Now Finished: Cam McCaul - Ask Me Anything

 Hahaha Gold

 Yeah but I don't think anyone was there shooting it. How'd you hear?

 @CamMcCaul: What is your favorite trail? And do you prefer downhill or slopestyle?

 brilliant !!

 I have to imagine semenuk takes the cake there. it is interesting how secretive mountain biking is with compensation compared to other sports.

 @adrennan: Probs for right now, but I'm wondering if others in the past had received more as I know compensation has changed a lot over time for racers. I'm kinda hoping Zink is/was up there before.

 Is "salary" the right terminology for a freerider? That denotes a weekly paycheck from some single entity. Cam is working behind the mic now and Zink has Sensus. That tells you something about the prize money and sponsorship dollars right there. Their salaries seem to come from elsewhere.

 You know, that's a funny thing. This isn't a cop-out answer, but to be honest riders don't really share their numbers with each other. (unless they just don't share them with me..) I think it would be a good idea if we did because then everyone would have a better ballpark idea of what to shoot for. With that said, making money as a bike rider can't be the only goal for someone who wants to progress, but knowing what you're potentially worth to a partner is definitely important. The relationship has to be symbiotic if its ever going to last, and having long lasting sponsorships is the most important thing at the end of the day. More important than one big deal that will fizzle next year. Also, a rider's salary is usually the sum of all their respective partnerships, projects, etc. If you nurture each one of those dealings it can add up, but juggling it all is no walk in the park. Moral of the story, you gotta be willing to work.

 @adrennan: Probably because they don't want people to know how underpaid they are vs the amount of risk they go through. I'm sure pennies.

 @CamMcCaul: Thanks for the explanation man! Shred on!

 @txrider1: exactly. Look at Conor McGregor. Embarrassed to admit that he will make only a little over ten million for a single fight. Below ten million it's too embarrassing to tell anyone!

 YEESSS!!!!! hahahaha I've had this name my whole life and nobody has ever done that with it. Kudos my friend. Woodchuckin' Sallies by the Sea Shore while Pickin' Pickled Peppers with Peter. OW NOW BROWN COW.

 @CamMcCaul: how now brown POW

 Id guess shes looking for these two:

 As a teacher, I love this so much! As a film teacher, I'd ask a much different question.

 Abso-fuckin-lutely

 I'm down with hawaiian pizza. Seems wrong, tastes right.

 Canadian bacon and pineapple is perfect

 I'm a fan of pepperoni and pineapple

 You all disgust me.

 pineapple ham and hot peppers!!! the hot peppers add a twist

 @Oggie123:
This guy knows what's up

 Ketchup on a Mac and Cheese!

 @Oggie123: trade the ham for pepperoni and add garlic

 @adrennan: we all are, let's move on

 Ohh!! Yes, an opportunity to change my answer! Thank you. My dream "rest of your life" bike is being built at Trek right now. Its a Medium Remedy 9.9 front triangle with a short 420mm chainstay, a little less rear travel than stock, a spacer beneath the headtube to make room for barspins and tailwhips, dropper post, 11 speed, and a tricky BB spindle friction device. Fox Float X2 in rear / 160mm 36 up front, Oh yeah... and 26 inch wheels.

"Where am I going, what kind of riding do they have there?" Who cares, pack that bike and call it good.

 @CamMcCaul: Stoked to hear "26 Inch wheels"!

 @CamMcCaul: Sounds like an absolute ripper, perfect for crankworx!

A bit similar to the questions above, what do you think makes a rider most valuable to their sponsors?

Huge fan BTW and amazing to see your proggression through the industry from rider to commentator and everything inbetween like the VW stuff

 @CamMcCaul: Sweet! A lot more specific than that interview haha. That bike sounds awesome

 @CamMcCaul: I have a 2013 trek fuel thats decked out like a slopestyle bike but if u put seat up u can ride all day, with the stiff suspension set up dirt jumps bmx track and skatepark are no problem and yeah only possible with 26" wheels

 Yep, I'll be announcing a lot of contests this year. The full Crankworx series, plus other stuff. I don't see myself competing anytime soon.. When I was competing, I was 100% all-in. Thats how you have to be if its going to work. Definitely not something you can half-ass.

 @CamMcCaul: great news to read you'll still be announcing! (though I hope we'll still see you shredding bikes for a long time even if you don't compete.)

