Lisa Baumann on Monster. Good pickup for them, feels like it’s only a matter of time until she gets the first win.
Pretty cool storyline there. There can't be many people who have both World Cup XCO and DH results in their MTB history. Since the old days, anyway. I remember seeing both Missy Giove and Tomac do both, but I doubt there's many others?
Pretty cool storyline there. There can't be many people who have both World Cup XCO and DH results in their MTB history. Since the old days...
Pretty cool storyline there. There can't be many people who have both World Cup XCO and DH results in their MTB history. Since the old days, anyway. I remember seeing both Missy Giove and Tomac do both, but I doubt there's many others?
Harriet Harnden. As well as Enduro world cups and won a couple British cyclocross national championships.
Pretty cool storyline there. There can't be many people who have both World Cup XCO and DH results in their MTB history. Since the old days...
Pretty cool storyline there. There can't be many people who have both World Cup XCO and DH results in their MTB history. Since the old days, anyway. I remember seeing both Missy Giove and Tomac do both, but I doubt there's many others?
Harriet Harnden. As well as Enduro world cups and won a couple British cyclocross national championships.
Oh cool. Harriet Herndon was a fantasy pick last year, and I've been rooting for her to win that 100k!
Crossover was much more common in the early days. I remember that both Myles Rockwell and Jake Watson were both top cross country racers just as downhill was starting to take shape. Juli Furtado won a downhill World Championship. More recently, Jared Graves, I think, could do cross country races at a pretty high level.
I believe that the Logar sisters race both, but I don't think I've seen many other cross over elite racers for a loooong time. Baumann looked great on track, Saturday--and her rootsandrain shows actual UCI cross country results as well as her increasingly top-level DH results.
Pretty cool storyline there. There can't be many people who have both World Cup XCO and DH results in their MTB history. Since the old days...
Pretty cool storyline there. There can't be many people who have both World Cup XCO and DH results in their MTB history. Since the old days, anyway. I remember seeing both Missy Giove and Tomac do both, but I doubt there's many others?
Oh cool. Harriet Herndon was a fantasy pick last year, and I've been rooting for her to win that 100k! Crossover was much more common in...
Oh cool. Harriet Herndon was a fantasy pick last year, and I've been rooting for her to win that 100k!
Crossover was much more common in the early days. I remember that both Myles Rockwell and Jake Watson were both top cross country racers just as downhill was starting to take shape. Juli Furtado won a downhill World Championship. More recently, Jared Graves, I think, could do cross country races at a pretty high level.
I believe that the Logar sisters race both, but I don't think I've seen many other cross over elite racers for a loooong time. Baumann looked great on track, Saturday--and her rootsandrain shows actual UCI cross country results as well as her increasingly top-level DH results.
In the old, old, Tomac days the racers would do XC, DH and trials all on the same bike in one weekend.
Oh cool. Harriet Herndon was a fantasy pick last year, and I've been rooting for her to win that 100k! Crossover was much more common in...
Oh cool. Harriet Herndon was a fantasy pick last year, and I've been rooting for her to win that 100k!
Crossover was much more common in the early days. I remember that both Myles Rockwell and Jake Watson were both top cross country racers just as downhill was starting to take shape. Juli Furtado won a downhill World Championship. More recently, Jared Graves, I think, could do cross country races at a pretty high level.
I believe that the Logar sisters race both, but I don't think I've seen many other cross over elite racers for a loooong time. Baumann looked great on track, Saturday--and her rootsandrain shows actual UCI cross country results as well as her increasingly top-level DH results.
Forgot Harriet also did some cyclocross world cups. So 4 different disciplines at WC level with only xc being the exception of racing in U23 and not elite
Oh cool. Harriet Herndon was a fantasy pick last year, and I've been rooting for her to win that 100k! Crossover was much more common in...
Oh cool. Harriet Herndon was a fantasy pick last year, and I've been rooting for her to win that 100k!
Crossover was much more common in the early days. I remember that both Myles Rockwell and Jake Watson were both top cross country racers just as downhill was starting to take shape. Juli Furtado won a downhill World Championship. More recently, Jared Graves, I think, could do cross country races at a pretty high level.
I believe that the Logar sisters race both, but I don't think I've seen many other cross over elite racers for a loooong time. Baumann looked great on track, Saturday--and her rootsandrain shows actual UCI cross country results as well as her increasingly top-level DH results.
