[slimshady]

One of the things I like about EWS, is that it is way less 'clinical' than WC DH has become. With the exception of Laurie Greenland, Bulldog and a few other rowdy riders, WC DH has - especially in the age of 29ers become super precise and less ragged.

This. On the last few races the top spot was defined by who made less mistakes, not by who was faster, at least on the Elite Men class. DH is looking more and more like golf, F1 or tennis, in the sense it's getting more and more about not messing up or diverting from the fastest path along a track. Maybe if the tracks were more diverse things would get a bit more interesting.

Don't get me wrong, riders have become fast and technical as hell in the last few years. But dumb motorway sections and a couple tight switchbacks are defining the races IMHO.

 

[FlipFantasia]

WCDH is awesome no doubt, but pinning gnarly natural trails pretty much blind is basically the epitome of mountain bike riding, if that bores you, you probably suck

 

[Bike078]

Audio from vital. It seems Samuel may not be entirely done with DH yet (around 4 minute mark).

https://m.vitalmtb.com/photos/features/UNSTOPPABLE-Enduro-World-Series-La-Thuile-Race-Slideshow,11895/Slideshow,0/sspomer,2

 

[captainspauldin]

I guess it is kind of like comparing Formula One to WRC - F1 will always have the speed and broadcast appeal, WRC just seems a bit more rowdy and unpredictable. But WRC and Enduro coverage sucks. You can always sit down for an hour, crack a beer and just watch a WC DH race unfold. Enduro takes too long and is spread out over too far to watch live.

Great comparison. Funny enough watching those EWS recaps/highlight videos remind me a lot of the WRC coverage I've seen in the past.

 

[fwp]

WCDH is awesome no doubt, but pinning gnarly natural trails pretty much blind is basically the epitome of mountain bike riding, if that bores you, you probably suck

I agree, any racing is better to watch than 99% of tv. I grew up watching Norba races on espn 2 in the 90's. Enduro isn't WC DH, but its not like you can't watch both? I Love watching Hill destroy the EWS boys, proving generational talent is rare no matter the format. My only issue with the enduro format is the practice, home court/ local advantage is pretty lame and unfair. Which makes Hill winning half the races even more impressive.

 

[FlipSide]

I love all those EWS Highlight videos. I find it's a very good show. The Sam Hill and Cecile Ravanel domination is really impressive.

I think we are witnessing some of Sam Hill's finest moments on a bike. I find the format is perfect to appreciate it's incredible composure on the bike and amazing line choices. The tracks are awesome too.

 

[Gary]

I Love watching Hill destroy the EWS boys

I love that we still think of reigning EWS champion Sam Hill as not an EWS guy.

 

[slimshady]

I love that we still think of reigning EWS champion Sam Hill as not an EWS guy.

DH guy in drag?

 

[roflbox]

DH guy in drag?

DH guy in retirement?

 

[Gary]

DH guy in drag?

Ha ha... you wish!

a bit of dim lighting, a few glasses of wine and we all would.

 

[Bikael Molton]

La Thuile terrain looks fun as shit

 

[toodles]

I find the format is perfect to appreciate it's incredible composure on the bike and amazing line choices. The tracks are awesome too.

I agree - the courses are bloody excellent. The rawness of the trail and the wide taping for the most part lets the riders really exploit different line choices. Watching Hill's race lines where he's cutting through vegetation and straightlining chicanes etc is fantastic. The guy just has an eye for the fastest way through every section.

 

[Bike078]

I agree, any racing is better to watch than 99% of tv. I grew up watching Norba races on espn 2 in the 90's. Enduro isn't WC DH, but its not like you can't watch both? I Love watching Hill destroy the EWS boys, proving generational talent is rare no matter the format. My only issue with the enduro format is the practice, home court/ local advantage is pretty lame and unfair. Which makes Hill winning half the races even more impressive.

As far as I know in the EWS racers are allowed a trackwalk and only one practice run per stage. Sam says he goes slow in practice then watches go pro footage. Nothing to be done for local advantage, eddie did say his podium achievement in rotorua has an asterisk next to it because he knew the trails more than most. Melamed is Whistler local but Hill beat him by 17 seconds on Top of the World.

I miss seeing Hill on the WC circuit riding like he did in 2014 and nothing beats live race day action.

 

[Bike078]

Ha ha... you wish!

a bit of dim lighting, a few glasses of wine and we all would.

@Gary, even with a few glasses of vodka there is no mistaking the eyebrows.

 

[DaveW]

@Gary, even with a few glasses of vodka there is no mistaking the eyebrows.

Just lay back and think of Frida Kahlo?

 

[chris_f]

Imagine how much more fun enduro would be to watch if they did it on actual DH bikes.

 

[slimshady]

Imagine how much more fun enduro would be to watch if they did it on actual DH bikes.

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but was there a time when there were stages DH races somewhere? Like 3-4 DH runs on a single day combined?

 

[Gary]

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but was there a time when there were stages DH races somewhere? Like 3-4 DH runs on a single day combined?

Yes. Mini DH was like that. (not sure if it was just a UK thing) A few different stages on the same hill. No pedalling up between and the stages were purely DH but short.

