2012 Santos Urban Downhill Race Video

Feb 13, 2012
by Lucent Productions
 
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While most riders North of the equator have hung up their wheels for the season, some of the worlds best travel throughout the Southern Hemisphere in search of mountain biking's version of the 'endless summer'. Heavy hitters Greg Minnaar, Cedric Gracia, and urban champion Filip Polc arrived in Brazil's port city of Santos to take on some of South America's fastest in the 10th Anniversary of the Descida Das Escadas de Santos, which translates to "Descent of the Holy Stairs". **Apologies, I was misinformed on the translation. It just means "Descent of the Stairs of Santos"****

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Santos
  Welcome to Brazil


Chair lift for the weekend
  Not your typical shuttle rig.



Filip Polc
  Arriving for the rider welcome meeting, and checking out the course for the first time.


Wheel Building
  A common site throughout the weekend. Many stairs, many wheel builds.Thankfully for Filip, one set of Mavic wheels is all he needed all weekend long!


Common theme to make it through the tight section of the course.
  Every inch counts when there is no margin for error.


Lunch of champions.
  Rice, beans, and delicious salty meats. After a long day sweating on the hill, a typical Brazilian meal hits the spot.


CG Brigade old school and new school Marcelo and CG
  New school and old school. Young gun Marcelo Gutierrez and young-at-heart CG


  If you were hungry or thirsty, have no fear. There were plenty of on-course bars inches from the action.


Brazilian culture. Hand drum band and the delicious acai ice cream stand.
  Despite being a super short trip, I highly enjoyed absorbing colorful Brazilian cultures and foods.


Greg Minnaar
  Minnaar was on the bubble spot for the finals on Sunday, but was not able to make up time and earn a podium spot this year.


Marcelo Gutierrez - one fast S.O.B.
  Marcelo Gutierrez was the top qualifier on Saturday, 1 second ahead of Filip Polc. Unfortunately, a flat in semi-finals on Sunday would put him out of podium contention.


Polcster examining GoPro footage the night before race day.
  Filip scrutinizes footage trying to determine if it's humanly possible to make up a few seconds on a 1 minute course.


Race day crowds
  I've seen some of the world's biggest World Cup races, but I'm still blown away by the crowds that come out for urban races in South America.


Filip Polc king of urban racing.
  After a crash in last year's semi-finals, Filip was pushing hard to redeem himself. Polc was on the limit on Sunday and it paid off. Literally and figuratively crowned king of the hill.


Signing autographs.
  Rockstar treatment.


The hill at night time.

Thanks again to Marcelo and Juliana for putting on a great race and our sponsors for the project who made the awesome trip possible. I made some awesome new friends and hope to make it back next year!
Check back next week as we recap the infamous Valapraiso Cerro Abajo in Chile.

http://www.lucentproductions.com

125 Comments

  • + 82
flag benG88 (Feb 12, 2012 at 22:34)
 if only moneyy could buy bigger balls........
  • + 30
flag swan3609 (Feb 12, 2012 at 23:24)
 I would expect no less of a quote from CG..
  • + 14
flag SarahStuttard (Feb 13, 2012 at 3:07)
 Except we all know he has no need to say such a thing.
  • + 12
flag pperini (Feb 13, 2012 at 3:28)
 if MINAAR says "these guys are crazy, they dont break!", then i cant imagine what the hell hes talking about! hehe)....man..i lived 18 years of my life in Brasil (i am brasilian) and ive never been to the race..consider i lived 20km away from the "track"...shame on me...and "descent of the holy stairs" is a wrong translation..its just "descent of stairs of santos"...santos is not "holy"..santos is the name of the city...
  • + 25
flag georgy291 (Feb 13, 2012 at 3:37)
 if he needs bigger balls, where does this leave the rest of us?!
  • + 28
flag RaleighVoid (Feb 13, 2012 at 5:43)
 wallowing in our local 5 ft jumps
  • + 11
flag Joelrider (Feb 13, 2012 at 6:08)
 I would like to see Danny Hart on that race Big Grin

Our country racer, Emanuel Pombo was in a good place, in Portugal is one of the best places to practice Urban Downhill, lots of stairs in Porto and in Lisbon. Big Grin
  • + 4
flag Caiokv (Feb 13, 2012 at 6:25)
 Lol, Santos, in this case, is a proper name, so it shouldn't be translated to holy hahahaa
  • + 6
flag lucent (Feb 13, 2012 at 6:42)
 sorry about the translation! Someone had told me that day that's what it meant, I guess I was misinformed!! I think it sounds cool!! hahahaha

