2023 Racing Talk

funktekk
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Shawnee, KS US
7/5/2023 12:04pm

On a positive note, I am loving the explosion of behind the scenes vlogs. By far Ed Masters is my new favorite. He is a treasure. I can't get enough. I wish him a speedy recovery, but I'm guessing the videos will slow up when he is back on the enduro bike. 

 

9
Trill Will
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Mooresville, NC US
7/5/2023 6:50pm
Yoda wrote:
Spectator's race summary from Val di Sole: Good - Insane race, and the venue was electric from Brosnan's run till the afterparty died sometime around 4am. ...

Spectator's race summary from Val di Sole:

Good

- Insane race, and the venue was electric from Brosnan's run till the afterparty died sometime around 4am. 

- Course-taping was great to keep the track safer and more interesting. VDS is an A+ venue to watch lines most of us can only dream about (ex tripling into a steep braking zone), so many interesting sections to check out and see how the riders could make the most awkward looking section fast as F$#%. Can't believe some of the hits that people's wheels survived. 10/10 recommend going if you're within 6hrs drive. 

- Semi-finals are really awesome for spectators who hike the track. Short gaps and tons of action with everyone outside the top 10 pushing hard. Practice, Semis, Finals provides a ton of DH to watch in a day. Bring lunch, the cooler, and some noise.

- Whoever commentated in-person was much better than Ric and Cedric (american or canadian?). 

Bad

- Materials used for course-taping: the low-slung netting is annoying- going off resulted in riders & bikes getting tangled and there's little chance to quickly get up. Dak's semi-final crash was right in front of us and I think he could've been up and going within 3sec w/out the netting but instead it was a 10sec affair. 

Other

- My GCN+ subscription cost 1/2 the price of gas to go visit for the weekend. 

Yo Yoda!  The onsite commentator that travels with the World Cup circuit is Randy Ferguson.  He is French/Canadian from Quebec.  The dude is always on point and I agree he is just as good as any on screen commentating.  I am stoked to get on the mic with him at the Snowshoe World Cup DH again this September!

Love the insight from the venue.  It makes sense that the new format is an action packed race day for spectators.  My voice will be reeling commentating all of the semi/final runs in one day, but nothing some post-race whiskey can't smooth out. 

Cheers!

5
Stewyeww
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CA
7/5/2023 9:08pm
rpjn wrote:
I'm still really unsure about the points, there just seems too many available for qualifying and semi's, its taken away the magnitude of actually winning the...

I'm still really unsure about the points, there just seems too many available for qualifying and semi's, its taken away the magnitude of actually winning the race.

You could win every single final of the season but still not win the overall which would be so underwhelming and disappointing.  you wouldn't even have to do badly in quali's and semi's, a 5th & 6th plus the win you would come out with 365 for the race and you're easily come away behind someone who came 2nd in each run  (410 total). I know the season overall rewards consistency but downhill is all about getting to the finals and that one run...

Didn't someone win the overall without winning a race in the last couple years?

brash
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7/5/2023 9:41pm

Yep, Matt Walker

3
dylanjp006
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Palmerston North NZ
7/6/2023 2:30am

Red bull posted final rider list for hardline. No goldstone anymore

7/6/2023 5:19am Edited Date/Time 7/6/2023 5:19am
dylanjp006 wrote:

Red bull posted final rider list for hardline. No goldstone anymore

I thought he said he was finally having his appendix removed during the break in WC races. 

With Hardline now being in the middle of the season it seems less attractive for riders in the hunt for the WC races. Risk vs reward is kinda skewed vs in the past when it was at the end of the season. 

6
mrdimi
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Toronto, ON CA
7/6/2023 5:52am
dylanjp006 wrote:

Red bull posted final rider list for hardline. No goldstone anymore

Where did you see it? The Red Bull site still has him on the list but wouldn't be surprised if he skipped it to focus on getting better in time for Worlds. 

7/6/2023 5:53am
dylanjp006 wrote:

Red bull posted final rider list for hardline. No goldstone anymore

I thought he said he was finally having his appendix removed during the break in WC races.  With Hardline now being in the middle of the...

I thought he said he was finally having his appendix removed during the break in WC races. 

With Hardline now being in the middle of the season it seems less attractive for riders in the hunt for the WC races. Risk vs reward is kinda skewed vs in the past when it was at the end of the season. 

