Quantcast

Cairns World Cup 2014 - Rumble in the Rainforest

shelteringsky

shelteringsky

Monkey
May 21, 2010
325
272
Gwin on the whoops from his twitter:

"Hmm I think supercross came to town! Haha As cool as they look, they're a bit much for the speed your coming in with I think. Hope nobody explodes! #highwaytothedangerzone"

interdasting1.jpg
 
Last edited:
kidwoo

kidwoo

Artisanal Tweet Curator
Aug 25, 2003
42,149
13,358
Squirtin ketchup n' mustard on charred flesh
Man that seems like kind of a weird course to use for a WC in 2014. At least they cut out half a mile of sprinting from the wc race.

If they leave that left line in by the whoops, I guess the whoops are no longer an issue.
 
Last edited:
dan-o

dan-o

Turbo Monkey
Jun 30, 2004
6,499
2,805
Didn't look like the whoops were an issue for the trail dude who followed claudio, but hit the full section, either.
Loved ECs comments re: gwin wanting them removed; basically if one guy can ride them everyone can ride them.
 
bdamschen

bdamschen

Turbo Monkey
Nov 28, 2005
3,378
157
Spreckels, CA
dan-o said:
Didn't look like the whoops were an issue for the trail dude who followed claudio, but hit the full section, either.
Loved ECs comments re: gwin wanting them removed; basically if one guy can ride them everyone can ride them.
Click to expand...
Do you think Gwin really felt they should be removed or he just thought they were something unique and twitter worthy?
 
dan-o

dan-o

Turbo Monkey
Jun 30, 2004
6,499
2,805
bdamschen said:
Do you think Gwin really felt they should be removed or he just thought they were something unique and twitter worthy?
Click to expand...
I have no idea, just going off the photo caption and EC's supposed remarks about how controversial features are viewed by riders/officials. My post was praising EC insight not bashing gwin.
 
P

Pegboy

Turbo Monkey
Jan 20, 2003
1,139
27
New Hamp-sha
Gwin comes from a moto background..I find it really hard to believe that whoops concern him.

They had a set at Highland that were super fun..you basically would mach into them, triple in and double out. Granted, they were not as big, and they were in a straight line, but I'm no WC rider either.

I bet slippery clay and roots cause more of a problem than those whoops. Looks like a fun track with a mix of everything.
 
RayB

RayB

Monkey
Jan 31, 2008
744
95
Seattle
Looking at Gwin's IG photo of the whoops, it looks like you can pretty much just skip more than half of them just by taking the far (rider's) LEFT side...
 
TrumbullHucker

TrumbullHucker

trumbullruxer
Aug 29, 2005
2,284
719
shimzbury, ct
http://dirtmountainbike.com/mountain-biking-events/downhill/uci-world-cup/dirt-photo-gallery-track-walk-2014-cairns-world-cup-downhill.html

track walk pics




cool gwin quote from link above

"We asked him about Gwin’s opinions that the whoops section should be taken out for saftey’s sake. “Man, it just takes one rider to be able to ride them fast, and then there’s no way they’re getting removed. If one rider can do it fast, and then you complain, the UCI are just gonna tell you to ride them slower. That’s racing! I remember back racing at Big Bear again Dave Cullinan – there’d be some huge gap that we’d want taken out and then Dave would just send it. You’d just have to accept then that you were racing for second place! This is just the same.”"
 
Last edited:
dan-o

dan-o

Turbo Monkey
Jun 30, 2004
6,499
2,805
The PB photo comments mention that the tape keeps being moved to in/exclude the chicken line because riders are bitching. Sounds like the complaints are more than novelty comments. I hope they're taped tight and ruin peoples day.
 
jonKranked

jonKranked

Detective Dookie
Nov 10, 2005
89,399
27,622
media blackout
dan-o said:
The PB photo comments mention that the tape keeps being moved to in/exclude the chicken line because riders are bitching. Sounds like the complaints are more than novelty comments. I hope they're taped tight and ruin peoples day.
Click to expand...
"shut up and ride"
 
canadmos

canadmos

Cake Tease
May 29, 2011
22,380
22,151
Canaderp
Why would any riders comment on the safety of the whoops, right after hucking themselves through a rock garden that could potentially kill someone?

Granted safety should be a top concern for riders, but within the scope of downhill racing it seems silly in this case. I don't see a reason to take them out. Riders can either go home, use their brakes or just give'r. I'm in favour of seeing them all give'r. Should be a good watch on Saturday/Sunday.
 