In the old, old, Tomac days the racers would do XC, DH and trials all on the same bike in one weekend.
Yes, those are the days I'm referring to. I remember doing the Mount Snow NORBA race (maybe '91 or '92), when he won all three events. JT: That guy was all-in. And it was always fun to watch him race.
Just mental. The amount of time he spent like a tire width to the side of the main run is crazy. So precise and methodical. Also just taking the braking bumps on the chin at 3:10 when he was probably exhausted...respect.
Oh cool. Harriet Herndon was a fantasy pick last year, and I've been rooting for her to win that 100k! Crossover was much more common in...
Oh cool. Harriet Herndon was a fantasy pick last year, and I've been rooting for her to win that 100k!
Crossover was much more common in the early days. I remember that both Myles Rockwell and Jake Watson were both top cross country racers just as downhill was starting to take shape. Juli Furtado won a downhill World Championship. More recently, Jared Graves, I think, could do cross country races at a pretty high level.
I believe that the Logar sisters race both, but I don't think I've seen many other cross over elite racers for a loooong time. Baumann looked great on track, Saturday--and her rootsandrain shows actual UCI cross country results as well as her increasingly top-level DH results.
To give him his full credit; Graves actually has a couple of Australian national championships in short-track XC formats plus 4X rainbow stripes, EWS overall, DH worlds bronze and made the finals in Olympic BMX.
Oh cool. Harriet Herndon was a fantasy pick last year, and I've been rooting for her to win that 100k! Crossover was much more common in...
Oh cool. Harriet Herndon was a fantasy pick last year, and I've been rooting for her to win that 100k!
Crossover was much more common in the early days. I remember that both Myles Rockwell and Jake Watson were both top cross country racers just as downhill was starting to take shape. Juli Furtado won a downhill World Championship. More recently, Jared Graves, I think, could do cross country races at a pretty high level.
I believe that the Logar sisters race both, but I don't think I've seen many other cross over elite racers for a loooong time. Baumann looked great on track, Saturday--and her rootsandrain shows actual UCI cross country results as well as her increasingly top-level DH results.
Yes, those are the days I'm referring to. I remember doing the Mount Snow NORBA race (maybe '91 or '92), when he won all three events...
Yes, those are the days I'm referring to. I remember doing the Mount Snow NORBA race (maybe '91 or '92), when he won all three events. JT: That guy was all-in. And it was always fun to watch him race.
When I first started was '92 & the events had: Friday - Hill Climb Saturday - DH/Trials/Dual Slalom Sunday - XC races all day
Pros would get snobby on Saturday after smoking the hill climb at 5:30pm on Friday. But...most every single pro back then could back wheel hop a hardtail on a log for 10 seconds.
The amount of physical prowess & endurance of the people I saw back then blew my mind. It was like the movie QuickSilver but in person.
You can hear the pop when he is about to hit the ground
I want to see a video and/or slo mo to see if it triggered by a secondary "jolt" or from an impact with something or just from being ass over tea kettle before he impacted anything.
Not seen any slo mo live action flipping over the bars triggers. Seems rather mythical that slamming your chest onto the bars full gas or casing a 60ft SX jump doesn't trigger it...but then some other "event" can.
Jordan's looks to trigger when he goes horizontal thanks to the super slo mo from @Sleeper.co Wish I could "hear" to see if it triggers due to his horizontal position or his elbow hitting the ground or his chest hitting the bars.
Yes, those are the days I'm referring to. I remember doing the Mount Snow NORBA race (maybe '91 or '92), when he won all three events...
Yes, those are the days I'm referring to. I remember doing the Mount Snow NORBA race (maybe '91 or '92), when he won all three events. JT: That guy was all-in. And it was always fun to watch him race.
When I first started was '92 & the events had:Friday - Hill ClimbSaturday - DH/Trials/Dual SlalomSunday - XC races all dayPros would get snobby on Saturday...
When I first started was '92 & the events had: Friday - Hill Climb Saturday - DH/Trials/Dual Slalom Sunday - XC races all day
Pros would get snobby on Saturday after smoking the hill climb at 5:30pm on Friday. But...most every single pro back then could back wheel hop a hardtail on a log for 10 seconds.
The amount of physical prowess & endurance of the people I saw back then blew my mind. It was like the movie QuickSilver but in person.
Yeah, there were some great all-arounders.
