I love watching my German and Brit friends start crying about how boring it is once Gwin comes across the line.
I think its twice the excitement watching someone eat a full breakfast, read the morning paper, take out the trash and still have enough time to make first place
Its a little early for that. Sam Hill was unstoppable for a period of time just as long as Gwin has been, and now that seems like it was just a short time. Just saying... need a couple more years of this...
I root for Gwin to beat him every week, but I would say Minaar has a far far more impressive career. Peat too.
Yes, it's early to say that, and for these motive I said I'm "starting to believe". Time will put all of this into perspective. For the moment, yeah, Minnaar and Peat are over him.
Anyway, I can't understand how anyone can say that this is becoming boring...
Gwin is something else at the moment.
Towards the bottom of the track Sam showed what he is capable of, I think the Carbon Demo he is on seems to be making a difference. Shame Troy got so badly injured, he could have threatened Gwin soon.
Danny harts doing great this season to, hasnt it been gwin minnar and hart on the podium a few times? I love how much the competition improves every season, its getting insane! does this mean gwins got the season win now or does greg still have a chance?
You get my neg props because gwins win has NOTHING to do with the country itself! The average Joe next door is still the average Joe and will remain the same average Joe until HE wins a World Cup (achieves his goals). An idiot is still an idiot, doesn´t matter that someone else wins a World Cup (as if it is the only concern the USA should have anyway...there are a lot more and bigger problems than a f*cking DH race).
I´ve never posted something on Pinkbike yet, but that had to be said from my site - jealousy, what a weak argumentation is that?!
We Americans just do this to feel a sense of community. I can attest to this because I've been living in Germany for nearly three consecutive years now and whenever I come across some fellow Americans thats all we'll be shouting, 'Amricanf*ckYeah!'. Partly because stereotyping is funny and partly because we long for some appreciation again, even if its just from ourselves. Here in Europe people are very negative towards Americans or maybe I should say the idea of Americans. It seems to have become popular to hate on anything the US does or anything its people say. Granted I haven't been much proud of the some of the actions of my country lately. But why don't we all hate on Germans because of WWII? I don't. It's just been eating away at me how much shit I get for being or saying I am American.Of course when I mention its California I hail from people change topics and begin singing some Cali themed song or ask if I know tupac. Its really a two sided hypocritical coin. The same kids who will whine about how terrible America and Americans are, about how many terrible things the us has (supposedly) done and how fat its people are will go stand in line for a big tasty bacon at McDonalds, complain about how hard it is for them to get into a US school and brag about when/if they get the chance to go for a vacation in the US. I could go on writing an essay about this, but if you've stuck with me this far without blindly negative propping me for my two cents than I thank you. People say we are narrow minded, but honestly, everyone is in some way, its in our nature. If loving my country, maybe not for its politics makes me an 'Arrogant prick' then fine, call me what you will. Just know that I'm more than that...as a human and a fellow rider.
P.s. Lots of Americans are retards too, the world has many of them so my explanation won't fit to all of the nation. Just try to distinguish between the kid trying to have some fun and the in bred hick who's never been outside of his own county. Don't take the jealousy argument as real, its a joke. I've found my humor I used back home does not transfer well, especially to Germany. We just all have to learn to understand and hold back the humor that might be misconstrued as something els. Okay I'm really done now
I think the last words are adressed to me, so just to make sure everybody gets my point right. It´s all about national pride in general, not a specific nationality - America was just the example fitting into this conversation. The border between national pride and fanatism is a blurry line which has fatal influences on nearly anything I can imagine. Superb examples are social relationships between different peoples and within a given society both on a national level or in smaller units and even in far more popular sports than downhill racing, such as football/soccer. I´ve nothing against "feeling connected in a spiritual way" but screaming "U-S-A" (or " Ger-ma-ny") and feeling proud to do so ("yes, we beat them, we´re best!") because someone won a race goes to far. And that goes for every country or region on this planet, it has nothing to with anything like sympathy, even less when talking about some abstract form like countries. How can you hate countries? I´ve never met one in person...
Long story short, I "neg-proped" an attitude and not the USA.
I understand that the common feeling for many other people may be inclined to neg prop any patriotism. I can see where the feelings have been derived from as well. Times with hitler have made people weary of the connotations patriotism have and the way that patriotism could be used against another nationality, race creed, what have you. I just wanna remind you that this awareness is not instilled in everyone so strongly, least of all us Mericans. At least thats what I've observed.
