8 rounds at Val di Sol with World Champs at Val di Sol?
2014 team rumour and speculation!
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Close. 6 rounds at Val di Sol, 1 at Fort William, 1 on the Mt 7 Psychosis track, and world champs would be a Felix Baumgartner style free-fall race from space (starting high enough to dodge some asteroids of course). By the end of next year, that'll be the only thing that is steep enough for RM approval.
I was thinking:
VDS, Mt. 7 Pyschosis, Andorra, the Statue of Liberty (from the torch of course), the North Face of Eiger, and the Cliffs of Dover.
VDS, Mt. 7 Pyschosis, Andorra, the Statue of Liberty (from the torch of course), the North Face of Eiger, and the Cliffs of Dover.
Bingo. If you want DH to be TV-worthy with mass appeal. It either has to be champery, of full throttle moto style tracks with huge hucks. No one cares about twisty techy stuff through the woods.
No large group of people are ever going to sit down and watch DH racing on tv. Sure, some of your brahs might entertain you a few times and watch some coverage here and there, but it will never stick for non riders.
Joe Six pack might watch some bloopers of riders at the Red Bull Rampage for a minute or two during halftime, but that is about it. If you want to grow the sport, take a kid riding, because the only people interested in watching that stuff are the people who care enough to do it.
Joe Six pack might watch some bloopers of riders at the Red Bull Rampage for a minute or two during halftime, but that is about it. If you want to grow the sport, take a kid riding, because the only people interested in watching that stuff are the people who care enough to do it.
The problem with trying to make DH watchable by appealing to and focusing on the jumps is that *no one* will end up watching it. Freestyle and Joyride-esque events do the jumps much better than does DH, so DH would end up sidelined in favor of freestyle anyways.
Analogy: American Idol has way more viewers than Breaking Bad. Therefore we should make Breaking Bad more like American Idol!
Ultimately, in this age, there is no reason at all to seek out or want television coverage for your sport. The internet is way better. Less commercials, fewer doofus announcers (if you think the Red Bull guys are bad, just imagine Joe Buck casting DH), and the whole sport stays truer to its' roots. The internet coverage is a blessing, the lack of Joe Sixpack is a blessing, and it's great for us. Plus you get to cancel cable and save $50-100/mo like me.
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Someone throw Jeremy R some rep.
Done. He nailed it.
Jeremy R. DH racing being popular over, well said
Source to the bold above plz?
Fairclough deserves the heat because all he does is throw sick whips, and complain about X, Y, and Z tracks not being "proper downhill tracks". When the courses get "steep and technical" like he seemingly begs for on camera, he still doesn't put up results. Either his attitude sucks major and it affects his mental approach to racing, or he's simply not as fit as the other guys in the upper-echelon of the sport. Regardless, the negativity directed towards him is well-warranted.
FYI, his highest finish this year (7th IIRC) would NOT have been as high as it was, were it not for weather sh!tting on the Top-20 (which he was outside of)
Some fair points in here, especially the 'take a kid riding' part. But, have you seen the ratings in USA for Rampage and Joyride? they rival some mainstream ball sports and are top the list for action sports...yes, its not DH, but MTB gravity all the same. Also, the live views for the DH shows grow every year and are larger than some mainstream bullsh1t, like Piers Morgan for example! haha.
I have also seen the numbers for DH back in the day, it was pretty impressive. Would it ever get back to that? or be bigger? who knows...but to sit around and say 'never' is assuming a lot.
Nice post Jeremy, cheers.
I have also seen the numbers for DH back in the day, it was pretty impressive. Would it ever get back to that? or be bigger? who knows...but to sit around and say 'never' is assuming a lot.
Nice post Jeremy, cheers.
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Fairclough haters? couple of you guys are amazing. All I know about him is that he is very fun to work with, I enjoy watching him ride and the rides I have done with him are fun. At the end of the day, he expresses a feeling of 'fun on your bike' and I like that, stoked to have him on my program....I don't think i've ever seen him "beg for camera" time, perhaps he is just willing to talk and have a laugh on camera, instead of boring monotone tips about 'the course'?
I don't get how people can dislike one of the most enthusiastic guys on a bike. So he doesn't like pedaling and wants to see more gnarly courses. Don't we all? It just so happens that people want to film or record him when he says it.
I don't care if he's not in the top 10. He's still one of my favorite riders to watch just for style.
As far as speed- he still ends up as one of the 80 fastest DH racers in the world each and every world cup. Not too many people in the world who can also claim that.
The Fairclough haters are laughable. For one, the dude destroys you on a bike, period. Two, if you ever watched that guy ride in person you'd be so flabbergasted at his speed and style you'd want to quit riding and contemplate how it's even possible he's beatable in a world cup setting. And three, he's a nice, personable guy that isn't boring in the spotlight and tells it like he thinks it is, who cares if you don't agree, you're probably not there racing.
