The current 2008 menʼs National Downhill Champion, Geritt Beytagh, age 23, from Asheville, NC actually got his start racing in South Africa. A fitness guru who hones his skills by riding a lot of motocross, Beytagh is a threat to the podium in both dual slalom and downhill.

Whether you refer to him as “The Golden Child,” “The Earthquake” or simply “EC,” his name might change but the results stay the same. Eric Carter, a World Champion, three-time NORBA National Champion, and three time World Cup titlist, has been a regular on the podium in the Jeep King of the Mountain Series.

The well-rounded Rich Houseman, age 30, from Temecula, CA is the 2008 US National 4X Champion and 2006 Norba 4X Mountain Cross / Dual Slalom Overall Champion. Not a bad pedigree considering Rich also works 9-5 as a marketing specialist for Sponsorhouse and as team manager for Yeti Cycles.

Brian Lopes, age 36, from Laguna Beach, CA is a four-time Mountain Bike World Champion, nine-time National Champion and six-time World Cup Overall Champion. In his career, he has won more career UCI World Cups than any other male mountain biker in the history of the sport.

The South African rider first started podiuming on the World Cup circuit back in 2000, and now at the age 26, he is not only a two-time overall World Cup champion, the 2003 World Downhill Champion, but he is currently leading the 2008 World Cup season with one event left.

As the “veteran of all veterans” Great Britain’s Steve Peat has won three World Cup Downhill titles, eight British National titles (one in 4X), two European Championships, and 15 World Cups over the course of his career. Not a bad resume for a guy who once made a living as plumber.

Aussie Wild Child Jared Rando, age 27, is a dual slalom and downhill fanatic who dominates on his home turf and abroad. The four-time Australian Downhill Champion is also the 2007 US National Mountain Bike Series Champion.

The 2008 Aussie National Downhill Champion, Nathan Rennie, is a fast and fearless rider who began his march of dominance back in 1999 when he became the Junior World Downhill Champion. He upped that accomplishment in 2003 by bagging the overall World Cup Downhill title.

A powerful freerider who has won titles such as the Red Bull Rampage (2004) and the Red Bull Valparaiso Downtown (2005), Kyle Straight, age 21 from Redlands, CA incorporates BMX style into his mountain riding.

A multi-time downhill national team member, current NORBA athlete trustee, and Park City resident, Chris Van Dine is one of the most versatile racers on the roster. He has over 20 career mountain bike wins ranging from downhill, dual slalom, dirt jumping, cross country, BMX, road, and 24 hour endurance racing.

Cody Warren, 22, from Alpine, CA first dominated at the junior level by becoming the 2002 Junior National Downhill Champ. He matched that title in 2005 but in the pro division. During his second year as a pro in 2005, Warren won his first Norba National race (dual slalom) in Deer Valley, Utah.

A freeride specialist, Cam Zink has podiumed across the board in events like best trick, slopestyle, speed trial, and dirt jumping. Winner of the Crankworx Slopestyle in 2006, Cam has no problem throwing tricks like the nac nac backflip and 360.

The 2007 and 2008 overall World Cup Winner in 4X, Anneke Beerten is also the defending Jeep 48STRAIGHT champion. This technical ripper from Holland first got her start on a BMX bike and is a two-time World Champion in the discipline. A recent winner of the Crankworx dual slalom in Whistler, look for Beerten to be back on top of Jeep podium in 2008.

Melissa Buhl, age 26, from Chandler, AZ first got her start on a BMX bike where she raced competitively from the ages of 9-18. After becoming the Junior National Downhill Champion in 1998, it has been a fast ride “downhill” for Buhl who is a six-time member of the U.S. National World Championship Team.

Second overall on the Jeep 48STRAIGHT tour in 2007, Great Britain’s Fionn Griffiths, age 25, is one of the top Gravity riders in the world. She can podium in downhill, 4X, and dual slalom. Fionn is a two-time World Champion silver medalist with 26 World Cup podiums to her name.

Kathy Pruitt, 25, from Lake Almanor, California started off her downhill career by winning the Junior World Championships in 2000. Since then her pro career has flourished and was capped off in 2007 by winning the US National Championships in Mt. Snow, VT.