Come to think of it, with your mentioning of the lines being blurry between national pride and fanaticism, I believe that one shouldn't be so worried about this so much as to apply it to some kids on the internet being proud to be where they're from because finally someone of their nationality is Gwinning. As for me and my compatriots up there, we've been raised in an environment where loving our country is damn straight respectable. Fanaticism is certainly not a problem and hasn't been in the past (Don't hold me to this I'm only 18 ). But as for you Germany, you've had some damn harsh instances of a national pride being taken advantage of.
Long story short, due to our wildly different backgrounds one could never hope to fully understand both sides of the story. Although it can't hurt to try.
I also agree in your point of different social backgrounds causing different interpretations, but i disagree in hitler being responsible for my point of view. I feel no responsibility for anything that happened before my date of birth (29 years ago) anyway. I understand your point but my argumentation is based on logic/rationalism, maybe philosophy, and not knowledge and experience (which includes certain social aspects you mentioned).
Anyway, to not abuse the comment function of this page, I´m pretty sure we can continue this discussion on another field in the future...maybe when you hook up again with Marco and some guys of the Cycle Culture Crew (Kai, Holger, remember Dirtmasters?). Ask Marco if he knows a "Billi" and he will tell you who I am...rarely make it to ride with him (Marco) though.
Damn, its one small world, I mean internet...That just scared the crap out of me
But wouldn't you agree 'we' rationalize our logic through the knowledge defined by our experiences weather they be first hand or by other means? Furthermore, with philosophy being the study of knowledge, this leads me to believe that we're actually on the same page.
I think of it as logic being something else than knowledge. Logic stands above the process of gaining experience or knowledge (there´s a big difference between those two), it questiones someones experiences and knowledge more than ever knowledge gained second hand. But I have to admit that it often happens in the reverse direction, " 'we' rationalize our logic through experience" due to a lack of being able to diversify. That´s human, I know, and human behaviour is comprehensible, too, but that is nothing to just accept. It remains irrational to hate countries, to feel connected to "a bunch of people" without knowing them, to feel responsible for Hitler´s deeds, being a better person by the reason of wealth or appearance...you name it.
Philosophy is not exactly the study of knowledge but the love of wisdom. Its goal is to find answers concerning the existence, the mind, reality, definition, effect and meaning of knowledge, cognition, etc. by rational analysis and argumentation, or else, through what we call logic. Many social aspects have been "outsourced" (;-)) to psychology.
So, we´re not exactly on the same page but definitly reading the same book (without any judgement of who read more).
I haven't even opened the book yet. It appears that someone has been Neg propping our scholarly conversation, come good sir, let us move this wealth of knowledge somewhere where we might enjoy it in peace! Onwards, to the PB note boards!
Infact...i think his mechanic emptys the juice from his brakes before each race run....when you see him at the bottom shaking his heads its because he is disappointed by the fact that his mechanic has had him again
Totally, it's always scary when the cameras immediately cut off from the crash and it was pretty terrifying watching his limp body tumble.. I hope he's alright.
Best moment for me was when we heard the comment that... "Gee is so hard he must wake up and drink a pint of concrete for breakfast every morning!" Made me LMFAO! Well done Gwin!
Lopes is great on a bike but sucks in teh commentary box. Here is an idea to freshen things up. Lets get Cedric online from his sick bed in Andorra next round. CG and Warner are a rare treat to listen too.
Sorry Lopes but your a wee bit boring pal.
But he had a bad timing, always talked about some tech stuff while split times. You could nearly see Warner holding and not interrupting him with his (legendary and, on RedbullTV, rare) shoutouts - what a patient man he is ;-)
I was at a final descent in angel fire a few years ago (when it was still a two run DH race) and the conditions were so awful that the pros all agreed to say "f*ck it" and all went down chainless.
they make Gwin go down with a parachute on his back to make it more even...i think he is a time lord or something....he doesnt seem to be as unstoppable as he was last year though...amazing race
The World Cup is not getting tedious at all. Look how close the times are on a course that is over 4 minutes long. Gwin just happens to be the top guy right now. Look at any sport and sooner or later there is one athlete who just a bit better than the next guy or girl.
i think that gwin is rinning his front suspension a bit stiffer than the other top riders, if you check out the slow mo off the ski jump carefully gwins front forks (regardless of brand) dive a noticable amount less than the other top riders... i guess it could just be a smother line, but this has been consistent with the slow mo footie i have watched this year. maybe freakishly stiff suspension is just a bit faster, as a major bottom out will really slow ya down? not the suspension set up for the common man - dont know how he hangs on!