Thank you Brazil for a great time! Smile
  • + 3
flag pperini (Feb 13, 2012 at 7:18)
 i have to admit it does sound cool)))
  • + 1
flag Caiokv (Feb 13, 2012 at 7:48)
 Yeah, it sounds better actually! But Santos is the name of the city, and I guess it would be better translated to Saint. Yet Holy Stairs sounds awesome!
  • + 1
flag tabletop84 (Feb 13, 2012 at 15:14)
 haha Cedric is the quote-masta: www.pinkbike.com/news/intothedust-Andreu-Lacondeguy-film-by-blackmedia.html
  • + 3
flag sebasc-dh (Feb 13, 2012 at 15:52)
 www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZK_PtDu3tI&feature=share
  • - 5
flag larryssman7 (Feb 13, 2012 at 18:28) (Below Threshold) show comment
 dude i think its spelled "braZil" not brasil which looks like basil. and it would be descent of the saints stairs.
  • + 2
flag OwenCross (Feb 13, 2012 at 21:07)
 I think the rich kids already have enough of an advantage with those nice ass bikes, they don't need to be buying bigger balls too.
  • + 6
flag Caiokv (Feb 14, 2012 at 0:18)
 larryssman7 In portuguese it is Brasil. And the actual translation would be Descent of Santo's stairs or Descent of the stairs of Santos.
  • + 1
flag daviola (Feb 14, 2012 at 11:22)
 Great job, as the name of holy stair is perfect, so you could give more soul to the video. congratulations, keep it up, great to video.
[Reply]
  • + 35
flag David8048 (Feb 12, 2012 at 22:22)
 I've never seen a video that truly shows the intensity of urban DH, looks so freakin' naarrrr!
  • + 1
flag cikudh (Feb 13, 2012 at 17:11)
 Minaar is a hucker as well!! gnarrly
[Reply]
  • + 26
flag Da-Moose (Feb 12, 2012 at 22:43)
 Haha CG kills me...

"I need to buy bigger balls..."

Hahaha
  • + 6
flag SandersB (Feb 13, 2012 at 0:38)
 ha Ya dude that stuff is Crazy
[Reply]
  • + 15
flag allan-taylor64 (Feb 12, 2012 at 22:36)
 These races seem to becoming more common Big Grin
[Reply]
  • + 14
flag finnrambo (Feb 12, 2012 at 22:24)
 that course facilitates a change of underwear
[Reply]
  • + 12
flag vonichi (Feb 12, 2012 at 23:16)
 Sure fun way to bring DH into the masses.
[Reply]
  • + 11
flag TTDesigns (Feb 12, 2012 at 22:30)
 that's sick. Looks like so much fun
[Reply]
  • + 8
flag Caiokv (Feb 13, 2012 at 6:29)
 Whenever you come back to Brazil post it before coming, and we can arrange some nice riding, food and places!
Besides we have the hottest girls around here!
Salute
[Reply]
  • + 11
flag dcent007 (Feb 12, 2012 at 22:38)
 Nicely Done
[Reply]
  • + 8
flag RootRider (Feb 13, 2012 at 4:46)
 Cool video, but Im missing the word of some brazilian rider....to put local perspective into it....anyway great vids!!!
  • + 2
flag lucent (Feb 13, 2012 at 4:55)
 I would need a translator for all the interviews haha Smile
  • + 1
flag RootRider (Feb 13, 2012 at 8:47)
 haha true! should´ve called Sylvio....some beers on the table and you go it, hehe

