The Fox US OPEN of Mountain Biking (US OPEN) has announced the 2021 race festival will be held at Snow Summit Resort in Big Bear Lake, CA, September 23-26.
“We’re picking up where we left off in 2019, continuing with the momentum and gearing up to throw one hell of an MTB party,” said Clay Harper, co-founder and event director, US OPEN. “We’re intimately aware of the challenges that may still be present with physical events and will remain positioned to make any necessary adjustments for the safety of our fans and athletes. Overall, we’re just excited to get back to racing and riding at Summit Bike Park.”
The US OPEN downhill race is an open class event that gives up-and-coming racers the chance to compete against the pros. The Summit Bike Park team will continue to dial in the downhill track built for the US OPEN in 2019, and the race is the final stop of the US Downhill National Series.
In its fourth year, younger racers will have their shot in the Next Gen Youth Downhill event. USO Next-Gen Racing offers age categories for intermediate and expert racers under 15 years old, providing kids with a racing opportunity on a dedicated track.
“The Fox US Open was such a cool event in 2019. The downhill track at Summit Bike Park was amazing. I’m going back for more good times this year,” said Loic Bruni, 2019 Fox US Open Men’s Downhill Champion.
The 2021 US OPEN will again feature Enduro and Dual Slalom racing. Drawing upon the rich Dual Slalom racing history of the early NORBA Nationals in Big Bear Lake, event organizers reintroduced the category to the lineup in 2019, and the response was electric from fans and racers. Back by popular demand will be the Best Whip contest, taking place in the center of the Summit Bike Park base area.
“The US Open is easily one of the best events of the year. The organizers give the riders what they want; good courses, world-class competition and one of mountain biking’s biggest prize purses. I have been to the USO several times, East and West coasts, and no matter the venue, the vibe is always fun,” said Jill Kintner, 2019 Fox US Open Women’s Downhill and Dual Slalom Champion.
The US OPEN has long attracted race fans, free riders and families. The Summit Bike Park will remain open for non-racers.
Big Bear Lake is situated approximately 100 miles from Los Angeles and surrounded by the San Bernardino National Forest. It’s a great place to gather the mountain bike community as an outdoor adventure destination with many lodging options – boasting over 300 days of sunshine annually. The US OPEN partnered with Visit Big Bear in 2019, and the agency continues to provide essential support in 2021.
