FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RAD Racing NW Announces 2008 Junior Cycling Program
10th Anniversary/New Sponsors Unveiled

"Olympia (Wash.) RAD Racing NW launches the 10th Anniversary season for the program in 2008 with several announcements. From its humble beginnings as a 5-rider grassroots mountain bike team in 1998, RAD Racing has grown into one of the top junior teams in the country. USA Cycling Development Director Steve McCauley affirmed, “RAD Racing NW has had a huge effect on junior cycling, not only with the development and success of it’s own riders but with the racing opportunities they have created for all juniors in the state of Washington. They are a 6 time winner of our development foundation's Center of Excellence grant and they continue to set the bar for other junior clubs."

A new sponsor and a new partnership head up the team’s 2008 announcements. RAD Racing NW proudly announces the addition of Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro as co-title sponsor of the team. With the addition of the prestigious law firm to the ranks of supporters, the team will be known as RAD Racing/Hagens Berman. This exciting relationship will enable RAD Racing to provide a higher level of support to its riders with travel assistance, equipment, and funding assistance.

Steve Berman of Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro described the fit, “Hagens Berman believes that cycling is a sport that should grow in popularity as people begin to realize the environmental and health benefits of cycling. Sponsoring RAD is our effort to encourage the development of young riders and to help grow the sport.”
The second part of this relationship is a racing partnership with the formation of the Hagens Berman/LWV Racing Team. As RAD Racers upgrade to Cat-2 on the road, they will ride with the Hagens Berman team providing on the road coaching and mentorship enabling the riders to develop. When participating in junior category races, our member will still sport the classic RAD uniform.

“This is a win/win for everybody, RAD is getting great support and we have created a stepping-stone for the progression of our riders as they develop, this will especially be helpful for our older juniors and U23 riders.” explained Jim Brown RAD Racing NW Director.

The junior-focused program dovetails nicely with the sustainable message of the team. “We’re a youth program so it’s important for the team members to carry the message of environmental sustainability, especially to other kids,” Brown explains. That message includes recycling programs at the 2008 Seattle Cyclocross Series and an innovative energy-saving program inspired by team sponsor Pedro’s. This season every junior entrant in the team’s Lance Armstrong Junior Races will receive a CFL light bulb. “It’s a very simple thing to change a light bulb, but that one bulb makes a difference, the kids influence the parents by bringing home the low-wattage bulbs,” says Brown, “and pretty soon the house is converted.”

In November, RAD Racing was selected to receive a grant for the Slipstream/Chipolte “Causing the Slipstream” program for 2008. Brown boasted, “We will be proudly displaying the logo from America’s top professional cycling team in 2008”

And continuing its winning ways, for the 6th consecutive year RAD Racing NW has been selected as a “Center of Excellence” by the USA Cycling Development Foundation. This prestigious honor brings financial support and continues the relationship between the club and cycling’s governing body thereby helping many RAD athletes enter the USA Cycling pipeline.

Rad Racing also continues to receive generous support from friends in the form of cash and equipment donations, the team could not operate at the level that it does without the valuable assistance of these supporters

Highlights for RAD Racing/Hagens Berman in 2008

Road Racing:
RAD Racing will continue to focus efforts in the Seattle Area LAJORS series with riders of all ages. Coaches Dave Schilling (U14), and Chris McGovern (15+/U23) will coordinate efforts towards regional and national competition.
• Older riders will be spending more time racing in the senior categories in an effort to take their racing and fitness to the next level.
• Road Director Chris McGovern has mapped out a plan for the season, which includes several of the major NW stage races, the US National Championships and the prestigious Tour L’Abitibi.
• RAD Racing/Hagens Berman will continue to coordinate the 2008 Seattle LAJORS races for the 7th year. This series has become a staple of junior racing in the NW region.

Mountain Bike:
Head MTB Coach and U23 rider Luke Brechwald will head a 2008 program that will have riders participating in selected regional mountain bike races in preparation for National Level competition.
• RAD Racing will field an MTB team for the Sea Otter Classic and the National Championships, including defending National Champion Eric Emsky.
• Every Wednesday night during the summer RAD coaches will be running a free beginner skills clinic in coordination with the Kore “Wednesday Night World Championships”.
• This will be the 7th year that RAD staff has coordinated the Mountain Bike section of “Freedom Sports Week” at YMCA Camp Orkila.
• RAD will also assist in staffing to Larry Kemp MTB camp, promoted by the Washington State Bicycle Racing Association in Cle Elum Washington in August.

Track:
Head Coach Tela Crane will once again be running weekly track workouts and will coordinate participation in the racing at the Marymoor Velodrome.
• In addition to the racing locally, RAD Racing/Hagens Berman will be sending riders to the US National Championships in Los Angeles.
• This will mark the return of former National Champion Benny Swedberg to national level competition on the track.

Cyclocross:
The RAD Racing/Hagen’s Berman junior cyclocross program will continue to be led by cyclocross legend Dale Knapp. The powerhouse team is coming off of one of its most successful cyclocross seasons ever, which included World Championship team selections for junior members Steve Fisher and Eric Emsky. In addition, Nick Weighall represented RAD in the U23 field.
• RAD Racing/Hagen’s Berman will field 20+ riders in all junior age categories during the tough Seattle 2008 cyclocross season.
• Top level riders will once again work towards the US National Championships and selection to the US World Championship Team
• RAD expects to send at least 3 riders to Eurocross Camp in Belgium during the frenzied Christmas cross week, which will include participation in select World Cup races.
• 12-year-old Andrea Casebolt will return as a defending National Champion after her storybook first year of racing.

Events:
• Seattle Area Lance Armstrong Junior Series (LAJORS)
• State Junior XC MTB Championships
• YMCA Camp Orkila Freedom Sports
• Larry Kemp MTB Camp
• RAD Racing GP UCI Category 2 Cyclocross

Financial Sponsors
• Hagens Berman www.hagens-berman.com
• Metropolitan Markets/Kraft www.metropolitan-market.com
• USA Cycling Development Foundation www.usacdf.org
• Slipstream Sports www.slipstreamsports.com
• Back In Motion Chiropractic Olympia Washington
• Heritage Bank Olympia Washington

Equipment/Performance Sponsors:
• Kona Bicycles www.konaworld.com
• Shimano Drivetrains www.shimano.com
• Mavic Wheels www.mavic.com
• Full Speed Ahead Bar/Stem/Post www.fullspeedahead.com
• Schwalbe Tires www.schwalbe.com
• Fi’zi:k Saddles www.fizik.com
• Fox Racing Shox www.foxracingshox.com
• Chris King Headsets www.chrisking.com
• Voler Team Wear www.voler.com
• Adidas Shoes www.adidas.com
• Crank Brothers Pedals www.crankbrothers.com
• Clif Bar Nutrition www.clifbar.com
• Rudy Project Helmets/Eyewear www.rudyprojectusa.com
• Polar HR Monitors www.polar.com
• Pedro’s Lube Products and Tools www.pedros.com
• Training Peaks Software www.trainingpeaks.com
• Herriot Sports Performance www.herriotsportsperformance.com
• Thule Rack Systems www.thule.com
• Pryme Gloves and Protection www.prymegear.com
• Burton Snowboards www.burton.com