 "Evolution" came out in 2002. I went to the premiere during the NORBA race at Big Bear and I think there were like 10 people there. My brother and I, Cam Zink, Kyle Strait, Taylor Sage, etc. That movie blew our minds and it defined how we rode from then on. Kirt Voreis was the star of the show. He was doing the first barspins, tailwhips, and truckdrivers, big road gaps, etc. all on short travel full suspension slalom bikes and hardtails. It was slopestyle before there was slopestyle and he was also one of the baddest DH racers in the world. I completely wore out my VHS copy.

As for how the full-length filming process has changed -- First of all, I'm stoked the distribution model of full-length films seems to be catching up to the streaming age. I buy a ton of movies on I-tunes, I'm hoping everyone else does to, and I'm hoping that leads to more filmmakers setting their sights on full-length titles again. With so much content being posted online every day, full-length films have to be even more creative, or carry a unique energy to compete with all the quality 3 minute stuff that's available for free. Everyone has a camera now and the ability to make a movie. That puts the pressure on full-length filmmakers and their riders to up the game even more to stand out. I think that's a good thing.

Examples: Taylor Sage's "Lemonade and Duct Tape Stuffs" is so rad. He had footage from over 10 years, cut it together in a creative way that entertains you and makes you want to ride your bike. Fox's "Ride Your F#%king Bike" just premiered last Friday and it has energy, attitude, and no unnecessary frills. One of the best things I've seen in a long time. Then on the other side of the spectrum you have something like "UnReal" which had these CRAZY concepts, CRAZY camera equipment, and it was allll-time. For filmmakers to make full-length stuff these days, they just have to be badass and do it their own way.

 @CamMcCaul: thank you.

 What Trek and other brands are doing right now is a nice balance. They sell bikes online, but the bike ships to your local Trek dealer. You pick it up at the shop, they get their sale, and you build a relationship with that shop for future accessories, maintenance, etc.

 Haha dong punching

 Awman, this probably won't be a popular answer but 26" wheels. I just love 'em.

 @CamMcCaul: that's the best answer you could've given!

 @CamMcCaul: Best answer you could have given IMO. I keep staring at my old IH Sunday frame thinking of building it back up again.

 @CamMcCaul: 26" for life. All my bikes are 26", Just feels so much better for me.

 @CamMcCaul: You probably won't see this, but what do you think it says to the consumer, when companies like Trek offer bikes (session specifically) only in a 27.5 inch, yet their riders (aside from the racers) will only ride the unavailable-for-purchase 26 inch version. Not hating, and if I had the money, I'd buy a 27.5 inch Session, but I'm just curious. Watching Not2Bad, aside from the racers and the slash/remedy scenes, Casey was the only person going big on a 27.5 inch session, and the rest of C3 rode a bike that consumers can't even buy. Seems odd to me, but I'm curious on your opinion.

 More important: who has more steez

 @Benbarlow21 / @jmartinbiking
Him of course! My brain is always racing, but its definitely not a racing brain.. Ty has always been fast and good at choosing quick lines. He was on the Jr. World's team in '08 at Val Di Sole and I was there to watch and cheer. It blew me away how gnarly that course is.

 @CamMcCaul: Ah I'm sure you're being humble! Legend.

 let him do kids stuff... if you dont feel like forcing him, dont do it, by any way and by any chance, give him the freedome to explore his likes and true passion wich comes with his true talent. he is only 2 man, at 2 i was still looking at my mom as an angel and looking at people as if theyre godes... did not even speak at that time... there is nothing worse than a grown up kid in his 20s b alming you for forcing him... trust me

 @davidpr2: it seems to me that you've missed the joke.

 @davidpr2: unless if you're like Cam Zink who straps a child seater on your bike and does a backflip with his little girl while his wife wasn't watching!!!! haha
@mrgonzo: start them young get it ingrained in them!!!! If you look at a lot of kids who are around 9 or 10, most of them started riding bike when they were just amazingly to small for the sport some people would think!!!! If you want your boy to ride bike ride with him... take a look at Jackson Goldstone! He's still young and he's doing big stuff already with the help of his parents...... then take a look at Matt Hunter with the video he has of him ride bike with his couple year old kid!!!! If you want him to ride bike you have to work for it with him!!!!!

 Probably finding a balance between appealing to the endemic audience and the non-endemic audience simultaneously. There's definitely a way to do it, but with that project it became difficult for a couple reasons, weather being one.

