#fckRampage?

[Capricorn]

I guess some would argue that if it's the long-term attendees, it's about them getting left behind, about no longer being competitive?  

 

or they've finally had some financial sense knocked into them, and realized that what they do could have a massive impact on the rest of their lives. Out of public sight = out of mind. That's normal. Out of physical well-being and out of pocket is a whole nother story. Why should their rockstar public statuses not translate into rockstar incomes?

[Tumbleweed]

or they've finally had some financial sense knocked into them, and realized that what they do could have a massive impact on the rest of their lives. Out of public sight = out of mind. That's normal. Out of physical well-being and out of pocket is a whole nother story. Why should their rockstar public statuses not translate into rockstar incomes?

 

The pic of Zink with kid kinda says it all.

 

Thing is, you shut something like Rampage down, something uglier replaces it. Go back in extreme sports say 13-odd years ago. Ever see Ultimate-X on Imax? Deegan describes Pastrana as the "all-American boy, straight As and decent at sport"-kinda thing, while his Mulisha are the kids who'd be in detention. There always have to be bad-asses.

[(Deon)]

"I remember Tyler McCaul coming in 5th place in 2013 and telling me that he could barely cover his whole trip with his earnings. In 2014 Kyle Strait was awarded $4,000 for his 4th place result, leaving just $1,000 take home after his expenses for two weeks in the desert. At an hourly rate that's probably worse than minimum wage. This year [2015] Cam Zink made just $3,000 for his 6th place finish, and the pay scale falls off fast after that. Many riders in the Top 10 couldn't even cover their gas expenses with the pennies they made for their efforts. Perhaps the biggest of all, the riders are not covered by an event insurance policy. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?"

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

"I remember Tyler McCaul coming in 5th place in 2013 and telling me that he could barely cover his whole trip with his earnings. In 2014 Kyle Strait was awarded $4,000 for his 4th place result, leaving just $1,000 take home after his expenses for two weeks in the desert. At an hourly rate that's probably worse than minimum wage. This year [2015] Cam Zink made just $3,000 for his 6th place finish, and the pay scale falls off fast after that. Many riders in the Top 10 couldn't even cover their gas expenses with the pennies they made for their efforts. Perhaps the biggest of all, the riders are not covered by an event insurance policy. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?"

This.

 

Pitiful.

[ALLMTB]

Another interesting quote from the article:

 

What really angered me about this whole situation wasn't the dollars though. As press, when we sign our papers to get approved for a media pass, among the many legal clauses we agree to is one stating that we will never post a photo of a bad crash or a rider's condition after the fact. It's literally the first clause in a two page agreement. Why not? Why the hell can't the public know what happens out there? Why must it be shrouded in secrecy? Rampage is no walk in the park. 

 

 

http://www.vitalmtb.com/features/Opinion-When-Does-Risk-Outweigh-the-Reward-How-Red-Bull-Rampage-Changed-Our-Perspective,932

[Stretch]

"I remember Tyler McCaul coming in 5th place in 2013 and telling me that he could barely cover his whole trip with his earnings. In 2014 Kyle Strait was awarded $4,000 for his 4th place result, leaving just $1,000 take home after his expenses for two weeks in the desert. At an hourly rate that's probably worse than minimum wage. This year [2015] Cam Zink made just $3,000 for his 6th place finish, and the pay scale falls off fast after that. Many riders in the Top 10 couldn't even cover their gas expenses with the pennies they made for their efforts. Perhaps the biggest of all, the riders are not covered by an event insurance policy. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?"

 

this is one of the reasons why the World cup racers don't do it (and its not their specialty)...the possible impact of a career ending injury is not worth the "glory". I think back in the days when Gee and even greg did it was when the WC circuit was not paying as well.....but the profile of the sport has risen quite dramatically recently and as a Top 20 odd WC racer you can earn a good living

[Eddy Gordo]

The quest for bigger and bigger has taken the "riding for the love of" out of the sport.

 

Exactly that

 

However there are those interested in pushing the limits. MUCHO COJONES

[Eddy Gordo]

"I remember Tyler McCaul coming in 5th place in 2013 and telling me that he could barely cover his whole trip with his earnings. In 2014 Kyle Strait was awarded $4,000 for his 4th place result, leaving just $1,000 take home after his expenses for two weeks in the desert. At an hourly rate that's probably worse than minimum wage. This year [2015] Cam Zink made just $3,000 for his 6th place finish, and the pay scale falls off fast after that. Many riders in the Top 10 couldn't even cover their gas expenses with the pennies they made for their efforts. Perhaps the biggest of all, the riders are not covered by an event insurance policy. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?"

