Sam Hill to Skip Andorra World Cup, Focus on Enduro Instead

 He made his name in DH.. Now he just has to do what he loves for living ... What a dream life

 Sorry for the down vote. Couldn't agree with you more.

 Hes got nothing to prove in DH, maybe Enduro is the next fun step... now Zink is stepping down from slopestyle... and I'm pumped they are finding a way to stay relevant and earn a good living in the industry. It wasn't so long ago that 99% of the people who stepped down went off to work construction or some coffee shop. They've given so much to the sport, and still have so much to give!

 Good move for him and the team. He's always going to be the people's champ, and now he can help sell relevant bikes. According to the grapevine, megas outsell pulses by more than ten to one. Can't wait to see the carbon mega. Good on you Sam. Best for the future!

 @jaame: totally agree, maybe the people's champ will be the man to take enduro out of this phase of ridicule. He once revolutionised DH racing with his new and different t riding style, maybe he can do a similar thing in enduro. Or maybe he'll just come back to DH next season and absolutely kill it.

 @ThomDawson: or maybe he'll just fade away and we can all be fine with it... New guys will come. MTB starts to feel like romantic comedies, too many old faces dressed up to be young by "promoting staff". I have nothing against Peaty, Graves or Hill but damn, let it not stop us from getting stoked for the new and middle breeds. So if Sam decides to go before he becomes Jennifer Aniston of MTB - fine! I will always remember him going totaly wild in VDS, Champrry, MSA, on Dirt 1:04, even his cobra run from Hafejll World Champs. It's been some awesome times! I feel priviledged to have seen it live. I feel ok to let him go.

I am also getting extremely annoyed with this rididuclous, childish, wankish denial of Enduro as if it was some fkng lesser sport. This is EXACTLY the same kind of looking down at people that DHillers say XCers and roadies do to them. Fukhing hipocrites. That first Punta Ala Enduro lined up with world champions was amazing, in what other sport could that happen? Maybe some karting event where F1, Rally and LeMans drivers could meet,but other than that? Really, I wish people chilled out a bit about Enduro. What the F. Is wrong with Enduro?

 Everyone knows rally drivers are better than formula one drivers. The sport lacks glamour but is every bit as good as formula one. I think it's like that with funduro. It's a real man's sport no doubt.

 @ThomDawson: are you talking about that tweet or insta where he wrote that 29ers are g?

 @WAKIdesigns: and every other time he's said he'll never ride a 29er

 @WAKIdesigns: DH is like the baja 1000 and enduro is like the baja 500.

 I just demoed two bikes from Transition, the smuggler, and the scout. The 29er changed the way I looked at 29ers... It absolutely ripped! But so did the scout. And given the choice between the two, I take the smaller wheel size every time. I just absolutely loved how nimble and playful it was! Perhaps Sam feels the same way.

 @WAKIdesigns: Sam Hill and DH are now ON A BREAK!

 @poozank: what do you do exactly, that makes you a part of DH club so that you make this kind of pledge of alliegence? I have never picked a side in which sport is better discussions and I never will. I leave it to people with such primitive needs.

 @poozank: Hahahahahahha. Excuse me. HAHAHHAHAHA

 well said!

 @poozank: and all the best riders have BMX and MX background. These are the real sports. Then tech in DH bicycles comes from MX and aerospace. What are we doing here? Looking for the purest race?

 @WAKIdesigns: @WAKIdesigns: You were talking about how you are pissed people see enduro as a lesser sport to DH I was explaining why, enduro is less intense no getting around that compared to WC DH

 @Clarkeh: name one enduro rider who could hang in DH top 10, the answer is none. If they could they would be there. Even Richie Rude, if he could hang in WC DH he would move there, it would be more money and a more competitive field for him. Take Sam Hill for example, he does pretty damn well in the EWS the first time he tries but can't put the WC DH together like he used to. Thats nothing against Sam, hes older, he has kids now, and he's already a legend in WC DH. The point is, Sam can jump in enduro and do pretty well and that's just him trying it out never mind if he focuses, but at this point it's unlikely he would place as well in WC DH.

That shows the level of competition of WC DH is currently beyond that found in the EWS.

 @poozank: umm, Blenki??

 I bet the EWS tracks suit him more than the bike park DH courses.

 @cuban-b: Wrong, results say otherwise and like I said if he could do well in WC DH he would already be there.