But also, in the 90s, there were a ton of folks who came straight from road riding and could barely nose over a log. Some of those "trials" events, held at CC races were super-amateur.
I'd wager that your average CC racer of today is WAY more competent on tech than the average late 80s / 90s CC rider. I do think that the specific fields are so much more competitive, today, though. I mean, particularly this year, we are seeing the arrival of pro downhillers who have been training their brains / bodies since single-digit ages. The CC guys are highly elite, fitness / VO2 wise, compared to back then too.
I was a very competent tech / downhill / cross-country rider in the early 90's, but nothing like the kids today. There were like half-dozen competent downhillers in the northeast, CC ranks back in the early 90s. And there were barely any downhill events, to actually race. Ironically, if there were good downhills in the CC race, chances are, that single-track was actually better than actual DH events: which were mostly on fire roads. Nonetheless, guys like Bob Eichlin, Miles Rockwell, and Jake Watson, and of course, Tomac, on a national / international level were standouts among the CC field. Even Missy was a CC racer back then. I remember her racing for the West Hill / Putney VT team, I think, before I ever saw her downhill. No offence to Ned or Tinker, but those guys were quite terrible at tech riding and descending back then.
Bringing this back to the present, Lisa Baumann is actually extraordinary. For her to be able to compete in a world cup cross country, AND be capable of winning a world cup downhill event at current level...that is very, very unique, IMO. I'd say that Graves is maybe the rider who came closest to that in the recent past, with his CC wins on a national level. Blevins and many of those current CC guys are really great bike handlers--way better than the average CC guy of the past--but I don't see anyone in the CC world cup who could even qualify at a world cup level. World Cup level is simply too high.
I want to see a video and/or slo mo to see if it triggered by a secondary "jolt" or from an impact with something or just...
I want to see a video and/or slo mo to see if it triggered by a secondary "jolt" or from an impact with something or just from being ass over tea kettle before he impacted anything.
Not seen any slo mo live action flipping over the bars triggers. Seems rather mythical that slamming your chest onto the bars full gas or casing a 60ft SX jump doesn't trigger it...but then some other "event" can.
Jordan's looks to trigger when he goes horizontal thanks to the super slo mo from @Sleeper.co Wish I could "hear" to see if it triggers due to his horizontal position or his elbow hitting the ground or his chest hitting the bars.
Looks like they use AI models suited to different riding disciplines/styles, so I'm guessing the Spesh team is part of the MTB use case development.
Yes, those are the days I'm referring to. I remember doing the Mount Snow NORBA race (maybe '91 or '92), when he won all three events...
Yes, those are the days I'm referring to. I remember doing the Mount Snow NORBA race (maybe '91 or '92), when he won all three events. JT: That guy was all-in. And it was always fun to watch him race.
When I first started was '92 & the events had:Friday - Hill ClimbSaturday - DH/Trials/Dual SlalomSunday - XC races all dayPros would get snobby on Saturday...
When I first started was '92 & the events had: Friday - Hill Climb Saturday - DH/Trials/Dual Slalom Sunday - XC races all day
Pros would get snobby on Saturday after smoking the hill climb at 5:30pm on Friday. But...most every single pro back then could back wheel hop a hardtail on a log for 10 seconds.
The amount of physical prowess & endurance of the people I saw back then blew my mind. It was like the movie QuickSilver but in person.
Yeah, there were some great all-arounders. But also, in the 90s, there were a ton of folks who came straight from road riding and could barely...
Yeah, there were some great all-arounders.
But also, in the 90s, there were a ton of folks who came straight from road riding and could barely nose over a log. Some of those "trials" events, held at CC races were super-amateur.
I'd wager that your average CC racer of today is WAY more competent on tech than the average late 80s / 90s CC rider. I do think that the specific fields are so much more competitive, today, though. I mean, particularly this year, we are seeing the arrival of pro downhillers who have been training their brains / bodies since single-digit ages. The CC guys are highly elite, fitness / VO2 wise, compared to back then too.
I was a very competent tech / downhill / cross-country rider in the early 90's, but nothing like the kids today. There were like half-dozen competent downhillers in the northeast, CC ranks back in the early 90s. And there were barely any downhill events, to actually race. Ironically, if there were good downhills in the CC race, chances are, that single-track was actually better than actual DH events: which were mostly on fire roads. Nonetheless, guys like Bob Eichlin, Miles Rockwell, and Jake Watson, and of course, Tomac, on a national / international level were standouts among the CC field. Even Missy was a CC racer back then. I remember her racing for the West Hill / Putney VT team, I think, before I ever saw her downhill. No offence to Ned or Tinker, but those guys were quite terrible at tech riding and descending back then.