OGRipper

OGRipper

back alley ripper
Feb 3, 2004
10,757
1,278
NORCAL is the hizzle
TrumbullHucker said:
cool gwin quote from link above

"We asked him about Gwin’s opinions that the whoops section should be taken out for saftey’s sake. “Man, it just takes one rider to be able to ride them fast, and then there’s no way they’re getting removed. If one rider can do it fast, and then you complain, the UCI are just gonna tell you to ride them slower. That’s racing! I remember back racing at Big Bear again Dave Cullinan – there’d be some huge gap that we’d want taken out and then Dave would just send it. You’d just have to accept then that you were racing for second place! This is just the same.”"
Click to expand...
When did Gwin race Big Bear with Cully? Guess I still think of him as the new guy.
 
E

ebarker9

Monkey
Oct 2, 2007
893
292
Didn't Matti Lehikoinen break both of his wrists on a similar whoop section in Canberra back some years ago?
 
R

ritche

Monkey
Dec 3, 2011
311
19
Chris Kovarik on his M9, in the house!

where is big boy Rennie?, what he's up to, enduro-ing?
will he show up?, hang around with the syndicate team in the pits?
 
Last edited:
weedkilla

weedkilla

Monkey
Jul 6, 2008
362
10
It's time for the next crop to win one - TB or Loic Bruni have this one. Danny Hart and Sam Hill will come close though.
Hannah's home track/extra practice advantage won't be worth much after today. I won't be surprised at all if these 5 are the podium, maybe in that order.
 
V

vikingboy

Monkey
Dec 15, 2009
212
2
looking at the track walk I wish there wasn't the line down the outside of the whoops...that could be a really interesting place to see different riders approach to carrying speed through that section. I suspect they might need to tame the entrance speeds a bit as it looks crazy fast at that point to be hitting whoops that high. Looks like a really fun track to ride. Going to be worth getting up in the middle of the night to watch this one Im sure
 
- seb

- seb

Turbo Monkey
Apr 10, 2002
2,924
1
UK
If you look at Sick Mick's vid, if it's dry it'll be possible for them to gap most/all of the whoops. Claudio going around is clearly quicker, but possibly only because the World Trail guy isn't sending them like a top world cup racer would.

So far I think there's been 6 videos/slideshows released, I've grouped them all together here for everyone's easy finding/viewing:

https://www.rootsandrain.com/race2000/2014-apr-27-uci-world-cup-2-cairns/videos/
 
slyfink

slyfink

Turbo Monkey
Sep 16, 2008
9,873
5,718
Ottawa, Canada
weedkilla's video clearly illustrates how slippery and tough those root sections are. I think this will be a race that rewards a soft touch and perfect technique. I'm thinking Danny Hart should do well.

I'm really dissapointed Stevie's not there.

for the ladies, I can see this going to Manon, Rachel or Emmeline. Tahnee could do well there too, as the track sort of reminds me of a slick Morzine (minus the braking bumps - for now!)
 
norbar

norbar

KESSLER PROBLEM. Just cause
Jun 7, 2007
11,516
1,738
Warsaw :/
canadmos said:
Why would any riders comment on the safety of the whoops, right after hucking themselves through a rock garden that could potentially kill someone?

Granted safety should be a top concern for riders, but within the scope of downhill racing it seems silly in this case. I don't see a reason to take them out. Riders can either go home, use their brakes or just give'r. I'm in favour of seeing them all give'r. Should be a good watch on Saturday/Sunday.
Click to expand...
Because there is a BIG difference between badly designed feature that makes the chance of crashing relatively big if you go fast vs one that is scary but relatively easy for the top pros. The reason is they crash, they may loose the season, possibly loose a sponsor and a job. You wouldn't be concerned if you had to do something with a similar potential cost? I know I would.

Comments like this really piss me off because it's that hardcore dude bro attitude that legitimizes bad and dangerous track design.
 
norbar

norbar

KESSLER PROBLEM. Just cause
Jun 7, 2007
11,516
1,738
Warsaw :/
kidwoo said:
Try this on: sack the fvck up and act like a professional. If you think it's dangerous, slow down. If you think it's doable, take the time to figure it out. No one is forcing you to do anything.

How's that?
Click to expand...
I think riders should have some say into what's dangerous and what's not. I never understood that notions that profesionals could never voice their opinion. In the job desciption does it say - "you know nothing about downhill tracks" ? Not trying to argue. It just really bugs me because I remember the same arguments when I was racing and the track was only modified AFTER someone got hurt, not after half of the field told the organizer someone will.

I also think that while no one is forcing the racers to do anything their pay and job depends on how fast they are so it's like saying to a stripper that no one is forcing her to strip. As long as you do the job there is no other way.
 
- seb

- seb

Turbo Monkey
Apr 10, 2002
2,924
1
UK
Yeah I'm with kidwoo here. It's a dangerous sport, no-one's making them do it and a lot of them love the challenge of this sort of thing.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom