What could have been... Sam Hill was fastest at the final split until disaster struck. This scorpion of epic proportions snatched away what looked to be a gold medal winning run, but it wasn't the race-ender that it could have been - he still finished just under ten seconds back! Obviously not how Sam wanted to put a cap on an otherwise stellar comeback season, but word is that he's unbroken.
Luckily Sam only suffered a broken neck brace and sore hand
It is weird how they were in vogue and don't really seem to be anymore. After Dan Atherton's injury, it was noticeable that many were wearing neck braces. Now Gee and Rachel don't anymore along with many others. Wonder what happened....?
the day after i bought my leatt i took this identical crash more or less... the leatt bruised my throat a bit and i was totally fine other than that, never riding without one again. that night i ran into a guy with a neck brace on from breaking his neck biking - scary thinking if i didnt pick up the leatt a day earlier that could have been me.
Idaho- not everyone likes to wear the added protection for personal preference reasons. What a vicious crash, I can't imagine what could have happened if he wasn't wearing one.
It didn't look like his helmet even hit the rock in the video (both real time and replay). If it did, it just glanced off. It's not like he speared the rock and the brace is the only reason he's still alive. His fitness, reflexes, and instinct had more to do with him not getting hurt IMO.
I raced like 40 minutes later aha and no my brace was fine and they sent me a new one for writing out a testimonial on leatts website. Now I have 2 haha
wore a Leatt brace once and was not comfortable with it at all and took it off after a few runs. just didn`t like the fact that coming into berms i could not spot my line properly and look ahead as far as i wanted to. don`t know if it`s just me or what?
Not just him or else everyone would wear them. It makes perfect sense that it can affect your field of vision. Just because its completely comfortable and fine for some people doesn't mean that's true for everyone else. Not everyone is built exactly the same and you should ride with whatever gear gives you the most confidence.
@MrThirteen1 While I get that neck braces may not be for everyone, they do take a little bit to get used to. If you still have your brace I'd try riding with it for a full day and see if you get used to it. The first day with mine felt a bit awkward but now I rarely even notice it.
Wait till your doctor recommends you wear one after a serious crash, I'll force myself to like mine once I get it.
Used to fuck around at the bike shop I don't think my neck is worth the money for this brace lol regret saying that hahaa
"wore a Leatt brace once and was not comfortable with it at all and took it off after a few runs."
Very similar logic that a lot of people have for seat belts. Everything feels weird the first time you try it. Even going from glove-less to gloves feels odd and then after a while it feels completely normal. Trying something for only a few runs and saying it was uncomfortable is just silly.
It`s not silly. if a seat belt impaired your ability to look around and be to check all your mirrors and blind spots then i would also have to question it merits as well. no? Although i really like the idea of having a neck brace i feel like it might be putting me more at risk for other types of injuries. But maybe it is about just getting use to it. looks like i`ll have to giver another shot.
Im not comparing the effect of a seat belt to the effect of a neck brace, I am comparing the fact that most people would find them uncomfortable if they had never used one before. Everything that is new and a departure from what you are used to is uncomfortable.
If you decide you dont like them after a reasonable period of adjusting to how it feels, then that is fair enough I think.
my mates dad had a huge crash racing motocros and wasnt wearing a neck brace. He broke his neck (didnt die) and isnt paralysed but they said if he had been wearing one he wouldnt have survived. guess it comes down to luck?
Are we really arguing the technicality of the "type" of crash he took? Dude crashed, dude had on safety gear, dude finished riding, dude is as nice as anyone I've ever met and dude had a great season. Bikes are cool, and so is sam hill.
But that was his Sunday. Don't think he's been the same off that bike. Yes he has done amazing things sence and on different frames. (Worlds on Specialized I believe) but he doesn't seem to have that same "Sam Hill riding style" sence he left Iron Horse.
I'm guessing the portion of the neck brace that "broke" was the thoracic strut in the back of the brace. Leatt has designed it to break at a certain force to prevent too much energy transfer to the spine. Pretty awesome piece of engineering.
Top three screams today: 1) Sam hitting the back of his head on that rock. 2) That INSANE last jump from Josh, then watching the replay on the landing (ouch) 3) Neko up by a second at the split. Chainless.
Yea, but if everybody has perfect runs, the Gee doesn't have his little bobble either, & Hill & Ratboy would have probably been within hundreths of each other, looking at the splits.
Agreed groghunter....you get one run, that's it, doesn't matter how fast you practiced, or how far up after the 2nd split you were or anything else. That's the beauty of DH.