Dondon is the source. That should be enough.
I'm not a Fairclough hater, I just think he should stop whining so much and act a little more pro, and pedal like a beast and get the results most of us want to see him get.
I agree on the first part. Lets use Slope and Freeride events to gain more visibility for gravity mtb as a whole and it will trickle down to dh.
On the other hand I wouldn't say internet is better. I supervise web marketing for a big movie distributor in Poland and while you can choose your content the direction in which the net is progressing we may end up with comparable number of commercials only they will be even more annoying. For example there are VOD prerolls that pause when you switch tab in your browser. Not to mention online is one huge tabloid and while it's great for niches if mtb expands (and I hope it will ) there are risks to how our sport is portrayed.
On another note has anyone seen the reworked Maribor track they did for the IXS? It may be cosmetic but man it looks fun. It was great even when it was beat up but now it looks like you can go really fast there. Wish I had some spare cash to go there after the IXS.
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Agree with the "take a kid riding"!
But I think we can get people that watch MX, SX or alpine ski racing interested in DH. And not in a "watch those freaks" way as many non-bikers perceive Rampage but in a way that they appreciate DH racing as serious sport with real athletes. And no, I am not advocating for making all courses like Leogang. But if we keep the variety, maybe include an urban DH race into the world series as well, then the diversity of the sport is well represented.
Here's the top 20 guys. It's raining
1. Steve Smith -Devinci. Stevie has been with Gabe since the beginning, and is at top of his game. He seems like loyal guy, I've heard Devinci's sales are up 150% from last year, I imagine Devinci is aware of his value and will make effort to pay him fairly.
2. Gee Atherton- GT. Had fire in his eyes this season, and looked like man to beat. Will be top contendor for forseeable furture.
3. Greg Minnaar- Santa Cruz, world champ. Always a podium threat, particularly on fitness and sprinting tracks, but really doesn't have a weakness. Getting older, surgery, I think he will retire when he is no longer top 3-5 contender.
4. Loic Bruni- Lapierre. Did anyone expect this kid to finish 4th this year? He is going to be one of the top 3 guys soon, and will be at top of the sport for a long time to come. Seems happy under Nico's guidance, and looks up to Blenki. Hopefully his race success will translate into increased Lapierre sales & distribution and they can pay him what he's worth. Kid should practice english and film more getting rad on big jumps. He does not get much coverage for how quick he is.
5. Sam Blenkinsop- Lapierre. I did not expect him to do so well this season... kinda expected Brook, Troy, Josh, Danny to be taking those spots. Blenki seems to have matured a bit, training hard. I am really stoked to see him doing so well, and hope he becomes consistant podium threat. Lapierre really has the strongest team these days, results wise.
6. Mick Hannah- Polygon-hutchinson. Awesome results for Mick this year!
7. Troy Brosnon- Specialized. Kid will be in top 5 soon.
8. Sam Hill- Nukeproof/ CRC. I don't think we will see him in top 5 overall again...
9. Danny Hart- Giant. I expected more from him last season. Is he going be top 3-5 guy, constant podium threat? Or top 10 contender?
10. Remi Thirion- Commencal. Only other dood to win a world cup other than Gee & Stevie, and does it in commanding fashion down the raw Vallnord track. I'm not sure whether he will be a consistant top racer, or wildcard to look out for on the gnar tracks like Champery and Val Di Sol. Kinda like Damien Spagnolo...
11. Marcelo Gutierrez Villegas- Evil- homey gets results, and not much coverage. I would be surprised if he is not top 10 next year.
12. Andrew Neethling- Giant. Pretty good year for him. Would love to see him win a race once. I don't think he will ever be a top 5 guy.
13. Aaron Gwin- Specialized. What happened last year? The bike? The competition catch up? His head? Jesus is testing him? Who knows. Biggest question mark for me next season....
14. Josh Bryceland- Santa Cruz. this his best season ever? Seems to be steadily improving result, huge talent on the bike. I don't think he has that "win at any costs" drive that the top guys like Gee, Greg, Stevie do...
15. Neko Mulally- Trek- usa! usa! usa! Kid is starting to get results...
16. Brendan Fairclough- Scott. I think this is his best season too. I don't think he will ever be a top 10 racer. He is just not very strong, physically. Insane skills on the bike, but he will never sprint like Mick Hannah or Jared Graves; even if you pumped him full of steroids and put him on insane training plan. I also think he lacks that racer edge mentally. I love watching him ride, tho.
