Updated Saturday, July 7 with post-race interviews.
Enjoy some day-of interviews from the Val di Sole World Cup Downhill. The course is steep, rough and sketchy in the dry. Throw in some rain, and all bets on survival are off. Sven Martin, @maddogboris and Dan Hearn go deep with the riders.
Race Day Interviews (contains some adult language)
QUALIFYING INTERVIEWS
TIMED TRAINING INTERVIEWS (contains some adult language)
grinch
7/7/2018 7:39 PM
zuman
7/7/2018 7:33 PM
sspomer
7/7/2018 7:59 PM
Rb
7/7/2018 11:33 AM
sspomer
7/7/2018 12:01 PM
sspomer
7/7/2018 10:40 AM
matmattmatthew
7/7/2018 7:50 AM
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.
harorider13
7/6/2018 9:47 PM
LB
7/6/2018 5:17 AM
bman33
7/6/2018 1:32 PM
sspomer
7/6/2018 2:04 PM
bman33
7/6/2018 2:16 PM
jeff.brines
7/6/2018 3:19 PM
...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
LB
7/6/2018 3:54 PM
jeff.brines
7/6/2018 5:14 PM
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
sspomer
7/6/2018 6:02 PM
LB
7/6/2018 7:53 PM
fun house
7/7/2018 12:02 AM