 @NoBikeNoFun

I'd have to say Claymore Challenge at Highland MTB Park in New Hampshire. It was such a great contest and probably a little ahead of its time in terms of layout. Look at the Joyride course these days.. It has a similar footprint to Claymore which was from, I think 2008 - 2012. Starting in 2013, Joyride started weaving back and forth across the steep hillside to give the course predictable flow.

Most difficult thing in a Rampage run would be linking it all together. Your line is so long and has multiple blind features that you may have only ridden individually a few times during practice but never linked together. Oh yeah... and then you have to trick them all. It gets so much crazier every year.. Phew, Rampage.

 @CamMcCaul: Love highland. its amazing what they can do with such a small mountain.

 Time for a reunion this year, I'll see y'all on dirt merchant with a belly full o' burger and a backpack full o' groceries!! And tell your friend, my kids love the fact that his kids love my movies. Nevermind, I'll holler that at him next time I see you guys in a grocery store. Thanks for the support!

 I definitely never regret crashes or injuries because you can't do that. It's all part of the deal. Is my body the exact same as it was before I started riding? Definitely not, but that squishy grey thing in our helmet has the ability to either dwell on things or learn from them and get stronger. Downtime from injuries are good times to focus back on why you started riding in the first place. Once back on the bike, its one step at a time, always remembering why you're doing it, enjoying it. Then, all of a sudden, you realize you're back to that feeling of riding and not thinking about the injury.

 Movie: Step Brothers.

2 types of food: Burrito. 2 of them.

1 bike: Remedy

1 animal to befriend: A parrot who I could teach to say, "did we just become best friends?"

 @CamMcCaul: NEVER CHANGE.

 I started wearing one after a bad neck injury in early 2013. I told myself if I ever got strength back in my left arm and could ride properly again, I'd always wear a neck brace. I also told my brother if he ever saw me riding without my Leatt, to kick me in the nuts. 4 years later, I've crashed a lot with the brace on and haven't had that injury again, so I believe it has helped. It's definitely never caused an injury for me. Now, if I don't have it on, I feel naked.

 @CamMcCaul: OK. Thx for the response, dude.

 No special badge, just a stoked Norwegian buddy when he got his bike back. Drop-In !! I miss that, those trips were so fun. Thanks!

 @CamMcCaul: That's shady man WTF. I can believe it though, the people I've been dealing with lately, it's really blown my mind how ghetto a lot of people are in terms of trying to get whatever they can off you. And the guy still tries to act like it's his when you confront him, wow.

 I guess they just gotta try it huh. If its not for them, no prob but I agree with you.. It is quite fun.

 @CamMcCaul: QUOTE>.. It is quite fun./END QUOTE>

QFT!

 Honest answer? I don't think any companies are going to make new 26 inch stuff, or keep making old 26" stuff for that matter. This will make it fun to hit up garage sales and flea markets.

 @CamMcCaul: thanks for the answer. Too bad I guess there comes a point where people who used to love this size have to accept 27,5 as the next thing..
Anyways, Cam, no matter where life takes you, please make sure you stick around in the industry for many more years to come ! You are such an inspiration for so many riders out there..! -- The sport needs more Fun and Creative personalities like yourself to get even more people involved in mountainbiking. In other words, you are the best embassador for this job in my viewpoint.
Keep on doing what you are doing !!

 What's up! I left a set of spiked snow tires in the bike room that year! I left in an ambulance and wasn't able to pack my own stuff so I figured hopefully someone is putting them to good use. Yeah, I think its important to bob and weave and make changes when necessary. Basically doing what feels right is probably the best way to roll and sometimes that means making changes. I'll be honest, it was a gamble to stop competing, but I'm happy how its been working out. Busier than ever these days. Thanks so much for the support man, I really appreciate it.

 Yes! it was wild.

 Its actually kind of good for whipping, you can use it to bring your whip back like the bump stops on a dual crown. You're right, no barispins or tailwhips with the knock block. That can be frustrating. The good folks at Trek are working on a custom one for me that will be barspin and tailwhip-able.. Thank goodness. bearskin when i type bearskin it auto corrects to bearskin. come on! Barspin! there we go.

 The biggest question I have is how often does Cam text "bearskin" so and why?

 I just love it. When I'm off the bike, I'm still thinking about it and that's how I've always known its what I should be doing. Do what you daydream about, and until I stop daydreaming about riding bikes, thats what I'll be doing.