 @poozank: but what makes you a downhiller?

 @WAKIdesigns: Did I ever claim to be a DH'er? You opened this can of worms by saying that EWS is seen as lesser than WC DH and I explained why.

 @poozank: ok fair enough

 Crankworx has 4 stops now. Almost as many stops as the WC circuit .........

What would Crankworx be like at Fort Bill and MSA ?

 Honestly, I wonder if its hard for someone like Hill to get motivated to race the same tracks every year. He's been doing it a while. EWS is no WC DH, but at least they try to mix up the locations...

 Not sure that would be a good idea, because some of the locations of the EWS are not suitable for DH. Plus with that many more people there would need to be way more space. Then there would be less variety in the schedule.

 hopefully the EWS can get 'big' enough to start their own DH series, maybe DHWS, and provide more venues/races with more stops in North and South America than the current UCI events.

 @dhx42: It seems that way. He smoked a few top dhers in La Thuille, yet has been pretty off the ball at the wc races. Should race EWS if it makes him happy!

 I would like to see a new MTB series separate from UCI and grow big, then inevitably fall into UCI style beaurocracy ansmd watch everyone sing Kumba Ya

 @sicmoto: maybe he just plain enjoys enduro, i used to race dh n couldnt see myself gelling with enduro, done 2 now and love them, its all the fun of racing with none of the stressful nerve racking build up.
Plus he wouldnt be the only rider on the world cup circuit who f*cking hates racing them.

 Great idea romdog!

 @thewasp: THIS!!! Every race part of a full gravity festival! Or at least most races!

 I really don't think DH is within EWS' business plan. There is already SO much work involved with planning/executing the EWS. It would have to be a separate group of people to start another series. Maybe if some of the top DH people at the UCI jumped ship...

 @ryansimonovich: a good business plan for EWS would be to lure enough DH racers to enduro and eliminate the competition. Sam Hill resurrected the Demo singelhandedly - imagine what the audience he will take to EWS now. Hell, if I was on EWS board I'd be PAYING Sam Hill to move to EWS. Manufacturers would be happy as DH sales are always much lower volume. People buying bikes that they can ride every day, other than needing a chairlift or a shuttle? Rachel's getting sick of winning DH races - and Trek would sell more bikes with her on EWS than UCI DH. You may not like what I am saying, but if you think that a new standard is simply a way of selling more bikes, then I am making a lot of sense.

 @iamamodel: I was addressing @romdog talking about an alternate DH series to the world cup. I'm all for DHers riding enduro and agree with you, a la Hill, Rude, Keene, Graves, the list goes on.

 @bluumax: How could anyone hate racing world cup dh? Really?

 @ryansimonovich, my comments weren't really directed AT you, but yours inspired mine . I should have taken your name off my comment. Just throwing thoughts around.

 I do agree that an alternative DH series is not a good idea. If I ran the EWS, I would try to make it THE gravity series, or at least the most popular one. Boxing used to be the only combat sport that mattered, bit wrestling and MMA changed that.

 @sicmoto: Maybe hate isn't the right word, but they might like enduro more. Some of the tracks are straight downhill trails, and you get more riding and racing and after racing the same dh races and dealing with the UCI I could see the appeal to not race World Cup dh. Especially if you really don't like the UCI

 @dhx42: Steve Peat and Greg Minaar come to mind with other riders who have been racing and still winning in the Case of Greg Minaar atleast.

 I can't see funduro killing downhill. I know there are a few riders who think too much hangs on a single run in downhill. In funduro at least they have multiple stages to show what they can do. They also ride relevant bikes. Having said that, funduro is uncoverable on TV, and the fans love to see the balls to the wall pressure riding of a single run final. Sam just doesn't want to risk his neck pinning it through boulder fields anymore, when he has little hungry mouths to feed.

 @jaame: I totally agree but the last bit. Everyone I spoke to who's been to EWS says that stages are gnarly as hell and the fact that you come into DH WC worthy sht half-blind, on a small bike after a whole day of pedalling makes it even worse. My friend, who's a better rider than I can ever aspire to, who's been to Samoens says that difference between his Remedy and Session is dramatic. As soon as his in serious mountains and lift or shuttle is involved he'd opt for a DH rig, for fun, durability and safety.