Definitely a bummer, but unfortunately, Hardline always claims a few victims. It's almost like it's kinda hard Laughing 

Just too much at stake right meow. 

On the plus side, Bryceland, Strait, and the return of Gee!

3
7/6/2023 6:07am
brash wrote:

Yep, Matt Walker

In a 4 race series where loris flatted in one round.  Only took place at two locations with only slightly modified tracks.  
 

the largest points gap in qualification, semi, and finals is from first to second place.  Winning every chance at points is the way a rider can fly up the standings.  And anyone who tries consistency will still need to be on the podium in every run and absolute can’t afford a bad round.  

BGoldstone
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7/6/2023 7:38am
I think it was maybe posted here or maybe I saw it elsewhere but apparently the new 1199 course in Whistler is next level. Crankworx boss...

I think it was maybe posted here or maybe I saw it elsewhere but apparently the new 1199 course in Whistler is next level. Crankworx boss was super stoked on it. Said it was like Hardline meets world cup DH. I'm really hoping teams send a lot of their elite riders as this may (hopefully) be a prep/test race for a 2024 world cup. 
Hardline is the weekend before (handful of riders) and worlds track walk is 10 days after (plenty of time for riders to travel back and adjust). So it will primarily be a buget things for teams. I'm sure a ton of riders would love to come to Whistler for 10 days for training then race Crankworx, then head to Scotland. 

Whistler has had riders testing the 1199 trail this week. Good looking course but it’s nothing like hardline but looks more like Val di Sole if anything. A few vids up on IG and Carter Krasney posted a top to bottom lap

1
Losifer
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Sandia Park, NM US
7/6/2023 9:28am
dylanjp006 wrote:

Red bull posted final rider list for hardline. No goldstone anymore

He’s said in interviews that he’s taking advantage of the break to finally have an appendectomy. As much as I’m looking forward to watching Hardline, I can’t see how it would make sense for anyone in the top of UCI rankings to do it in the middle of the season.

1
BGoldstone
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7/6/2023 6:31pm

GCN hasn’t even put out a recap show other than the highlights and click bait video on whether dh is too dangerous or not

swoopswoop
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7/8/2023 9:05am
BGoldstone wrote:
GCN hasn’t even put out a recap show other than the highlights and click bait video on whether dh is too dangerous or not

GCN hasn’t even put out a recap show other than the highlights and click bait video on whether dh is too dangerous or not

I don't remember Red Bull doing much other than just having the replay available to watch and posting winning runs? There wasn't a stand-alone recap show as far as I can remember, although I didn't really seek it out.

The other video you're talking about wasn't GCN.

1
chriskief
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7/8/2023 9:56am
swoopswoop wrote:
I don't remember Red Bull doing much other than just having the replay available to watch and posting winning runs? There wasn't a stand-alone recap show...

I don't remember Red Bull doing much other than just having the replay available to watch and posting winning runs? There wasn't a stand-alone recap show as far as I can remember, although I didn't really seek it out.

The other video you're talking about wasn't GCN.

True but they also did the Fast Life series.

BGoldstone
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7/8/2023 10:49am
BGoldstone wrote:
GCN hasn’t even put out a recap show other than the highlights and click bait video on whether dh is too dangerous or not

GCN hasn’t even put out a recap show other than the highlights and click bait video on whether dh is too dangerous or not

swoopswoop wrote:
I don't remember Red Bull doing much other than just having the replay available to watch and posting winning runs? There wasn't a stand-alone recap show...

I don't remember Red Bull doing much other than just having the replay available to watch and posting winning runs? There wasn't a stand-alone recap show as far as I can remember, although I didn't really seek it out.

The other video you're talking about wasn't GCN.

 


they are all here - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6pTrW6QGFHR-ixV8QQlDB-FYNECVE_DC

 

My bad I said GCN went it’s GMBN that did the dh video but it’s hosted where the race replays are.

2
7/8/2023 11:11am

Show is awesome.  Hope they do one for every round.  I spend more time watching bubbas world than I do actual Supercross.  Sure I’m not the only one out there.

1
rEs
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GB
7/9/2023 5:33am
Imagine trying to do a race run down that track with a drone flying a couple of meters away from your head down some of the...