Bringing this back to the present, Lisa Baumann is actually extraordinary. For her to be able to compete in a world cup cross country, AND be capable of winning a world cup downhill event at current level...that is very, very unique, IMO. I'd say that Graves is maybe the rider who came closest to that in the recent past, with his CC wins on a national level. Blevins and many of those current CC guys are really great bike handlers--way better than the average CC guy of the past--but I don't see anyone in the CC world cup who could even qualify at a world cup level. World Cup level is simply too high.
Yeah...saw mention by Ryan Sipes in a moto post that everyone sucked at Red Bud because nobody rides trials any more. Tried to think about it but didn't make a lot of sense for the track conditions guys were facing.
Now, DH...I remember guys like Dave Cullinan & Tomac getting hung up in DH rock gardes & doing all sorts of track stands , manuals & crank/pedal stabs to get through rock gardens. Almost useless skill on modern tracks since nobody even has a place on track that is slow enough to track stand.
Man...trials events at mountain bike races need to make a comeback. Dudes bunny hopping on huge stumps into the bed of dump trucks & across creeks while you're waiting for the XC pros to come back from mile 5 of their 2nd loop was INSPIRING...and humbling. The ladies nose hopping the rear wheel in that latest EWS video reminds you that there are truly elite skill sets you can master.
When I first started was '92 & the events had:Friday - Hill ClimbSaturday - DH/Trials/Dual SlalomSunday - XC races all dayPros would get snobby on Saturday...
When I first started was '92 & the events had: Friday - Hill Climb Saturday - DH/Trials/Dual Slalom Sunday - XC races all day
Pros would get snobby on Saturday after smoking the hill climb at 5:30pm on Friday. But...most every single pro back then could back wheel hop a hardtail on a log for 10 seconds.
The amount of physical prowess & endurance of the people I saw back then blew my mind. It was like the movie QuickSilver but in person.
Yeah, there were some great all-arounders. But also, in the 90s, there were a ton of folks who came straight from road riding and could barely...
Yeah, there were some great all-arounders.
But also, in the 90s, there were a ton of folks who came straight from road riding and could barely nose over a log. Some of those "trials" events, held at CC races were super-amateur.
I'd wager that your average CC racer of today is WAY more competent on tech than the average late 80s / 90s CC rider. I do think that the specific fields are so much more competitive, today, though. I mean, particularly this year, we are seeing the arrival of pro downhillers who have been training their brains / bodies since single-digit ages. The CC guys are highly elite, fitness / VO2 wise, compared to back then too.
I was a very competent tech / downhill / cross-country rider in the early 90's, but nothing like the kids today. There were like half-dozen competent downhillers in the northeast, CC ranks back in the early 90s. And there were barely any downhill events, to actually race. Ironically, if there were good downhills in the CC race, chances are, that single-track was actually better than actual DH events: which were mostly on fire roads. Nonetheless, guys like Bob Eichlin, Miles Rockwell, and Jake Watson, and of course, Tomac, on a national / international level were standouts among the CC field. Even Missy was a CC racer back then. I remember her racing for the West Hill / Putney VT team, I think, before I ever saw her downhill. No offence to Ned or Tinker, but those guys were quite terrible at tech riding and descending back then.
Bringing this back to the present, Lisa Baumann is actually extraordinary. For her to be able to compete in a world cup cross country, AND be capable of winning a world cup downhill event at current level...that is very, very unique, IMO. I'd say that Graves is maybe the rider who came closest to that in the recent past, with his CC wins on a national level. Blevins and many of those current CC guys are really great bike handlers--way better than the average CC guy of the past--but I don't see anyone in the CC world cup who could even qualify at a world cup level. World Cup level is simply too high.
Yeah...saw mention by Ryan Sipes in a moto post that everyone sucked at Red Bud because nobody rides trials any more. Tried to think about it...
Yeah...saw mention by Ryan Sipes in a moto post that everyone sucked at Red Bud because nobody rides trials any more. Tried to think about it but didn't make a lot of sense for the track conditions guys were facing.
