rude was jr world champ for DH in '13, i remember a lot of people being surprised he made the switch to enduro for 2014.
2021 racing rumors
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wasn't the switch because yeti dropped their DH program and rude wanted to stay with them rather than go to another team for DH?
ah, good memory. i believe that's correct. may not have been the only factor, but certainly a major one.
Which is stoooopid if true. Hopefully its just the selection of courses this year and not a group of people cherry picking them.
I mean wasn't the whole point of enduro to NOT time the uphills? We're on a slippery slope heading towards a Down Country®™ race series! Or is it UpDuro℠ ?
It's probably in the industry's best interest to have endruo racers on bikes closer to the 5 - 6" all mountain type bikes most mortals like to ride rather than min-maxxing enduro specific 170 and 180 mm travel monsters. It's also probably in the EWS' best interest to cater to the industry so that factory teams show up, so there's that.
I do recall an (I think Wyn TV) interview with Jack where he compared racing EWS to World Cup DH. To paraphrase, he pretty much said WC DH was 100% of the speed you could muster with little regard for yourself or your bike in an effort to put down a magic run and it had to be nearly mistake-free to do well. He said EWS was more like an 80% speed recon run with an emphasis in trying to keep the bike alive. I think in that same interview he also mentioned he bumped down a size bike to stay nimble. It was interesting to me how much of a different mindset you need to be in to race EWS instead of WC DH.
Personally I blame the UCI
This year definitely saw an increase in the length of mid-stage climbs compared to the previous years. The first race had a mid-stage climb that was like 2 and a half minutes long. After half the field called it bullshit, they 'neutralised' the climb for the second race on that stage. That is long enough to severely disadvantage someone who, oh I don't know - might be a bit older and running flat pedals/a bike without lockout.
They're all fit as fuck though. Loic Bruni podiumed a WC XC event recently. I think it more disadvantages the slightly older guys or people carrying cumulative injuries etc.
The EWS had a new course official this year, plus the addition of "pro stages" and we saw a few puzzled regulars trying to get their heads around changes to the race format.
I hate timed climbing personally, so my opinion is obviously biased that this is all shit and I'm not interested in doing any of it anymore. The EWS100 and EWS80 don't have the strict liaison timing that the full pro EWS event has, so there's still that but I couldn't be stuffed spending my money to get to a race that might have a mid-stage climb like we saw this year. If professional full-time athletes are struggling to make stage start times, can you imagine trying to break through as a privateer or weekend rider?
The only EWS event I've done so far was the Whistler EWS80 and that had untimed liasions (i literally stopped and had a beer at Creekside), and a heap of lift accessed stages. I don't get why they need to turn these events from Type 1 to type 2 fun, but if series evolves that way so be it. I do think they risk alienating the fan base though - I can't imagine many want to see events decided this way. #MakeRacingFunAgain
that was XC eliminator, not XCO. big difference. eliminator is like a mix of 4X and short track XC. mostly flat and paved, and each heat lasts about a minute or 2.
Good points all around. Coming from a DH background and now with very limited time to "train", I don't want a huge weekend of pedaling up hill. But that's just me. I know the enduro events here can range dramatically in ups vs down. I'd pick my races based on that. Keystone vs. Aspen for example. No way was I riding on the road between Snowmass and Aspen. Eff that. I'd rather take the lift at Keystone and do the one little climb they make us do just to make it "enduro". But again, that's just me. 
Oh so you don't need to be fit then?
Yeah I don't mind big days out on the bike at all. Climbing sucks but if you don't rush me doing it, I'll happily plod uphills and get there eventually for a good descent. Timed climbing on the other hand can go to hell.Good points all around. Coming from a DH background and now with very limited time to "train", I don't want a huge weekend of pedaling up hill. But that's just me. I know the enduro events here can range dramatically in ups vs down. I'd pick my races based on that. Keystone vs. Aspen for example. No way was I riding on the road between Snowmass and Aspen. Eff that. I'd rather take the lift at Keystone and do the one little climb they make us do just to make it "enduro". But again, that's just me.
never said that, but a sub 2 minute sprint is a lot different than a 80-90 minute xco race.
edit: meaning more that it was easier for him to jump right into it from his DH specific training. probably couldn't do that in XCO from DH.
Haha I know man, I'm just taking the piss. They're all fit as hell. I think the DH to Enduro fitness difference is a lot less crazy than people make it out to be. If you can finish a 4 minute DH lap competitively, you're gonna be fine to get through an 8 minute enduro stage.
this. i've done the full ews a couple times - including the OG crankzilla - which was an absolutely grueling day, with lots of attrition due to to tight transitions. stressing on the (long, crushing) climbs with an eye on the clock is not good times. though necessary if you need to push a large volume of riders through the course in a manageable timeframe. adding the (untimed liaison) 80 / 100 options for non-pros was a great move, and necessary given the high demand (registration prior was by lottery). i also did the 80 last time the ews rolled through; was a fun, chill day - what recreational racing should be.
The Trans events I've done (BC,NZ) are great. You basically get all day to finish the stages. It is totally possible to walk the liasions if you had to/wanted to and they have plenty of drink/food stations out there to top you up. No set start order either so you can ride with your friends or even ride the stages together if you want (no mandatory start gaps).
