What does Aaron Gwin do?

[raptor-22]

Imo He is faster because he brakes less.

This allows him to carry more speed.

This is likely how he managed to win without a chain

[Stretch]

Imo He is faster because he brakes less.

This allows him to carry more speed.

This is likely how he managed to win without a chain

Don't think so...watching the highlights he braked at the exact same spots that Greg did...obviously we cant see all of it..but he did say afterwards that it's the kind of track he likes...short enough that you can put it All out there with having to worry about fitness affecting your concentration.

[PhilipV]

I'm really glad to see him do so well this year. I really hope he can beat the spez curse and strung it together for the WC Overall.

I reckon it is the sum of many small things like Cap said, and his huge BMT.

[Capricorn]

Watching him over that top section of rocks last night and then over the bottom section of rocks reminded me of a shift in windsurfing racing philosophy a few years ago.

 

In the old days, it was assumed that you would be faster if you had total control, were smooth and kept your board flat and well trimmed. Then about 4-5 years ago, some nutters found that you were faster if you were not always in total control. Rather go out with a sail two or three sizes too big and just hang on and try handle the chaos. If you manage to do it and somehow transfer that power, you will be faster even though you not in total control.

 

Watching Greg vs Aaron last night over those rocks, Greg was in full control, carefully placing the bike and riding the rocks, super legend Minaar smooth. Whereas Gwen looked like a mad man whose brakes had failed and who had come into it way too fast and was just hanging on for his life. Dust and stones flying everywhere, not it total control, as graceful as a war-rig in Mad Max, but at the end of the day, faster.

 

I'm gonna ramble here a bit, but the more I think about what Baracuda said, the more I feel things are going to get pretty darn wild. Bikes are the best they've ever been, guys and gals fitter than ever before (Missy now fully understands this), so why haven't times really improved? Why did Gwin put so much time into second placed Minnaar, notably because the track is so short (less than 1.8km)?

Risk reward. The track is very short by world cup standards, so you absolutely have to gun it from the gate. There's not enough track length to catch up toward the bottom.

It also means you can't hesitate in the rough. It's a clear case of who dares wins. But it requires precision: practice and memory. It's very clear from the replays he was on the very ragged edge.

There are few ppl who seem to be capable of pulling off this sort of riding, where when the split times appear, they've smashed a huge gap off the current best split. Currently, I can only think of two riders:

Hill and Gwin.

Look at 2014 Hafjell World Champs: check Hill's split times. He was smashing it, almost 3sec up before he crashed? Slight lack of precision interrupted the charge there.

 

Now the question is: who is going to step up their game to this level of riding? Bikes are already there, bodies there too. Next level = the mind. 

Granted, its not necessary to ride balls out each and every single race,because the aim is not to gap the 2nd placed guy by minutes. Whether by a split second, or a  bunch of seconds. A win is a win. But you don't know how the other guy is going to do. You don't have track side advisors saying speed up or slow down. You have to go. hard, and crush the track as best you can.

Being gapped like this can be a psychological blow, and with world's coming up shortly, there's a distinct possibility we could see things get pretty darn wild. World's is after all, the one run to rule them all. But making the ragged edge sort of comfy requires precision, and precision requires practice.

Gwin fired a massive warning shot. Will we see responses come Val di Sole?

 

Now that I think of the elite women, I'm wondering if their limitation is both body and mind. Missy Giove however, clearly has mind. She might have finished 3rd off stone last, but you don't get 3rd fastest speed trap  on a loan bike without being a little nuts, or simply of the right mind to go stupid fast.  I hope someone responds to what she said in her post race interview: she sounded genuine about offering her years of experience to grow the sport.

[rouxtjie]

not a fan, sold his soul(he mos went to court to force buy out of his trek contract)....and he wears long pant  

 

BUT

 

Liewe aarde he can ride, talent wise, probably the best...he has the right mix of BMT, skill and a sprinkle of crazy. As per mr Min after Gwin's run...we got smoked. end van prent

[rock]

off topic but here, have a vintage pic of missy.

 

http://www.vulpine.cc/Content/DynamicMedia/Blogs/DetailsPage/1091_Image.jpg

[Capricorn]

off topic but here, have a vintage pic of missy.

 

http://www.vulpine.cc/Content/DynamicMedia/Blogs/DetailsPage/1091_Image.jpg

 

lol. so that's the dried piranha everyone was asking about..

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

I'm gonna ramble here a bit, but the more I think about what Baracuda said, the more I feel things are going to get pretty darn wild. Bikes are the best they've ever been, guys and gals fitter than ever before (Missy now fully understands this), so why haven't times really improved? Why did Gwin put so much time into second placed Minnaar, notably because the track is so short (less than 1.8km)?

Risk reward. The track is very short by world cup standards, so you absolutely have to gun it from the gate. There's not enough track length to catch up toward the bottom.

It also means you can't hesitate in the rough. It's a clear case of who dares wins. But it requires precision: practice and memory. It's very clear from the replays he was on the very ragged edge.

There are few ppl who seem to be capable of pulling off this sort of riding, where when the split times appear, they've smashed a huge gap off the current best split. Currently, I can only think of two riders:

Hill and Gwin.

Look at 2014 Hafjell World Champs: check Hill's split times. He was smashing it, almost 3sec up before he crashed? Slight lack of precision interrupted the charge there.

 

Now the question is: who is going to step up their game to this level of riding? Bikes are already there, bodies there too. Next level = the mind. 

