User:Mark Tatum

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[edit] About Mark

Hi, welcome to the User Page about me, Mark Tatum. Because I am hoping to contribute to the articles concerning mountain biking, I will describe my history in that sport so you know where I am coming from. I began riding in 1991 in California and shortly afterwards moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado where I currently reside. I quickly became involved in racing here in Colorado during the real boom years of the sport. I raced at the Expert level from 1993 through 1997 in the Colorado Off-Road Point Series and at many NORBA Nationals across the US.

In 1994 a friend and I took over management of a mountain bike race team that became one of the most successful in the region. I recruited and managed riders who went on to win the state championship and even competed in the Olympics. It was an honor to be associated with these very talented athletes who often put their careers and lives on hold to pursue their athletic dreams.

I was the promoter of the Geargrinder mountain bike race from 1994 to 1996 which was held in Cheyenne Canon in Colorado Springs. It was a 3-stage race, 2-day race on some of the most challenging trails in town.

In 1995 I launched geargrinder.com, a mountain bike racing web site that became the official site of the Colorado Off-Road Point Series. It also covered many NORBA National races and World Cup events.

I stopped most of these activities in 1997 as my real job became too demanding. Therefore I am not as strong on my recent history of the sport.

Because Colorado is one of the centers for mountain biking I have been fortunate to ride lots of miles on incredible singletrack with many wonderful people and athletes. The governing body of the sport, NORBA, is located here in town. I have also been a guinea pig at the United States Olympic Training Center.

Other related experience includes a Level One certification in coaching for track and field, majors in Journalism and English, and 10 years of technical writing.