Sheep chasing at an early age for training?We do have a bit of an unfair advantage though...
I think that's a bit harsh... does anyone remember Cam Cole laying out a fat whip on the big jump at the end of the Fort William course just as he was taking 2nd? The guy is fast on a bike and he's a showman too that loves amping up the crowd. I still like seeing him ride and I'm glad that he's back in the race circuit and healthy.Butch, I don't want to get in the way of your man crush on Gracia but here's may take on the guy: Sure he has quite the legacy and influence in the sport but his time has passed. It may not be his intention, but seeing a guy constantly pulling tricks while racing on the WC circut,...it's like he's clowning the sport IMO. It would be like seeing someone throw in a 360 in a DH ski race or watching the 2nd place superbowl team perform a celebration dance in the endzone. It might be amusing once, but it seems to be the only spotlight that he can desperately grab. I can see why the French federation did not pick him for worlds, he's not a good representative in the current world of RACING. I don't mean to hate on the guy but I think if you're not out to win, or at least climb the ranks, then it's time to move on.
meh. it all adds to the diversity / fun / spectacle of the event. if you can qualify, you deserve to be there, regardless of your motivation. on that note, it was cool to see vanderham out there as well; not a bad run.I think if you're not out to win, or at least climb the ranks, then it's time to move on.
Dude, I was joking. I live like an hour from Windham.There was plenty of lodging options, stores, gas, eateries, etc. What exactly were you looking for? Strip clubs and mini golf??
Besides, WC riders don't eat at drive thrus! As for the rest of us, we don't matter at a WC. As you may have noticed, its all about UCI.
Unfortunate for masses, but just the way it is.
You still had fun right??
Gracia is a great talent, with a penchant for showmanship. I think he could still be competitive with a certain amount of focus on the actual events.Oh, and now that you've all seen Cedric on a ripper of a run....can you imagine how high up he'd have finished if he stayed on the bike? Granted...that trick was insane!!!!
Sparse...?......Woman's race there were 2 people on course. One was the green shirt guy on the Hay Wagon eating a cheeseburger.Good to hear the crowds were bigger than what you could see on freecaster. It really did look pretty sparse.
Hah ha! I went to my first Carolina Panthers game last year. There was some professional tailgating going on.Sparse...?......Woman's race there were 2 people on course. One was the green shirt guy on the Hay Wagon eating a cheeseburger.
Was relieved to see crowds show up for the Men's race though.
Guess people were in the parking lot getting rev'd up.
Or a Kiwi named Blenkinsop . . . but they all sound the same right?Land of Convenience? There was not one burger drive through anywhere! Actually, i had to laugh out loud at a random brit on some windham vid saying that Windham was a 'hick town'. It seems that the whole "land of convenience" thing is now a world wide problem, not just a US disease.
Pro mtb racers are promotional tools. Some using racing results to promote their brands, Gracia doesn't. And guess what, he still kicks ass.Sure he has quite the legacy and influence in the sport but his time has passed. I don't mean to hate on the guy but I think if you're not out to win, or at least climb the ranks, then it's time to move on.
Dood, it's DH racing, not ultra enduro motocross or F1 racing, get over it.It may not be his intention, but seeing a guy constantly pulling tricks while racing on the WC circut,...it's like he's clowning the sport IMO.
It's all relative. Remember, Blenky is using the refined and cultured experience of NZ downhill racing in gauging the level of "hickness" at Windham.Or a Kiwi named Blenkinsop . . . but they all sound the same right?
Sort of a bad example. The pros and former pros commentating were screaming "Why is he costing himself time?" If he didn't whip, he might have snagged 1st and gotten paid a big contract. Makes no difference to a fan's life, but it might have cost him a hefty salary since nobody remembers second place.I think that's a bit harsh... does anyone remember Cam Cole laying out a fat whip on the big jump at the end of the Fort William course just as he was taking 2nd? The guy is fast on a bike and he's a showman too that loves amping up the crowd. I still like seeing him ride and I'm glad that he's back in the race circuit and healthy.
Same colony, different century.Or a Kiwi named Blenkinsop . . . but they all sound the same right?
