rampage, dammit
- Thread starter jstuhlman
- Start date
Excellent news! All the best for him, I feel a lot better now!
I think you might have misread that. Doesn't sound like good news at all.
I think he was referring to the dude from socal who rides with some of the big boys who posted on MTBR saying that the surgery was a success, there wasn't any major nerve damage, and he's regaining feeling in his legs.
But nobody really knows if he's correct about that.
I saw a pic somewhere....ripped the headtube off.
I'm still waiting for that morpheus bb pivot downhill bike that was designed with aerodynamics in mind (not biker position, the frame itself).
I'm sure they sign waivers to not hold RB responsible and stating that they are insured. RB would be stupid not to. Anyone know for sure? Not to be a dick, but everyone involved knows the risks. (And yeah, if RB wanted to help it would obviously be the right thing to do...I just wouldn't hold my breath.)
Let's try to be realistic here ok
Maybe they should hold one less stupid dh ice skating event to help out people who kill themselves at their real events.
Last edited:
Redbull offers a free lifetime supply of catheters for all paralyzed/comatose competitors. That is actually how they make Redbull.
Same reason people smoke. Lots of people are dumb ignorant f*cks. How could anyone believe constantly inhaling burning fumes and ash is good for your body? Yet they do it anyway. Same thing with energy drinks and "30 hr energy" whatevers, people don't give a f*ck about the long term, they want their caffeine fix and they want it now. I may be biased here, but I think even coffee is starting to get crazy out of hand, as in the number of people that can't function without it. It's gone past the "once and a while and there'll be no long term effects" to the "constant user" status for many people and I think there'll be consequences for that too. These things have reached Brawndo® status. I can't think of one good reason to ever drink something like Red Bull or Rockstar. I did for a short period, one night of Red Bull-vodkas totally ended any possible attraction to that particular brand, but I gave up the entire idea and soda in general shortly thereafter, realizing how negative of an effect there is on your body from these.
I was going to originally say: "free Red Bull for life!"
Ivy? That there be yuppie food. The folks that do BM used to cater the cafeteria when I worked at GE. They now do the food at the CHO airport.
Ever had the fried chicken from Brown's Market on Avon?
True, I've never been to any of these mythical gas-station paradises that have been mentioned, where evidently one would vacation just for the food.
yuppie food...lulz. they had them at the gas station on avon extended right by where i lived too. and yeah, i drove by brown's every day. dang right. good chit.Ivy? That there be yuppie food. The folks that do BM used to cater the cafeteria when I worked at GE. They now do the food at the CHO airport.
Ever had the fried chicken from Brown's Market on Avon?
[insert petty rampage grip here so as to stay on topic]
Call me cold hearted, but IMHO Redbull doesn't owe athletes anything. Sure if they felt like paying his bills that would be great, but all this Redbull better pay up, boycott Redbull nonsense is rediculous.
Rampage helps the Redbull brand, but don't for a second think athletes don't compete to promote their own brand. Guys like Zink and Straight are heros of the sport largely because of what they've accomplished at Rampage, by far the most visible free ride event. Non MTB sponsors don't give a shit about Crankworks or the Fest series, they want the Rampage footage. The athletes are well aware of the danger, the paycheck that comes with winning and the fact that most of them won't get jack shit for their efforts, and if they want a real chance at winning they have to risk life and limb, a risk they know full well they're not financially covered for.
Hopefully Paul B makes a full recovery, Tippie posted on IG earlier tonight that he has feeling to his knees and they're expecting more once the swelling subsides.
Rampage helps the Redbull brand, but don't for a second think athletes don't compete to promote their own brand. Guys like Zink and Straight are heros of the sport largely because of what they've accomplished at Rampage, by far the most visible free ride event. Non MTB sponsors don't give a shit about Crankworks or the Fest series, they want the Rampage footage. The athletes are well aware of the danger, the paycheck that comes with winning and the fact that most of them won't get jack shit for their efforts, and if they want a real chance at winning they have to risk life and limb, a risk they know full well they're not financially covered for.
Hopefully Paul B makes a full recovery, Tippie posted on IG earlier tonight that he has feeling to his knees and they're expecting more once the swelling subsides.
Also, Wil White apparently broke his Murpheous too... According to the tweeter. Lolx2
About 12 years ago I helped build up an event for RedBull. In that week I learned all I needed to know about RedBull and I havent drank a single can since.