I am ordering a Leatt first thing in the morning. I am shit compared to Sam Hill and I will probably crash more.
I remember meeting Sam Hill when I worked for Specialized, he was a nice fellow
There is no doubt about that. But that's racing. If you watch the replay, Sam hits that rock at about 2:53 and crashes at 2:54. The nearest in that section was Rat, who was about 1-2 seconds back before he's in the same spot, and Gee, the winner, was a good 2+ seconds back before he hits that exact spot. Sam never slows down, he keeps gaining momentum. Had he not crashed and Rat not have broke himself, Sam still would have won. There is no arguing that.
But, again, that's racing. If you don't keep it together it's 'woulda coulda shoulda'. At least we all know he's back up to his blistering fast speed, and next season should be an amazing one to watch as well.
Man! I have been know to give you guys crap about Hill just to get a rise out of you all. After watching this run though I am done saying anything negative about Sam and really hopefully any rider as they are all better than any of us. Hope you are recovering well Sam, I would still be laying on that rock had that been me!
I actually screamed" God no! " when I saw this live. I was so relieved to see him get back up after that crash..I hope more riders start wearing neck braces after seeing how it saved Sam's neck.
Sam Hill should have won the race. Line at the first rock garden is fast and no one thought to go into that. Until this horrible crash in the last rock garden 25 sec to the finish line.
And Josh, the only man who challenge the time of Sam, got injured on that very last jump. Well this is race.
Big respect to this two great riders. And Neko as well for racing without a chain finishing fourth.
SALUTE
I love Sam Hill I really do, up there with Peaty he is my idol....but....is anyone else feeling a bit sorry for Gee? At the end of the day he made it down fastest without making any mistakes yet everyone is hell bent on putting his run down saying how much faster Sam and Ratty were and one of them should be champ. Yes they were going faster but they both made mistakes.... Well done Gee. Heal well Rat....and next year Mr Hill, the champs are all yours for the taking
Gee's run was great - but up till the points Rat smashed and Sam crashed - he might of had settled for third - but - in his run he had a few mistakes - a one nice one that he managed to save at that rock garden gap - if his run were as clean as Rats and Sam's (up to those points I mentioned) He may have been the front runner undoubtedly - BUT he Won! And that's Downhill racing. Sorry folks - everyone at one time or another lives the "what if" moment - and Neko with no chain???????
I don't know how he managed to ride off the mountain?! He was shaking his head all the way down. The brace made it posible to see him ride next seasson.
Josh missed a happy ending by the length of his bike, if he only landed on the bridge he'd be ok. And excuse me but that was a send to flat, not a huck to flat which is a disgusting thing to do. Now, those 275 wheels don't roll over stuff as well as Deeeight said they do hahahaha
I never ride without my neckbrace and thanks to it I'm lucky to still be able to walk, The impact of my neck compressing to the brace ended up braking my collar bone. But between a broken neck and collar bone I choose collar bone everytime. Even if we aren't all world cup racers I always recommend and use one.
Glad to hear you're ok. I'm a mere mortal skill-wise, but at 41 I'm not ashamed to show up with one on. What counts is that I can still provide for my wife and toddler- if a Leatt stacks the odds just a little more in my favor, I'll ride DH with one every day.
I genuinely read that caption at the bottom of the photo's as "Luckily Sam only suffered a broken 'neck' and sore hand"... I got worried all of a sudden and wondered how is that lucky at all, suffering a broken neck! Good job he was wearing a neck brace, glad I have one
Not trying to start an argument, just legitimately didn't see the crash on video and have a few questions regarding the neck brace.
If he didn't have the brace on could he have tucked and rolled. Aka chin to chest and not ended up scorpion style? This is always my concern with neck braces. My Tuck and roll instinct and ability is my saving grace. I feel like I can avoid scorpion position because of it. Was this just too fast... because in the first pic I would have been starting to tuck already... But clearly freeze frame is slower than real life
In a rock garden, you'd be better off doing a staying on your belly than doing a tuck and roll.
All those rocks could easily fuck up your back during the tuck and roll
I feel when you're at those speeds, and under the influence of significant pressure ones ability to think 'ah its ok ill just tuck and roll' would almost certainly fly out of the window (this isn't me having a go btw ). Sam is a rider at the top of his game and one who hasn't always worn a brace if look back at previous seasons. So I guess he obviously sees the benefits.
