Marzocchi Test Sessions 2004

Whistler, BC, 20-22 June. The Whistler Mountain Bike Park played host to this year’s Marzocchi World Release of 2004 forks. Over 35 international and North American journalists flew in to put the 04 Marzocchi forks through their paces.Norco Performance Bikes supplied over 20 Freeride, All-mountain, XC and Super X bikes over the three-day event. Norco staff was stoked to see all the journalists returning to the Norco Tech Truck with huge smiles after ripping on Norco bikes. “The only problem we had,” says Peter Stace-Smith, Norco PR/Marketing Manager, “was that the journalists didn’t want to give us our bikes back.”

Norco Factory Team Freeriders Mike Kinrade and Ian Moult were throwing it down and going Large-Marge in the Super X park to the pleasure of the dozens of European and North American magazine photographers. Kinrade was stylin the new GLC Drop with a new 04 Triple 8 fork on his Team NS and Moult was railing the wall and berms with a new 04 DJ 1 on his 5Hun.

Over the course of the weekend, Norco Factory Team riders and Norco staff got the skinny on Marzocchi’s new line-up of 04 forks, and Whistler’s intent to open up the Garbonzo chair to give park riders a couple thousand feet more of adrenalin packed fun. Norco staff and team riders couldn’t refuse the special invite to do a preview run down the proposed new terrain. Everyone had an awesome time dropping down through the snow and steep vert.

The weekend would have been perfect had it not been for Kinrade’s and Factory Team Manager Dave Devlin’s accidents. On the Saturday, Devlin suffered a broken collarbone when he went into the Super X park’s new six-pack a little too hot and turned a double-double into a double and a half. Then on the Sunday, Kinrade was going large over the park’s new green monster box when he tagged his rear wheel. “I had already cleared the box that morning with no problems,” states Kinrade, “ so I decided to hit it one more time but with a little style.” Mike also ended up with a broken collarbone and some bruised ribs. Both riders are doing great—Dave’s already back at work and Kinrade’s home in Nelson…thanks to 5 Kootney area women riders who were riding Whistler and volunteered to take Mike home. All us can’t wait to hear how the return trip went. Everyone wishes Mike and Dave a speedy recovery.