Gwin is what the sport needed to continue evolving, he's the man to beat, and with his attitude and training, he will be the man to beat for a long time, longer than Hill, longer than Vouilloz, longer than Peaty.. He never gets injured, barely crashes, that will keep him in the top for a long time..
Hill will come back, just give him some time!!!
Seriously aaron where in the hell did you find 3 seconds on the first split.... I mean..... where>> he is a magician... Greg also showing what he can do.... great race!!!
Gwin is incredibly fast, but he only won by 1 and a bit seconds this time? Rob Warner said at the end 'THAT IS UNBELIEVABLE'... but it's not really, considering he's won the others by like 8+. Hats off to the lad for being such a dominating rider, but the others do seem to be catching up. It's only a matter of time until Sam is back up in top spot again!! I can't wait
Yaaa usa gwin etc we win yeaaaa!!!!
The top 5 all good runs, and Gee bouncing back from huge crash. I think he just exposed a problem with the gt suspension design. If you dont get that linkage perfect those single pivots can buck you in a heartbeat. Welcome to brake jacking on the east coast my friend. Hopefully gee gets that sorted with gt by windham race. Def dont want any jack ups there.
Aaron Gwin, when are you going to run out of fuel? You seems to accelerating faster and faster, stronger and stronger, give yourself a pat on the back mate!
I was looking forward to seeing Jared Graves race, though as his luck has it, he did not qualify because of a flat tire up top. Best of luck in the next race Jared!
Gwin is not only fast but a tactician. Only going as fast as he needs to go. He kinda shut it down halfway through the race. Fans are delusional if they think gwin is pinned. The other guys are pinned.
Yup, unfortunately we didn't get video of him fully pinned on the top. He looked pretty chill on the bottom section ( after the near crash ) and barely lost any time.
I speak for all of Canada when i say we are ashamed that he is Canadian! But it balances out because we have Smith, Whistler, Semenuk, and maple syrup.
i meant - are you out of your god damn mind- to waki designs who said he would take beiber over jersey shore. i guess the canadians thought i was dissing them.
Angryham: Bieber is just one kid that wets a part of teenage girl population and pisses off every single male without sexual deviation towards young boys (to whom he must be a nr1 hero of memo-wanks). However he carries no threat to the mental state of our societies.
Jersey Shore on the other hand is a brain tissue softener and dissolvant, that highers people's tolerance towards pure stupidity. It creates unwanted, devastating thoughts like: "there are more people as cool as me", or "I feel so much better about myself for not being that fkn stupid". I prefer my daughter getting wet watching Bieber (ok she still has 12 years or so) than watching one episode of Jersey Shore!
It's not the first time for Gee to go through the front door this year. Has Fox always kickin, ever fkn marketing machine got some issues on his shock rebound?
Brits take the podium spots a lot, Gee has won a lot, Harts won also even though hes an aussie, Hill dominated and no one made these comments. Gwin deserves every win he gets and i think hes the best rider to watch cause hes just insanely quick, however the Steve Peat comment is ridiculous. Hes done more for the sport than most and hes still up there with the best in the world, i can guarentee you now, you wont be near his level at 38, you wont be at his level ever! Also Steve Peat runs the SPS which trains new riders, hes worked with loads of riders and coached riders into the world cup, and some big names as well! Josh Bryceland was trained and scouted by him. As cool as it is to see Gwin winning, Steve peat is one of the coolest guys in the sport and has done so much for the sport, so without him who knows where we'd be! just have a little respect!
Gwin went last so my question to you is, how'd that make the runs before his any less spectacular? Your logic alludes me... haha. That was one of the better World Cups I've seen in recent times. Even Gwin's run was buck wild and pretty intense.
UCI should handicap him. Maybe remove his handlebar. Or one wheel. But he'd still be a threat i'm sure. He's just in another level. And by the way he talks, he's so down to earth. Amazing person.
