I think you could make the argument that blowing away the field and winning ~5 WC in a single season by huge margins in a MUCH more competitive field is more impressive than what other Americans have done, even if their careers were longer.But already naming him the best mountainbiker in US history?- seriously, maybe if he dominates like he does now for a few more years then sure.
But still a ways to go before he knocks off people like tomac, donovan etc, even though its been a while since they had their careers.
Have you read any content in rolling stone lately? It's garbage...I'm stoked for him and the sport solely for the exposure, but that magazine is a joke. Once in a while it has a decent review here and there, but for the most part it's become propaganda fueled fodor for uber liberals.... I'm not a raging conservative or anything, I'm just saying RS is so far to the left they're spinning off the planet...that magazine wants nothing to do with things like facts and critical thinking, so take what they said with a grain of salt and just be happy there is a blurb about American DH in a magazine with circulation numbers like that...it's cool how they make it sound so easy..
he was a washout in MX/BMX, then just shows up and in a few years dominates the sport etc..
Instead of maybe putting some focus on him having a talent and the determination to work harder then most others to get were he is now ?
But already naming him the best mountainbiker in US history?- seriously, maybe if he dominates like he does now for a few more years then sure.
But still a ways to go before he knocks off people like tomac, donovan etc, even though its been a while since they had their careers.
dont get me wrong i think its fantastic that gwin has everything come together right now.. and the exposure is obviously good as well.Have you read any content in rolling stone lately? It's garbage...I'm stoked for him and the sport solely for the exposure, but that magazine is a joke. Once in a while it has a decent review here and there, but for the most part it's become propaganda fueled fodor for uber liberals.... I'm not a raging conservative or anything, I'm just saying RS is so far to the left they're spinning off the planet...that magazine wants nothing to do with things like facts and critical thinking, so take what they said with a grain of salt and just be happy there is a blurb about American DH in a magazine with circulation numbers like that...
why?Nice to finally see some mainstream recognition for the sport
The more coverage the sport gets, the more money trickles into it, im pretty neutral on the matter, but think of what would happen if bikes cost you half and there was twice as many places to ride and the WCs were regularly on TV. I am not saying it would happen, but i wouldnt be against it
This.Have seen it get worse through the last 10 years. If DH is supposed to become as skate and MX have - then Mainstream should keep their recognition and money to themselves.
Uhhhhh women's MTB has never been what I call "competitive"A pretty competitive field, IIRC.
trek's PR firm just earned their monthly paycheck.Did Trek have any adds in that issue? Sounds like a placed story, but I never read Rolling Stone so just guessing. Taking NOTHING from Gwin 3-5 seconds on the feild doesn't just happen week after week.
Yeah, it's a complete joke. I hear the ladies draw straws to see who will cross the line first prior to each race.Uhhhhh women's MTB has never been what I call "competitive"
I like the sound of that...@Mr Lahey: DH is a gentlemans sport
The French have the bred thing going on for quite some time.@Mr Lahey: DH is a gentlemans sport. Sort of like what F1 was 50 years ago. 10 years ago, most of PRO's or MTB legends as we call them today, were actually entrepreneurs who instead of playing golf, prefered to race pushbikes down the hill.
Most of the PRO's today are either a) professional sons; b) park rats, living the good hobo life; or c) entrepreneurs, riding for fun.
Every category wouldn't mind having being better off. But I guess few of them would be willing to sell our sport short.
I really like the laid back, elitist aura around our thing. I'd hate to see Downhill on Olympics and everyone competing being bred from age 4 in "professional MTB schools" (I'd like apologize to Barel and Nico).
I think when I was at the U.S. open, one of if not the biggest race in the country and there were 7 women racing (compared to 200+ guys) and only 22 women show up to QUALIFYING for the WORLD cup, then ya, that's not really a "competitive" sport IMO. But hey, to each his own. I'm not saying it's a "joke" per say, but I wouldn't call it a serious competetive sport like say...women's world cup soccer or something. Nor am I discouraging women from doing it. I keep telling my ex-g/f in Tahoe to go race the northstar series.Yeah, it's a complete joke. I hear the ladies draw straws to see who will cross the line first prior to each race.
There were plenty of fast women then, as there are now.
Is that like a gentleman's club?@Mr Lahey: DH is a gentlemans sport
Gwin hasn't been training to race dh since he was 4... maybe I'm not understanding where you are coming from. It sounds as if you are comparing downhill racing of yesteryear to a jewish country club or something?@Mr Lahey: DH is a gentlemans sport. Sort of like what F1 was 50 years ago. 10 years ago, most of PRO's or MTB legends as we call them today, were actually entrepreneurs who instead of playing golf, prefered to race pushbikes down the hill.
Most of the PRO's today are either a) professional sons; b) park rats, living the good hobo life; or c) entrepreneurs, riding for fun.
Every category wouldn't mind having being better off. But I guess few of them would be willing to sell our sport short.
I really like the laid back, elitist aura around our thing. I'd hate to see Downhill on Olympics and everyone competing being bred from age 4 in "professional MTB schools" (I'd like apologize to Barel and Nico).
But it really is akin to your surfing analogy to a certain extent. Where there are no bike parks there are many "illegal" trails. A fair amount of those trails are the only ones in a given region. For the riders who understand the system this is fine, as many of the trails will stay underground and remain rideable. Add a lot of new riders to the mix and those trails will be closed because it becomes a landowner issue. New ones will be built and then closed, and our sport will gain a bad rap in the public eye. Unfortunately this isn't like MX where you can buy a dirt lot, rent some tractors, add a watering system and make a profit. The specific terrain is what limits our sport in many areas; just like the fact that people are only going to surf (and fight for it) where there are good waves. Add tons of riders and there will be problems with trails (surf). Regarding the land owners opening up to DH usage, I'm not sure I follow you. As far as more parks with lifts being opened to riding sure I get that; but that really doesn't help with the areas without park type terrain. Theres no business sense in putting a lift or shuttle service in on underground 5-20 min long trails (which I would bet the majority of local shuttles are).I really have a hard time seeing how outside sponsorship, media attention, etc can have a negative impact on this sport. Pros get to make money, joes potentially get better bikes, improved pricing, and more land owners willing to open up for riding. This sport is not like surfing where 25 people are scrambling for 3 waves every 25 minutes.
More people = more legal trails so closing your local trails wont be that much of an issue. Not to mention you can keep your trails hidden.But it really is akin to your surfing analogy to a certain extent. Where there are no bike parks there are many "illegal" trails. A fair amount of those trails are the only ones in a given region. For the riders who understand the system this is fine, as many of the trails will stay underground and remain rideable. Add a lot of new riders to the mix and those trails will be closed because it becomes a landowner issue. New ones will be built and then closed, and our sport will gain a bad rap in the public eye. Unfortunately this isn't like MX where you can buy a dirt lot, rent some tractors, add a watering system and make a profit. The specific terrain is what limits our sport in many areas; just like the fact that people are only going to surf (and fight for it) where there are good waves. Add tons of riders and there will be problems with trails (surf). Regarding the land owners opening up to DH usage, I'm not sure I follow you. As far as more parks with lifts being opened to riding sure I get that; but that really doesn't help with the areas without park type terrain. Theres no business sense in putting a lift or shuttle service in on underground 5-20 min long trails (which I would bet the majority of local shuttles are).