[Lex]

Did anyone see the Jeep King of the Mountain coverage this past weekend? I love riding mountainbikes and have always thought it would be cool to see it on TV, but I still ended up changing the channel. I can describe it with one word...LAME!

Riding just doesn't make for good TV. I know, I know...they should have used more cameras and shot from better angles. I hate to say it, but none of that would have helped. Slalom/MtnX just looks lame on TV. To top it off, the interviews after every single run got old really quick. "I got a good start, found a good line and managed to block the rest of the way down." How many times can a viewer hear that and not think, "is there anything more to this sport?"

What do you think?

 

[8it]

I hear you, I was watching one of the Jeep events and was real excited to see it on TV but after a while it got kinda ZZZZZZZZZZ
They need some helmet cam thing going or something to jazz it up

 

[profro]

"I got a good start, found a good line and managed to block the rest of the way down." How many times can a viewer hear that and not think, "is there anything more to this sport?"

What do you think?

Not with the limited courses I've ridden. :

 

[MikeD]

I think we should add some WWF-style themes, personalities, and antics.

Or maybe just change 4x to a flat, paved track and do about 60,000,000 laps.

MD

 

[RhinofromWA]

I think we should add some WWF-style themes, personalities, and antics.

Or maybe just change 4x to a flat, paved track and do about 60,000,000 laps.

MD

We suffer 'cause of lack of sponsership space. Nothing to stare at for 60,000,000 laps.

 

[Brian Peterson]

Hey, the XC race from the Olympics made it on TV... Of course it was at 12:30am on Sunday....

Brian

 

[MikeD]

We suffer 'cause of lack of sponsership space. Nothing to stare at for 60,000,000 laps.

I think you provide plenty of sponsorship space, don'tcha?

MD

 

[Slugman]

I saw one that the guy on the right (my right) won everytime... made it seem like regrdless of the rider it was getting in that good lane that made the race.

Then again, I only watched 4 runs and then changed the channel.

 

[Kornphlake]

Yeah, why can't those TV producers make a local race look like NWD, only live and with only 2 cameras? I have to agree, mountain biking is just one of those sports that isn't very well suited for television, at least not racing. Mike D does bring up a good point though, somehow people get excited about driving in a circle for hours on end. Maybe we just need to market mountain biking programs to a specific, uh should we say, hmm, social class? Anybody watch extreem dodgeball, my wife caught it the other night as she was channel surfing, we couldn't believe that there was actually such a sport and there is a half hour program devoted to it several nights a week, it must be marketed toward some group, although it's not any group I fall into.

 

[Bonk]

I'm sorry, but I think that coruse had a LOT to do with the JKOM event looking so $h!tty. It was built so nobody could pour on the power right away.

 

[profro]

Yeah, why can't those TV producers make a local race look like NWD, only live and with only 2 cameras? I have to agree, mountain biking is just one of those sports that isn't very well suited for television, at least not racing. Mike D does bring up a good point though, somehow people get excited about driving in a circle for hours on end. Maybe we just need to market mountain biking programs to a specific, uh should we say, hmm, social class? Anybody watch extreem dodgeball, my wife caught it the other night as she was channel surfing, we couldn't believe that there was actually such a sport and there is a half hour program devoted to it several nights a week, it must be marketed toward some group, although it's not any group I fall into.

I can't believe that a course like the Snowshoe MTNx (long) course can't be covered like dh skiing.

 

[RhinofromWA]

I think you provide plenty of sponsorship space, don'tcha?

MD

No room for words on me......

I am more of a bumper sticker than a billboard

 

[Kornphlake]

Do you really like watching skiing? I think it's kind of boring after the first few runs too.

 

[Lex]

Yeah, why can't those TV producers make a local race look like NWD, only live and with only 2 cameras? I have to agree, mountain biking is just one of those sports that isn't very well suited for television, at least not racing. Mike D does bring up a good point though, somehow people get excited about driving in a circle for hours on end. Maybe we just need to market mountain biking programs to a specific, uh should we say, hmm, social class? Anybody watch extreem dodgeball, my wife caught it the other night as she was channel surfing, we couldn't believe that there was actually such a sport and there is a half hour program devoted to it several nights a week, it must be marketed toward some group, although it's not any group I fall into.

I think the big difference is that car racing has a speed factor that everyone can appreciate, and a crash factor that has a morbid sort of allure. Personally I think it's like watching paint dry (other than WRC), but obviously a lot of people can relate to it.

I ride and race bikes and still can't relate to televised mountainbiking. Skateboarding and BMX (non-racing events) have a WOW factor that anyone can relate to. Seeing someone do a tailwhip flair or any one of a million skateboard tricks can draw in anyone whether they ride or not. Seeing mountainbike gravity events just doesn't translate in the same way and certainly has zero WOW.

 

[Supa8]

Most people don't take bikes seriously. The last time they rode them is when they were kids. A "show" more on the lifestyle and with some racing and freeriding may peak some more interest than just racing alone.

Maybe a more slope style or flowy stunt type event would be more interesting for the average Joe to watch. The public loves to watch crashes and people doing insane things.

Whatever the case as long as I can ride my bike I will keep the TV off anyways.

 

[MikeD]

Seriously, I'm just as happy that the average person doesn't consider mountainbiking TV-worthy. I don't think the sport needs to grow, progress, or become more mainstream. I'd rather people watched their stupid reality shows than tried to become mountain bikers. I'm not saying we should discourage riding...I just don't think we need to make it more of a commercial commodity than it already is.

I think trail access would actually be worsened if more people started riding, especially DH style bikes. More people in body armor, shuttling trails and causing damage with clumisliy used 8" discs and 8" suspension and 2.8 tires.

MD

 

[Guess?Who]

There is a show on Fuel TV call Exposed that has been spotlighting DH racing and freeride. Last week they showed the North Shore with all of Diggers secret trails. They also showed Wade Simmons doing a 60' gap and busting leg. I hope they keep showing more stuff. I've been writing to them for months to start showing clips from Mountain biking videos but no luck yet. I bet if more of us emailed them, it will help. I also think if we write to OLN they might air DH racing again because it looks like they are getting more extreme to compete with FUEL TV. This year the gravity games will be aired on OLN.

 

[Zark]

Seriously, I'm just as happy that the average person doesn't consider mountainbiking TV-worthy....

Agreed. When Dh started getting really popular around here the number of incidents on the trail increased and spawned a lot of anti-bike groups (safetrails.org :mumble: ) Now the the poseurs are gone, the people who rode before, still ride now and the incidents are way down. Of course none of those newbies helped protect or maintain the access we had.

I seriously think people need a lisence to ride and can get it revoked by being a jackass.

Only bummer, I haven't seen a NORBA National or UCI world cup race on TV all year and I enjoyed watching that stuff.

 

[downhillzeypher]

causing damage with clumisliy used 8" discs and 8" suspension and 2.8 tires.

MD

HEYYYYY! Are you trying to tell me something mister?

You do have a point though. Trails would get more rutted, trashed, and crowded, but you can't say you don't hate it when people are all wtf when you say you dh.

 

[OGRipper]

Other than maybe mountain cross there is no mountain biking racing that is fun to watch on tv. It just doesn't translate. Ever watch a pro xc race on OLN? Phew, even knowing that I could never come close to matching the pace doesn't prevent it from being boring. I can watch freeride videos all day but even those are getting boring. I would watch red bull events and other freeride, dj and other extremejibbhucknesss but would rather watch Sanford and Son re-runs than an xc race. And I'm a certifiable bike nut, so if it's not working for me, why would it work for a non-biker?

I agree with MikeD, I also don't necessarily think more TV coverage is desireable. Especially since the race action is interspersed with lame commentary.

 

[Zark]

Especially since the race action is interspersed with lame commentary.

Message to Greg Herbold: Don't speak..... Ever.

 

[JohnnyBoyDH]

This is why our sport gets no $$$ and no growth in the mainstream. It looks flat, slow and easy on TV. Look at us. We eat and breathe this sport and we even get bored of watching it. I wonder what makes DH Skiing look decent on TV.....Something should be available to fix this.

 

[W4S]

This is why our sport gets no $$$ and no growth in the mainstream. It looks flat, slow and easy on TV. Look at us. We eat and breathe this sport and we even get bored of watching it. I wonder what makes DH Skiing look decent on TV.....Something should be available to fix this.

It all comes down to creative coverage. DH skiing actually shows the speed because the camera follows the racers through a significant portion of the course instead of 1 or 2 stagnant sections like OLN. If producers utilized overhead cameras and had several cameras with creative angles that allowed more coverage, I think we'd see a better packaged sport. However, this won't happen until sponsors feel that they'll get a decent ROI.

How do you appeal to sponsors?
By attracting a significant audience that will buy their product.

How do you produce a larger audience?
By making the sport appeal to more people.

How do you make the sport appeal to more people?
By making the sport easier for them to participate.

How do you make the sport more appealing?
By making it cheaper and easier to ride.

Kind of a Catch-22 if you ask me.

If there were a large DH MTB park in central OC, do you think more people would ride DH bikes?

 

[Full Trucker]

Message to Greg Herbold: Don't speak..... Ever.

Or build anymore 4X tracks... ever.

 

[ÆX]

we need at least 10 cameras on the track. and 4 on the lifts.
i great editing team that knows bikes racing. also needs 2 hrs
to show enought runs to build some sort of anticipation to keep people tuned
in. OLN's crap with to much talking to show hosts, and then showing 4-6 riders in 2 differenrt sections will not do! it iss DODO!

 

[Roasted]

Yep...it sucks on tv. All the marketing in the world wouldn't work. It looks slow. Very rarely have I seen any footage and thought...wow thats fast. Nascar (which I hate) at least looks fast...MX...looks HUGE...bikecross doesn't...tv makes people look fat and makes objects look small and not steep. Fact of life. Mountain biking just cant cut it unfortunately.

 

[W4S]

Yep...it sucks on tv. All the marketing in the world wouldn't work. It looks slow. Very rarely have I seen any footage and thought...wow thats fast. Nascar (which I hate) at least looks fast...MX...looks HUGE...bikecross doesn't...tv makes people look fat and makes objects look small and not steep. Fact of life. Mountain biking just cant cut it unfortunately.

...think Steve Romaniuk in 'The Collective'. Looks likes he's hauling ass and going huge (of course, he is) and it shows. One of the best segments in MTB movies, IMHO.

 

[HRDTLBRO]

You have to say the chocolate milk commercial looks cool, though. It makes me smile every time I see it.

 

[BigHit-Maniac]

I agree. Keep us off the TV... but please don't stick me in the same category as the BMX/Freestylers. I don't grind on ledges, and tear things up.. and I'm sick of being put into that category.

God the masses are soooo dumb!!

 

[Andy_B]

We suffer 'cause of lack of sponsership space. QUOTE]



The Space is there... But right now all the races/reacers just advertise to them other riders.

This sport is much more tangable than anyother sport.... where else can you go to an event and rub elbows w/ the worlds best? They need to look at it that way. Any other sport you need to shell out some serious$$$ to even meet or be in the same room with that person....

 

[Motionboy2]

Everything is interesting if it is done well. I don't believe that there is no way to shoot the sport that will not make it look good.
If the courses offered flow and AIR with a nice finishline jump. Enough cameras to allow the TD to cut between them to add to the action. Hell add 1 more competition to the series, make one jump on every course where points are assessed for style.
If people can sit and watch fishing on TV then cycling can be interesting as well. Look at the Tour, you get into it because they are racing and then cutting away to lances story or tylers story or the history of the town they are riding in...
There is so much potencial.
The fact that you changed the channel just means that they aren't doing it right.

 

[Roasted]

...think Steve Romaniuk in 'The Collective'. Looks likes he's hauling ass and going huge (of course, he is) and it shows. One of the best segments in MTB movies, IMHO.

Thats why I said 'very rarely'...

That was one of 3 scenes in 40 some odd movies that looked fast.

 

[Motionboy2]

Thats why I said 'very rarely'...

That was one of 3 scenes in 40 some odd movies that looked fast.

I think some of the best race camerawork is in Sprung.
I thought it would be awesome if ESPN picked up DH for the Xgames and had one of their cable cameras there. The combination of that view as well as several stationary cameras with quality opperators and a good annoucer that can pick appart the tough parts of the course and make the non-cyclists relate would be killer!

I was talking to some people this weekend and at the worlds in europe the last 10 DHers have 4 minute gaps and a helecopter follows them for live tv! If that isn't cool then nothing is.

 

[W4S]

I was talking to some people this weekend and at the worlds in europe the last 10 DHers have 4 minute gaps and a helecopter follows them for live tv! If that isn't cool then nothing is.

Is there a way of getting that euro coverage on tape? I'd love to see how it looks. Helicopter coverage would definitely be an improvement, but wouldn't it still lack dimension for the rider to background. It wouldn't really show air or technical lines, just speed.

 

[Bullitrider]

I think it could be more interesting with better angles closer up. When the cameras are 100 yards away anything will look boring. Helmet cams, shoulder cams- that would be the hit. Closeups like in Nascar when they are head on looking at the cars entering a corner and blurring past kicking up debris. What's that one video where the camera is pointing at the face of the racer as he narrates his run? More bio-coverage of the racers-especially the women. They just need creative types that are actually part of the sport. Only then could you get a true translation of the sport/lifestyle. Yeah the trails might suffer but if it brought the cost of stuff down that would be cool too.

 

[Roasted]

Yeah I have never seen sprung. I have seen Earthed which was ok. But yes, good commentators and some decent x-games style filming would do wonders. And have camera on the tough spots. Whats with the camera (in every race footage) in the big berm after the technical section coming out of the woods (it reminds me of how every shot of whistler is the schleyer drop, it is just oo redundant to see 10 riders in a row scream around the same corner). Screw the berms ahhaha...

I think they could do a good job, but as is, with current funding, race footage is generally pretty lame. I even enjoyed OLN 2 years ago when they had all the footage of the wc's. Just that one dang corner at every event