All

I’ve long argued that unlocking more money in racing depends on bringing in more non-endemic,or at least semi-non-endemic, sponsors. Think Frameworks x WD-40. The challenge is that I cross paths with a lot of marketers, and its incredibly hard to justify putting millions into such a niche sport when that same budget could go into Meta or YouTube ads. With digital, you get instant analytics, optimization tools, and far less career risk. You can still reach the same demographic, but in a way that’s more measurable and scalable...with no tough conversations with the boss (really, ever). At the end of...

I took my kids down the river to watch their hero win the overall in MSA. When I told them this awful news, my ten year old asked me if I could send the Goldstone’s some love on the Vital forums. Please do so on our behalf; we’re thinking of your fam here in Montréal. ❤️

Rough day but thankfully they are all safe.

One Up put on a local dh race k. Squamish yesterday. Diane Jewett took the win by 12 seconds over Jesse Melamed. Most of the local WC pros are enjoying the off season already but Gracie swept the Grom race. My kid was filming and said the crew that did the US monster series is doing a race recap vid.

enough product talk in team rumors.

Great to hear! The new back end is actually being tested this week by new team riders in a secret location...This picture was taken last week at the Belgian Cycling Factory, this is Dale McMullen (Nukeproof Lead Engineer) and Steve Jamison (Nukeproof Product Manager) discussing the new back end with a new rider (you can just see his foot)!

I'm locking this thread for a day or two. Not trying to be rude, I'd actually love to jump in myself, but we've gone way off the rails. None of this ties back to the bike or outdoor industry directly. If you want to continue the AI discussion, please start a new thread, take it to X/Twitter, or head over to LinkedIn. Those platforms are built for this kind of speculation (and overflowing with this sort of banter). I want to keep this space focused on industry-specific topics. Nothing personal,I genuinely enjoy these conversations, this is just a "thread hygiene"...

The thing that scares me about people only having to work 15 hours a week, not having to work, or be unemployed is that bored people are dangerous people. Too much time to focus on tribalism (it's taking a political partisan form these days). Humans evolved to work, not to sit around.

I had a long reply written for this, but broadly discussing AI is probably outside the scope of this thread. There are really only two relevant tie-ins here: 1. How companies should be able to do more with less, and how that could (or should) put downward pressure on margins, potentially making things deflationary. (Don’t hold your breath.) 2. How the current data center capex cycle, set against shaky conviction in model economics, could eventually blow up and have second- or third-order effects on industries like bikes, just as the dot-com bubble and the financial crisis did in their time...

FYI $759 AUD is $494 USD, which is still a crazy amount for a chairlift with basically one DH trail, but a little bit closer to earth than $759 USD.

The Monday Morning Quarterback session has become as much a part of Red Bull Rampage as the event itself. It’s the collective catharsis we all need after something that feels less like a sports competition and more like modern-day gladiators in the desert. We’ll justify it, theorize ways to make it safer, and question the ethics, but the event will (probably) keep going. As long as the athletes want to ride, the fans want to watch, and Red Bull is willing to provide the infrastructure/distribution, it’ll continue. And deep down, we all know what’s likely to happen someday. Like @Buckets...

I think there was a massive change in rampage when they started giving the dig crews more access to water. They can build such fat lips and packed in landings with water that it ups the amplitude of what’s possible.

new all-carbon polygon collusus t8 from $2999 to $4999 https://www.vitalmtb.com/features/first-ride-polygon-collosus-t8-budget…

If we're speculating, there's every chance he could be on the autism spectrum like me and plenty of other people in the sport. Meltdowns are just part of life when you're autistic, we all crash out every now and then 🤣

Spaniard here, love me some Dak. His insights on B-podcast play a big part of the World Cup season. For me he embodies the American Cool, the good things about the US. But I understand the criticism, he is indeed getting older for DH and perhaps doesnt have the dame appeal for young fans as other riders. still, I do hope he gets a good team, gets the elusive win and rides into the sunset with his girl and his dog.

Look maybe you have a point but chatting shit about Dak on Vital is just such bad manners. We don’t do that here

First things first, It wasnt on a pit bike. Secondly you can get hurt doing anything in life.. that’s life. And thirdly if you’d listened to any of his pod casts last year you would have heard him speak about the meltdowns himself and discuss how he has grown as a person and doesn’t do this anymore. Before you criticise the guy atleast have a small understanding of what you’re criticising.