"It's not easy since I'm also the team manager and usually don’t concentrate on the 4X until about three hours before. But I've been good this week, getting my rest and going to fewer bars." -Mike King (USA, Haro/Lee Dungarees), explaining how the old man keeps going fast.

"Who's Your Daddy!!" -Cedric Gracia (FRA, Volvo-Cannondale) to the crowd, after bombing through the DH course's tough rock garden in practice.

Gracia said he had a blast in the days leading up to the race weekend, freeriding off the top of the mountain every day. We tried the same course Sunday morning and it was ridiculously fun and steep.

Be-One bikes aren't easy to find in the U.S., but they're big in Europe. We rode Bas DeBever's 4X bike down the mountain and were duly impressed. Thanks to their mechanic Mark for stealing it for us to ride!

The 2002 World Championships are coming along swimmingly. We saw a presentation by "Mike Mike" Hamel here in Maribor, and it looks to be a huge affair. Book your flight now to Salzburg, see the Sound of Music tour and catch the year's biggest mountain bike race. www.mountainbike-2002.com

Spotted: Steve Peat (GBR, Royal/Orange) sending around a petition to the riders, imploring them to wear their helmet visors and thus maintain the properly cool look of downhilling.

Who ever thought we'd see Anne-Caroline Chausson wearing the #15 plate and Tracy Moseley #1? Who says women's downhilling is a forgone conclusion?

Many of the teams - as well as MountainZone.com - were staying at the top of the mountain in remote and quiet apartment hotels, near the top of the gondola. Racers could have breakfast, ride out their door and be on a training run within a minute. Part of the Maribor mystique.

With the downhill portion of the Grouse Mountain event cancelled, points are even more crucial now. "It won't change my gameplan though," said Steve Peat. "Every point counts."

Sunday night was a classic evening of partying in Maribor's town center, at the regular hangout Takos and Bongo Bar. Without divulging too much of the antics that go on at most downhill parties, the highlight was Cedric Gracia (FRA, Volvo-Cannondale) riding up and down (at full speed) on the cobblestone alleyway outside the bars on an old beater bike, cigarette in mouth and pants pulled down. It was a truly awesome sight.

We think Gestev (organizers of Mont Sainte-Anne and Grouse Mountain) are among the best in the biz. But we have to question why they cancelled the DH & 4X rather than the XC (excess snow pack was the cited reason). If it's a snow-removal question, wouldn't the DH (at a lower altitude) be easier? Is it the crowds? We thought Vancouver was freeride DH heaven, and indeed the DH crowds last year far outnumbered the XC spectators. Could it be that the Canadians are doing great in XC and not in DH? We don't know, but are sad to see it happen and feel for all the DH teams that already booked their travel from Quebec to Vancouver. We'll be there regardless though!

— Ari Cheren, MountainZone.com Correspondent