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The riders want a sustainable future for the slope style riders... Fair enough.. However, it's a 2 way street.. Running these events has to be profitable for the organizers to remain sustainable. If these events were to go away, then these riders have to find other sources of income.. You gotta be careful not to price yourself out of the picture.

I don't think anyone is arguing they shouldn't be paid, it's understanding who should be paying them. That's where the NFL metaphor comes in. You get paid by your team, not the stadium, not the town, not the people buying beers, your team. Want more money? Get sponsors, they pay you as well. If Geico sponsors you and also owns the stadium you aren't tracking down the field manager and demanding a payout or you won't play. It isn't about the amounts. People make $20k a year at a desk, people make $10 million a year at a desk. People...

I don’t think anyone here has said they don’t deserve to GET paid or get a raise. You’re only arguing with yourself on that FRONT. The objections have come from THEIR methods to achieve IT.

If you replaced the top 14 with 100 somebody's 99.99% of bike riding people still wouldn't know their names. It's a niche in a niche in a niche. The tricks would still be cool and every 12 year old there would still think a backflip is absolutely crazy. Didn't see the post above mine, but I agree wholeheartedly.

They expected to get what they wanted by strong-arming the promoters. They felt that moment was the point where their leverage was the highest and they couldn't possibly cancel the show once everyone was there, tickets were sold, t-shirts were printed, and those big checks were already filled out. Someone has deep enough pockets to make it happen, right? Telling them 2 months before "we won't show if you don't meet these demands" gives the promoter time to say fine then, see you next year, book an alternative event, or cancel with significantly less consequence. They played their hand and...

Long story short: "There's a lot more going on that Crankworx isn't sharing on social media or press releases, but I'm not going to go into it" This video hasn't done anything to make me feel more sympathetic towards the athletes. Absolutely make sure the athletes have a voice when it comes to course safety and impact of weather/etc on the event. No one will ever convince me it's the event's responsibility to ensure athletes are able to participate (ie - travel and accommodations) and will never think an appearance fee is a reasonable ask as long as it remains...

Lets not forget that all of this is a money making enterprise. Everything from the pins on the pedals to the rider standing on the podium. There is someone, or a corporation putting money into it all to make money. Just like any work place if the organisation/shop/company/not for profit does not make money it does not survive. We are more and more seeing people demanding more and more from the ecosystem. There will always be a need to advocate for better conditions, more pay better work life balance but there is ultimately a time where it puts pressure on...

On the subject of the riders getting paid, I wonder what Cannondale pays Max?

I gotta watch a 25 minute video to know why?

Aren't the riders just barking up the wrong tree? I get the safety part of it, but it isn't on Crankworx to pay the riders is it? Ask your sponsor. They don't want to pay you more? Well, time to realize your worth, whats happening in the industry, and go do something else to finance your hobby.

How did all the current big names make it? They were not getting paid to show up they worked hard and negotiated with their sponsors.

Man...the appearance fee, wanting food & accommodation...those are benefits not even employees can get. Sorry, but this reads as Gen Z bullshit. Don't fly to the OTHER END OF THE WORLD to spin your bike in the air for a few if you don't have your own money, sponsors, contracts, insurance & extradition in order. These guys are talking like they are a single entity that supplies Crankworx with a set pool of "performers" for a "show". If that's the case, they should have NAMED a FLAT appearance fee for their collective/entity/company (insert name of freeriders here). You want to...

Very interesting reading the comments and replies in that Linkedin post. Here's another one from Mark: "The riders are the stars & do deserve a safe environment for the level of risk they take. BUT I have worked a lot of other tours in action sports and know first hand that the organizers of Crankworx are by far the BEST in terms of caring for the athletes (within their abilities). One of the issues now is the nature of outdoor sports in the mountains where we have to deal with the weather. Not every comp can happen in perfect conditions...

At the end of the day, all of us are working off assumptions.. Like I said previously, if I were one of the organizers, I'd open up the books for the riders to see. As for the rider's expenses, it's a bit easier to estimate with a bit of homework.. But, even if done on the cheap, it's still expensive. Especially if traveling from the US or Europe to New Zealand. As a former manager once told me, the perfect compromise is one that leaves nobody completely happy. The rider's could have had everything but the appearance fees.. I can't...

I don't toss all the nuance of my thoughts into these quips. But yes...and NO. Part of the irony (huge fan) is they want input on safety but have careers being the most unsafe guys there are for zero dollars. And the TikTok thing was to point out they don't make money either way. 95% of slopestyle guys make nothing online. They make nothing on paper. They get a frame and some parts and some clothes. Maybe a per diem for food. It's a vagabond sport. Tom V literally rides a bike that doesn't exist for sale anywhere...for the better...