He had plenty of room to tuck his chin forward, the brace isn't restricting that at all. Looks like his natural reaction was to spot his landing rather than roll, which from the looks of the rocks he would have "tucked and rolled" right into, was the correct choice.
Clearly none of you monday morning quarterbacks race or even ride anything of significance. You don't get to choose where you crash, how you crash and when you tuck your chin.....
I've been ejected off my bike and didn't even know I was going to crash plenty of times....landing in all different ways. I wear a Leatt, I won't say it has saved me from being paralyzed, but I HAVE felt my helmet hit it while my neck was under immense pressure to bend in directions that I am sure it shouldn't. I've also had rag doll crashes I was completely unprepared for and not felt a single impact and gotten right up to simply get back on the bike......I've also had slow motion oh shit situations that have resulted in hard, soft, and everything in between crashes.
Anything being said about the speculation of if he should have done this or that is simply speculation.
Neck brace saved his neck. Lot of speed and looked like he hit the bottom of a vertical rock that was about a foot high. Such a awesome run upto there.
Not that i think you'd ever have time to react going at those speeds, but look at the ridge on the rock he would have landed on if he had "tucked and rolled"
I am sure sorry for Sam and I am sure he has some sore spots on his body now, but I think the poor Rat has the biggest OUCH at the moment, coming out of that race.
i was crushed when i saw sam go down it almost ruined my night, but - most props' should be reserved for mr neko mulally. and should be highlighted in a new term: it is called "chain-less massacre". sending it to 4th without pedaling, just 2.2 seconds back, all out godspeed...
His time at 3 + seconds up would have well placed him for the win. He wasn't going to loose any at the bottom. Congrats to Gee and sucks for Bryce. I'm sure Sam is bummed. What a shitty place to fall. Amazing he rode out of it.
When ever Sam runs shorts exception 2010 Mt St Anne he crashes, should have kept the full moto pants on ftw!
Next year will be epic,
Only if tracks arent XC courses, exception, the FT, MT VD, Meribel here lol,
Leatt stock just went up. Glad to hear he survived the 'Scorpion' sting maneuver in the rocks. That could have been much uglier. Nobody thinks it could happen to them, but it does. Live to ride another day.
The formatting on my tiny phone screen made it read "Luckily Sam only suffered a broken neck". First impression was that PB's definition of luck must be a bit different to mine.
Well this atricle was a SPOILER! I usually come to pb next am after race (pst) for the replay link... Bummer pb changedp the program that was in place all season long. Dang it
I'm wondering are they wearing any body armour under their jersey when they are racing? crash at this kind of rock face is not fun without protection gears.
If that 1st picture was of a guy clipped in everyone would be going nuts over 'that's why I don't ride clips' but nothing. Seems it can happen on flats too!
Ouch that looked like it really hurt! Glad to know he walked away untouched from it tho. Hope he comes back next season like this to give everyone a run for their money!
bummed for him!
m.pinkbike.com/photo/11020538
Very similar logic that a lot of people have for seat belts. Everything feels weird the first time you try it. Even going from glove-less to gloves feels odd and then after a while it feels completely normal. Trying something for only a few runs and saying it was uncomfortable is just silly.
:-/
instagram.com/p/sp4Nzsi0ik/?modal=true
1) Sam hitting the back of his head on that rock.
2) That INSANE last jump from Josh, then watching the replay on the landing (ouch)
3) Neko up by a second at the split. Chainless.
But, again, that's racing. If you don't keep it together it's 'woulda coulda shoulda'. At least we all know he's back up to his blistering fast speed, and next season should be an amazing one to watch as well.
"Luckily Sam only suffered a broken neck
brace and a sore hand."
He was shaking his head all the way down.
The brace made it posible to see him ride next seasson.
If he didn't have the brace on could he have tucked and rolled. Aka chin to chest and not ended up scorpion style? This is always my concern with neck braces. My Tuck and roll instinct and ability is my saving grace. I feel like I can avoid scorpion position because of it. Was this just too fast... because in the first pic I would have been starting to tuck already... But clearly freeze frame is slower than real life
C, 4,5&6 disk replacement c3-5, Spinalcord injury. Jury still out on those
www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10204783071366161&set=gm.748478801881177&type=1&theater
I usually come to pb next am after race (pst) for the replay link...
Bummer pb changedp the program that was in place all season long. Dang it
This shit is big dirty!!!!!
that is you sam, unbreakable!
youtu.be/arP9hfTlsGo
Sam gets up so quick and shakes it off. This guy is my hero
:P