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World Champs 2012 Thread

monkeyfcuker

Monkey
May 26, 2008
912
8
UK, Carlisle
Go for it, you'll only regret it if you don't. Take beer and Red Bull, you've got all weekend to come up with an excuse why your hanging on Monday. Feign malaria or something.
 
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OGRipper

back alley ripper
Feb 3, 2004
10,647
1,116
NORCAL is the hizzle
I really want Greg to win and I think he will do it. Second choice would be Stevie, that would be pretty rad and he is rolling right now. Those are the two I hope will win. As for the rest, lots of contenders but for me, hard to get stoked about. Gee looks super fit and possessed, gotta figure he'll be up there. A Gwin could also happen, he needs to salvage the season. And it would be pretty cool to see Graves or Ropa*niner*ato get top results on their trail bikes.
 

Pegboy

Turbo Monkey
Jan 20, 2003
1,139
27
New Hamp-sha
So I just saw this thread and realized, hey I am in South Africa right now for work, maybe I should go to this? Then I thought, oh sh!t I should definitely go check this out, but it is a 6 hour drive each way from where I am. The DH finals and awards end around 6pm Sunday, then 6 hour drive home, then get up for work at 4:30 am Monday...

What should I do monkies?
Well, I lived in Vail during the 2000 Worlds and it was pretty cool.

SA seems to be a unique opportunity in that the mountain is fairly tame. To me, that means you can probably easily hike the course through out the day and see a few different vantage points. If you consider the European sites, some are so steep and thick that it would be a PITA to move around from location to location.

That being said, 6 hours is a long ass drive.
 

wiscodh

Monkey
Jun 21, 2007
833
121
303
so i just saw this thread and realized, hey i am in south africa right now for work, maybe i should go to this? Then i thought, oh sh!t i should definitely go check this out, but it is a 6 hour drive each way from where i am. The dh finals and awards end around 6pm sunday, then 6 hour drive home, then get up for work at 4:30 am monday...

What should i do monkies?
road trip!
 

atrokz

Turbo Monkey
Mar 14, 2002
1,552
77
teedotohdot
So I just saw this thread and realized, hey I am in South Africa right now for work, maybe I should go to this? Then I thought, oh sh!t I should definitely go check this out, but it is a 6 hour drive each way from where I am. The DH finals and awards end around 6pm Sunday, then 6 hour drive home, then get up for work at 4:30 am Monday...

What should I do monkies?
If you go:

You'll be a little tired, but you'll witness something that's a once in a lifetime opportunity, meet the pros, and watch what should be an awesome race. Drive safe and you'll be groggy the next day, and maybe even be able to convince your boss to take the morning off so you can sleep in or even the day. Again, a once in a life time opportunity.

If you don't go:

Regret.


Simple as that. Having watched 5 WC's live at Mt St Anne, it's a fun experience.
 

muddyfox

Monkey
Feb 13, 2002
167
0
North Vancouver, B.C.
Well, I lived in Vail during the 2000 Worlds and it was pretty cool.

SA seems to be a unique opportunity in that the mountain is fairly tame. To me, that means you can probably easily hike the course through out the day and see a few different vantage points. If you consider the European sites, some are so steep and thick that it would be a PITA to move around from location to location.

That being said, 6 hours is a long ass drive.
call in sick Monday
 

Pegboy

Turbo Monkey
Jan 20, 2003
1,139
27
New Hamp-sha
Wasn't that 2001? My memory is it was the weekend after 9/11 happened on Tuesday and a lot of foreign riders' flights were messed up and they couldn't get there. I remember Allison Sydor (sp?) winning the XC but that's it.
Yep, 2001 ..my bad.

I think it was Stik's wife, Leigh's, last race.

Side note: A friend of mine who is a photographer some how lined up a photo shoot with Cedric and Caro Anne at our local relatively secret shuttle spot in Avon. I showed up to take some runs and ended up meeting them and taking a run or two with..OK, behind them in short fashion. That's my cool story bro.
 