Now, DH...I remember guys like Dave Cullinan & Tomac getting hung up in DH rock gardes & doing all sorts of track stands , manuals & crank/pedal stabs to get through rock gardens. Almost useless skill on modern tracks since nobody even has a place on track that is slow enough to track stand.
Man...trials events at mountain bike races need to make a comeback. Dudes bunny hopping on huge stumps into the bed of dump trucks & across creeks while you're waiting for the XC pros to come back from mile 5 of their 2nd loop was INSPIRING...and humbling. The ladies nose hopping the rear wheel in that latest EWS video reminds you that there are truly elite skill sets you can master.
I think it was Alex Rudeau who recently posted some trialsin' before an EDR stage. He didn't look like a slouch.
I remember at the last EWS in Crested Butte (2014?), being utterly exhausted, pushing my bike to the top of the climb up to Star Pass for stage 2. There was a huge rock pile in the last, maybe 1/4 mile of the climb. I actually had Strep (diagnosed that morning--decided to try anyway), and was barely alive, when this dude comes hoping along the boulders beside me. He was totally having a blast, and totally, unnecessarily expending massive energy rear-wheel hoping and endo-ing up over boulders for fun. At like 12,000 feet elevation. The energy difference between what he was doing, and the way I felt couldn't have been more stark. Great rider. Cody Kelley--I could tell by the hair.
Some people just have that talent! Talent-on-top-of-talent, really.
I think it was Alex Rudeau who recently posted some trialsin' before an EDR stage. He didn't look like a slouch.I remember at the last EWS...
I think it was Alex Rudeau who recently posted some trialsin' before an EDR stage. He didn't look like a slouch.
I remember at the last EWS in Crested Butte (2014?), being utterly exhausted, pushing my bike to the top of the climb up to Star Pass for stage 2. There was a huge rock pile in the last, maybe 1/4 mile of the climb. I actually had Strep (diagnosed that morning--decided to try anyway), and was barely alive, when this dude comes hoping along the boulders beside me. He was totally having a blast, and totally, unnecessarily expending massive energy rear-wheel hoping and endo-ing up over boulders for fun. At like 12,000 feet elevation. The energy difference between what he was doing, and the way I felt couldn't have been more stark. Great rider. Cody Kelley--I could tell by the hair.
Some people just have that talent! Talent-on-top-of-talent, really.
I think it was Alex Rudeau who recently posted some trialsin' before an EDR stage. He didn't look like a slouch.I remember at the last EWS...
I think it was Alex Rudeau who recently posted some trialsin' before an EDR stage. He didn't look like a slouch.
I remember at the last EWS in Crested Butte (2014?), being utterly exhausted, pushing my bike to the top of the climb up to Star Pass for stage 2. There was a huge rock pile in the last, maybe 1/4 mile of the climb. I actually had Strep (diagnosed that morning--decided to try anyway), and was barely alive, when this dude comes hoping along the boulders beside me. He was totally having a blast, and totally, unnecessarily expending massive energy rear-wheel hoping and endo-ing up over boulders for fun. At like 12,000 feet elevation. The energy difference between what he was doing, and the way I felt couldn't have been more stark. Great rider. Cody Kelley--I could tell by the hair.
Some people just have that talent! Talent-on-top-of-talent, really.
Yes, those are the days I'm referring to. I remember doing the Mount Snow NORBA race (maybe '91 or '92), when he won all three events...
Yes, those are the days I'm referring to. I remember doing the Mount Snow NORBA race (maybe '91 or '92), when he won all three events. JT: That guy was all-in. And it was always fun to watch him race.
When I first started was '92 & the events had:Friday - Hill ClimbSaturday - DH/Trials/Dual SlalomSunday - XC races all dayPros would get snobby on Saturday...
When I first started was '92 & the events had: Friday - Hill Climb Saturday - DH/Trials/Dual Slalom Sunday - XC races all day
Pros would get snobby on Saturday after smoking the hill climb at 5:30pm on Friday. But...most every single pro back then could back wheel hop a hardtail on a log for 10 seconds.
The amount of physical prowess & endurance of the people I saw back then blew my mind. It was like the movie QuickSilver but in person.
Yeah, there were some great all-arounders. But also, in the 90s, there were a ton of folks who came straight from road riding and could barely...
Yeah, there were some great all-arounders.
