Downhill Riders,including current SA National Champ, overlooked for World Champs

[Danger Dassie]

4 hours ago, Sally E Kirk said:

CSA has released their revised Selection Criteria for 2025.

Please send your comments/suggestions to mtb@cyclingsa.com by the 25th of October.

SA MTB Team Selection Policy Criteria 2025 draft3 (3).pdf 519.94 kB · 5 downloads

Thanks Sally, have shared out. Good to see some kind of revision open for comment. Hopefully the necessary steps are taken. 

[Sally E Kirk]

On 10/10/2024 at 10:05 PM, Danger Dassie said:

Thanks Sally, have shared out. Good to see some kind of revision open for comment. Hopefully the necessary steps are taken. 

CSA has now stated that the 2025 criteria need to be read in conjunction with the performance data relevant to DH (or each other discipline as applicable).  See their data for DH attached.

Comments to MTB@cyclingsa.com by 17h00 on the 24th of October.

Performance.2024_SA_Downhill_Series.29.10279 10Oct24.pdf

[Danger Dassie]

2 hours ago, Sally E Kirk said:

CSA has now stated that the 2025 criteria need to be read in conjunction with the performance data relevant to DH (or each other discipline as applicable).  See their data for DH attached.

Comments to MTB@cyclingsa.com by 17h00 on the 24th of October.

Performance.2024_SA_Downhill_Series.29.10279 10Oct24.pdf 423.63 kB · 2 downloads

Seems like they’re just bombarding info to discourage feedback?
Who can interpret all those tables into something coherent? 

[Sally E Kirk]

I agree, you need a Maths degree and plenty of time on your hands to get your head around all the figures😲

Bearing in mind (given the prohibitive cost of competing overseas), that it should be feasible and realistic for a DH rider to obtain the required points from National events only, I would like someone to explain to me how a DH rider can accumulate the required 5 points from 3 National races* and SA Champs - race runs have a 100% weighting, and seeding runs have a 25% weighting as per the 2024 performance data.

I am assuming that the format of 1 point for First place, 0.75 points for Second place, and 0.5 points for Third place will remain in place as per 2024 -this is not mentioned specifically in the Selection document. 

There are a number of Juniors moving to Elites in 2025 which will further increase competition for an already limited number of points. 

The overall SA Cup Series Log, which was an additional way of earning a point or two, will be done away with in 2025.

Another concern is that XCO, XCM and Enduro riders still only need to earn three points to be eligible for selection - some unfair bias or does someone at CSA just dislike DH?  I hope somebody in the know can put me right. 

 

* This may increase to 4 National races, if the Zevenwacht provincial race planned for Feb 2025, gets approval to be a National event.  This would mean that non-WC based riders would need to travel to the Western Cape three time in three months to compete at National events - not affordable for most of us.

[ians H2Sport]

2025 DHI Champs complete, results as expected from our team. Did anyone see what Theo Erlangsen posted on his story? Poor show indeed, embarrassing for our country and his sponsors.

Edited September 8, 2025 by ians H2Sport

[J Wakefield]

2 hours ago, ians H2Sport said:

2025 DHI Champs complete, results as expected from our team. Did anyone see what Theo Erlangsen posted on his story? Poor show indeed, embarrassing for our country and his sponsors.

Classy, but remember Its about gaining experience for later. 

[Dusty]

Sad. Not the sort of social media coverage most sponsors want to associate themselves with..

Edited September 8, 2025 by Dusty

[Bro Derek]

1 hour ago, J Wakefield said:

Classy, but remember Its about gaining experience for later. 

hahahahaha 

I see Loic beat our fastest by 10 seconds even with his not insignificant crash. The past experience for the older guys has obviously been invaluable 😐

[Danger Dassie]

Not great, despite the bad day. Even though it’s not the worst from a rider by far. But someone in the team should take the kid to one side and have a talk.

Would also expect any administration involved in the sport to take it up directly without any petty motives. We know already the some folk lack the wherewithal to be an adult and will use forums to stick a knife in.

[DieselnDust]

3 hours ago, J Wakefield said:

Classy, but remember Its about gaining experience for later. 

I see what you did there 👍🏼

[Shebeen]

7 hours ago, ians H2Sport said:

2025 DHI Champs complete, results as expected from our team. Did anyone see what Theo Erlangsen posted on his story? Poor show indeed, embarrassing for our country and his sponsors.

I guess this has been taken down because I don't see it?

His YT vids are pretty good now, better production and less FBombs.

 

Edited September 8, 2025 by Shebeen

[DieselnDust]

must be CSA's fault

[Danger Dassie]

1 hour ago, Shebeen said:

I guess this has been taken down because I don't see it?

His YT vids are pretty good now, better production and less FBombs.

 

It’s a screen grab of an Insta story, lasts a whole 24 hours. While it’s not cool, it’s also really not worth the projection, but people will revel in using it, as we see here already.

[J Wakefield]

2 minutes ago, Danger Dassie said:

It’s a screen grab of an Insta story, lasts a whole 24 hours. While it’s not cool, it’s also really not worth the projection, but people will revel in using it, as we see here already.

Dont defend the oke. People are clearly unhappy with his post, I would presume based off the process until then. 

[Danger Dassie]

8 minutes ago, J Wakefield said:

Dont defend the oke. People are clearly unhappy with his post, I would presume based off the process until then. 

I’m not ‘defending the oke’, actually read what I said. 

[jcza]

Athlete will likely resume training after the hangover has worn off. Obviously along for the jolly and vibes. Mum must be proud (and broke).