TEAM ROBOT Leogang WC Course Walk
As a privateer and aspiring pro it is imperative that you maximize your media exposure at World Cup races. However, starting with a 200 number plate means most of the professional photographers along the track probably won't even click the shutter when you go past, or if they do the photos will never see the light of day. Let's be be honest here and say that there's a pretty good chance you won't even qualify this round as the track is far from home and unlike anything you train on. So really your best bet for exposure is to get a well known photographer to do track walk with you, that way you are guaranteed to grab your 15 minutes of media fame for all of your sponsors (your friends, and your Mom & Dad back home).
If you follow this advice it won't even matter how well you do in your race run. In fact you've pretty much won just by getting your photo taken a few dozen times, and with all those #selfies and scenic shots you have memories to last a lifetime. - TEAM ROBOT
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 If you have at least 300 Instagram followers you can leverage your photo skills and offer to shoot a new Facebook profile pic for your pro photographer friend. This is also known as a fair trade. If you fail at racing you will have also proved photo skills and could easily slide into a cush media job. |
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| This is Boris. He will be at the race and no track walk is complete without getting him to show you some of his "body art". Don't worry, he's more than willing. If there is a World Cup and Boris is not there, then the World Cup obviously did not happen. He's almost as big a deal as Lord Rob Warner. |
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| If the venue is in an epic mountain setting be sure to capture plenty of footage to show your friends back home. |
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| Always be sure to adhere to all course markings. Part 1: optional freeride line and wallride? |
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| Lesson learned: Real pro's always bring an umbrella. Look how much more pro it looks to point out lines to your teammates using your umbrella. If all you have is a water bottle it isn't pro. |
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| The Grocery Store Rule (GSR) applies to track walk as well. You don't wear your riding gear to the grocery store and you shouldn't wear it for track walk either. Hard soled SPD shoes will result in blood. FACT. |
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| You'll soon discover that despite what you assumed from watching endless GoPro footage, the track is much steeper than it looked. Note: Vans are as impractical as SPD shoes, but you will look way cooler. |
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| Be sure to get in touch with the organic matter around you, and feel the aura of the track. Mother Earth, Gaia, Spirits, and Sh*t. |
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| As a privateer your Mom & Dad probably payed a lot of money for you to be here this weekend. Or your boss at Starbucks was kind enough to grant you a week off. Either way be sure to document the #epicmoments with copious #selfies. |
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| A great way to gain more non-rider Instagram followers is to play up the international traveler angle. Chicks dig a guy with a sensitive side too. Don't worry about the data roaming charges, Mom & Dad probably get that bill too. |
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| Identify sections on the track that will play to your strengths. As an AMERICAN ENDURO racer this section means big things for you. #enduro #winning #notschladming |
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| If there are jumps on track, be sure to stand on the lip with your buddies. For a while. To discuss how fast you think you need to go to hit the sweet spot on the backside. Who cares if there are 20 people behind you waiting to do the same thing. |
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| Always be sure to adhere to all course markings. Part 2: Ride Free & Go BIG. |
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| Sam Hill goes inside on all the corners, so you need to go inside on all the corners. #claimit |
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| Remember your ABC's: Always. Be. Creeping. Yeah, she's looking right at you so try not to be awkward and let your sweet mustache do all the smooth talking. |
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| Be sure to seek inside tips from the top pros you encounter on track. Like Wyn Masters, be sure to pack extra food and water. |
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| No track walk is complete without an overly artsy and blown out sunflare photo. If it's a cloudy day just get your new pro photographer friend to photoshop a sunflare in. |
If you follow this advice it won't even matter how well you do in your race run. In fact you've pretty much won just by getting your photo taken a few dozen times, and with all those #selfies and scenic shots you have memories to last a lifetime. - TEAM ROBOT
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They're just trying to "make it"
95% of these guys trying to get pro look pretty pathetic:
the classic "track walk outfit: sponsor tank top and sponsor hat (might as well say Mom and Dad), super short shorts, Vans, a bottle of water and a banana.
I went back to some of those blogs and they're almost as cringeworthy as the 0$ Indiegogo campaigns. Oh and the Hookit page is pretty hilarious too!