But also, in the 90s, there were a ton of folks who came straight from road riding and could barely nose over a log. Some of those "trials" events, held at CC races were super-amateur.
I'd wager that your average CC racer of today is WAY more competent on tech than the average late 80s / 90s CC rider. I do think that the specific fields are so much more competitive, today, though. I mean, particularly this year, we are seeing the arrival of pro downhillers who have been training their brains / bodies since single-digit ages. The CC guys are highly elite, fitness / VO2 wise, compared to back then too.
I was a very competent tech / downhill / cross-country rider in the early 90's, but nothing like the kids today. There were like half-dozen competent downhillers in the northeast, CC ranks back in the early 90s. And there were barely any downhill events, to actually race. Ironically, if there were good downhills in the CC race, chances are, that single-track was actually better than actual DH events: which were mostly on fire roads. Nonetheless, guys like Bob Eichlin, Miles Rockwell, and Jake Watson, and of course, Tomac, on a national / international level were standouts among the CC field. Even Missy was a CC racer back then. I remember her racing for the West Hill / Putney VT team, I think, before I ever saw her downhill. No offence to Ned or Tinker, but those guys were quite terrible at tech riding and descending back then.
Bringing this back to the present, Lisa Baumann is actually extraordinary. For her to be able to compete in a world cup cross country, AND be capable of winning a world cup downhill event at current level...that is very, very unique, IMO. I'd say that Graves is maybe the rider who came closest to that in the recent past, with his CC wins on a national level. Blevins and many of those current CC guys are really great bike handlers--way better than the average CC guy of the past--but I don't see anyone in the CC world cup who could even qualify at a world cup level. World Cup level is simply too high.
Alongside Lisa Baumann, Hattie Harnden is also incredibly impressive, having raced CX, XC, EN, and DH at a world or national level. Gloria Scarsi too, having raced track before changing disciplines.
Anyone know how long it's been since an Englishman won a world cup? Was Jordan the last one? Laurie? Seems like it's been a minute.
Pretty cool storyline there. There can't be many people who have both World Cup XCO and DH results in their MTB history. Since the old days, anyway. I remember seeing both Missy Giove and Tomac do both, but I doubt there's many others?
Harriet Harnden. As well as Enduro world cups and won a couple British cyclocross national championships.
Oh cool. Harriet Herndon was a fantasy pick last year, and I've been rooting for her to win that 100k!
Crossover was much more common in the early days. I remember that both Myles Rockwell and Jake Watson were both top cross country racers just as downhill was starting to take shape. Juli Furtado won a downhill World Championship. More recently, Jared Graves, I think, could do cross country races at a pretty high level.
I believe that the Logar sisters race both, but I don't think I've seen many other cross over elite racers for a loooong time. Baumann looked great on track, Saturday--and her rootsandrain shows actual UCI cross country results as well as her increasingly top-level DH results.
I thought it was the sound of his head or body hitting a rock when I saw it.
In the old, old, Tomac days the racers would do XC, DH and trials all on the same bike in one weekend.
Forgot Harriet also did some cyclocross world cups. So 4 different disciplines at WC level with only xc being the exception of racing in U23 and not elite
Yes, those are the days I'm referring to. I remember doing the Mount Snow NORBA race (maybe '91 or '92), when he won all three events. JT: That guy was all-in. And it was always fun to watch him race.
Asa's 2nd place run POV
Just mental. The amount of time he spent like a tire width to the side of the main run is crazy. So precise and methodical. Also just taking the braking bumps on the chin at 3:10 when he was probably exhausted...respect.
To give him his full credit; Graves actually has a couple of Australian national championships in short-track XC formats plus 4X rainbow stripes, EWS overall, DH worlds bronze and made the finals in Olympic BMX.
https://www.videodoubler.com/combo/saved/df846e66-320e-4644-ab2e-7df01b233963
Asa vs Jackson. I couldnt get it to autoplay, but I think that is my youtube settings.
When I first started was '92 & the events had:
Friday - Hill Climb
Saturday - DH/Trials/Dual Slalom
Sunday - XC races all day
Pros would get snobby on Saturday after smoking the hill climb at 5:30pm on Friday. But...most every single pro back then could back wheel hop a hardtail on a log for 10 seconds.
The amount of physical prowess & endurance of the people I saw back then blew my mind. It was like the movie QuickSilver but in person.
