The winner in our hearts! Without those two bobbles maybe even the winner in real life! Taking us inside the tape yet again, and showing us just how small the margins for error really are. Cheers to ya Ben, already looking forward to next season!
I'm just amazed that Ben has the nerve to race competitively in WC races AND put out quality content. I don't think I could do both... Well, I couldn't do either by themselves so certainly not both.
As if he needed any more credibility, it is such a treat to get so many videos for free from Ben, a World Cup racer, showing us the inside info on the racing scene, and giving us videos to improve our own riding and experiences. Thanks so much for what you do for the sport Ben! What a beast.
This guy deserves all the support in the world! I was at Snowshoe for the second half and had a short conversation with the dude. What a solid guy! Kicking ass with minimal support, then doing his video blog when he can barely stand.. What a great venue.. I’ve been going to all kinds of racing events since the 80’s, and there’s nothing as accessible as this event. Literally bumping into the world’s best just walking through the pits! Pros stopping along the track to socialize with each other.. Like stepping into the life of a professional racer. Fantastic. And it never rained!
I cant imagine the energy it took to do these videos, practice, bike prep, more videos, more practice, and race... Good on ya! The inside the line vids have really stepped up with you having first hand, detailed experience on the track. Really hope PB is seeing this and the all support from the fans! We want this to continue into 22'. Maybe some more vid help, and pit help so you can focus on the riding and being in front of the camera for the analysis? Cheers and happy off season. Looking forward to 22' already.
I don't know what sort of metrics PB tracks but here's a comment to say MORE CATHRO! Great season Ben, enjoyed every minute of it, thanks for sharing with us!
Top man Ben. Just fantastic to see this. A huge thanks for all you do for mountain biking (and for Pinkbike giving us the access). Hope to see you live at Fort Bill next season.
Wow! When your front wheel almost tucked coming out of the rock garden and then that huge push in the last corner, scary! Great your stayed up and finished the run! Hope we get to see you racing more next year and on the live broadcast!!!
Watching that kind of POV is terrifying even when it's a replay and you know the rider isn't going to crash.
Question on technique: I've been working on my technique to be more "heavy feet, light hands," which has been great for reducing arm pump. I've seen a few DH riders saying how tired their arms are toward the end of a WC run, and I'm wondering when is the stage when "light hands" just won't cut it any more? Is it to do with having a different riding position? Or a defensive mode when you're slamming into big rocks on the trail? More to do with your terrain, or to do with going faster? Just curious
Depends on your definition of what light hands is really. I keep my hands pretty light through the more direct rough stuff but when I need to change direction or have full control over the bike I put light weight into my palms.
Main reason for my arms getting cooked is from grip strength fatigue from holding on tight. On a lot of tracks whenever things mellow out ideally you want to centre your weight so you can relax the grip in the bars to stop them from getting too pumped.
Some tracks like the lower section of snowshoe have no chill so the arms get fried.
@ben-cathro: Thanks for the response Ben! I'm thinking it's pretty unlikely I'll be going down Snowshoe at 50km/h any time soon, so I'll keep it on the lighter side
this is seriously amazing. I am so stoked to see Ben getting back in the saddle on this grind its no doubt the most amazing thing in a while aside from the horrible injuries and recovery this year. HUGE FRICKEN PROPS BEN!!! SO FRICKEN COOL
Considering how that track absolutely wrecked the best riders/equipment in the world, Ben's performance is nothing less that astonishing. Great job, you're the real deal!
The first bobble must have cost a second or two and the second easily 2 or 3? Speed is clearly there for a great result, fingers crossed for next season!
Well done Ben. 2022 is gonna be good to you hopefully.
I see you have entered Glenshee next weekend.
It's gonna be interesting, snowshoe to Glenshee. Don't get more contrasting than that.
It’s impossible not to love this guy. Humble, sincere, a true sportsman and a great example of who our younger generation should be looking up too. Great job Ben.
I’d love to see the POV video of Bruni’s run! This looks insanely fast, but if you look at the splits Ben was at least 4 sec back before he “nearly died”. These guys are incredible.
I was at Snowshoe for the second half and had a short conversation with the dude. What a solid guy! Kicking ass with minimal support, then doing his video blog when he can barely stand..
What a great venue.. I’ve been going to all kinds of racing events since the 80’s, and there’s nothing as accessible as this event.
Literally bumping into the world’s best just walking through the pits! Pros stopping along the track to socialize with each other.. Like stepping into the life of a professional racer. Fantastic.
And it never rained!
Frustrating moment before the wooden bridge, top 20 without that? Crack on!
The inside the line vids have really stepped up with you having first hand, detailed experience on the track. Really hope PB is seeing this and the all support from the fans! We want this to continue into 22'. Maybe some more vid help, and pit help so you can focus on the riding and being in front of the camera for the analysis? Cheers and happy off season. Looking forward to 22' already.
Well done Ben - you've done what 99.8% percent of us can only dream of!
Question on technique: I've been working on my technique to be more "heavy feet, light hands," which has been great for reducing arm pump. I've seen a few DH riders saying how tired their arms are toward the end of a WC run, and I'm wondering when is the stage when "light hands" just won't cut it any more? Is it to do with having a different riding position? Or a defensive mode when you're slamming into big rocks on the trail? More to do with your terrain, or to do with going faster? Just curious
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