The money is still pretty weak, on the winnings side. Considering their career could end tomorrow.
These guys are going higher and higher, and more spins, flips, tricks, and like, for what? $10,000 in winnings? Yeah some of them get pretty solid endorsements, but still is a rough setup.
You could make one weird crash and break your neck, done. Come back next life.
I think the money is key, it takes passion to get the pro levels, and to stay there, but if you can't make a decent living at it, then many will drop out and try to get real jobs to feed their families. Especially considering how easily injury happens.
More so in the states when pros are having to pay for or ask for charity,this i think should be the responsibility of the bike company sponsoring them.
More so in the states when pros are having to pay for or ask for charity,this i think should be the responsibility of the bike company sponsoring them.
I dont see what ius wrong with having a job, and riding, if you are truly passionate then start a company, and test ride, as well as designing
I bet if you talk to one of the great ones, they couldn't be more stoked on where the sport has come.
Yes, all things are more fun, cooler, when its just you and the bros, pretty much inventing a sport.
But at some point you have to decide, do you keep wanting to be a dirtbag out there for the soul of a sport? Or do you want to enjoy that sport on a high level, with money, a kid, a wife, and some sweet team trips.
You proved my one point. Bikes back then were weaker, heavier, and way shittier in design. Now they are light, nimble, and strong.
You can only progress a sport so far, until it becomes about changing venues.
You can only spin in two axis's. You can only put your feet in so many variations. At some point it is just about combining these elements, then doing them off different obstacles.
I think the more contests the worse things get. Pros ride them for money when they would rather be filming a video. This of corse is the real pros there always will be some that were in it for the fame and money.
I wouldn't say weaker or badly designed,before suspension hit the scene all a mfr could advertise was how light and well made their bikes were compared to the competition,now it's all about axle paths and pivot points and i think some companies have lost the emphasis on quality.
I wouldn't say weaker or badly designed,before suspension hit the scene all a mfr could advertise was how light and well made their bikes were compared to the competition,now it's all about axle paths and pivot points and i think some companies have lost the emphasis on quality.
(bmx thread) but still yeah, same thing in bmx, it is weight not quality, and a huge contributor to that is amity
I don't think you can stay competitive, by having a job, that makes riding a part time deal, and with that you ain't got shit.
I agree to a point they should have to buck up for injured riders. But I think that is more the fault of the US and their system (different thread)
But other pro-athletes in other sports don't get paid by their sponsors when they get injured. You just have to be smart enough with your money, to handle things like this. Now with a small sport there isn't enough money to be made, to cover things like this.
I am going to disregard your comment about starting a company.
Thats where my love for bmx started all my friends rode DH but i stuck with bmx because the bike is simple. Of corse now it means more to me than that. It sure is nice to be able to hop on youtube and see good riding though.
I don't think you can stay competitive, by having a job, that makes riding a part time deal, and with that you ain't got shit.
I agree to a point they should have to buck up for injured riders. But I think that is more the fault of the US and their system (different thread)
But other pro-athletes in other sports don't get paid by their sponsors when they get injured. You just have to be smart enough with your money, to handle things like this. Now with a small sport there isn't enough money to be made, to cover things like this.
I am going to disregard your comment about starting a company.
then get a proper job, it is simple really, if you are passionate you take risks, and do it for the love of it, you get injured it is your fault, i have sympathy for fellow riders, but that is how it is ride to ride is how i see it
Thats where my love for bmx started all my friends rode DH but i stuck with bmx because the bike is simple. Of corse now it means more to me than that. It sure is nice to be able to hop on youtube and see good riding though.
i love edits, no problems with videos and endorsement for riding companies, it is the non rider run stuff like specialized, among other companies who i dont want to flame (and clothing companies) as well as companies such as mountain dew who ruin it
I wouldn't say weaker or badly designed,before suspension hit the scene all a mfr could advertise was how light and well made their bikes were compared to the competition,now it's all about axle paths and pivot points and i think some companies have lost the emphasis on quality.
(bmx thread) but still yeah, same thing in bmx, it is weight not quality, and a huge contributor to that is amity
Bmx was the fore front and before i get dived on by the mtb huck crowd still is,seen people go bigger and land to flat than any mtb ever has with 8 inches of travel.
Dude i ride with a lot rode for s&m back in the day, and he hates where it has gone
This is a different issue.
I have some friends who are/were Pro Skiers. Lots of them dropped out of the pro lifestyle. They hated it, to them it just wasn't for them. They are amazing skiers and are still living/working in the industry, but living like a ski bum.
The few that stayed pro, just love it, all around the same age. I think in that regard either you fully commit to it, and see where that takes you, or you get out and join the rat race.
Skiing is a way bigger industry than BMX is in that regard.
I wouldn't say weaker or badly designed,before suspension hit the scene all a mfr could advertise was how light and well made their bikes were compared to the competition,now it's all about axle paths and pivot points and i think some companies have lost the emphasis on quality.
(bmx thread) but still yeah, same thing in bmx, it is weight not quality, and a huge contributor to that is amity
Bmx was the fore front and before i get dived on by the mtb huck crowd still is,seen people go bigger and land to flat than any mtb ever has with 8 inches of travel.
but not as big as back in the day, 10 years ago dudes went bigger than sean burns ever has
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