Press Release

MONSTER ENERGY PRO DOWNHILL SERIES ANNOUNCED FOR 2024 26

The USA has a national downhill series!

sspomer
12/28/2023 8:58am
1a Monster Energy Pro DH Logo Badge 1

MONSTER ENERGY PRO DOWNHILL SERIES ANNOUNCED FOR 2024

December 28TH, 2023 (USA) – The 2024 Monster Energy Pro Downhill Series was announced today. This new US Downhill mountain bike championship will consist of four races next year, including the Fox US OPEN of Mountain Biking at Killington Resort. The series features pro and amateur racing. Fans can expect an international field of professional athletes competing for the men’s and women’s overall series titles.

“Starting with the US OPEN, we have been working to build a national downhill series for a few years and with the support of Monster Energy and other key partners we are proud to launch the Monster Energy Pro Downhill Series in 2024. Collectively, the regional race series have done an incredible job growing the sport of downhill in the US, especially in the youth categories. Our mission is to develop a consistent national level race platform that athletes and the entire industry can continue to grow with.” - Clay Harper, Monster Energy Pro Downhill Series Director

“Sponsoring the US National Series is a great opportunity to not only cultivate the Monster Army program, but also a great spot for all amateurs alike to cut their teeth in racing. Looking forward to building a base for the future stars while progressing and elevating events that will bring out the world’s fastest athletes. It’s time for a series promoter to show all athletes and teams the respect and admiration they deserve.” - Sean Heimdal, Monster Energy

The series will kick off at Ride Rock Creek, Neko Mulally’s new bike park in North Carolina, on April 5-7. For the second round on May 24-26, the action heads to Mountain Creek Bike Park in New Jersey, one of the longest-standing national race venues in the country. Series organizers have not announced the venue for the third round yet, but stated the event is scheduled for August 16-18 at a Southern California venue. The championship finale will be the Fox US OPEN in Killington, Vermont on September 26-29.

“Our plan is to create a more geographically balanced national series over the next few years. It’s crazy to think it’s been nearly five years since the Fox US OPEN was held in Big Bear Lake, CA and that’s the most recent west coast national downhill event we’ve had. Bringing new venues into the lineup takes time and resources. We’re already working on the 2025 Monster Energy Pro Downhill Series schedule.” - Clay Harper, Monster Energy Pro Downhill Series Director

The Monster Energy Pro Downhill Series will be sanctioned as the Official USA Cycling National Downhill Series. Organizers are working with USA Cycling to finalize all sanctioning details and UCI integration. More event information and athlete registration details will be released mid-winter.

“With downhill racing growing in America and the World Cup field getting tighter, it’s exciting to see a series in the United States for up-and-coming riders to break through and elites to hone their craft. We have good regional development racing in America but have a real need for racing geared towards high-level athletes that unites both coasts for a deep field of talent. I’m really excited to have a premier racing series in America.” – Dakotah Norton, 2023 US OPEN Champion

2024 Monster Energy Pro Downhill Series:

  • Ride Rock Creek, North Carolina – April 5-7
  • Mountain Creek Bike Park, New Jersey – May 24-26
  • Southern California Venue TBA – August 16-18
  • Fox US OPEN at Killington Resort, Vermont – September 26-29

Follow the Monster Energy Pro Downhill Series at:

https://www.instagram.com/prodownhillseries/

www.prodownhillseries.com

About Pro Downhill Series:

Born from the Fox US OPEN of Mountain Biking and with the support of key partners, we are excited to launch the Monster Energy Pro Downhill Series in 2024. This series features both professional and amateur level downhill mountain bike racing across the United States. All races are fully sanctioned, and the series is recognized as the Official USA Cycling National Downhill Series. Please visit www.prodownhillseries.com

About Monster Energy:

Based in Corona, California, Monster Energy is the leading marketer of energy drinks and alternative beverages. Refusing to acknowledge the traditional, Monster Energy supports the scene and sport. Whether motocross, off-road, NASCAR, MMA, BMX, surf, snowboard, ski, skateboard, or the rock and roll lifestyle, Monster Energy is a brand that believes in authenticity and the core of what its sports, athletes, and musicians represent. More than a drink, it’s the way of life lived by athletes, sports, bands, believers, and fans. See more about Monster Energy including all of its drinks at www.monsterenergy.com.

