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When the NZ govt gives crankworx $8mil for the 2022-2027 events series, you'd think a portion of this would be set aside for looking after and attracting riders to the event. https://www.rotorualakescouncil.nz/our-council/news/news?item=id:2ipwi1… Not forgetting the ticket prices https://crankworxrotorua.flicket.co.nz/events/def3bb7e-69aa-488a-a1f6-4…

Because it's not been posted in here yet, here's the statement from the riders: Dear fans and supporters of Slopestyle. As you will have heard, we, as the full field of male Slopestyle riders at Crankworx Rotorua, have made a joint, but very tough, decision to not take part in official competition tomorrow. But we will be at the event in full support of the girls as they make history, with the first ever female Diamond Slopestyle event. We will also be riding the McGazza train and out there for our fans. Today has been a tough day and there...

Dude, I think you are projecting one event with one person onto an entire group. We all know how that goes. I’ve been lucky enough to meet many many pro riders in my life and all of them have been nothing but incredibly nice. I’m sorry one rider may have laughed at you, but that certainly doesn’t mean they are all ‘mean girls’ or that in reality even that individual is. Also claiming race results as a reason why someone should be nice to you isn’t the flex you think it is.

This is a terrible take. Both the riders AND Crankworx have acknowledged that talks have been going on for months with no progress. Sometimes you have to utilize the only leverage you have, in this case not showing up to the start line. This clearly wasn’t a hasty decision. Crankworx could have solved this more easily than the riders, why do people blame them and not Crankworx? Also anyone criticizing the athletes in favor of a non-human organization are so wrong and a demonstrate a microcosm of a bigger issue causing major strife in the world right now. Someone else...

Totally agree with you Mitch. Thank you for your first hand input. I made an account just for this topic alone. These guys are risking EVERYTHING to do what they do and they shouldn't be forced into a state of poverty if they're good enough to be dropping into some of the biggest events in this sport. I hope redbull and crankworx see this thread and I hope a collaboration can be had to make a change for these premier athletes so they can have a sense of security to continue doing what they love. That's the only way we'll...

Sitting out the event does nothing to help the top guys. If anything it’s a big hinderance in a world where many contracts are bonus based. It can hopefully do something to better things for the rest of the field. for those comparing to dh that’s the main difference. The loic Bruno’s and Greg Minaars of the sport aren’t sitting out to help the guys who are fighting for a top 30.

Love hearing the firsthand experience Chubey, you rock.

Hard to force an event into paying for something that's been paid and budgeted for a year. We had this issue with redbull at rampage 2014 when Redbull told us they owned our helmet camera footage.... The event almost didn't happen over it. It was crazy, We owned the camera, we hit record, we paid for our diggers, we built the line, we risked injury to ride said line, yet RB would own the footage... I think we got to use the footage for person promotion, not sponsor use. and they "Scrapped" up a 1000 bucks each for it. But...

The new statement from Rogatz makes it seem like this situation has been brought up multiple years at Rotorua. What I can't be sure of is if they got pay increase each year and were appeased in some ways. But it sounds like they've been at it for a while now and this has come as a last ditch effort to fix the event. And I'd assume it has a lot to do with the lower guys on the totem pole walking away in the negative. I'm not sure how far down you have to be to start basically losing...

I would disagree, the day before the event is the best day to make your point, this has probably been simmering for a while and talks would have been happening behind the scenes. The riders knew before leaving home that this was going to go down, and and I would be surprised if crankworks/red bull didn't know, and just figured they would ride instead of risk loosing a pay cheque.

Oh man, I could beat this topic with a broken stick until it returned back to life. Rampage athletes get an appearance fee ever since 2015. Why not the slope guys? Most the slope guys dont actually make that much. I did Pretty good for 15 years. Id average probably 65K USD all said and done over those 15 years. Less when I started and the bigger years in the middle. That is sponsorships and winnings and any travel budgets. BUT I would spend at least 30k of that on traveling and expenses. So that 3k a month before taxes...

If the fans are paying a gate fee, the riders should be getting paid at a minimum to show up. Like every other stick and ball sport with a paid venue. The lowest level MLS guys and CFL guys doing it for the "love of the game" with small niche audiences are still getting enough salary to pay rent, even though it is terrible pay compared to big USA league sports.

Some of you are missing the fact that the riders aren't asking their frame and parts sponsors to pay more. Just Red Bull, who make a mint off of these life threatening events.

While no athlete is ever owed a living by anyone, when (edit: or if) the organisers are making money by selling tickets and advertising, then the competitors are absolutely within their rights to expect appearance fees, IMNSHO. The riders are the singular reason the whole circus exists!

Love all these people claiming that the riders are wrong for asking for this. These guys put their life on the line for crankworx and redbull to make money. They should receive an appearance fee. It’s the pinnacle of the sport. I sure as hell wouldn’t be doing backflips off two story buildings, but I’d race the same track that the downhill guys do. So don’t make that comparison.

Without the athletes you do not have a show to put on... So ya, they should be paid a base amount to compete, that goes for all professional disciplines where a gate fee is charged to watch the event.

Weather they get what they want or not is not something that I will loose sleep over, but good on them for sticking together to prove a point.

This is what essentially tore the golf world in half. Do you get paid to show up no matter what or do you get paid to win? The difference is golf pays half the field at least something. Despite Crankworx paying out significantly more than a world cup, or any other MTB event for that matter, no one has beaten Emil in like 4 years. Then Godziek comes on the scene and is essentially a podium lock which leaves the rest of the field competing for one paycheque. Appearance fees are a slippery slope, I could see the podium contenders...

Rampage afaik...