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Alright folks, with WynTV talking a bit today about World Cup tracks in terms of speed and turns and missing the older style of tracks... what do you think would be the best tracks that could realistically host a WC but has that slower and more raw tech 'old school' style to them?
Champery, in the mud, Sam Hill 2007
No doubt early Champery!
Old Schladming track was insane. The Japan tracks looked incredible too. Early Purgatory track before it got changed and messed up.
But what currently exists in this old school style that could be brought back and raced at??
Why not Schladming?
I'm sure it's still great! I would vote for Schladmings track.
1199 looks to be a pretty awesome new school style tech track. Got some hectic shutes and tech loan sections, and some high speed massive features.
I think a lot of the reason we don't see tracks with steep hairpins the whole way is because it's terrible for camera locations. It's not like the tracks their riding aren't technical, but I do agree that some flat corners would be nice, but most places repurpose part of the bike park tracks so they come with berms built already.
SCHLAAADMIIINNNGGG!!!!!!!!!
bad wildbald. always loved vids from that place back in the day...other places people have already mentioned. honestly a lot of places in canada...mont 7? i also feel like we need longer tracks. so despite my southeast preferences, we're out, unless somehow gwin finds a way to do windrock windmill to bottom. killington? sugarloaf? bring sunday river back? otherwise we're going out west here in the states...
1199 is rad! Everyone I know who raced it said that it was the best track they've ridden in a real long time!
yeah no doubt on that. Agreed. A bummer but understandable. Maybe someday we will go back to older style tracks. ha... one can hope
dang, cant say I know that place! going to have to watch some videos!
Mt. 7 would be gnarly for a proper WC track! Would love to see it and who would shine at a track like that.
Definitely BC has the terrain..
Angel Fire would be good to see again. Definitely some East Coast spots would be great. Some phenomenal races held out there in the past with tracks folks were loving.
It would be wild to see some proper WC riders take on the full Psychosis course. Current record is just over or just under 11 min? I think?
The current crop of riders on a mid 2000's era Mount Snow NORBA track would be a sight to behold.
this x 10000!
some photos i took back in '03/04
The 1998 NORBA track is pretty well gladed out now, that’s a lot more relentless, and still has plenty of swooping
The mid aughts track was pretty…. uninspiring after you survived yardsale(and if you survived hidden dangers in the high grassess off the summit on Wednesday and Thursday practices…
I slowed down in practic to ask Rennie what happened (as we was walking his bike down, great photo) and I think he just snarled at me!
The year Sam Hill won Mount Snow his rear wheel was so mangled is was rubbing the chainstays on both sides as he crossed the finish line.
That was my favorite track in the US. It was brutal on bikes and wheels.
Bromont and Durango were great tracks too!
Angel Fire would be sick to see again, and the old track in Nevegal, Italy, would be cool to see again. Bromont, Big Bear, Squaw, Deer Valley! And can we get some of the old Dual tracks back while we're at it? They're so good for spectators, so WBD should be able to see great growth from adding them!
For viewing pleasure!
Mount Snow
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BT0V50Joggw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eb8U-LKxZ2A
Squaw
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DBQPQRxPBaK/
https://www.vitalmtb.com/videos/features/Transcontinental-Headliners-2-Squaw-Valley-1999-World-Cup,13429/sspomer,2
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHs-shQxgot/
Durango/Purgatory
https://www.vitalmtb.com/videos/features/Video-Vault-2001-UCI-World-Cup-Durango-Colorado,11342/sspomer,2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEqJLZ5Ql-M&t=7s (11:19)
I will keep digging for more
and @sspomer
I had no idea until finding that video I just linked above
Wow, Mount Snow Norba track was freaking awesome looking! Talk about gnarly and proper!! To see the riders/ go ride that today would be insane/so good!
Talk about putting bikes through it all on a track like that!
Its honestly kind of impressive what some of those wheels handled back then.
Bromont was always a treat to watch! Defiitely bring back Bromont WC track.
Durango was incredible before they messed up that track. I still ride it a metric crap ton as I am located about 2 miles from it but its not quite what it used to be. We used to ride the old original track after hours shuttling and it was honestly one of the best things I have ever freaking ridden! So raw and just that style to the track was phenomenal. The new update to it is very fun overall but it lost a lot of its wide line selection and raw feel (classic bike park move) that made it so unique and special.
Angel Fire has always been proper. Sure would be cool to see that one raced again!
Nevegal was fun one to always watch in old bike movies growing up. Looked great!
Bromont WC was always so proper!
Squaw! forgot about the old Tahoe WC. You think Northstar tracks have what it takes for a WC? Would love to see a full Karpiel or Sticks and Stones raced by the fastest!
Squaw always looked (and sounded) legit to me.
https://youtu.be/L7HYa3_GQSQ?si=RxCcX9BA3-PcJXH8&t=1362
Maybe unpopular opinion, but I feel like Mammoth Mountain would be a good venue and they could put together a pretty gnarly run from top to bottom with a good mix. Agreed on Angel Fire as stated above.
I want to see a fully 100% fresh track. Like it's just a wide tape swath that swoops down the mountain, a couple of pre-built catch berms and a few airs. Full woods sections that have never seen a tire before practice starts, the sticks have been removed but it's all natural untouched ground. Maybe do an extra day of practice for bedding in lines?
Be cool to see what the layout looks like at whiteface in a few months. they have no shortage of high speed ski slope. the bit they used for the 5k was decent .
Damn Storm, bringing back memories! In the 2003 Mt Snow video at 4:20 flyin' Ryan Sutton smooths out the yard sale section on my Astrix Havoc! What a road trip that was! Ryan, Kain Leonard, Gail Dalhger, and I (The Astrix team) left Colorado in Gail's motorhome and raced Snowshoe, Plattekill, and Mount Snow. RV breakdowns, lots of rain, prototype bikes, and racing, good times!
Hopefully this is what whiteface is, that mountain is steep af too.
I forgot about Whiteface this year. Hopefully it's raw AF and just a big wide channel in the forest for riders to develop lines.
I agree here. Though I will admit I'm not 100% clear on the part of 'realistically' could hold a world cup and how much logistics go into that. I'd assume it has to a) be able to afford the UCI bid, b) be relatively within society/a resort even tho some WC places even to this day are terrible in those regards, and c) have a 'larger than usual' parking allotment for the pits although again... Some WC places are already terrible in those regards.
So I guess it seems like if current venues can already be a nightmare maybe quite a lot is on the table lol. But I do wonder about... That monetary bid. I'd assume Whistler clears. Mammoth I'd hope clears, after what I pay to go for just one day jesus. But not sure about lower key examples.
Start hut from the Peak Lodge at Killington would be so sick. I miss Sunday River too, that place was gnarly in spots.
I can say for sure to not bring Windham back.
I will always have a soft spot for Val di sol, and for Cap d Ail.... Think Cap D'Ail was the 1st euro track to feature catch nets???
Slightly off topic but I think there should be 20 tracks/venues from around the world that get put up to possibly host the World Cup rounds, out of those 20 tracks/venues the riders get to choose what 10 tracks (or more ?) they want to race by voting in private and whatever tracks get the most votes wins and that’s how the World Cup calendar pans out for the following year.
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