17. Florent Payet- he doesn't speak english, so I really don't know too much about the guy. Evil
18. Matt Simmonds- CRC- seems like one of the faster brits coming up. However, there are so many fast brits, many of them with charisma and style. Peaty or Bryceland or Hart or Fairclough or Gee all seem like riders that would influence other's bike purchase decisions more than Simmonds
19. Steve Peat- Santa Cruz- I hope he never stops racing; as long as he is having fun and challenging himself, he will be selling V10's to middle aged guys.
20. Marc Beaumont- GT. I would be looking for a different ride.
1. Steve Smith -Devinci. Stevie has been with Gabe since the beginning, and is at top of his game. He seems like loyal guy, I've heard Devinci's sales are up 150% from last year, I imagine Devinci is aware of his value and will make effort to pay him fairly.
2. Gee Atherton- GT. Had fire in his eyes this season, and looked like man to beat. Will be top contendor for forseeable furture.
3. Greg Minnaar- Santa Cruz, world champ. Always a podium threat, particularly on fitness and sprinting tracks, but really doesn't have a weakness. Getting older, surgery, I think he will retire when he is no longer top 3-5 contender.
4. Loic Bruni- Lapierre. Did anyone expect this kid to finish 4th this year? He is going to be one of the top 3 guys soon, and will be at top of the sport for a long time to come. Seems happy under Nico's guidance, and looks up to Blenki. Hopefully his race success will translate into increased Lapierre sales & distribution and they can pay him what he's worth. Kid should practice english and film more getting rad on big jumps. He does not get much coverage for how quick he is.
5. Sam Blenkinsop- Lapierre. I did not expect him to do so well this season... kinda expected Brook, Troy, Josh, Danny to be taking those spots. Blenki seems to have matured a bit, training hard. I am really stoked to see him doing so well, and hope he becomes consistant podium threat. Lapierre really has the strongest team these days, results wise.
6. Mick Hannah- Polygon-hutchinson. Awesome results for Mick this year!
7. Troy Brosnon- Specialized. Kid will be in top 5 soon.
8. Sam Hill- Nukeproof/ CRC. I don't think we will see him in top 5 overall again...
9. Danny Hart- Giant. I expected more from him last season. Is he going be top 3-5 guy, constant podium threat? Or top 10 contender?
10. Remi Thirion- Commencal. Only other dood to win a world cup other than Gee & Stevie, and does it in commanding fashion down the raw Vallnord track. I'm not sure whether he will be a consistant top racer, or wildcard to look out for on the gnar tracks like Champery and Val Di Sol. Kinda like Damien Spagnolo...
11. Marcelo Gutierrez Villegas- Evil- homey gets results, and not much coverage. I would be surprised if he is not top 10 next year.
12. Andrew Neethling- Giant. Pretty good year for him. Would love to see him win a race once. I don't think he will ever be a top 5 guy.
13. Aaron Gwin- Specialized. What happened last year? The bike? The competition catch up? His head? Jesus is testing him? Who knows. Biggest question mark for me next season....
14. Josh Bryceland- Santa Cruz. this his best season ever? Seems to be steadily improving result, huge talent on the bike. I don't think he has that "win at any costs" drive that the top guys like Gee, Greg, Stevie do...
15. Neko Mulally- Trek- usa! usa! usa! Kid is starting to get results...
16. Brendan Fairclough- Scott. I think this is his best season too. I don't think he will ever be a top 10 racer. He is just not very strong, physically. Insane skills on the bike, but he will never sprint like Mick Hannah or Jared Graves; even if you pumped him full of steroids and put him on insane training plan. I also think he lacks that racer edge mentally. I love watching him ride, tho.
17. Florent Payet- he doesn't speak english, so I really don't know too much about the guy. Evil
18. Matt Simmonds- CRC- seems like one of the faster brits coming up. However, there are so many fast brits, many of them with charisma and style. Peaty or Bryceland or Hart or Fairclough or Gee all seem like riders that would influence other's bike purchase decisions more than Simmonds
19. Steve Peat- Santa Cruz- I hope he never stops racing; as long as he is having fun and challenging himself, he will be selling V10's to middle aged guys.
20. Marc Beaumont- GT. I would be looking for a different ride.
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Marcello -> Giant
Fairclough -> had better overalls in both 2007 and 2009
Redbull Honda team maybe haha
There are enough riders on the WC and they should get to pick where they want to race to make up the world cup rounds. It would be an interesting tactic and I'll bet RSA will never be seen again and hello Champery and Schladming. (Does Nevegal still have a good DH track ?, I guess theres Val Di Sole thou)
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This place is like a consistently grumpy mushroom trip. So, so weird.
If you look over previous W/Cup results, Danny is the only guy with as many top 3 finishes as he has that is yet to win a round. Given that, and his champs result, it's only a matter of time before he's on the top step.
