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.

This is hardly a surprise, given his 18 years of experience in BMX and mountain bike racing since turning pro at age 19.

Melissa Buhl got her start on a BMX bike where she raced from the ages of 9-18. At 16, she transitioned to mountain biking, inspired my women’s bike legend, Missy Giove.

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. Buhl is already off to an impressive start in 2008. She won the 4X World Championships in Italy in July.

She also captured the USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Titles in both dual slalom and downhill.
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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.
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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.

An avid snowboarder who also loves to ride his motorcycle, Warren finished 4th at all three Jeep 48STRAIGHT stops in 2007.

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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. A member of the Santa Cruz Syndicate Team, Peat is also active with his clothing company Royal Racing (of which he is part owner) and a proponent of getting young riders involved in the sport.

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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 (2001 and 2005), the 2003 World Downhill Champion, but he is currently leading the 2008 World Cup season with one event left (Sept.13).

An incredibly consistent rider who has racked up a total of 35 World Cup wins throughout an illustrious career, Greg loves when the crowd gets him going on race day.

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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 big and powerful rider, Rennie (who is 6’ 3” and 200lbs) is also known as, “The Large Man Who Breaks Things”.

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