 @sicmoto: I know there's atleast one who hates the pressure and bs surrounding the events. Loves riding. Hates the events

 @WAKIdesigns: leov says you ride at 100% in downhill, 90% in funduro

 @jaame: yea but their 90% is still more commitment than most of us will ever show on a race track. There are huge risks in Enduro at the top level and the sport has already built a record of bad injuries incl. death.

 I know enduro is not easy. I never compared myself with any pro racers. I know about the injuries.

Still, it seems clear that to win in world cup dh you need to be riding on the limit for the entire run. Riding on the limit is not possible for seven runs a day over three days.

So while the drop in level may be small in real terms, it is still there. It is.

By the way I love enduro. I love what it stands for, including that anyone can enter. I could enter myself if I wanted to. World cup downhill? No chance. If Sam Hill isn't even top 80 now, what chance do I have?

 @jaame: I totaly get what you are saying. Still, quite frankly, even on our local race, you have to put your balls out on the edge of the razor on each track. I checked sht on Strava and I know exactly who did what and decisions the best guys take are just beyond any comfort zone of mine. I never felt that when I was doing some pitiful performances on DH races. Perhaps it's because I learned something and these days I have the better sense of where the edge is, but fk me, if you come to one of 7 tracks, come in hot into tight space between trees and you don't press the brake, not even a tiniest brake check, then woooffff... I'd rather go to that one track with more travel and practice it for a week. At least I can muster my courage or whatever that is. And then there is fatigue, another kind of fatigue, a mix of physical and mental, I just start forgetting sht by the end of the day, relying only on muscle memory. I have utmost respect for Enduro guys for the stamina, reflex, Jesus I wish I had that reflex... eye of a hawk, quick processing and precise reaction. The very thought that if Graves came to our local track he'd kick the sht out of me, measured in minutes, riding in blind no matter how tricky some sections are. The power allowing him to correct any error, where I am just stalling and packing my quads with lactic acid, like a bus that shifted into the wrong gear on a uphill road. And to see Sam getting 2nd at that in Ireland, where tracks are not as downhillish. It's insane, fkng insane.

 @WAKIdesigns: I have the utmost respect for gravity racers of every discipline. Let's, just agree that they are all awesome dudes!

 @jaame: Yes!

 @thewasp: "What would Crankworx be like at Fort Bill and MSA ?"

Horribly filmed and terribly commentated.

 Just so we all know... "on the hunt" in Australia can and usually means something else...
It usually means that a guy is out on the town, "on the hunt" for some action from the opposite sex.

 I see what you did there

 agree - peeps seem upset he wasn't picked but in the end results are results

 Does he ride flats? Nobody mentions it

 @RossCo832: Surprisingly this whole article did not mention his flat pedals! A first for PB?

 @RossCo832: Sam Hill's Nukeproof Mega - EWS Round 4, La Thuile, Italy Damm straight, check out his bike came in second place

 This is exactly what I was thinking too.

 Its not one person. Its an entire trend. Look up roots and rain and look at the historical results of former DHers and current enduro racers. It proves me right. Because stats.

 He's not quitting DH. Just not racing the last WC race. Simple as that. He will be back racing DH in 2017. He's not old.

 @atrokz: I didn't reference his quitting at all, I got that detail. Not representing Australia in the Worlds is the obvious here.

 @northwestdhdad: roger. It seemed that way, because you mentioned 'natural progression' which bears the connotation that this is a permanent switch or progression of his career. Agree that it will be weird to not see SH racing for Aus for the first time.

 He won't race a full season of downhill again.

 @atrokz: again, without you assuming that I'm saying he's quitting DH, you did. I just support his decision to finish this season on the EWS which is something your having trouble doing. Negative prop me all you want, I'll still sleep like a baby at night.

 @northwestdhdad: I think youre having trouble understanding very clear english. I basically said ''ok just a confusion''. Pipe down

 I just hope he races Dh next year and does well. Worlds is in my own country this year I'd love to see him race again in person.

 He was the Junior DH World Champ before he switched disciplines.

 Rude was racing DH before he switched to enduro.....

 Oh! I did not know that.

 Also Jared Graves got 3rd at the 2013 DH world champs on his trail bike.

 Seems like mostly what you see is former DH racers switching to enduro. Barel would be another example, as would Moseley and ACC.

 Along with the other names mentioned Fabien Barell Justin Leov Sam Blekinsop Tracey Mosley Dan Atherton ACC

 Martin Maes had some free time and thought "hey I should try the World Cup DH race at Fort William" and won it. So there's that...