 

[Lelandjt]

In Colorado there used to be a series with 3 DH races on 3 different tracks in one day at a resort (combined time). I remember the one at Sol Vista attracted a bunch of WC racers like Minaar, Hannah, and Ropelato.

 

[roflbox]

I would watch multi dh run DH

 

[slimshady]

In Colorado there used to be a series with 3 DH races on 3 different tracks in one day at a resort (combined time). I remember the one at Sol Vista attracted a bunch of WC racers like Minaar, Hannah, and Ropelato.

That's the one I remember. Would certainly make for a really entertaining event to watch, if it ever comes back again.

 

[Nick]

In Colorado there used to be a series with 3 DH races on 3 different tracks in one day at a resort (combined time). I remember the one at Sol Vista attracted a bunch of WC racers like Minaar, Hannah, and Ropelato.

the Triple Dip !

that was a great idea.

 

[Mo(n)arch]

That's the one I remember. Would certainly make for a really entertaining event to watch, if it ever comes back again.

Lol what. That format would equally suck balls as enduro does in terms of watching it on TV/online. Transfers to different tracks, pauses to repair the bikes, probably moving the timing equipment, cameras etc.
Sh!t won't work.

You could possibly have something like two runs on the same track for the 20 fastest riders from run no.1. The same system more or less is used in alpine ski racing, slalom and giant slalom.

 

[Gary]

You could possibly have something like two runs on the same track for the 20 fastest riders from run no.1. The same system more or less is used in alpine ski racing, slalom and giant slalom.

A few regional UK races and the european IXS had exactly that.
After race runs the top 20 overall (over all categories) went back up to challenge for a separate sponsored prize race.

Mini DH was actually a pretty good format from a DH perspective. None of the shitty uphill/dragged out flat/shit parts on stages like UK Enduro always includes and uplifted or push up rather than "transitions" and time penalties.
They still run a mini DH format for kids here. but it's basically an open timed course and the kids get to do as many runs as they want over an afternoon or morning.
Yeah. Mini DH would have been Shite for LIVE TV spectating. But so is enduro. infact most bike racing is. (only real exceptions being track and BMX)
The best mtb format for TV spectating is still 4X. We just never really had tracks design cleverly enough to make racing properly competitive.

 

[Mo(n)arch]

Hill is the champion again.
Richie Rude with back to back wins. Moar travelz seems to keep him from flatting.

 

[dcamp29]

Hill is the champion again.
Richie Rude with back to back wins. Moar travelz seems to keep him from flatting.

I think he ran dual Assegai's for both wins... might be better casing or tread blocks in the right spot to keep from cutting the tread area.

 

[manhattanprjkt83]

Did anyone notice that rude BENT, and XTR crank this weekend...Has anyone heard of that ever? I have not...XTR is the same metal t2000 was made of.

 

[dcamp29]

have you seen him ride?

 

[HAB]

have you seen him ride?

I'm amazed that his bikes don't just disintegrate down to the atomic level at the first sight of rocks.

 

[toodles]

I'm amazed that his bikes don't just disintegrate down to the atomic level at the first sight of rocks.

Given the reputation Yeti has for durability, I'm assuming he is using custom solid carbon frames or something.

 

[jackalope]

Did anyone notice that rude BENT, and XTR crank this weekend...Has anyone heard of that ever? I have not...XTR is the same metal t2000 was made of.

I can't recall which WC race it was, but I think Luca bent both of his Saint crank arms. That's fake physics.

 

[KAZHA]

I can't recall which WC race it was, but I think Luca bent both of his Saint crank arms. That's fake physics.

MSA

 

[rockofullr]

have you seen him ride?

have you seen his legs?

 

[roflbox]

Saw on instagram, some EWS riders in a test stage / meeting for ebikes?

ebike world series?

I will put the first $50 towards sponsoring RMs VERY OWN @Toshi as a contestant

 

[slimshady]

Saw on instagram, some EWS riders in a test stage / meeting for ebikes?

ebike world series?

I will put the first $50 towards sponsoring RMs VERY OWN @Toshi as a contestant

@Toshi and @Gary for RM's ebikes team!!!

 

[6thElement]

@Toshi and @Gary for RM's ebikes team!!!

You forgot @jonKranked

 

[roflbox]

Please let me know where to send your $50 worth of panaracers Toshi!

Here would be the RM Ebike world series team:

Riders:
Tosh-e
Gar-e

Metrics and data acquisition:
JBP

EMT:
Eric

Overnight trail "improvement" / "optimization" / whiskey testers:
Jackalope
Suboptimius

Social Media video editor:
TN

PR and Front Office:
Jonkranked
kidwoo

Brake design and manufacturing:
UDI

IT:
skaredshtless

Aviation related logistics:
pesqueeb

 

[jonKranked]

You forgot @jonKranked

 

[Gary]

One thing an Ebike would improve about Enduro is being able to power-lag slide those tight corners all the clipped in riders pull god awful ugly endo turns round.

Even with a motor I'm still not interested in sprinting uphill in the middle of a timed descent though.

 

[schwaaa31]

Oooooohhhh shit. Here we go. The spirit of enduro.
https://www.vitalmtb.com/forums/The-Hub,2/Racers-fail-doping-tests-for-EWS,10324