cheerss
[Reply]
  • + 9
flag PoMiT (Feb 12, 2012 at 22:39)
 "Young gun Marcelo Gutierrez and young-at-heart CG"
  • + 2
flag sie7e (Feb 13, 2012 at 9:35)
 like him on Facebook
www.facebook.com/pages/Marcelo-Gutierrez/192919837418680
[Reply]
  • + 4
flag KRob (Feb 12, 2012 at 23:08)
 Man those guys are hauling down those stairs. Huge gaps. Very cool.
I was curious about tire choice. Seems like a big sticky tire with very small knobs or even slicks would work best (maybe a tire like that doesn't exist) then I noticed one bike was running Muddy Mary's?? I wonder if they trimmed the knobs down. It didn't look like it.
  • + 2
flag rawf85 (Feb 13, 2012 at 2:55)
 It was complicated for the tire choice... It couldnt be slicks for sure... In some parts of the track it was a bit sandy to make it worst
  • + 1
flag pperini (Feb 13, 2012 at 3:30)
 i think "4x/Dj" tires would be the best choice...
  • + 7
flag lucent (Feb 13, 2012 at 6:54)
 i think the idea of DH tires was to add some additional 'padding' between the stairs/concrete and the rims and the added protection of a stronger sidewall tire. A DJ/4X tire would not offer much protection at ALL to wheels and you'd be replacing rims every run.
[Reply]
  • + 8
flag diogodavinha (Feb 13, 2012 at 6:20)
 welcome to Brazil big balls!AWESOME! congratulation PB
[Reply]
  • + 8
flag joaomourao (Feb 13, 2012 at 6:42)
 Fly on POMBO! 4th place is amazing...
  • + 2
flag lucent (Feb 13, 2012 at 6:55)
 yeah Pombo! He was my roommate all week, super nice guy and VERY fast!
[Reply]
  • + 8
flag henrymiles (Feb 13, 2012 at 7:22)
 Sick Justin! Looks Awesome.
[Reply]
  • + 6
flag Zhiloreznik (Feb 13, 2012 at 2:45)
 Polcster rules Urban DH scene. Congrats! Gracia funny as always Smile
[Reply]
  • + 6
flag Trealairborne (Feb 13, 2012 at 3:06)
 Portuguese Pride at 3:04!
  • + 4
flag mramoa (Feb 13, 2012 at 4:28)
 Emanuel Pombo!!!
  • + 2
flag telmofebra (Feb 13, 2012 at 8:20)
 POmbo in 4th place, pride!
[Reply]
  • + 4
flag BrigadierBuege (Feb 13, 2012 at 9:56)
 Did anyone else catch the guy in the beginning riding with two prosthetic legs? That blew me away, true dedication right there.
  • + 1
flag lucent (Feb 13, 2012 at 9:59)
 yeah that guy is mind blowing! I might try and get an interview with him when we go to Chile. He doesn't speak English so I'll need a translator.
  • + 2
flag BrigadierBuege (Feb 13, 2012 at 10:13)
 For sure! You should definitely try to get a translator and interview him, I'm sure a lot of people (and myself) would be really interested to hear what he has to say about riding with prosthetic legs/ racing in general.
  • + 1
flag makeshift (Feb 14, 2012 at 10:16)
 Adolfo Almarza , CHILEAN RIDER, big balls there!
  • + 1
flag BrigadierBuege (Feb 14, 2012 at 22:05)
 Absolutely big balls! Thanks for his name, I'm definitely going to look him up right now.
  • + 1
flag pcarreiro (Feb 27, 2012 at 6:11)
 Amazing!
[Reply]
  • + 5
flag elcoolio1 (Feb 12, 2012 at 22:28)
 Stoked to see Catherine Short representin the Sunshine Coast at Valapraiso Cerro Abajo next week!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag pornking-marcel-geel (Feb 14, 2012 at 10:02)
 ohw yeah and now the pro's do its it cool. we've been doing urban dh for 3 years now and everybody is all over uss that were are idiots and that we schould have trials bikes or street bikes. its just how much fun you could have on a bike right? thats the binding factor in mtb!