 @hamncheez: Jared was def an O.G. all rounder before he started concentrating on enduro. DH, BMX, 4X slayer.

 @ryansimonovich: I can think of a few reasons pretty easily. One being it's the premiere series and two it gets better coverage

 @hamncheez: yes, but at Pietermaritzburg

 @shawnca7: That was racing Junior. He raced Elite in EWS.

 Despite being an all round legend and two wheel warrior, graves never reached the top in downhill. Rude did though and probably could again. Money talks and yeti must be paying him an absolute shit ton of cash.

 @jaame: Yeah I think there's way for potential for earning in enduro right now.

 @fercho25: go back to reddit.

 Getting old and about to die ENDURO.


Before anyone gets all but Richie Ride is only 20 something #rage #mad. It is a joke

 igoelectric.com/collections/2018-ebikes/products/igo-fat-folding-electric-fat-bike

 @DylanDaSilva: this is quite a bargain but idk wher is the turq model smh do they think it is we is some bastards smh? peevers ok)

 @Joseph-o: @Joseph-o: big bike for bwendy on GMG . Not rideable now tho too much water damage from the trail mole.

 @atrokz: troll.

 yea too bad for you it's a statistical fact.

 @atrokz: Richie rude? Dh world champ and ews killer? Martin Maes, kills it in the ews and tried a world
Cup dh race and won it? Then there's how top dh guys can't stack up to the enduro specialist and many of them saying its the hardest thing they've ever done. Yeah World Cup Dh is more technical but overall you can't say it's tougher than an EWS

 @treymotleyDH: Martin raced junior world cup, it's a level down from the elite ranks. Same for Richie. Ews is the pinnacle of enduro, so as examples they're not really great

 @treymotleyDH: All enduro is about is fitness, and obviously the ability to ride a bike. Downhill is about fitness, but you need so much more skill and courage.
Your point about Martin Maes is irrelevant, because Sam is like, what, top 50 or something in dh? But goes and gets second place at an EWS.

If you have a good fitness level, you will do well in an enduro event. And getting a good fitness level, anyone can do. But there's so much more skill and technique needed in downhill.

 @Jack-McLovin: You are probably trolling but you realise that Brosnan raced two EWS this season and didn't finish particularly high in either. He is coming second in the downhill overall. He doesn't look unfit to me. Based on your logic Schurter could switch to enduro and clean sweep the series. Do you even follow mountain biking at all?

 @benfer: Brosnan said he was just doing it for training, so maybe he didn't give it his all? Do you even follow mountain biking at all?

 @russthedog: These guys are highly competitive individuals they don't just go out and roll down when they are on the clock. troybrosnan: "Heavy day 1 at the EWS, Italy. Rode as good as I could and managed to finish day one in 17th! Pretty pumped on that and my goal is to stay in the top 20 after tomorrow's races! @samhill13 you are a wild man! #endurolord"

 @benfer: There's still a difference between 98% and 100%

 @benfer: Yes, but this is where fitness comes into play. Enduro is about endurance and the fitness to keep peddling. The top enduro guys will be fitter than the downhill dudes, not by much, but they will be.
Sam Hill is proof of that. His ability on a downhill bike is slipping, and he's fallen back a lot. But he can still achieve a top three finish at an EWS purely because he's fit.

 @treymotleyDH: RR couldnt hang at the mens level. Martin is a killer and does well everywhere. The evidence is still in the results whether you fanboi or not. The facts are there on roots and rain. Can argue and downvote all you want but the stats remain the same and prove the fact that the UCI DH WC is the most dificult win to accomplish.

 @Jack-McLovin: yup. But fanboiz arent able to distinguish the facts from their feels.

 @atrokz: if you check the facts RIchie was ranked 21st in elite in 2012 after a full season of racing men's elite at the age of 17.. There was no junior separate junior division then...

 @bfrich: Lol wut?

 @russthedog: What I was trying to say is that in 2012 in UCI World Cup DH there was no separate Junior only category... the juniors had to qualify top 80 elite if they wanted to make the finals...Richie made every Final that season and was ranked 21st in Elite men for World Cup DH that season.

 @bfrich: Yea, Richie was picking up his speed for sure, who knows what he may have accomplished in DH had Yeti continued the program. That said, he came into his speed in Enduro it seems.