Sal Masekela is in beautiful Whistler, BC for one of the ultimate downhill MTB competitions, Red Bull Joyride. After getting some pointers from professional rider Matt Hunter, Sal experiences Crankworx the right way by doing a little downhill riding himself. After a scary moment on top of the Whistler Gondola Lift, Sal manages to enjoy all the good stuff that BC has to offer.
Check out previous episodes of Travelin' Sal here: travelinsal.com. Tune in October 6th at 1:30pm EST on NBC for Full TV Episode of Red Bull Joyride!
what the hell is wrong with some people? No, he may not know much about our sport but he has been employed to show the normally retarded audience of NBC what it's all about. I happen to think he does a pretty decent job on the X Games and while there are others I would pick to represent our sport to a new audience (Rob Warner and Tippie would be top of that list) he's the guy that's been chosen so suck it up. We should be happy that our sport has made it onto a major TV network, we might not approve of the presenter but many people will recognize him from the X stuff and pay attention. Why all the hate? Coz he's a "noob" who got to ride a new carbon demo? yeah, how many people do I see at various bike parks who hire the best bikes in the shop and can't even put a helmet on properly? Those would be people who are trying the sport, they may not like it, they may not be any good at it, but at least they tried. Some will love it and want to get better at it, perhaps get involved with the fantastic community that we all know and love (although judging by some of these comments those people may think we're a bunch of hating douches) The show he presents could well encourage more people to take an interest in our sport so how about giving the guy a break until the show airs, if he does a bad job then a polite email to the relevant producers would be far more constructive than shitting on the guy from a great height on the internet. Done.
I agree with this^^. When he says "I am addicted" and "I am humbled and I found a new love all at the same time" more people, who've never ridden before, might be encouraged to try mountain biking which will help the mountain bike community grow. And that is a good thing.
I don't get the bitching, it's for an external audience. We all love Rob's Dirty Business for example; an episode of that got published by Redbull on youtube and people hated it. Sal is a good, versatile presenter... Get over it.
Most people don't know Tippie or Warner. To have an x-games announcer, somebody that a majority of extreme sport enthusiasts recognize is a huge step for the biking community. They're way more likely to watch a video of something they don't know if somebody familiar is presenting it to them. Don't get me wrong I love Tippie and Warner but only mountain bikers really know who either of them are...
Fair point @expat. I hear where your coming from. I just think this sport is an unknown we can build it as a "brand" how we like. Using Sal is cross-branding. If it works and furthers the sport great. I was just confused forever ago on how he got started on snowboarding, now DH?
I remember when he first started announcing the x games he was brutal, he has gotten abit better over the years but I think this should be Tippie`s gig.
Yeah. Bob Costas would have been better. He's like a walking encyclopedia of sports! Good on Sal for getting on a ridiculously expensive bike, have no idea what he's doing and leave a little skin on the mountain. They call that the Whistler Bike Park baptism.
just the fact that they gave let him ride a Team Carbon Demo and not know how to ride one bit, i just can't stand when he talks about sports, both at Where The Trail Ends premiere and at X-games
Sal is a great guy and that " knows nothing about sports" line shows just how much you know about sports. Beside the fact that Sal has been surfing, skating and snowboarding and working in the action sports industry longer than most of the users on this site have been alive NBC seemed to think he knew enough about sports to give him a job with the NBA and even World Cup soccer too...
That's all fine and well. Leave him commentating on Surfing, Snowboarding, and Skatboarding and keep him away from Downhill. Personally I don't mind him and I feel he knows a lot about the aforementioned 3 sports. However, he doesn't know jack about biking. Every event he commentates on is "the best in the world" even though most of the time it isn't.
What does this guy have that other people like Brett Tippie don't have? People outside of MTB know him! People from Surfing, Snowboarding and Skating that like him and his style of commentary and think "hey, i like this commentator, i heard hes commentating on some extreme sports in Whistler or something this weekend, ive got nothing better to do i might just tune in and check it out. See if he does anything funny/awesome"
I think you might find this was an attempt to get more people into the sport. So think about it before you start giving him shit. Good job Sal, keen to have you back next year!
I thought Sal done a great job. Obviously if he had a MTB background he could have introduced Matt Hunter as more than just a shop boy. But this episode wasn't about who HE is, it was about introducing people to OUR sport. Ride on Sal!
I think all this negativity brings a pretty bad name to our sport. Sal is a pretty well known guy in action/extreme sports. I love the fact he's giving his time to ours. I don't always love the guys on MNF, but they're there for a reason. Embrace this not only for the sport, but the professional riders making a living. This can only help them, albeit not directly but if biking continues to get this attention, it can only help.
My hands were sweating just watching Sal climb that ladder....To all you player haters; stop hatin' ! He picked up a bike, listened to what Matty had to say, made it down (in one piece) Sal, you alright buddy! POUTINE FTW
Sal has been around action sports at least for the last 15 years, he know more than all of you probably. just go watch the first x games, see who u gona find commenting...
I grew up watching the X-Games hosted by Sal Masekela and he is awesome! Sal is enthusiastic, excited, energetic and wrecked a carbon demo with so little shame that he kept making video. Fuck ya Sal!
Might have a little something to do with the major networks eagerness to promote "diversity". I'm not racist, but equal opportunity has it's limits.....hopefully.....but apparently not. Their are other educated mtb people of diversity in the mtb world who would do a much better job than this jumbling, predictable, broooo bonehead. Hes so cliche he makes Paulie seem original. Hes so annoying he makes Richard Simmons seem tolerable. A complete rookie would be better than this dope, quite frankly, he ruins the show as easily as he carelessly ruined that expensive bike.
No, he's not. He came to one event, didn't even make a huge presence, and was (paid) to be at one premiere. Look at the bright side, he's fairly well known publicly and might attract more attention to the sport. Plus, it looked like he was genuinely enjoying himself, which can only be a good thing.
that dude is a lame hack..doesnt know shit about this scene should really have the decency to admit he doesnt know shit and just give props...seriously stay with X and all that mainstream shit this is another world that doesnt need to be tainted by him and his lack of...but yah im sure he's a cool guy tho like everyone says...
