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Jackson won the overall. Jordon won World Champs
Thanks for pointing that out! I've edited my post accordingly.
To your point though, Jordan is a huge talent not to be underestimated.
Jackson is due a big payday next contract. Would be very hard for a marketing department to justify a 7 figure + budget just in salary for four riders given the current economy and dh racing’s current reach. And the way Greg speaks he’ll hang around till he goes out on top or isn’t competitive at all. Which could be more than a year.
that said it’s hard not to feel like it’s the end of an era. When I got into this sport the syndicate was absolutely the coolest. And boy did it influence me into owning a Hightower. (X01 cc for 3g cause it was last year’s paint job). Now the bikes are bland, the videos aren’t something I wait to see, and the prices are out of my reach. Now that doesn’t mean Jackson Laurie and Nina aren’t some of the nicest and most talented people out there. But it’s nowhere near as entertaining as it once was.
I bet Goldstone already got a big payday with his current Syndicate contract, wouldn't be surprised at all if he was the highest paid on the team.
His parents have a reputation for been very "tough" negotiators, and his talent & social media presence have been huge since the kick bike days. The kid was getting 300k YouTube views when he was five.
I think Gwin mentioned it in a podcast, that Jackson is the first really manicured bike kid. As noted he was pushed into YouTube videos at a really young age. Was already pushed into spot light at crankworks.
It’s the ‘hockey kid’ mentality where the kids are pushed to be the next big thing.
Not taking anything from his talent, hard work or style. Just an observation over the years. I hope he makes bank he has the means to dominate for a few years.
I'd like to disagree with you on that.
I don’t doubt he’s doing well. But he will be deservedly doing much better next time round.
It feels like the end of an era, but also inevitable. The personalities that left (riders & mgmt) were all 1 of 1s, just so many unique people involved in the syndicate. But I love the current team, even without Greg. I think they need a little more creativity injected into the how the team rolls and the creative media the syndicate produces. That makes an enormous difference. They used to make masterpieces for bike releases lol https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOUEIJf698I
Santa cruz stated (I think on a YouTube video) that they locked Jackson down in a long term contract at the end of 2023. After the year he had ;despite health issues, I'd be shocked if there weren't lots of $ in that contract.
Cannot agree. He's steezy as hell and defo can ride rogñugh and fast. Nobody else in the whole world can ride as perfect, and flowy as semenuk...
That said, id have sam in his prime every day before any one else. He just didnt care, and blew the rest off the hot seat like it was a given fact.
Greg leaving is the final nail in the coffin but the syndicate has been losing its special sauce for a few years now. These last few seasons the team really doesn’t seem to be gelling and the coverage feels like a chore for the riders. Don’t get me started on the Australia road trip. The whole thing was like icky, forced reality TV.
Sounds like I need to make some changes around here! First up we’re going to cosplay as car mechanics for a 73 person track walk. And we’re putting our names down our pant legs. I’m slicing like a fuckin hammer and the guys get shirts!!!
DH racing is fantastic. These racers deserve to be household names. That’s all I know for sure. Greg Minnaar!
Ron, just curious because obviously your his dad and know him better than everyone here, but I'm interested on the reasoning that you're disagreeing he's not manicured compared to others.
Front the outside, I've been watching Jackson since he was on a run bike. I've high fived him in the whistler lift line when he wasn't even chest high to me, which at 5' 8", is not that tall. Starting riding and being into the sport as consistently as he has from a young age and being in the area that arguably has the best riding per KM in the world and your kids have clearly been supported amazing. Again, completely from the outside, I've watched your kid ride longer than I've known other riders older than him have existed. In other sports, that's a pretty manicured rider, and I don't think that's an insult or bad thing, I think it leads to the best of the best. That's how downhill gets that "F1" status for rear at some point IMO. I think the only riders coming close is Finn or the Seagraves and without taking anything away from all of their amazing accomplishments, Jackson just seems so much more polished and ready to go out of the gate from his already long career as a Pro since he was young.
I think stating Jackson was “pushed” is a reason to disagree with that post.
“Supported” is much more the scenario.
I guess that can be taken as definite information 😎
Oh shit Jackson’s dad hangs out here.
Reckon what he’s disagreeing with is the “pushing”. In the sense of how the Williams sisters, Tiger Woods, Andre Agassi were heavily pushed by their parents and it had huge adverse psychological effects.
Given the joy Jackson seems to have at riding, seems safe to assume there was no pressure, just support. Well done.
It's his uncle.
https://youtu.be/G3mjR-3ISfA?feature=shared
Ron and Miriam are his parents, BGoldstone who posts here is an uncle I think.
Seems like a good kid who just loves riding and racing his bike, I wish him all the best.
An uncle? Bailey is the Canadian women’s DH champ. She also happens to be his sister.
Vital member BGoldstone is not Bailey.
But back to rumors...
Interesting.
but yeah, back to rumors.
is Greg just chilling in some Adidas with a strap that makes me think it’s a mountain bike shoe? Or is he off Fox and wearing Adidas/510?
Would also argue Jackson isn't the first "manicured", Bruni and Vergier were raised together by their dads who were themselves world class riders. They were pretty much full time MTB all their lives. Similar story for Daprela, except it was his godfather, Nico Vouilloz that would drive him to events and shout advice from the side of the track.
please keep it rumors! a separate mtb prodigy thread would be interesting, but please stop discussing it in here… thx
why should greg wear fox bike shoes when he‘s of the bike chillin? also since he‘s off SCS i would guess he‘s also off fox and might get his own personal sponsors.
Imagine dealing with an employee that's always thinking of retiring but never quite ready to go. Your industry's is then going through a bit of a rough patch and at the end of the season they tell you they are wanting to stay and not retire. Every season up to now it's been fine but this season you have a tighter budget with no wriggle room. What do you do?.
That's what I read. the "pushed" part.
Kid was born into the greatest of good times sports on earth and parents were nice enough to buy him the cool toys when he was tiny. Every little boy on earth would ride a bike down a hill 24/7 if nothing distracted them from it like moto or rally.
I love that he's stoked to be pumped. The instant success comes from being in the limelight his whole life. DH racing is less pressure than being infamous at Whistler. World Cups probably feel like a vacation. Can't imagine the kid going to a burger joint within 2 hours of home and not getting somebody ID'ing him.
KTM/Marvin Musquin just took their shirts off.
I thought Marvin always had the 'option' to ride, I'm assuming Greg didn't have an 'option' to continue with the syndicate.
Catchy song
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