Granted, its not necessary to ride balls out each and every single race,because the aim is not to gap the 2nd placed guy by minutes. Whether by a split second, or a  bunch of seconds. A win is a win. But you don't know how the other guy is going to do. You don't have track side advisors saying speed up or slow down. You have to go. hard, and crush the track as best you can.

Being gapped like this can be a psychological blow, and with world's coming up shortly, there's a distinct possibility we could see things get pretty darn wild. World's is after all, the one run to rule them all. But making the ragged edge sort of comfy requires precision, and precision requires practice.

Gwin fired a massive warning shot. Will we see responses come Val di Sole?

 

Now that I think of the elite women, I'm wondering if their limitation is both body and mind. Missy Giove however, clearly has mind. She might have finished 3rd off stone last, but you don't get 3rd fastest speed trap  on a loan bike without being a little nuts, or simply of the right mind to go stupid fast.  I hope someone responds to what she said in her post race interview: she sounded genuine about offering her years of experience to grow the sport.

It's sure going to be interesting... 

[MrJacques]

I think his experience in riding motocross also plays a role.

 

Heres an article showing him trying to bottom out his bikes suspension: http://www.vitalmtb.com/videos/features/Can-Aaron-Gwin-G-Out-His-Downhill-Bike,28356/sspomer,2

[mazambaan]

It is incredible how one person can practically be so dominant in such a competitive sport (even the golf and tennis dominators are amazing). But more how Rossi, Roberts, Lawson, Rainey, Doohan, Carmichael, Stewart, Villopoto, Peterhansel, Coma etc etc have dominated dangerous two wheeled chariots in the lottery of racing on two wheels for extended periods, often only stopped by injury or fear thereof.  Sometime technical superiority but often massive and building confidence, drive, and determination on serious talent. Awesome; love em or hate em.

 

Few riders have threatened in downhill bike, none really achieved it but Gwin's combination of skill, balls (nutter factor), good equipment and preparation is threatening. As long as he stays injury free; which seems tough to call.

 

Fascinating to know how say Greg would read Gwin's lines etc.

[Stretch]

off topic but here, have a vintage pic of missy.

 

 

 

that was a spectacular casing on Saturday! She clearly is the male in the family because she must be to have such big balls

[Stretch]

I suppose you can't blame Red bull - but it seems the race was won or lost in that top section..before that "multiple line drop off into rutted high speed left turn"...Would have been great to see how they all handled that differently. In the pre race helmet cams it was evident that the lines loic took vs Josh were significantly faster* - would have been interesting to compare on race day

 

* - we discussed previously how josh's may have been early in practice and loics later on..but thats not the point im trying to make

[Capricorn]

It is incredible how one person can practically be so dominant in such a competitive sport (even the golf and tennis dominators are amazing). But more how Rossi, Roberts, Lawson, Rainey, Doohan, Carmichael, Stewart, Villopoto, Peterhansel, Coma etc etc have dominated dangerous two wheeled chariots in the lottery of racing on two wheels for extended periods, often only stopped by injury or fear thereof.  Sometime technical superiority but often massive and building confidence, drive, and determination on serious talent. Awesome; love em or hate em.

 

Few riders have threatened in downhill bike, none really achieved it but Gwin's combination of skill, balls (nutter factor), good equipment and preparation is threatening. As long as he stays injury free; which seems tough to call.

 

Fascinating to know how say Greg would read Gwin's lines etc.

 

few have threatened by not achieved? really? the alien, Sam Hill? Remember, Gwin's 'dominance' started just as Hill got fat and mangled himself. And Hill along with others have squarely beaten Gwin. He is not untouchable, nor is he the first. Its just we haven't seen this for a while now. Go back to Hill's dominant days and go check the margins he put on others. Hill's definitely more like him old self, but there's higher consideration for injury from him these days. Breaking yourself properly will do that to anyone. Has Gwin had to climb that mental hill before? Let's wait and see.

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

I suppose you can't blame Red bull - but it seems the race was won or lost in that top section..before that "multiple line drop off into rutted high speed left turn"...Would have been great to see how they all handled that differently. In the pre race helmet cams it was evident that the lines loic took vs Josh were significantly faster* - would have been interesting to compare on race day

 

* - we discussed previously how josh's may have been early in practice and loics later on..but thats not the point im trying to make

indeed...

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

few have threatened by not achieved? really? the alien, Sam Hill? Remember, Gwin's 'dominance' started just as Hill got fat and mangled himself. And Hill along with others have squarely beaten Gwin. He is not untouchable, nor is he the first. Its just we haven't seen this for a while now. Go back to Hill's dominant days and go check the margins he put on others. Hill's definitely more like him old self, but there's higher consideration for injury from him these days. Breaking yourself properly will do that to anyone. Has Gwin had to climb that mental hill before? Let's wait and see.

I wouldn't exactly call it a hill, but yeah. Not yet afaik. At least, no to the same level as Hill... 

 

Edit: Oh, I see what you did there... LOLz

[Capricorn]

I suppose you can't blame Red bull - but it seems the race was won or lost in that top section..before that "multiple line drop off into rutted high speed left turn"...Would have been great to see how they all handled that differently. In the pre race helmet cams it was evident that the lines loic took vs Josh were significantly faster* - would have been interesting to compare on race day

 

* - we discussed previously how josh's may have been early in practice and loics later on..but thats not the point im trying to make

 

given how short the track is, i was really hoping we could have top to bottom coverage like no where else. Guess its a massive mission to set it all up in a way viewers can't appreciate. Still a loss though as you probably not wrong that the top section was the most important section.