Pinkbike Video: 4x Pro Tour - Round 3

 I can't agree more! Racer turnout out for these events has been crazy! Over 50 riders at each event! While our previous "World Cup" 4x races barely had 10 on average... They're bringing a sport back to life and it's pretty exciting for the racers and spectators.

 I would like to have a go at 4X. Used to do the KIS series back in the mid 90's. Building up a Krisis SL for a bit of fun but can't jump! Does that matter? I am 44 now but don't feel that old, lol!

 Sorry but I dissagree , I think the mountain needs putting back in 4X mountain biking for it to evolve , personally I think if the hardtail is the faster option then the track is not up to scratch.
Then again I don't ride 4x so maybe ( most likely ) my opinion is worthless

 I'd disagree too, for one main reason. Give a man a shovel and an axe and he can make a nice DH track through the forests for everyone to ride (within reason, I know it's harder than that!). However, a 4X track is a massive task to build. they are wide, need lots of jumps, features to make racing fun, ideally a start gate. It's impractical to do far less to find the land to do it on.

I love riding 4X, but I can't see it getting big outside of proper bike parks, it's not like you can go into a forest and make one for you and your mates to ride, so that really limits its popularity.

 I think the track in champery was a step in the right direction for 4x! It was way more exciting to watch and riders took the craziest lines to overtake, it was awesome!

 I agree kootenaycycle, I think the Pro 4X tour has been a huge shot in the arm for the sport of 4X. We now have a dedicated group of officials and riders devoted to one thing, building a kickass track for the riders and spectators. While 4X did well under the guidance of UCI it often took the back seat to DH, with good reason, DH was more exciting to watch. But now with tracks that the riders are excited about so are the spectators that can often watch an entire heat without moving from their seats. Imagine guys all a city needs to host a 4X event is a decent size hill. Hell San Francisco, Denver, Seattle or pretty much anywhere in B.C. could host an event. I for one am very excited to see my favorite sport doing better than ever!

 oh and as far as hardtails go, they've always been the dominant frame choice for a majority of riders. If you want to ride long travel there is an event for that.... DH

 Not long travel , just OFF road , which should require some kind of suspension front and rear to qualify as off road to me . 4x is curently quite far away from off road cycling , basically BMX with big wheels. Obviously the tracks should not be DH rough but some thing like the track they ran at Vigo with a few BMXish corners to keep the speed up.

 ^ There was an event like that recently. I'm too lazy to look it up but it was basically a 4x track with rough, multiple-lined woods sections thrown in. I liked it a ton more than traditional tracks and I think you're on point with what you're saying but instead of BMX, it's wayyy to similar to dual slalom. Part of the trouble of getting a discipline popular is to make that discipline different enough to really stand out. It's like trying to have mtb dj-ing popular when you already have BMX dj-ing everywhere. Make 4x stand out more with insanely sick tracks, where the use of a full suspension bike is an advantage, then I think there's really something there. As said above, a problem that 4x doesn't have is spectator access.

 Well considering the turnout of racers and spectators at these last three events I would have to say they are obviously doing something right with the sport. But it's pretty sad that that there isn't a single North American rider on the standings. At least Europe gets to race 4X while North Americans still argue about what a 4X track should be...

 the track looks like an off-season skier-cross track. grass-roots interest is the only way to grow it.

 skierdude, you're an American as well, just pointing that out to ya. Also you heavily contradicted yourself by stating they're doing something right by the amount of people attending the race and yet it's almost non-existent in the US, so no, they're obviously not doing something right. 4x has the potential to be huge but it cannot grow in the current state it's in. Something has to change and hell maybe it's as simple as having an American coming along and dominating for it to grow in the states... much like what Gwin is doing for DH right now. I'm seeing a lot more coverage of DH in the sports realm because of him and it's awesome.

 Well I guess you can't read or you don't have a grasp on the definition of the word contradict. Yes I said that "they" are doing something right, and by "they" I mean the Europeans! They've always loved 4X more than we ever could. And yes it is almos non-existent in the US because of this right here... No one can agree on how to build a track, we used to leave track building and design up to whoever was to host the event and so there was a lot of room for interpretation on what a "real" 4X track was. But the European "4X alliance" solved that and yes like I said they are obviously doing something right.

BTW thanks for solving my nationality dilema, I lost my passport and I've been going CRAZY trying to figure it out!

 To be exact there's actually one American rider on the standings - Blake Carney raced in Houffalize, Belgium (as far as I remember he didn't make it to the finals) and then in Szczawno-Zdrój, Poland (he was 34).

 skierdud- "they" is a pretty generic term to use so I'm sorry I wasn't able to read your mind. Also I have a pet peeve when someone talks about the Americas in third person. It's almost like you're trying really hard to not be associated with the massive generalization you just made. I agree with you though, we do need some legitimate bastards to step up to form some kind of group that know what the plan is and how to execute it. I do believe that the US Grand Prix is a very good sign of things to come, though.

 oh and JoannaFL go check the results and tell me how many racers from the US or Canada raced: www.4xprotour.com/?page_id=28
I'll wait...
It's too bad Blake didn't race, he's a hell of a guy and would do very well on tracks like these, coming from a BMX background

 thats what he said

 Lots of rain = even more fun

 we need these courses at every downhill venue, sick

 You do remember that 4x once did thrive in the US

 Thrive? BMX is thriving. Motocross is thriving. The only mountain bike discipline that is thriving is trail riding. MTB is participatory, it will never matter how cool a race is to watch, or how conducive the format is to televising... 4X is rad but it is one of the least accessible disciplines. Reread my first post--I _wish_ there was a track network that could support worldwide amateur 4X racing in numbers anywhere near XC/BMX/moto. It's not even close (and it never was, skierdud89).

 Honestly the reason it's doing so well over in Europe is because of the 4X alliance. Which is what we need here in the US, a group of riders and organizers to determine ground rules regarding the events. I grew up racing 4X and Dual Slalom and when I had to choose only 4x or DH I chose 4X only to watch it die. I think it could be very accessible if done right. Hell all you need is a big hill in a good location...