downhill michel
[Reply]
  • + 5
flag Demut111 (Feb 13, 2012 at 4:18)
 4º - EMANUEL POMBO(PORTUGAL)!!!!!
[Reply]
  • + 4
flag wasea04 (Feb 12, 2012 at 22:25)
 I wonder if it were rocks and trees instead of stairs and poles if I'd want to pin it like that? Uh, probably not Smile
[Reply]
  • + 4
flag teamdoa (Feb 13, 2012 at 0:48)
 Damn risky riding, one mistake and it would be lights out. You have to have to balls to do that shit lol.
[Reply]
  • + 4
flag jammiedodger (Feb 13, 2012 at 9:16)
 who thinks this should be part of wc circit?
[Reply]
  • + 3
flag polcster (Feb 16, 2012 at 2:20)
 thank guys for all congratulations !!! and get ready for another movie from Valparaiso/Chile.... coming soon
  • + 1
flag MuXa (Feb 16, 2012 at 16:25)
 super jazda - congrats and best of luck in the next one!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag PA610ripr (Feb 17, 2012 at 17:31)
 siiiiick race im portugese and brazilian and hope to go out and race the lisboa race and the race we just saw it would be a dream to go rep for both my countries at my countries. Still got love for the usa.
[Reply]
  • + 5
flag davio615xx (Feb 12, 2012 at 22:30)
 Looks fun for sure!
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag hatchleader (Feb 13, 2012 at 3:05)
 Was i the only one bricking it whilst watching this.... Kept expecting to see a big crash and someone being heli'd out of there!!
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag eneasbernardo (Feb 13, 2012 at 1:37)
 Is impressive but not too much harsh. I would say insane if you try to beat these guys. One millisecond counts. Are you ready to toss the dices (or your balls)?
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag jedras (Feb 13, 2012 at 12:45)
 TAK JEST ! TO JE TO ! siódmy raz oglądam i nadal się jaram. ..ale baty po sprzęcie idą..
"usually there's not much pedaling on this.." hah
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag LTmtb (Feb 13, 2012 at 19:18)
 Perfect video. You know you've got a great event when CG says he needs to buy some bigger balls! That Oakley Sender tattoo was sick too!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag jerryhazard (Feb 13, 2012 at 20:17)
 Clay or Anthill or... should do an in-depth movie dealing with these urban venues. Very cool, and the crowd attendance is insane. Thanks for sharing these!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag zixs (Feb 14, 2012 at 8:35)
 did you saw the guy with leg prosthesis, probably he`s twice faster than me.. The limit is no limit, hands down for this guy !
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag Bullitproof (Feb 13, 2012 at 16:20)
 course it wa ssponsored my mavic, imagine all the rims that were used up, no one would ever do that to throw out your rims... haha
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag eddies (Feb 24, 2012 at 10:12)
 I think this guy doesn't need bigger balls, but I do when I watch him riding :-) does anybody know what sound that is in the background?
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag neimbc (Feb 13, 2012 at 15:05)
 When Minnaar says "These guys don't use breaks", you know they're flying! A good crash on that course and you might kiss your mtb career goodbye!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag yelyayan1976 (Feb 13, 2012 at 6:07)
 I would not mind riding hard downhill if my sponsors will fix it for free and replace all fracture parts bolts bearings etc... after use.
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag dhjose1 (Feb 13, 2012 at 1:59)
 Filip is the BEST . GRATULUJEM FILIP
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag karlomtz (Feb 16, 2012 at 14:30)
 Has anyone noticed on 1:21 the guy riding? At his "legs".....respect right there
  • + 1
flag karlomtz (Feb 16, 2012 at 14:31)
 my bad, just saw a post about it
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag bobtjustice (Feb 13, 2012 at 13:53)
 You know these guys are balls to the wall, when you have guys like Greg Minnaar and CG, saying they are crazy.!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag HorNyOne (Feb 13, 2012 at 14:19)
 U guys make a huge thread about the Brazilian Race and didn`t made a single interview with any brazilian rider?
  • + 3
flag lucent (Feb 13, 2012 at 14:30)
 sorry, I'm not fluent in Portuguese. I'll make sure to learn it for next year Wink
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag groda (Feb 15, 2012 at 7:29)
 Luana O. kicked some asses!!!! good job Lucent!!!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag Sata2007 (Feb 14, 2012 at 14:17)
 @lucent guys...I'm a DJ and this tune have a amazing beat, what is the name...?
[Reply]
  • + 3
flag tidli (Feb 13, 2012 at 1:49)
 Congrats Filip!
[Reply]
  • + 3
flag HaroBMXer (Feb 12, 2012 at 22:31)
 Girls that ride (Y) Big Grin
  • + 1
flag Lolo-the-frenchie (Feb 13, 2012 at 13:36)
 (y)
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag matbar20 (Feb 12, 2012 at 22:31)
 I love urban downhills! What a beautiful city!
www.bikefat.com
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag ibis09 (Feb 13, 2012 at 16:32)
 Its truly the test for all bikes and components manufacturers...
