PODCAST - Val di Sole World Cup Downhill Racer Interviews 18

Good ?’s/feedback on the post race. Cabirou would be good in there. Other than the crash. Her form on the bike looked the best

Suggestion, can we get a chronological list for the interviews, just for the few riders we're not that familiar with the voices yet. Thanks

i read the names of the riders and their order of "appearance" in the intro to each of these. i will put it in text next race.

Friendly request... Any chance you guys could please switch to an HTML5-based audio/podcast embedding plugin? (like your guys' slideshows & other content). Flash is terribly dated/insecure (and doesn't even work in a lot of browsers). Great content... keep it comin'

this is a 3rd-party player, we have no control. i thought this was a javascript player, not flash. you can subscribe to our channel in any podcast app to get the same file.

updated with race day interviews!

I can make a case for both sides of this argument. But I think in this situation you have to look at context, this was right after a really crazy qualifications and it's the Squid's interviewing them. In most cases these riders have personal relationships with the photographers/videographers, they hangout together all season and in some cases most of the off-season. So when one of them sticks a recorder out and starts asking them questions they are probably extremely relaxed and thus the colorful language. If they were speaking like this during a press conference or other "planned" event then I would see the language being a bigger deal.

And I'm a Father for context.

These are great, keep them coming, uncensored...

alright world class athletes; watch your mouths! Take some notes from Aaron Gwin, the best of all time in the making, never heard him use the F word in an interview. Kids are listening and idolize you guys.

Agree LB. Of course you got bunch of thumbs down. Yes, F bombs are 'real'. However, professionalism is a dying art. Certain videos/interviews cursing is fine. But certain ones, a touch of professionalism goes a long way. I am sure I will get plenty of thumbs down cause that opinion isn't 'bro' or 'real' enough. So bet it

i'll take some of the blame for not warning about it in the intro. i meant to, but forgot during recording. will try to do so in the future

Spomer, no worries. You aren't to blame and I don't have kids. Just backing up LB with him bring things downed to death. All good

...but is it worth not telling the story authentically or watering it down?

These guys are literally risking life and limb on what might go down as one of the gnarliest races in history. Sometimes some colorful language is required to tell that story or convey your emotion. Its crazy what these guys are up against.

Spomes will warn ya in the future, bla bla bla, but in my not so humble opinion, its not the athletes "job" to teach your kid how to speak appropriately, and what language is okay and not okay. F bombs are part of the culture, and I don't just mean bikes. Be it instagram, another mag, meeting them etc they are going to hear this sort of language.

Speaking of which, reminds me of this... (obviously this has a lot of colorful language - which mind you I heard uncensored the first time on an ESPN 30 for 30...)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=8S0CDtEz_Bo

Hear hear. I don’t think Finn Iles playing FIFA is that stressful that using the Fbomb is necessary, sorry. And... being a pro athlete comes with perks and responsibilities such as being a role model, weather they like it or not. I also don’t like everything about my job.

This is where we differ in philosophy COMPLETELY. Finn is a good bike rider. He is perhaps a role model on the bike. That does not mean he is a role model in life. It’s so crazy to assume someone being good going down a hill on a bike makes him worthy of being a life role model. Life role model comes from so much more than athleticism.

Emulate his style, emulate his ability, but he’s a 19 (??) year old kid for goodness sake. He’s paid to crush on the bike! By your logic everyone needs to have a squeaky clean on camera persona to be a pro. BS man. Guys like Cedric, Palmer and even Peaty would have been watered down versions of themselves under this sentiment. Those guys being allowed to be themselves made this sport better.

You don’t have to like them or look up to them to realize they have an impact.

End of the day athletes aren’t role models by default. Hell your job rarely defines the attributes required to be considered a role model. That comes from an alignment of values that you respect, something a sport alone cannot dictate.

Guessing you weren’t a huge fan of the Bronson launch video too eh

Sorry for getting a bit heated. I just think this Is a massive error we sometimes make as parents....

That

some brands/sponsors (those providing the jobs) have tighter rules about language than others. while i completely understand where you're coming from LB, i don't agree that "pro athlete" has (or should have) a general job description that means certain language may or may not be used. i am bummed, however, that i forgot the language warning on that first audio file.

No worries. We’re all making good points here I think. Good discussion.

We're talking about a bunch of lunatics riding their bikes as fast as they can down a muddy mountain. Let them be their natural selves, whether they swear or not. I'd rather see an authentic personality than a PR robot.