Damn, thats like riding for free. I suppose if the purse was huge and insurance etc, then it would paint a different picture.

[dman2]

 

Has Rampage become only a glorified bit of marketeering for Redbull at the expense of the riders?

 

 

This is the problem for me.

There should be appearance fees and compenhensive insurance for all the riders.

No prize money, glory only. More of a Fest series, jam style radness.

 

I think riders want to be there, pushing the boundries but they should not be taking all the risk while Redbull racks in the profit.

[Shebeen]

I've felt the same as the op-ed writer. I didn't watch this year. It's just a matter of time before one of the riders suffers a fatal crash.

I didn't realise that Red Bull didn't cover them wrt insurance. Come on, for a company that's making so much from the athletes, thats just ripping the ring out.

that is madness. there should be a fully fledged medical everything on the house, with helivac etc etc.

 

otherwise it's just exploitative...not far off from this really

 

http://www.guywoolnough.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/cock-fight.jpg

[(Deon)]

There was a PB post made about how the riders themselves feel they need to "out-do" their last run from previous years.

 

As much as the media thrives on risk and whether this makes RB tons in exchange, the spectacle on the day remains the rider's choice and the risk they are prepared to take.

 

Now we have some of the media standing out against "exploitation". Baffles me how for three years Vital knew about the underlying problems but chose only to take a "brave" stand against the organiser after this injury.

 

The truth is everyone is capitalising on these rider's risks.. from the spectator watching in horror to the media group speaking out in disdain against the so-called "exploitation". Even the riders who return every year to compete against what they could (not) attempt the year prior, they must be doing it for some reward other than money especially if they know that if they are lucky enough to place 4th, that would only just cover their expenses..

[Stretch]

maybe we need to have a viewers strike...unless they pay some sort of appearance fee

 

all that said...I cannot discount the value that redbull adds to the sport in general

[Capricorn]

There was a PB post made about how the riders themselves feel they need to "out-do" their last run from previous years.

 

As much as the media thrives on risk and whether this makes RB tons in exchange, the spectacle on the day remains the rider's choice and the risk they are prepared to take.

 

Now we have some of the media standing out against "exploitation". Baffles me how for three years Vital knew about the underlying problems but chose only to take a "brave" stand against the organiser after this injury.

 

The truth is everyone is capitalising on these rider's risks.. from the spectator watching in horror to the media group speaking out in disdain against the so-called "exploitation". Even the riders who return every year to compete against what they could (not) attempt the year prior, they must be doing it for some reward other than money especially if they know that if they are lucky enough to place 4th, that would only just cover their expenses..

 

I think vital and other media outlets were scared of rocking the advertising benefits boat, as RB has a huge influence in many of the sports they cover. Now that many more riders are speaking out, its ideal for Vital and co to now essentially 'report the news' as opposed to making it with pot-stirring claims of their own. Now they simply reflect the status quo.

 

As for the riders themselves going bigger, they understand the concept of "you've got to risk it to get the biscuit". Fest series is the poster child for just how bonkers_big they can go. Fest is for the riders, by the riders. It's nice mileage for their kit sponsors, but still just a bunch of dudes building stuff they ride for the funsies.

 

Rampage however is seen as a payday because its become such a huge commercial enterprise. Its televised live all over the world. That's some serious rights royalties which they have zero share in.  Their argument for exploitation is valid as there really is very very few riders who can take on Rampage in its truest form (the stuff even ultra top level world cup DH racers baulk at attempting).

[(Deon)]

I say "so called exploitation" because just how many times can one group offer the same guys unlimited tweets and Facebook likes as payment? 

 

Unless the reward is untold sponsorship riches that drives the risk and will never be spoken about while trying to fry the organiser.

 

What's the old saying, "it's all fun and games until.."

[KingTJ]

I am just going to try a throw a spanner in the works herel, just add a second side to the conversation (not my own personal opinion)....but if the riders don't like the conditions of rampage then they don't have to take part. Nobody is forcing them to do the contest. The conditions are set out before the contest . The people pushing the boundaries are the spectator, we want to see bigger and better otherwise we don't watch forcing the riders to take a greater risk.

[Stretch]

I am just going to try a throw a spanner in the works herel, just add a second side to the conversation (not my own personal opinion)....but if the riders don't like the conditions of rampage then they don't have to take part. Nobody is forcing them to do the contest. The conditions are set out before the contest start... also they riders all have sponsors there , aren't they responsible for the insurance for the riders as it is their brand their are looking after. The people pushing the boundaries are the spectator, we want to see bigger and better otherwise we don't watch forcing the riders to take a greater risk.

 

not all of them - some have literally driven there on their own with their own bike and just them and mate digging...prob bribed with beer or free entrance