What you are trying to say is if you ain't first you're last? As Ricky Bobby finds out from his dad its not true. I remember his whip but now who wonSort of a bad example. The pros and former pros commentating were screaming "Why is he costing himself time?" If he didn't whip, he might have snagged 1st and gotten paid a big contract. Makes no difference to a fan's life, but it might have cost him a hefty salary since nobody remembers second place.
exaxtly, from the footage shown on freecaster, it looked like a event with nearly no visitors at all. especially the finish area looked like half the people there are filmer or photographers. now compare this to la bresse last year where the finish area was packed with people.Trumpore, Fraser....easy on the fella. On Freecaster, which is all we had to go on, the crowd seemed smaller and quieter than a Euro World Cup. Maybe if there had been bleachers in the finish area? Or maybe the massive amount of ski slope to finish on scattered everybody out.
Loved watching it on Freecaster. It was the first time it literally streamed flawless for me.
Where Peat crashed...Gracia made reference that it was the scariest part of the whole course.
Oh, and now that you've all seen Cedric on a ripper of a run....can you imagine how high up he'd have finished if he stayed on the bike? Granted...that trick was insane!!!!
The course itself was rather long. There were a LOT of people up on the mountain hiking to watch.still seeing no big crowd after watching the dirt tv finals vid. did they all hide when a video camera showed up?
I loved the bar set up at the road gap jump! That part was packed.The course itself was rather long. There were a LOT of people up on the mountain hiking to watch.
Believe it or not, most of the spectators were standing very near the cameras. As you can imagine a good spot for a television camera is often a good spot for a human as well.still seeing no big crowd after watching the dirt tv finals vid. did they all hide when a video camera showed up?
brits LOVE to bag on the US, it's like their national pastime, just check pinkbike even though I think sethimus is gur-man.Believe it or not, most of the spectators were standing very near the cameras. As you can imagine a good spot for a television camera is often a good spot for a human as well.
Why the he*l do you care anyway?
I can assure you Cam's whips in Fort Bill are only adding to this 2011 cash wad!Sort of a bad example. The pros and former pros commentating were screaming "Why is he costing himself time?" If he didn't whip, he might have snagged 1st and gotten paid a big contract. Makes no difference to a fan's life, but it might have cost him a hefty salary since nobody remembers second place.
If ifs and buts were butts and nuts, we'd all be having an orgy.
shame their trail builders aren't smart enough to build a good finish sectionHence US fans are just a little smarter and know where to hang out.
it's our god given right as the populating, ex-colonising, annoying little cousinbrits LOVE to bag on the US, it's like their national pastime, just check pinkbike even though I think sethimus is gur-man.
Or to make the track more accesible for spectators. It was rugged hiking for most to get in close to the course. All the cut scraps were just thrown to the side outside the security zone where fans were expected to watch from. I saw people tripping and falling all day. Hopefully next year they consider that. Easier hiking=more fans on course.shame their trail builders aren't smart enough to build a good finish section
Are you sure - I managed fine in flip flops and a back pack full of beer. Time to man upOr to make the track more accesible for spectators. It was rugged hiking for most to get in close to the course. All the cut scraps were just thrown to the side outside the security zone where fans were expected to watch from. I saw people tripping and falling all day. Hopefully next year they consider that. Easier hiking=more fans on course.
agreed.... if only they could make a 30 second dead flat fire road with table tops before the finish section. then it would be as exciting as the end of fort william, and equally as "fun" for the racers Not sure why you guys compare every single track to ft. bill as if that is the gold standard. Hate to burst your bubble but it is far from the standard by which any other track should be measured. Yes it is unique and has become a classic, but leave it at that. La Bresse was about as far from ft. bill in track style and it was voted best event in 09, so surely there are other tracks that are good besides your home town pride, no ?shame their trail builders aren't smart enough to build a good finish section
Do tell?I can assure you Cam's whips in Fort Bill are only adding to this 2011 cash wad!
at least we put jumps on our flat pedalagreed.... if only they could make a 30 second dead flat fire road with table tops before the finish section. then it would be as exciting as the end of fort william, and equally as "fun" for the racers
but windham didn't have a flat pedal so I guess there was no needat least we put jumps on our flat pedal
maybe they'll learn for next time then - flat + jumps > boring field + huck to flatbut windham didn't have a flat pedal so I guess there was no need
maybe they'll learn for next time then - flat + jumps > boring field + huck to flat
Same here. Also Brook MacDonald in his first year out of the junior ranks has had an impressive season. Danny Hart too!On a different note, I have to say that I'm really impressed with Lewis Buchanan. The kid hasn't been hyped up like some of the other juniors in recent years but has some real raw talent and turned in some great results this season. Someone as MS must have seen this to take him on and they have been repaid for that. I think the kid has a good future. He even seems to be a nice kid from the interviews that I've seen.