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag PapaGeorgio (Feb 13, 2012 at 21:06)
 Sweet video. Would be nice to be in South America right now.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag Fematias (Feb 14, 2012 at 4:23)
 Some images from DHU 2012
vimeo.com/m/36609686
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag Fematias (Feb 14, 2012 at 4:15)
 Some images fron DHU 2012
vimeo.com/m/36609686
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag shishka (Feb 13, 2012 at 17:14)
 How can they focus on racing with all those brazilian mamis around?
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag Barbosa (Feb 13, 2012 at 15:53)
 Congratilations for the portuguese Emanuel Pombo!Big Grin
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag downhillnews (Feb 13, 2012 at 20:42)
 Good job POLC!!!!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag jaih (Feb 13, 2012 at 21:05)
 Thanx for another quality vid. Sick job Lucent
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag big-G-84 (Feb 13, 2012 at 18:26)
 Minnar in neck brace shocker. :o
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag KCHardtailRider (Feb 14, 2012 at 8:31)
 Thats crazy some of those guys go faster on conrete then on dirt.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag janoo (Feb 13, 2012 at 6:27)
 Hope Filip will get a good sponsor for upcoming wc season. Big loss for MS
  • + 2
flag lucent (Feb 13, 2012 at 6:43)
 agreed!! Filip is a great rider, SUPER nice guy and would be a great addition to any team.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag old4xridersette (Feb 14, 2012 at 20:25)
 has been "VAC" in Chile, another urban career really crazy as Santos.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag leozinho (Feb 13, 2012 at 14:55)
 massa demais camisa DCDC...
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag demonskater94 (Feb 13, 2012 at 6:09)
 i'm super pumped, but shit scared. good combination?
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag Lucas-Alcalde (Feb 13, 2012 at 5:42)
 sick video! sick event! Brazil rocks!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag Dazza-V17 (Feb 13, 2012 at 1:44)
 The Adam Sandler of MTB...
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag gabman (Feb 13, 2012 at 7:22)
 Chilean pride@ 3:46 ... Antonio Leiva!!!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag Javierpdx (Feb 13, 2012 at 10:48)
 Balls?
1:26@Adolfo Almarza
CHILEAN PRIDE!!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag semenuk-fan (Feb 13, 2012 at 13:24)
 Looks fun but I'll stick with dirt
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag Mick-Patriot (Feb 13, 2012 at 11:44)
 I like how Minaar whispered that he was being slow
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag semaj (Feb 13, 2012 at 11:37)
 Looks like a Holzfeller stem still attached to Minaar's Fox 40, no?
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag DiegoCosta (Mar 17, 2013 at 7:47)
 I'm so proud to see this in PB. Smile
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag JuanHari (Feb 13, 2012 at 2:10)
 why didn't they included those staircases at the shuttle?
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag tinoco (Feb 18, 2012 at 15:01)
 Parabens pombo : )
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag sousathiago (Feb 15, 2012 at 18:39)
 Muito bom!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag hemski69 (Feb 19, 2012 at 1:31)
 my god rides a bike /,,/
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag leandrorralves (Feb 19, 2012 at 16:36)
 Awesome!!!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag carloseduardoo (Feb 13, 2012 at 8:59)
 was simply amazing!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag taletotell (Feb 13, 2012 at 5:03)
 gotta rough on the bikes
[Reply]
  • + 0
flag sam-i-am96 (Feb 13, 2012 at 2:49)
 Sinse when has minnaar been running fox?
  • + 7
flag hatchleader (Feb 13, 2012 at 3:05)
 Since a couple of weeks ago when the syndicate moved to Fox/Shimano!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag finnrambo (Feb 12, 2012 at 22:21)
 that is one steep tram
[Reply]
  • - 1
flag deadatbirth (Feb 13, 2012 at 7:04)
 youd think that a professional mechanic working for Shimano wouldnt be using a cheap universal spoke wrench
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag SimonBros (Feb 12, 2012 at 22:19)
 SEX C!!!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag sousathiago (Feb 13, 2012 at 10:54)
 Maneiro!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag crag222 (Feb 14, 2012 at 15:03)
 shit thats fast
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag makeshift (Feb 13, 2012 at 10:39)
 sick!!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag jackozz (Feb 13, 2012 at 10:31)
 G.Minnaar's neck Brace??
  • + 4
flag lucent (Feb 13, 2012 at 10:33)
 Not his. They had a mandatory rule that all riders were required to wear a neck brace. I think he just borrowed that one for the weekend.
  • + 2
flag finnrambo (Feb 13, 2012 at 13:12)
 on a course like that i can definetly agree with that rule, i just hope they dont make us start wearing them at whistler races or bc cups
[Reply]
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