HAHAHA very true! Where are the pics man?
National Champs at SolVista Bike Park
- Thread starter ballr
- Start date
reminds me of rally racing. Everywhere else, it's a point to point competition to see who's fastest. In the US it's who can jump their car over a snowboarder towed by a MX bike while exploding, then judged against each other to see who did the most flips.
Some funny stuff from SRAM dirttales.com site
Today went well accept for the big giant huge jumps at the bottom of the Pro Dh course that jacked Voreis's foot, Eric Carter said I'll race the super D instead, and carnage from the pro's that should be semi pro's. Problem is there's a double with a 50 foot gap and the wind is deciding where you land. Palmer had a close one that scared the crap out of him but he pulled up at the last second and made it. I heard that if your feeling that your going way to fast into the jump you'll still barely make it.....scarey. There's handis walking around everywhere and the ambulance has been busy.
Today went well accept for the big giant huge jumps at the bottom of the Pro Dh course that jacked Voreis's foot, Eric Carter said I'll race the super D instead, and carnage from the pro's that should be semi pro's. Problem is there's a double with a 50 foot gap and the wind is deciding where you land. Palmer had a close one that scared the crap out of him but he pulled up at the last second and made it. I heard that if your feeling that your going way to fast into the jump you'll still barely make it.....scarey. There's handis walking around everywhere and the ambulance has been busy.
Yeup, sounds like they should have made them tabletops. Then no one would be complaining. Ethan told me he was flying them well until the wind blew him off his bike. Yard saled the last jump. I can see it happening. He weighs 135 dripping wet. Said he was stoked about the jumps though. Enjoying the course.
Go East Coast!!!!
Go East Coast!!!!
check out the 1:11 minute mark in this vid if you want the visual stik Pro DH Jumps & MTX Practice - 2009 U.S. National Champs on Vimeo
They make it pretty dramatic, it's not nearly that bad and many of the injuries are from the amateur course which is gnarly for experts.
"Ummmm.... our cranks could snap like toothpicks what should we do? Quick call marketing and ask. They said to make it sound scary and consumers won't know the difference. Ok cool makes sense, post it on the site ASAP."
AHAHAH
Dunno about the jumps, but I liked this quote on the description for the video:
Watch riders jump 50 foot gaps and ride the most unique and progressive MTX track to date.
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After riding and pondering the jumps for the past 2 days, I have come up with my opinion on them being on The Pro DH course. First of all they are sweet, like really sweet, These are the biggest gaps I have ever hit in my life, yes having them in a race course and not in some freeride or dirtjump comp is a little weird. I am not usually one to say big jumps belong in a downhill track, especially a Nationals course. but since the track is a bit on the short side, and for sure not as steep as nearby mountains, I think the race course designers were trying to give us THE RIDERS, something different. Which I think it totally awesome considering past years at unsaid events wont even look you in the eye if you have something to say. Most of the time here in the US we are complaining about how small the jumps are. I for one am very thankful they had the guts to even put these jumps in and make a statement about our sport, it is big, it is gnarly and it is sometimes scary to watch, but let me say this, they are not nearly as scary as they look from the lift or when your standing on the lip of the 50ft gap with no bike in hand. With the right amount of speed and a level head these jumps are no problem for the Professional racer. I do agree that they are more dangerous than if they had not been there...which is what it sounds like a few of you wish had happened, And we all want our seasons to last all year long without trouble. If these jumps had not been made well or were put in an awkward part of the track where they would not have been safe, I would never hit them. I purposely went around alot of the drops at last years national at Deer Valley because I did not feel safe on the drops and such. But thats my decision, and same goes for everyone else who has a choice between the go around or the doubles.