I want to see a video and/or slo mo to see if it triggered by a secondary "jolt" or from an impact with something or just from being ass over tea kettle before he impacted anything.
Not seen any slo mo live action flipping over the bars triggers. Seems rather mythical that slamming your chest onto the bars full gas or casing a 60ft SX jump doesn't trigger it...but then some other "event" can.
Jordan's looks to trigger when he goes horizontal thanks to the super slo mo from @Sleeper.co Wish I could "hear" to see if it triggers due to his horizontal position or his elbow hitting the ground or his chest hitting the bars.
andorra world cup thread started here, FYI - https://www.vitalmtb.com/forums/hub/2026-andorra-world-cup
Yeah, there were some great all-arounders.
But also, in the 90s, there were a ton of folks who came straight from road riding and could barely nose over a log. Some of those "trials" events, held at CC races were super-amateur.
I'd wager that your average CC racer of today is WAY more competent on tech than the average late 80s / 90s CC rider. I do think that the specific fields are so much more competitive, today, though. I mean, particularly this year, we are seeing the arrival of pro downhillers who have been training their brains / bodies since single-digit ages. The CC guys are highly elite, fitness / VO2 wise, compared to back then too.
I was a very competent tech / downhill / cross-country rider in the early 90's, but nothing like the kids today. There were like half-dozen competent downhillers in the northeast, CC ranks back in the early 90s. And there were barely any downhill events, to actually race. Ironically, if there were good downhills in the CC race, chances are, that single-track was actually better than actual DH events: which were mostly on fire roads. Nonetheless, guys like Bob Eichlin, Miles Rockwell, and Jake Watson, and of course, Tomac, on a national / international level were standouts among the CC field. Even Missy was a CC racer back then. I remember her racing for the West Hill / Putney VT team, I think, before I ever saw her downhill. No offence to Ned or Tinker, but those guys were quite terrible at tech riding and descending back then.
Bringing this back to the present, Lisa Baumann is actually extraordinary. For her to be able to compete in a world cup cross country, AND be capable of winning a world cup downhill event at current level...that is very, very unique, IMO. I'd say that Graves is maybe the rider who came closest to that in the recent past, with his CC wins on a national level. Blevins and many of those current CC guys are really great bike handlers--way better than the average CC guy of the past--but I don't see anyone in the CC world cup who could even qualify at a world cup level. World Cup level is simply too high.
Looks like they use AI models suited to different riding disciplines/styles, so I'm guessing the Spesh team is part of the MTB use case development.
Info on their site isn't terribly vague
Yeah...saw mention by Ryan Sipes in a moto post that everyone sucked at Red Bud because nobody rides trials any more. Tried to think about it but didn't make a lot of sense for the track conditions guys were facing.
Now, DH...I remember guys like Dave Cullinan & Tomac getting hung up in DH rock gardes & doing all sorts of track stands , manuals & crank/pedal stabs to get through rock gardens. Almost useless skill on modern tracks since nobody even has a place on track that is slow enough to track stand.
Man...trials events at mountain bike races need to make a comeback. Dudes bunny hopping on huge stumps into the bed of dump trucks & across creeks while you're waiting for the XC pros to come back from mile 5 of their 2nd loop was INSPIRING...and humbling. The ladies nose hopping the rear wheel in that latest EWS video reminds you that there are truly elite skill sets you can master.
I think it was Alex Rudeau who recently posted some trialsin' before an EDR stage. He didn't look like a slouch.
I remember at the last EWS in Crested Butte (2014?), being utterly exhausted, pushing my bike to the top of the climb up to Star Pass for stage 2. There was a huge rock pile in the last, maybe 1/4 mile of the climb. I actually had Strep (diagnosed that morning--decided to try anyway), and was barely alive, when this dude comes hoping along the boulders beside me. He was totally having a blast, and totally, unnecessarily expending massive energy rear-wheel hoping and endo-ing up over boulders for fun. At like 12,000 feet elevation. The energy difference between what he was doing, and the way I felt couldn't have been more stark. Great rider. Cody Kelley--I could tell by the hair.
Some people just have that talent! Talent-on-top-of-talent, really.
Rudeau is a two-time world champ in trials.
Twice team gold alongside Manon, the Scott factory team chef!
Alongside Lisa Baumann, Hattie Harnden is also incredibly impressive, having raced CX, XC, EN, and DH at a world or national level. Gloria Scarsi too, having raced track before changing disciplines.
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