When legends return? English

Maybe I'm getting old but about ten years ago mountainbiking had it's own true heroes. It seems like a trend to again do the thing that you once did best when people say you're to old. Several bands are getting back together. I mean, even Slayer started touring again (talk about legends). But now the athletes are starting to follow.Maybe I'm getting old but about ten years ago mountainbiking had it's own true heroes. John Tomac with his flowy lines en his head always between his shoulders. He could easily win a worldcup downhill kick the worlds collective crosscountry butt in the same weekend. Dave Cullinan, the man with the titanium hart valve who made it hard for Lopes in the Dual Slalom. That's right, I wrote Dual Slalom. That how it got started before it was turned into Dual en then into the 4-cross/MTX concept that it is today. Niola Voullioz, aka "ET" because it was lik he was from another planet. When the rest of the guys were struggling he just seemed to flow through the lines wth ease to catch his 10th world title (3 junior an d 7 senior titles)

It seems like a trend to again do the thing that you once did best when people say you're to old. Several bands are getting back together. I mean, even Slayer started touring again (talk about legends). But now the athletes are starting to follow. Johnny T hadn't been racing for years when he decided to try to win the Kamikaze Downhill. And he did.

In 2007 Cully through his leg over a GT downhill bike to finish 24th at the Sea Otter DH. 24th doesn't seem fast but there are a 115 riders in the results with some pretty fast guys behind him.

Nico also made his return in 2007 en qwalified 5th in the first world cup race he entered (Champery)

So who's next? The legend among legends. One of the most versatile extreme athletes ever. The man with as big a mouth as his love for cadillacs and Frank Sinatra. That's right: Shaun "Napalm" Palmer.

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Everyone has at one time been in school with one of those guys who was good at every sport they gave a try. Palmer used to be one of them and still is. He was already an ace snowboarder when he borowed a mountainbike from a friend and started practicing to finish 7th in the second worldcup of 1996 and a 5th in the seasons results. Good enough for a big sponsorship with Spesh.

Fast forward to 2008 and Palmer can't seem to sit still and started racing boardercross again (check vid below)


The rumours are getting stronger on every forum and every site: Napalm is back!!! The story is that at 35 he will return to race a selection of world cups in 2009 on a Santa Cruz bike. I wonder what will happen. He's amazed friend and enemy several times before and as Palmer says in the video: "It's the only thing that satisfies me. There's no reason for second place".

I can't what for next season when a legend and one of my old heroes will return. Oh mannnnn!!! I'm so excited!!! Finally someone in the worldcup who's older then me to look up to......


Greetz Ilja