I've heard rumours that due to bickering from 'hordes of angry web trolls' new UCI chairman Brian Cookson is implementing a new no timing rule at all UCI sanctioned DH races.
Much like games played by kindergarten children, no timing or scores will be given out at races anymore, the aim is that everyone has fun and goes home with a smile on their face.
Cookson has stated that 'desire to win syndrome' is in danger of ruining the sport:
"Simply put, riders that want to win and have a professional attitude to the sport are very uninteresting. Their commitment to trying to win is often taken as arrogance or a serious character flaw by internet forum users who's lives are mostly trivial and dull in comparison to someone like Gee Atherton, whose incredible focus is often mistaken for mild form of aspergers.
First signs of DTW syndrome ruining the sport where shown by Brian Lopes, scientists have struggled for years to determine whether Flying Brian 55 Lopes has always been an insufferable cock smuggler or if it was case of DTW sundrome that turned him into a smug douche. The investigation has been made harder due to Brian being unavailable for comment as he is in europe battling Richie schley for career prolonging second tier sponsors."
Worries that DH will turn into the freeride epidemic of the late nineties are unfounded sates Cookson in an interview with the world largest online mtb community, Rocky Roads. "The late 90's was a sad time for all of us, fortunately the new no time series will still use real DH riders on real DH tracks and not just guys willing to rag doll their 12" travel, 15"bb Karpiels off cliffs". Although under harsher questioning Cookson could neither confirm or deny that the middle straight of PMB would be replaced by a pump track complete with tramp jump.
Much like games played by kindergarten children, no timing or scores will be given out at races anymore, the aim is that everyone has fun and goes home with a smile on their face.
Cookson has stated that 'desire to win syndrome' is in danger of ruining the sport:
"Simply put, riders that want to win and have a professional attitude to the sport are very uninteresting. Their commitment to trying to win is often taken as arrogance or a serious character flaw by internet forum users who's lives are mostly trivial and dull in comparison to someone like Gee Atherton, whose incredible focus is often mistaken for mild form of aspergers.
First signs of DTW syndrome ruining the sport where shown by Brian Lopes, scientists have struggled for years to determine whether Flying Brian 55 Lopes has always been an insufferable cock smuggler or if it was case of DTW sundrome that turned him into a smug douche. The investigation has been made harder due to Brian being unavailable for comment as he is in europe battling Richie schley for career prolonging second tier sponsors."
Worries that DH will turn into the freeride epidemic of the late nineties are unfounded sates Cookson in an interview with the world largest online mtb community, Rocky Roads. "The late 90's was a sad time for all of us, fortunately the new no time series will still use real DH riders on real DH tracks and not just guys willing to rag doll their 12" travel, 15"bb Karpiels off cliffs". Although under harsher questioning Cookson could neither confirm or deny that the middle straight of PMB would be replaced by a pump track complete with tramp jump.
Not to mention take a kid riding sounds great but it won't have a big reach like reaching mainstream media. If preaching our sport made it popular half of the world would be riding 29ers
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The only relevant comment so far.
I hope like hell it doesn't reach mainstream media, that just means more a$$holes will be riding. Organic growth from riders/shops/local races getting family and friends, especially children, into riding is 100x better for the sport than mainstream media. The kind of people that need to be told from mainstream media what to do aren't people I want on my local trails.
Yep. Given Hart's DOMINATING Champery world champs run, I had high hopes for him last season. I thought it would be the year he started standing on the podium regularly....
At the beginning of the season, I would have predicted:
1. Gwin
2. Greg
3. Stevie
4. Gee
5. Danny or Brook.
I signed up for that Dirt fantasy league, though I only set up my team at beginning, and never changed it.
I went with Danny Hart, Loic Bruni, Nick Beer, Colin Fearon, and Jill Kintner.
I was back an forth between Stevie at $350 and Hart at $300, ended up going Danny, cuz I though he would finish top 5, and open up more $$$ for Bruni and Fearon. I figured those kids would get a few top 20's, Bruni might finish in top 20 overall....
Obviously my crystal ball is a little cloudy, but it's fun to talk about on rainy days.
Not to nitpick, but I think he meant Beg for a better course on camera, not beg for camera time... and I agree w/your sentiments, Fairclough is awesome to watch regardless..
Oh, man!
I took my son to Highland in NH this past Saturday, the same day they were holding a kids camp. I put him in the same camp 4 years ago and there was about 5 kids signed up. This year they had 16 KIDS! At a quick glance, most were on 18" Walmart BMX and mountain bikes, there was another group of 6 or so slightly older kids on 24" DH bikes.
I speculate this is a good thing.
I speculate this is a good thing.
¯\(o_o)/¯
