Ask the "godfathers of the sport" if they regret the hucks. Chances are they'll say no, infact, most of them were at Rampage this year participating in some capacity. Nobody with half a brain gets into mountain biking because it's a good career, 100% of the field at Rampage ended up there because somewhere along the line they fell in love with the sport and decided to focus on it, rather than any number of better paying extreme sports.
Zink is in a good position to criticize an event, especially a Red Bull event. He's the undisputed champ when it comes to pulling big ass tricks, is sponsored by a rival energy drink company (no doubt Monster encourages a little Red Bull bashing and cringes that their athlete is most known for his performance at RB's events), and he finally seems to have found himself a home in YT and Sensus, if he doesn't compete next year, he still has the cash to feed his kid. That said, it would be hard to argue that Rampage didn't make Zink and cement his status as a legend and innovator of freeride. It's a very co-dependent relationship.
Or one better then RB's, anyway. Think theirs are any good?
Broken necks are what closed the most popular and closest mtb resort to LA for 10 years, and probably will again after the last two fatalities there this summer. To think an event like Rampage isn't subject to the same path is colossally stupid.
Wouldn't making it a jam session still get Red Bull the same epic footage that in turn would get them the same kind of exposure, but instead of one guy getting a huge check, and everybody else going home empty handed, they all go home empty handed, except the guys who crash, they'd go to the hospital, but maybe they could pay with the street cred earned at the previous years event? At least nobody would get up in arms since it's just a jam session, after all.
"sentiment now.
therein lies one of the problems. sponsorship money in MTB (whether its racing / slope / freeride) isn't the same as it is in other sports, especially when you look into the other sports that make up the Red Bull signature series.Funny to read the "Rampage F-Ya!!" Sentiment early in thread and "Rampage
Does anyone think any rider is showing up without comprehensive med insurance including short and long term disability?
Pro riders dont make their salaries off contest winnings, nor are contest winnings expected to pay T&E - they have budgets with sponsors for that.
Pro riders earn money by getting their RB/Monster etc logos on espn or visa tv commercials, and rampage provides the platform to accomplish that.
mountain biking is less marketable to a broad audience than other sports.
in general yes. but rampage is one of RB's most watched events
Its costing riders money now, and they are at risk of huge medical bills. If rb covers that its a big weight of their shoulders and they would get plenty of exposure in order to get other sponsors.
Exactly my point, Fest works because it's riders pushing eachother, same as Rampage. Difference being the winner of Rampage gets a check and the winner or Fest gets mad props. We complain that MTB doesn't pay as well as other extreme sports, but now we're saying nobody should get the big check?
true, but its free to view.
and how much of this money do the athletes see?
i believe USAC actually has some form of basic insurance for riders in the event they are injured at a USAC sanctioned event.
i think the bigger issue is how they handle'd Paul's injury that has people upset. and the subsequent discovery of how little prize money their is, investment on part of the riders/builders, and that in order to compete riders have a waive RB of any liability.
Meh......like a lot of people I couldn't care less about aggy's feelings while he's sitting at the top of a ridge stressing about wind with 10 minutes to drop or go home.
That's because you have a cold, black heart my friend.