P.S. check out the jumps from BMX Worlds 2009, I think that is crazy
http://freecaster.tv/bmx/1007939/bmx-worlds-2009-dirt-pro-finals-highlights?page=3
-Furbs
P.S. check out the jumps from BMX Worlds 2009, I think that is crazy
http://freecaster.tv/bmx/1007939/bmx-worlds-2009-dirt-pro-finals-highlights?page=3
-Furbs
It's hard to tell from a POV cam, but other than the big jumps how tech is the rest of the course? It doesn't seem to tough at all. The real questions i guess is what is DH suppose to be? Moto without and engine? Personally I don't really care for that idea, if i wanted to launch it on two wheels I'll get on something with and engine.
ojaiDH is funny
jackie harmony jumped all 3 pro jumps as did lisa myklak today, too. SO SICK!
jrx top 3 results:
mitch ropelato - 2:18
shawn neer - 2:19
kevin aiello ???
jrx top 3 results:
mitch ropelato - 2:18
shawn neer - 2:19
kevin aiello ???
In practice, or do pro women race today??
jackie and lisa jumped in practice. race is tomorrow. jumps are fine and so many people are stoked. some aren't. bummer for them.
Christ there's a lot of sniveling in this thread. I watched the vids and I did not see ONE SINGLE GUN. That tells me that there's a pretty good chance that atleast SOME of these people rode that track by CHOICE! *GASP*
Anyone who's crying UNFAIR like a freshly dumped teenage girl only knows they'd have to bitch out of the race in front a bunch of spectators.
Yeah...why keep pushing the limits of riders to truly find who's the best and willing to step up their game when we could all just keep riding the same, played out, beat in 15 year old tracks we all know so there's no risk of breaking a pinky.
YAWN. The track in lil ol SolVista is the most refreshing thing I've seen in DH racing in the last 3 years. I quit watching the World Cup races because those tracks are all exactly the friggin same. And this breath of freshness came from the US, damnit! About time!
I lack the skill, confidence and youth to pin 50 foot gaps. But you wouldn't catch me crying, you WOULD catch me at the lip cheering on those who aren't lacking, though!
Great jumps by the way! I know I would atleast very seriously consider them before I stepped off the track. Those things look DIALED! Nice job, guys!
Anyone who's crying UNFAIR like a freshly dumped teenage girl only knows they'd have to bitch out of the race in front a bunch of spectators.
Yeah...why keep pushing the limits of riders to truly find who's the best and willing to step up their game when we could all just keep riding the same, played out, beat in 15 year old tracks we all know so there's no risk of breaking a pinky.
YAWN. The track in lil ol SolVista is the most refreshing thing I've seen in DH racing in the last 3 years. I quit watching the World Cup races because those tracks are all exactly the friggin same. And this breath of freshness came from the US, damnit! About time!
I lack the skill, confidence and youth to pin 50 foot gaps. But you wouldn't catch me crying, you WOULD catch me at the lip cheering on those who aren't lacking, though!
Great jumps by the way! I know I would atleast very seriously consider them before I stepped off the track. Those things look DIALED! Nice job, guys!
I think you should take a better.look at the WC tracks then
Sol vista crew did a great job on a small hill and the track and jumps all work well... It is funny to hear all the BS being sprayed by people who are not even here
The vibe on track is great and all the top guys are loving it. Spectators are plenty and the event has an awesome atmosphere
Good to hear dave...would you consider this a bigger succes than us open? As far as what the premier US event will be this year.
If anything_ this race is getting buzz, which is more than can be said for past natl champs
I am not one torank one awesome event against another... They are both pretty good (though I prefer the sol vista track)
It is however far an above any "national" race the US has had in years
Saw steve jones from dirt out snapping pics so there must be a bit of buzz about the event elsewhere
Curt, mountain bike racing racing doesn't often reflect real mountain bike riding. Cruising in the woods on some tech and racing are, and should be, totally different. I think 50 footers on a pro course for national champs is a pretty legit feature. It takes more balls than skill, sure. But this track looks like a pretty good blend; you gotta have your corners down, blaze the rocks, pedal and send it. The most talented rider is gonna win it, not just someone who can jump.
Fair play...good luck tomm.
mitch ropelato and jill kintner won mtx tonight.
usa cycling decided not to run the pro drop gate about an hour before qualifying. bigfoot (the race promoter responsible for the gate operation) had tech problems with the gate, so the solution was to go with a manual gate drop (no cadence). most riders agreed that was good. USA cycling came in and said this is a world's qualifier, therefore a cadence is required, so all pros started on the "amateur" gate. it is what it is.
pic of crowd from a few minutes ago...HUGE! mitch ropelato owns and so does jill. regardless of the gate issue, it was a fun race.
davetrump, good to meet ya today.
usa cycling decided not to run the pro drop gate about an hour before qualifying. bigfoot (the race promoter responsible for the gate operation) had tech problems with the gate, so the solution was to go with a manual gate drop (no cadence). most riders agreed that was good. USA cycling came in and said this is a world's qualifier, therefore a cadence is required, so all pros started on the "amateur" gate. it is what it is.
pic of crowd from a few minutes ago...HUGE! mitch ropelato owns and so does jill. regardless of the gate issue, it was a fun race.
davetrump, good to meet ya today.
Attachments
can we atleast get a top 4?
you know they will want these kinds of things when you go big aug. 1st
;-) haha, joke, kidding, funny, etc...
NO drop in???
sounds like
Mitch
Houseman 2nd
Brian Buell 3rd
JD 4th "JD crashed trying to take out Mitch"
fans love 4x
Mitch
Houseman 2nd
Brian Buell 3rd
JD 4th "JD crashed trying to take out Mitch"
fans love 4x
Apparently USA cycling had some issue with the original pro start...
Yeah! Nice one Brian!
Sweet vid!
A bit strange: you forget it's in slow motion and start thinking "they aren't going to make that!"
A bit strange: you forget it's in slow motion and start thinking "they aren't going to make that!"
Dear whiners:
Thanks for not showing up and not having a clue what you're talking about.
To those that did, sorry your night shift at the dildery kept you from riding your bike enough to have fun and enjoy things like a dragon's back and the conundrum and a downhill track that packs variety into a short track.
Years of complaining about "the same old things" and now when something different is presented, all you can do is cramp up like it's your first period and bicker about something new?
Haters gunna hate. Others are going to have the fun for you.
Thanks for not showing up and not having a clue what you're talking about.
To those that did, sorry your night shift at the dildery kept you from riding your bike enough to have fun and enjoy things like a dragon's back and the conundrum and a downhill track that packs variety into a short track.
Years of complaining about "the same old things" and now when something different is presented, all you can do is cramp up like it's your first period and bicker about something new?
Haters gunna hate. Others are going to have the fun for you.
embedded for her pleasure...can't wait for the race!
from dirttales.com, fyi
"This place is a slaughter house, carnage everywhere, not one round wheel within 100 miles. Running out of places to bury the dead. We're killing the wounded because there's no hospital beds left. Just kidding this place ain't as bad as it sounded in an earlier post. This is the best US nats in 10 years, not joking. The Sol Vista crew has done an amazing job and brought back kick ass racing to the good old USA."
from dirttales.com, fyi
"This place is a slaughter house, carnage everywhere, not one round wheel within 100 miles. Running out of places to bury the dead. We're killing the wounded because there's no hospital beds left. Just kidding this place ain't as bad as it sounded in an earlier post. This is the best US nats in 10 years, not joking. The Sol Vista crew has done an amazing job and brought back kick ass racing to the good old USA."
Lisa and Jackie are awesome huge props to those girls. Correct me if i'm wrong but i dont think either of them get paid to ride, or have male teamates to help them. Hats off to how those girls step up.
Just reading some of the posts about the jumps,,,and to the posters who mentioned big bear in 2003. The big bear jumps in 2003 were built by a 17 year old snowboarder who the had zero clue how to build jumps for mtb. I was at the scene when That horrible accident happened and i sold my bike a week later and have not raced a big event since. Dont compare this event to big bear 03, it's not the same in any way.
Steve wentz and the sol vista crew know how to build and they all race, huge props to the whole crew.
Jen was hitting them too.
man i dont blame you...that must have been horrible to see.
were they really built by some 17 year punter?
was that a Commencal at the end taking that abuse?
Nice work spomer! Great to see palmer! Love 1:15 and the bar hump/look @ the end.
yep super young, nice kid but had no clue.