Lelandjt

Turbo Monkey
Apr 4, 2008
2,508
823
Breckenridge, CO/Lahaina,HI
Ropelato on the Enduro 29r: http://www.vitalmtb.com/photos/features/World-Championships-Bikes-and-Gear-2013,6282/Mitch-Ropelato-Running-a-Specialized-S-Works-Enduro-29-at-World-Champs,62981/sspomer,2

don't know what to think. Either he doesn't really feel like winning, or that course is really lame. 29rs can't even win at Enderpo races.
He won the ProGRT at Fontana on that bike, beating Gwin on a DH bike so maybe he knows what he's doing. I think that's the only time he's beaten Gwin.
 

RayB

Monkey
Jan 31, 2008
744
95
Seattle
No disrespect to Mitch Ropelato as he's a really good rider, but I think even he would agree that he's a fairly "long shot" to win this thing. Not hatin' on the kid -- it just is what it is.

That being said, it wouldn't surprise me if somebody @ Specialized "strongly suggested" that he ride the 29er on this stage to show what the bike is "capable of". After all, it is this same bike -- the Enduro 29er -- that outsells the 26" version something like 6-to-1.
 

tingers

Chimp
Mar 15, 2009
80
14
Well, I lived in Vail during the 2000 Worlds and it was pretty cool.

SA seems to be a unique opportunity in that the mountain is fairly tame. To me, that means you can probably easily hike the course through out the day and see a few different vantage points. If you consider the European sites, some are so steep and thick that it would be a PITA to move around from location to location.

That being said, 6 hours is a long ass drive.
Vail was in 2001. We drove something like 30 hours to get there and it was totally worth it. 6 hours ain't ****.
 

ritche

Monkey
Dec 3, 2011
311
19
who was the 2013 world champion then? Minaar was 2012.

Minaar also rode for HARO (made by intense) with manitou dorado fork,

03 world champion, Lugano switzerland.
 
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General Lee

Turbo Monkey
Oct 16, 2003
2,860
0
The 802
So are Clementz and Graves slaying 26er's in enduro Back to the Future???
So are Nico, Atherton, Maes, Minnaar, Barel and Absalon on 650b; Gracia and Leov (check the stage results from last EWS) on 29, Mosley on 26 and 29.... etc.

So many variables in any trail, even PMB, that you'll never be able to attribute a result to just wheel size or suspension travel, geometry, weight, tires, etc. That sure won't stop all the experts from trying, but at least it's fun to read.

*take Sea Otter for example. It's been won in recent years with a 4x bike, a full DH bike, and a 29er. So what's the best bike for Sea Otter? The one you think you can win on.
 
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klunky

Turbo Monkey
Oct 17, 2003
1,078
6
Scotland
Looks like Richie Rude just won the Juniors DH by almost 6 seconds and Tahnee Seagrave took the Junior Womens by almost 8 seconds!
 

slyfink

Turbo Monkey
Sep 16, 2008
9,289
5,029
Ottawa, Canada
wonder if we'll see the pro men come in under 3'50? Awesome result for Richie, good to see patience and hard work pay off. Does he race juniors again next year or is he into the seniors by then?

Same goes for Tahnée... sniped last year by Holly, but this year she made it happen.

Sly
 

JustMtnB44

Monkey
Sep 13, 2006
840
113
Pittsburgh, PA
So some asshole stole my wallet today, but I guess I shouldn't be too surprised this is Africa after all. As much as I want to go, I'm not sure how to get there without money or a driver's license... I've been trying to convince my co-workers to come but no luck so far.
 

dhmike

Turbo Monkey
Dec 20, 2006
4,304
43
Boise Idaho
So some asshole stole my wallet today, but I guess I shouldn't be too surprised this is Africa after all. As much as I want to go, I'm not sure how to get there without money or a driver's license... I've been trying to convince my co-workers to come but no luck so far.
Hitch hike .
 

slyfink

Turbo Monkey
Sep 16, 2008
9,289
5,029
Ottawa, Canada
so people never get their wallets stolen in Pittsburgh?!

either way, dude that sucks. sorry to hear it. I hope you get it back, or it works out for you either way...