That said, these guys know exaclty what theyre getting into and I think its kind of weird to blame RedBull, though I obviously dont know any of the details.
Riding and racing DH for over a decade I have done some considerable sized jumps and gaps that could have easily ended with me ending up in the hospital or worse but we have a saying in Dutch.
Burn your ass and youll have to sit on the blisters...
That said, these guys know exaclty what theyre getting into and I think its kind of weird to blame RedBull, though I obviously dont know any of the details.
Riding and racing DH for over a decade I have done some considerable sized jumps and gaps that could have easily ended with me ending up in the hospital or worse but we have a saying in Dutch.
Burn your ass and youll have to sit on the blisters...
i agree with turmans writeup on vital. good to see a main stream mtb media outlet take a stance and share it.
also, tippie posted on his IG that he went and saw paul in the hospital today. he said he was in very good spirits and has regained feeling down to his knees. they are hopeful for more as the swelling continues to go down. so good to hear some positive news from a reputable source
also, tippie posted on his IG that he went and saw paul in the hospital today. he said he was in very good spirits and has regained feeling down to his knees. they are hopeful for more as the swelling continues to go down. so good to hear some positive news from a reputable source
Bummer about Paul B., dude was on a banger run and I hope he makes a fast and full recovery.
I remember him knocking us out with flips whips at Sea Otter a long time ago. (Same year or two as the Sanjay klunker jumps?)
Don't know the guy but I wonder how he and the other riders feel about people accusing Redbull of exploitation. Seems like they'd be happy to get the biggest possible stage to do their thing, but I can't really put myself in their heads at all.
I remember him knocking us out with flips whips at Sea Otter a long time ago. (Same year or two as the Sanjay klunker jumps?)
Don't know the guy but I wonder how he and the other riders feel about people accusing Redbull of exploitation. Seems like they'd be happy to get the biggest possible stage to do their thing, but I can't really put myself in their heads at all.
You can drink coffee responsibely but you have to know what your doing. Take magnesium, drink lots of water and eat something in between. Of course drinking shitty coffee all day made from moldy beans that were then burnt to death to hide the horrible taste is not the prefered option
More on topic - I agree with the Vital piece. While the guys get money from their sponsors it's still diffused responsibility. Red bull relies on rider sponsors to get the money for their rampage trip, sponsors rely on each other and now if a rider gets crap cash no one is to blame. Though the fact that not all riders are insured by redbull is probably the worst part of the whole #fuckrampage thing. So all red bull sponsored riders are insured (at least in yurp) and will get to special clinics payed for by RB but if you ride for Monster during a RB sponsored event you are SOL? That's just evil
Last edited:
No!!
Stale urine tastes way better than redbull that can't be true
Given that the human brain isn't even fully developed in to the mid-20s, I'd say that if you asked any of these guys 10 or 15 years from now if they'd still have done their runs knowing what they know in later life, they'd probably say no. I think some of these sports are getting so "extreme" now that the smallest screw-up kills you and has consequences far worse than 10 or 15 years ago. It's good entertainment, but it's getting worse and worse for the participants IMO as the margin of safety gets thinner and thinner. Just keep them hopped up on Red Bull tho...
I agree somewhat. The riders could indeed decline the invitation to ride if they feel they are being exploited. Maybe Zink and Strait won't show next year. Problem is, a lot of the riders are Redbull spawnsored athletes. I wonder if contractually, they can refuse the invitation. When I saw Zink's "#fuckrampage" hashtag, I wondered what other riders thought of it. Andreu has been a pretty outspoken guy in the past, refusing to ride in Joyride and pulling out of the FMB series because he doesn't agree with their vision of mountain biking. So I wondered what he had to say about Redbull and how they fund the athletes at Rampage. And then I realized he is sponsored by them. As are the Claw, Genon, Godziek and a slew of others. The "fact" (I don't know if it really is a fact) that Redbull can coerce them into the competition is a little twisted.
And then there's the "moral" question: is it really better to allow the riders take ever increasing risks just because the reward is greater? I pose the question ethically, as in, they do it just for our entertainment. I don't have the answer, and I guess that's a question the athletes have to answer for themselves... and maybe they don't do it just for our entertainment, maybe it is personal, for their own benefit and sense of accomplishment....