Rd.

Roxbury, NY 12474
(607) 326-3500

http://www.plattekill.com

 

geoffulmer.com

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Kiwis and Stars and Stripes, this could be the best way to sum up the latest addition to Playbiker – Iron Horse’s 2008 roster, which includes two riders from New Zealand (Nathan Rankin and Mike Skinner) and one insanely fast teenager (Geoff Ulmer) from the USA, making the team a truly global sensation.

The first name, which will sound familiar to many, is that of Nathan Rankin, 28 years old, from Levin, New Zealand, already widely known on the World Cup circuit and also in Europe: his 2008 has started strong, with his victory in the South Island Cup in New Zealand, which reaffirmed his excellent condition and skills. His impressive experience in the racing world will find a powerful outlet while being placed in an international team like Playbiker – Iron Horse, and at the same time it will be very useful as a guide for the younger riders in the team. Nathan is a true expert of the international downhill scene and he has won the New Zealand national series for four years in a row: an experienced rider, who year by year has always found new reasons to go even faster. And his best season is yet to come.