Nothing has been discussed here more than that...try a search.Question of the day...'If the UCI switched to DS would more DH pros race both disciplines?'
Been there done that. Anytime big name DH'ers show up to race on a gate I like to bring it up. Trying to spread the word to the masses. Hopefully the UCI will hear and change their mind.Nothing has been discussed here more than that...try a search.
Hopefully, but it might be past the point of no-return. It would all come down to scheduling. For a rider on the podium in DS they'd do a total of 5 rounds of 2 runs each. Depending on the course, the weather, the promoter, etc this process can take anywhere from 2-3 hrs. If a promoter schedules the DS the night before the DH finals then the number of elite riders might tail off quickly. DH is what pays the bills for them and is "the show". They don't want to be up racing bikes until 8pm when they have to be on the course at 8am for practice the next morning. Now, if at a triple header and the DH main is on Sat afternoon and there is DS following, well then you might see a slew more guys out doing it for fun.Question of the day...'If the UCI switched to DS would more DH pros race both disciplines?'
Qualify only 16 men and 4 women at a world cup.Hopefully, but it might be past the point of no-return. It would all come down to scheduling. For a rider on the podium in DS they'd do a total of 5 rounds of 2 runs each. Depending on the course, the weather, the promoter, etc this process can take anywhere from 2-3 hrs. If a promoter schedules the DS the night before the DH finals then the number of elite riders might tail off quickly. DH is what pays the bills for them and is "the show". They don't want to be up racing bikes until 8pm when they have to be on the course at 8am for practice the next morning. Now, if at a triple header and the DH main is on Sat afternoon and there is DS following, well then you might see a slew more guys out doing it for fun.
Just my thoughts.
-ska todd
....and then the skies opened up! Pissing down at the moment.Qualify only 16 men and 4 women at a world cup.
A-line today and it rained last night, sun is out, track is going to be soooooo sweet. Can lopes make it 4 in a row?
I did a backpack free run on a-line, was so damn good...then one more with camera gear, stopped on a section to shoot, started raining, got back to pits just before big rains. Its nice now, if stays like this track will be amazing to ride and to shoot.....and then the skies opened up! Pissing down at the moment.
Ya its mental. Sunny and warm and then POURING every hour or so. If it stays dry and blue skies now it will be a mint A line race!I did a backpack free run on a-line, was so damn good...then one more with camera gear, stopped on a section to shoot, started raining, got back to pits just before big rains. Its nice now, if stays like this track will be amazing to ride and to shoot.
I wonder if the extra time spent with Claire in whistler has helped Kovarik with some 'local' knowledge. Hes ripping it this year.Lopes wins A-Line... kovarik 2nd and neethling 3rd.
You're old enough to remember 'back in the day' slalom at the NORBA nationals. slalom qualies were done with zero practice; walking inspection only. the only practice was for qualified riders 90min before finals the following day. either way, any alternative form of gravity racing is a sideshow to the DH, i say kick it all to the curb and let the riders decide if they want to be DH'ers, BMX'ers, or dirt jumpers and make the World Cup DH and XC only (even though all the XC guys really just wish they could race road bikes).Stik, I agree! No chumps, just fast guys. Even better is to run the quali's right before the finals w/ only one run. Let the series overall leader choose the red or blue course for the qualis. Then everyone can see their "favorites" but only 16 go into the final and more money is on the line. But, there is nothing as sweet in bike racing as watching a 31 or 32 push it to their limits vs a 1 or 2 plate!
-ska todd
Yep, that was my exact line of thinking! I say shorten it up even more and just do it all as a nice, tight event for the crowd on a Saturday night.You're old enough to remember 'back in the day' slalom at the NORBA nationals. slalom qualies were done with zero practice; walking inspection only. the only practice was for qualified riders 90min before finals the following day.
Gated racing has a spot in the racing and culture of elite level mountain bike racing. Maybe it should be move around some though, perhaps paired with the XC events instead of the DH ones? Houffalize got some DH guys to come race 4X. It doesn't take much of any slope to set-up a proper DS.either way, any alternative form of gravity racing is a sideshow to the DH, i say kick it all to the curb and let the riders decide if they want to be DH'ers, BMX'ers, or dirt jumpers and make the World Cup DH and XC only (even though all the XC guys really just wish they could race road bikes).
Now there's a name I haven't heard in years!whackos like Eric Pinson
Pinson was the common man's Palmer....
Now there's a name I haven't heard in years!
-ska todd
Too funny. I was just watching the Palmer interview on freecaster the other day and remembered when Pinson beat him in the DS at Pittsburgh and for the life of me couldn't remember his name. I thought of him as Palmer's hillbilly alter-ego.Pinson was the common man's Palmer.
Wait, what has the weather been?Pissing down again. The weather here has been mental!
I wonder if the extra time spent with Claire in whistler has helped Kovarik with some 'local' knowledge. Hes ripping it this year.
I'm a Kovarik fan since 2001...Kovarik is back on form. Fast and in control. He looks like he is riding better than he ever has. He'll be a threat in Canberra.
3rd place in SA is no podium????I'm a Kovarik fan since 2001...
But...any WC podium for him this year???!!!
No....
I think he was on his best form in 2001, 2002, 2003....with lots of WC podiums and Noba wins(when top riders was on Norba races...remember 2003, the Norba battle with Minnaar..till last round Durango)
Didn't he crash in the South Africa WC?3rd place in SA is no podium????
his results this year so far from the 6 racesDidn't he crash in the South Africa WC?