 Ohhh mannn!! That hurt so bad! I learned, never look at the Alpaca. Hahaha that was fun man. Well, fun after it stopped hurting. So glad you were filming. To @jory666 who was asking about neck braces, check out this vid from @Lkeenan22. Glad I was wearing the Leatt for that one.

 My wife is originally from Bend and we were visiting up here a lot. I really started to like it, plus I already had friends living here, Jamie Goldman, Kirt Voreis, Carson Storch, etc. Its a really good place to raise a family, plus more affordable than Santa Cruz, so all those pieces came together and we decided to make the move.

I'm gone a ton so a lot of the time when I'm home, I'm hanging the with wife and kiddos / getting caught up on stuff. I've definitely done some jump building here since I moved but no trail work. That'll be something I'd like to be involved with in the future when I'm not gone so much.

 No plans, but man wouldn't that be cool.

 First of all, thanks, I appreciate that a lot.

As for slopestyle features being more standardized, I think its something that needed to happen, but I also think the courses need to continue to evolve to match not only the level of riding, but the level of entertainment. There was a time when you showed up to a slopestyle course and you never knew what to expect. As a result, you couldn't do the tricks you had been practicing, so the level of the competition didn't reflect the level the riders were on at the time. First you had to adapt to the course, then you figured out which tricks you'd be able to do. Now, riders have more of an idea what they can expect to see on the course, and they can train appropriately. We fought real hard for a long time to get some degree of standardization from course to course and now it exists and the riding level is off the charts.

Now... With all that said, will there come a time when either the tricks plateau, or every run starts to look the same to the average viewer? I think so... At that point it will be important to re-introduce transfer options or peculiar features to the courses. Stuff that gets the fans excited when they look at the course, and even more excited when they see a rider not only ride the feature but trick it. That was one major contributort to the entertainment value of slopestyle when it started in 2003 and I think it will be something thats important to bring back at some point. Whatta you think? Are we there yet?

 There's a crew working on it but it seems like most ideas have lead to a dead-end. Right now they're throwing around the idea of rallying funds and trying to find a piece of land to purchase. Its probably the only way to make it happen.

 @CamMcCaul: Thanks for the update. Considering the popularity, it seems like a loss to the community. I would hope that the city (?) would step in and help out.

 Lightweight long travel airshocks.. The Float X2 (Homer Simpson gargling sound)

First bike: Mongoose BMX
First bike with suspension: Dan Gurney rear suspension BMX from the '70's (hand-me-down from Dad or Uncle.)
First 26" mountain bike "Pacific 7500" from Toys 'R Us.

Frankenbike 96er: Sounds good for tailwhips and bad for barspins. Sounds like a bigger version of Bearclaw's old big hits. Or a Penny Farthing.

 Trek already made one....it was called the 69er

 I love the jumps in Redmond. Well, I guess that's Redmond and not Bend. I'm a big fan of the trail "Rock Fall" at Bachelor. It's right under the lift, lotsa good roots, rocks, and spots to roost.

 Favorite / signature trick I guess would have to be a seatgrab indian air. Well, I think its already happening. Last year in Spain shooting for Not2Bad Casey Brown was right there with us training through a big set of jumps on DH bikes. Those jumps were pretty darn "freeride" and she was right at home. I think any girl watching that can use it as inspiration to do whatever she wants on a bike.

 @CamMcCaul: hell, I was inspired! Go Casey!

 @CamMcCaul: Coincidence: last month's photo on the Pinkbike 2017 calendar is of you and Casey hitting some massive jumps - probably on that shoot. Today is Women's day and Casey is out-Manning everyone in that Harookz shot! Super rad.

 Thanks! Haha I guess that would have to be a seatgrab indian air. I'm that guy.

 Probably "Sweet Morning Light." I want to do a lot more stuff like that one. Mixing slopestyle tricks in freeride terrain is my favorite thing. Possibilities are endless

 I just felt the time was right. I always figured I'd ride contests until it didn't seem like the right thing to do anymore, and luckily when the time came, I had no doubts and decided to make some changes. I'm pretty grateful to have the opportunity to still contribute something to the shows.

 A kid at Summer Gravity Camps sharpied it onto my head one time but that's the closest I ever got.

