Headshot Posted November 4, 2020 Share There is no doubt that local i.e SA riders are at a massive disadvantage compared to their overseas counterparts, even more so the weaker the Rand gets. I agree that the stats don't always follow eg Canada's relative lack of top riders, but it certainly plays out when it comes to UK and French racers. The UK riders can easily migrate to the PDS for a long weekend and the same goes for the guys from the South of France. Its a cheap holiday for them. The MTB culture in SA is also the polar opposite of Euro and US where dh/enduro rule, not dirt roadie marathons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duane_Bosch Posted November 4, 2020 Share Skills to do that, but aren't roll-offs better (no plastic on the trail) ?Ja tearoffs are a problem. Roll offs are great until the aren't. Sometimes a bit of water gets between the roll off and the goggle lens which REAAAALLLLYYY screws with your vision. Also you can have a situation where the roll off refuses to slide on the lens. They are not a perfect solution AT ALL! Tears offs come in laminated packs of 7 but guys like GM will probably have maybe 2 tearoffs that they'll know exactly where they will pull. Edited November 4, 2020 by Duane_Bosch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duane_Bosch Posted November 4, 2020 Share The UK riders can easily migrate to the PDS for a long weekend and the same goes for the guys from the South of France. Its a cheap holiday for them. For sure. I once chatted to a Scottish guy on the lift and he reckoned he had bought a weekly all in package for 300 quid. That's ALL IN. Flights, accommodation, 2 meals, lift passes. For a week. The only thing he needed to spend money on in the PDS was beer. There's also at least 200 fast poms who spend the summer there making beds and scrubbing toilets and bumming lifts to the odd race in the hopes of making it. Edited November 4, 2020 by Duane_Bosch Headshot 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jewbacca Posted November 4, 2020 Share One of the biggest issues we have here is financial mentorship or government funded (or any type of funded) programs that identify talent and nurtures it. In Aus they have a central team which identifies young (talking 10 to 16) kids at various stages in their development and has a central coaching structure that they report to. It's rugby, cricket, swimming, BMX, surfing etc.... These guys are looked after, trained, coached and every opportunity is presented for them to achieve and thus, represent Australia well. We are such a broken country that talent is recognised by schools, poached and then discarded into a club or non structured system that has no funding and no direction once they hit 18/19. This is the critical time in their lives as athletes and there is almost nothing and nowhere to go. The rugby players either get a pro contract with a union that is probably going under anyway, the cricketers are lucky to get a B level contract with a un ion that is definitely going bankrupt and all other sports become self funded and self managed. It take an exceptional person from an exceptional family to make it in any outlying sport in this country. Eddy Gordo and Koos Likkewaan 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b-rad Posted November 4, 2020 Share One of the biggest issues we have here is financial mentorship or government funded (or any type of funded) programs that identify talent and nurtures it. In Aus they have a central team which identifies young (talking 10 to 16) kids at various stages in their development and has a central coaching structure that they report to. It's rugby, cricket, swimming, BMX, surfing etc.... These guys are looked after, trained, coached and every opportunity is presented for them to achieve and thus, represent Australia well. We are such a broken country that talent is recognised by schools, poached and then discarded into a club or non structured system that has no funding and no direction once they hit 18/19. This is the critical time in their lives as athletes and there is almost nothing and nowhere to go. The rugby players either get a pro contract with a union that is probably going under anyway, the cricketers are lucky to get a B level contract with a un ion that is definitely going bankrupt and all other sports become self funded and self managed. It take an exceptional person from an exceptional family to make it in any outlying sport in this country. Agreed. Makes those few from SA who make it to the top of their game on a world level even more impressive. Hairy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stretch Posted November 6, 2020 Share Cool video - except for the Ghastly pronunciation of his name Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hairy Posted November 16, 2020 Share Seems Bruni can do a little XC speed work Video: Loic Bruni has Another World Cup Podium... in XC Eliminator MrJacques 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hairy Posted December 9, 2020 Share HOW FREEKING AWESOME Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrJacques Posted December 11, 2020 Share Loris Vergier leaving the Santa Cruz Syndicate: https://www.pinkbike.com/news/loris-vergier-parts-ways-with-the-syndicate-for-2021.html Not sure where he's going to. Since Danny Hart is no longer with Saracen, maybe there's a chance he could take Loris place? I think it could be cool Edited December 11, 2020 by MrJacques Archjuniour 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eddy Gordo Posted December 11, 2020 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hairy Posted December 11, 2020 Share Loris Vergier leaving the Santa Cruz Syndicate: https://www.pinkbike.com/news/loris-vergier-parts-ways-with-the-syndicate-for-2021.html Not sure where he's going to. Since Danny Hart is no longer with Saracen, maybe there's a chance he could take Loris place? I think it could be cool I recon the youngster Jamie will take his place. Where would a Frenchie go ... Commencal or Spaz to ride with Bruni? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BaGearA Posted December 11, 2020 Share Loris Vergier leaving the Santa Cruz Syndicate: https://www.pinkbike.com/news/loris-vergier-parts-ways-with-the-syndicate-for-2021.html Not sure where he's going to. Since Danny Hart is no longer with Saracen, maybe there's a chance he could take Loris place? I think it could be cool Danny will very likey be on cube Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinmug Posted December 12, 2020 Share Loris Trekking to the new world? stefmeister 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrJacques Posted December 12, 2020 Share Loris Trekking to the new world? Probably not related, but Emily Batty is leaving Trek. Luca Shaw is dating Emily though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chavo Posted December 12, 2020 Share Luca Shaw isn't dating Emily Batty! He is dating Jolande Neff, who is on the Trek team MrJacques 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrJacques Posted December 12, 2020 Share Luca Shaw isn't dating Emily Batty! He is dating Jolande Neff, who is on the Trek team Sorry, I lost Trek of who's seeing who. BSG and Hairy 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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