Our crew traditionally does the last day of the event with a flask of booze to share and there's always beers at the finish line every day.
Our crew traditionally does the last day of the event with a flask of booze to share and there's always beers at the finish line every day.
Just saw that too. The post has already been pulled.
Another interesting reflection on Enduro vs DH was from Dean Lucas (iirc). He was saying that the objective of DH was to achieve a perfect run, while the objective of Enduro was to not fuck-up your run. Sounds about right.
Regarding each and everyone's appreciation of Enduro vs DH. I prefer DH, but I like Enduro quite a lot as well. Thankfully, we don't have to choose between the two. Personally, I would pick either before all the other judged competition garbage. I like watching the highlights and winning runs of Rampage and stuff like that, but I don't care about who wins and I certainly don't care about all the drama about who got robbed.
Until the various bike disciplines start including the ability to make german sodas disappear, taco gorging and fart quality part of the competition, they are all fraudulent and not reflective of true athletic accomplishment.
I think you mean Type A/B. Either way, no matter the sport to be highly competative you pretty much need to be type A. Someone like Bruni may seem like a chill dude but I bet he grinds his teeth at night thinking about winning.
I feel Enduro would be better if it returned to it's roots. Like no practicing or even knowledge of the stages beforehand, and still lots of long transfers. Riding trails blind at top speed is special.
Where's Weir when you need him? Oh yeah, on an e-bike.
Where's Weir when you need him? Oh yeah, on an e-bike.
I've seen a couple posts recently saying that's why (blind racing) they really liked some of the Trans races. I think it was specifically to the Cascade one that was just held in Oregon. That looked awesome, but pretty daunting to do 5,000 ft of climbing at altitude 4 days in a row.
I haven't raced yet, but have been thinking of dipping my toes in the water and doing a couple enduros next year. I have no illusions of being fast, and certainly not riding a track perfectly, but have slightly above average fitness so think that will help me at least not finish last.
I haven't raced yet, but have been thinking of dipping my toes in the water and doing a couple enduros next year. I have no illusions of being fast, and certainly not riding a track perfectly, but have slightly above average fitness so think that will help me at least not finish last.
Nah I meant Type 1 or 2 fun. IE, Type 1 is fun while you're doing it, Type 2 is fun when you're finished/survive.
I much prefer blind racing, although you need a smart race organiser and trails that suit it. You really can't race blind if there's high speed drops into corners or big doubles etc. People either get frustrated with slowing down and don't enjoy it or they blind send the wrong stuff and die.
The Trans BC was something like 4,000 - 6,000' per day for 6 days. I got through it with a combination of granny gear climbing and pushing the liasons with a good buddy talking shit and admiring the views. Once you get an entry you've got like 6 months to prep up for it and if you do some decent basework you'll be fine. Component choice for that one was critical for not having a major fuck up rob you of a full day out. Tick one off mate, I'm sure you wont regret it.
Huh never heard of that before.
Type 2 fun is everywhere! It’s fucking taking over!
#like
I love a good type 2 day out. My wife isn't always thrilled when we're in the middle of one though
Lmao mine gave up a long time ago....Im still jacked even broken off...she said it's a lack of mental growth...brain didn't fully developed fear or pain receptors...lmao...#like
I love a good type 2 day out. My wife isn't always thrilled when we're in the middle of one though
So is that type #3 lol
The allure of type 3 fun gets me every now and then.
I hate riding road, but when some of my buddies talk about doing the Death Ride (103 miles, 14,000 feet of climbing at altitude), I sort of want to give it a try just to see if I'll survive.
When I surf, the part I hate the most is paddling, but I have some friends who do a prone paddle about 30 miles from Santa Cruz to Monterey across the Monterey Bay for charity and I catch myself thinking... maybe...
I know I'll hate it, and I know I won't ever want to do it again when I'm done, but still...
Back on topic: Tinker is a legend and I even have him up on a pedestal from wanting to be like him and Ned when I was a kid just starting to ride, so I followed him on facebook... That dude on social media is a PR person's nightmare.
Hadn't heard of type 3.
What are the Three Types of Fun? - goEast
We all define "fun" differently, but when it comes to the outdoors, experiences fall into one of three types of fun, described here by Tim Peck.
goeast.ems.com
that's the joke about type 3 fun.Hadn't heard of type 3.
What are the Three Types of Fun? - goEast
We all define "fun" differently, but when it comes to the outdoors, experiences fall into one of three types of fun, described here by Tim Peck.goeast.ems.com
There's quite a few riders who are better of just being admired for their accomplishments without digging too far into their personal beliefs or opinions.
The only way to keep Sam Hill off the podium is changing the courses to suit his weaknesses.
The UCI did it in DH
The EWS wanted a new champ, so they put big climbs in the stages. Lame
Was it though? It did happen to coincide with when red bull took over broadcast rights, and their vision for dh broadcasts and suitable tracks didn't suit him.
Although it wouldn't have been the first time a race organizer planned a course that put a favorite at a disadvantage. It's been happening at least as far back as Merckx.
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Indeed. I remember some nasty stuff she said down here after breaking up with him.
Glad that I never had tmz/people magazine/social media style updates about bike racers when I was coming up. Frankly, could do w/o them here as well.