 Good question. Bend obviously has great options for beginner and intermediate riding (sooo many trails!!) and thats always the most important stuff for the foundation of any "great mountain biking town." In terms of more advanced stuff, I think its happening in a big way, it just may not be as conveniently located as the rest of the local trails. Carson Storch and Kyle Jameson are holding a Fest event this Spring at the Prineville Adventure Park. The potential of that place is rich and holding a Fest event there is a good way to kick it off. I think April 22nd is the spectator day if you wanna come check it out.

 @CamMcCaul: Thanks man! I'll look that up! I've met Storch before, rad dude.
I have recently moved to the Westside for work and miss a lot of the MTB specific trails, but am enjoying the rowdiness of the Trails around here in McKenzie bridge as most are not developed like Bend. If you find your self in this area, look me up. Can show ya some rad stuff when weather shapes up.

 @CamMcCaul: I've poked around on the internet and can't find any mention of the event. If it isn't too much trouble, could you point me in the direction of some info? I'm a tad north of Portland and would love to go watch. Thanks for all you've done for the sport; you have my utmost respect.

 Wuttup! I always say superman seatgrab indian air. An oldy but a goody.

 I like the Warner/Claudio combo. Warner for sheer enthousiasm, Claudio for nice race insights. Bringing that American style commentating like at Rampage and Crankworx would annoy me. Like, I'd have to watch muted.

 I'm definitely a DH fan and I love watching the webcasts. I'd need a stunt double if I were to commentate those events though, its already a busy year!

 I like Claudio's commentating. It took a while to settle in but he always has much more relevant and intelligent things to say. I pretty much only like cam in the slope style commentators, for the same reason relevant and intelligent comments. The others make me cringe. I'll "shut the front door" on my way out.

 Strawberry.

I think probably this one where I missed most the landing: www.instagram.com/p/weYLaoriG9/?taken-by=cammccaul

My buddy A-Rev told me to go slower but I didn't listen. From then on, I always listen.

 gnarly! keep crushin it man, and strawberry sucks !

 More COWBELL!! MORE Gorgonzola!!

 no way, cowbells and vuvuzelas are scientifically proven to increase speeds by upto 200%

 oh dang. i just asked the same thing and looked up and saw that you just asked it.

 Probably a frontflip superman indian air.

 @CamMcCaul: ya right. That is insane.

 More bike parts. Just because I've had more bikes than I've had bodies.

 Absolutely.

 The Vanzac yearly queenstown party

 Probably Crankworx Whistler right?

 I plan to, I always try to make sure I get up there each year. Waiting for the calendar to sort itself out so I can see where I have a window.

 Heck ya if I get invited back for the webcast. Haven't heard anything yet but I have it marked on the calendar just in case. Love that event.

 68.media.tumblr.com/395f904f7ae53cdc7a5e3827d7d21173/tumblr_inline_nprj1pS05J1rlrczb_500.gif

 Bloop Bloop.

 Sure, got anymore ideas?

 @CamMcCaul: ebike challenge!!!! Challenge accepted ??

 @CamMcCaul: a 360 double bar?

 Wussup! It was for a new web series called "McCaul Meets." I go hang with slopestyle heavy-hitters in between Crankworx events to see how they prepare for the contests. The trip was amazing, sooo good. After that, I went up to Sweden to do the next episode on Max Fredriksson.

 Frontflip.. It took me forever. Rdog used to come over every day and film me trying into the pool jump so I could review the footage comparing it to footage of Scotty Cranmer, Corey Bohan, Ryan Guettler, etc. I think it took me like 2 years. At the time, Lance Mcdermott was the only guy doing it at mountain bike contests and he wouldn't share any tips!! Rightfully so.

 I guess that isn't much of a question, but still...

 Bontrager 26" XR4 2.35"

 I'd go DH cuz then you can pin through the gnarly stuff at the top and the jumps at the bottom still flow nicely on a big bike.

 @CamMcCaul

 ...GOD I hope not! ..."Rollerblades"???

 It currently says "Live Now". When it's over, the title will change saying so.

 There's no gender separation in freeride comps

 @me2menow: did I say anything about freeride comps?

 @acfulton77: No need to be sassy

 @me2menow: sassy? You responded to the question asked to Cam without thinking about the actual question. Think before you type. Nowhere in the question does it mention freeride comps. I think youve been taking too many Q&A tips from Sean Spicer

 @acfulton77: Who the f*ck is sean spicer? You need to chill missy

 Freeride is scheming as an undercover agent disguised as the enduro bike, just waiting for its moment to pounce.