Imagine trying to do a race run down that track with a drone flying a couple of meters away from your head down some of the super gnarly bits Laughing surely that's really distracting 

Dak said on the vital b practice podcast he can’t hear it.

but they didn’t ask riders permission either.

1
Mr.Nally
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AS
7/9/2023 6:19am
swoopswoop wrote:
I don't remember Red Bull doing much other than just having the replay available to watch and posting winning runs? There wasn't a stand-alone recap show...

I don't remember Red Bull doing much other than just having the replay available to watch and posting winning runs? There wasn't a stand-alone recap show as far as I can remember, although I didn't really seek it out.

The other video you're talking about wasn't GCN.

There was always a 20ish min recap show the week after world cups. Elliott presenting etc... Covering BTS stuff and replays of runs

 

Example https://youtu.be/JDjFcQKz0Oc

1
dolface
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CA US
7/10/2023 7:11am

Jackson out of Hardline due to complications w/ his appendix surgery.

 

 

2
drakefan705
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North Vancouver, BC CA
7/10/2023 8:19am
I think it was maybe posted here or maybe I saw it elsewhere but apparently the new 1199 course in Whistler is next level. Crankworx boss...

I think it was maybe posted here or maybe I saw it elsewhere but apparently the new 1199 course in Whistler is next level. Crankworx boss was super stoked on it. Said it was like Hardline meets world cup DH. I'm really hoping teams send a lot of their elite riders as this may (hopefully) be a prep/test race for a 2024 world cup. 
Hardline is the weekend before (handful of riders) and worlds track walk is 10 days after (plenty of time for riders to travel back and adjust). So it will primarily be a buget things for teams. I'm sure a ton of riders would love to come to Whistler for 10 days for training then race Crankworx, then head to Scotland. 

BGoldstone wrote:
Whistler has had riders testing the 1199 trail this week. Good looking course but it’s nothing like hardline but looks more like Val di Sole if...

Whistler has had riders testing the 1199 trail this week. Good looking course but it’s nothing like hardline but looks more like Val di Sole if anything. A few vids up on IG and Carter Krasney posted a top to bottom lap

Been thinking about this a lot lately. As far as I know the biggest reason whistler doesnt have a world cup right now is because crankworks is such a huge event that they don’t need or want another one. With enduro now packaged into the WC I can bet it’s a lot more enticing but I don’t see crankworks going away and I don’t see redbull appreciating sharing the spotlight. 

7/10/2023 9:21am
Been thinking about this a lot lately. As far as I know the biggest reason whistler doesnt have a world cup right now is because crankworks...

Been thinking about this a lot lately. As far as I know the biggest reason whistler doesnt have a world cup right now is because crankworks is such a huge event that they don’t need or want another one. With enduro now packaged into the WC I can bet it’s a lot more enticing but I don’t see crankworks going away and I don’t see redbull appreciating sharing the spotlight. 

I also heard another rumor on why there hasn't been a world cup from a staff person at the Whistler bike park... SRAM sponsors the bike park. Shimano sponsors the world cup... Issues there possibly. 

I've heard the excuse that Crankworx is already too big or that they don't want another event because it's too crazy and stuff like that... Whistler hosted the Olympics, Whistler sees 10's of thousands of skiers daily in the winter. They can handle more if they want to. Also, I wouldn't see them link a world cup with Crankworx. It would be a stand alone event.
 

1
BGoldstone
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7/10/2023 9:52am

If the 1199 trail is going to be used as WC course I don’t see how it work. Creekside is too small to host the pit area and there isn’t really another spot close by.

chriskief
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New York, NY US
7/10/2023 10:32am

Doesn’t 1199 end a ways up on the mountain as well? The map shows it going into lower Insomnia. They’d probably have to extend it down to the base, you don’t want to race Insomnia.

funktekk
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Shawnee, KS US
7/10/2023 10:39am

Dak was saying on Vital B that there wasn't any courses in North America that can replicate the what the riders experience in Europe. Why is this? Certainly we have the verticality in places like the Rockies and Sierras. Is it just that lift access bike parks don't want to waste the time on trial that will rarely get ridden?

veefour
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Cinderford GB
7/10/2023 10:43am

Given that most World Cup venues lose money hosting, you'd have to wonder why Vail Resorts would bother. It's not like they need to get it into the public consciousness as a place to ride bikes.

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