PR CONTACTS:

Clay Harper - info@prodownhillseries.com

 

Related:
Downhill
#USDH
Monster Energy Pro Downhill Series
26 comments

View replies to: MONSTER ENERGY PRO DOWNHILL SERIES ANNOUNCED FOR 2024

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maximumradness
10 months ago

Correct me if I’m wrong, and it seems like the MUSNatDh series is doing this, but don’t most of those incredible and awesome regionals all offer USAC points still?

if WE are growing USDH (as much as usac is clunky and slow and horrible to deal with in the past) don’t we all just need those points? And yes, monster is planning to incorporate new venues in the future but this is a good start. US OPEN could also be the name of multiple regional headliners. 
you need usac points if you wanna go to discovery elite only World Cup. —-
but if you’re an aspiring pro, it’s about chasing points and that’s gonna cost crossing the country either way. 


I am pretty pumped to see monster step up. Don’t they have ties to NBC as well? Surely they’ve learned a thing or three about making wheeled sports profitable viewing product, from the SUPERCROSS? 
This is a positive thing. 
and if you want your regional series to be indcluded in the national, just chase points. 
is it a bad thing if we have a monster dh nat champ?

&

a usac national champ ?

and a guy who did every race he could and has more usac points  than god on the national circuit?

 

that’s a good sign for USDH. 
 

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wormbatim
10 months ago

Should have an East and West coast series and the leaders face off at the Open. For younger riders without rich parents it will be hard to travel coast to coast. It’s good that Monster is stepping in and creating a USA series though. 

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TruckeeTrash
10 months ago

I'm hoping SoCal means Mammoth but I'm guessing it means Fontana. 

 

Also, a Bootleg Canyon event would be cool.

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Batts
10 months ago

I think people are missing this line:

“Our plan is to create a more geographically balanced national series over the next few years. 

U.S. is geographically huge, never going to please every area.  Also, the logistics going into something like this has to be insane.  Venues and promoters have to agree to the contract and a lot of times it appears "one sided" but if the program works then it is not.  Also, dates have to line up which can be a nightmare as well.  I have to think these dates were pretty much set months ago.   

Knowing Clay he would not risk the success of the US Open to create a series off its coat tails.  Let's give it time and if you know a venue, I am sure their events coordinator can reach out to Clay and discuss future races for 2025.  It is not as easy as saying "this place is awesome, let's have a race here next year" I wish it was because there are so many great places to ride in every region of the U.S. 

Good luck Clay, U.S. DH is pulling for you!

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fishoholic805
10 months ago

They need ti make mammoth an event.   That place has the terrain and know how to hold events 

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E.T.
10 months ago

Any chance of adding one event in Idaho, Colorado, or Utah to make it a more balanced series?

The Northwest Cup #3, June 21st-June 23rd in Tamarack, Idaho seems like it would be a perfect addition...

Never been there, but the Vital RAW from the race looked pretty legit: https://youtu.be/aVRGKKShlNc?si=Yx_yl1JAR5ncPmny

That would give the series a race every month from April to September if you count US National Champs in July at Rock Creek.

Would also make it seem a little more balanced since currently 75% of the races (80% if you include National Champs) are all on the East Coast.

I'm pretty sure that there are still people who mountain bike on the West Coast...and the Rockies. Might be good to tap into that market.

And the large chunk of World Cups in Europe in June shouldn't mean no racing in the U.S. at the same time...

 

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StudBeefpile
10 months ago

Overall awesome.  Although should it be renamed to the USA - East Pro Downhill Series? Honestly I don't know how we have a national series in this country and have it work financially/logistically for most people.  I am envious of other countries that have a ripping national series that has all stops under a 5 hour drive because their country is so small.

I guess the other thing is we need some better venues in the PNW.

Rad to see though!

Reading comprehension has never been a skill of mine.  Just saw the TBD is somewhere in Cali.  So USA - East Pro Downhill Series +1 ;p

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Adam_Schaeffer
10 months ago

Snoqualmie is legit. Not sure if they are ready to handle racing yet, but perhaps in a year or two they could run an event. The Black Forest was a World Cup course in 1998, and most of the gnarly woods are still included in the track.

Agree that a 'national' series is really reserved for those with the money/time to travel around this huge country. Not sure how that can be fixed, other than having potent regional series that feed into a national finals.

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anotherbikerguy
10 months ago

What about regional clusters of races with some kind of shared points/ranking system? E.g. a 'Northeast Conference,' a 'Northwest Conference,' uniting local/regional races but with shared or standardized categories, points/rankings, prize money, etc, plus some kind of bonus or extra ranking for riders who compete in multiple conferences?

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Jeremy_Keyes
10 months ago

There are 100s of bmx tracks which helps but they run regional races all over the US and certain ones are scheduled as “pro” events. DH could run races wherever/whenever and for amateurs say your top 6 placings (our whatever amount makes sense) count to your overall. Then certain races throughout the US are scheduled as “pro” evens. Those are the ones pros have to run also. They can change every year so all locations get a chance to race alongside pros every few years. At the end of the year have a finals in colorado since its pretty central for everyone. BMX has theirs in Tulsa every year.