UCI DH World Cup 2020 - 2021 Season

[Eddy Gordo]

Duane, I agree with you about the hardwork and desire. You dont get anything without working hard. But there are also 2 sides to the coin. Some people cant afford the time to train or do whats needed when they have to support a household. Not everyone is privileged to have the time even though they have the desire and the talent. 

Edited November 3, 2020 by Eddy Gordo

[Hairy]

That statement isn't AAACTUALLY 100% true regarding chairlifts.

 

If you look at the 2 powerhouse countries in DH being France and the UK. The current crop of fast Frenchies all hail from the South of France. No chair lifts. Nico V and Fabien Barel also all come from the South of France.

 

The UK have only 2 lift accessed tracks and they are both in Scotland.

 

Canada has only produced 1 WC champion despite it's vast MTB infrastructure.

 

If you look at surfing. The WSL is dominated by Brazilians and the waves are *** in Brazil. And Italo Ferreira grew up in a Flavela. Kelly Slater grew up in a broken home with an alcoholic father and comes from a town where the average waves are wind blown slop.

 

It's hard work and desire that makes a great champion. Not access to the best of Blah blah and having **** handed to you on a plate.

 

Eddy's statement about socio economic circumstances actually gets up my nostrils coz that's just an excuse.

 

None of this is aimed at you or eddy of course. I'm just trying to make a point about circumstance vs outcome.

 

 

Sorry Duane, I agree with you about the hardwork. But there are also 2 sides to the coin. Some people cant afford the time to train or do whats needed when they have to support a household.

I see and agree with both your points.

 

Not knowing much, and just being a DH RedbullTV junkie, I was under the impression that lift access was a real thing in Europe.

[Eddy Gordo]

Greg Minaar displaying his goatyness!!

 

[Duane_Bosch]

Pulling a tearoff. I love it when the Supercross guys casually pull a tearoff over a 70 foot triple.

[MrJacques]

Skills to do that, but aren't roll-offs better (no plastic on the trail) ?

[Headshot]

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. 

[Duane_Bosch]

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

[Duane_Bosch]

 

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

[Jewbacca]

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. 

[b-rad]

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.

[Stretch]

Cool video

 

- except for the Ghastly pronunciation of his name

 

[Hairy]

Seems Bruni can do a little XC speed work

 

Video: Loic Bruni has Another World Cup Podium... in XC Eliminator

[Hairy]

HOW FREEKING AWESOME

[MrJacques]

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

[Eddy Gordo]

[Hairy]

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?