Aaron Gwin's Absolutely Incredible Finals Run: Mont-Sainte-Anne DH World Cup 2017 - Video

 His tires went from zero to hero this weekend.

 yes, yes they will

 I'm not saying that Onzas are the best (its up to opinion as usual), but it's apparent now that they can do the job, nothing less than incredible traction, did you see the inside lines???

 but was he running maxxis cut mud spikes or onza dry tires??

 @makripper: Looks like he was on his signature Onza tyres from the photo by Mayham Media after the race. Respect to Onza as they must work pretty damn well!

 @makripper: Onza Aquila, kind of a mix/dry tyre. Thing is, when it's pouring like that, it's sometimes not THAT bad to run dry-ish tyres. But still, riding the insides, he could get the "unclean" part of the track with rocks and not just a muddy soup made by previous mud tyres and rain. I believe that helped him a lot. (And his incredible lines, even in the dry)

 @makripper:Onza porcupines

 Please lets not argue who has or had the best run in history...if you won chainless or in the wet I guess it makes you some kind of a good racer if not...almost a legend...or future legend...or aron gwin

 Aquila, Aqua is in the name.

 In it to Gwin it ????

 He won on those tires at Leogang as well, when everyone else was on semi-slicks. Could this be one of the best all around tires?

 @Nella-Bella: it happens. Haha

 @afish3r: USA

 @Thustlewhumber: clearly, it's 100% related to the tires. You buy now.

 @Ploutre: My thoughts exactly. Given how chewed up the main line was by that point, his inside lines were probably far grippier to ride on.

 It is great to see the new tires working out well in this race. It was a huge risk for him to be doing the development of them during real races. I have been thinking how Gwin's earlier race issues could be directly attributed to the new tires not being up to snuff from what he was used to. A few lack of traction moments at ProGRT at Mountain Creek this year and Fort William as well as sidewall issue in Lenzerheide. What would the season be looking like if that was the blacked out brand he had been riding? Maybe better? Anyway props for taking the risk, sticking it out and looking forward. The risk had to be taken at some point to move the needle.

 This is how advertainment works. He won on Brand X equipment? Clearly Brand X is best brand. Me buy now.

 Let's not forget that Aquila's are very close in design to DHF's. VERY CLOSE. DHF design still holding true after so many years.

 My 6 year old son gathered all the neighborhood kids to come watch the replay. Seven kids all watched the run from D.L then A.G and all were in disbelief. Two minutes later all kids were riding their bikes around pretending to be like Gwin. A.G has reached Spider-Man and Batman level here on this block. They're already asking if you can buy his jersey. Much prefer to see that over Ronaldo jerseys.

 @Boardlife69: That is awesome!

 @Boardlife69: soccer sucks lol. Wish I grew up on your block!!

 @Boardlife69: Good Dad!! We need more like you in the world!. Thanks!

 @Boardlife69: why don't they sell pro DH/ Enduro jerseys or jersey tees? Surely there's a big enough market, especially if you see them at race venues

 @bridgermurray: pro team jerseys and custom names? Maybe some marking to state that it's not official, or not the original somehow.

I'd be down. Especially that laser kitty jersey that I forget who now wore last year.

 @Boardlife69: very cool, keep em hooked!

 @Boardlife69: Let's be neighbours! :-)

 @Boardlife69: I remember doing that after reading BMX magazines back in the 80's .

 @mollow: ????????????????????????????????????????????????

 @mollow: what's wrong with what he said? For some reason it's become in vogue to bash Americans who celebrate being American

 @mollow: dammit. Emogi fail

 @mollow: you had to say "eh", eh? f*cking canadians

 @hetfield1: ''He deserved this win more than anyone after what happened at the last race, and I hope people remember this for years to come. 'Murica.''

I dont get it. He's not the first rider who's run is ruined by a flat tire, is he? Racing is racing.
I remember a certain Stevie Smith taking the win right here in MSA in similar conditions in 2013.

I'm sure people remember that, too.
What I don't remember is people shouting CANADA when it happened.

 @sickn3ss: I would have if I were Canadian. I thought it was awesome when Stevie won on home soil. Also think it's awesome that Mark Wallace is carrying on Canadian DH

 I've notice that not a single American is down on Canadian pride over Stevie Smith or English pride over Steve Peat.

So what is it? Sure, American GeoPolicy is lunacy, but that has nothing to do with DH and us Americans being happy about seeing our compatriots kick @ss. On top of that, we are happy to see others do well as well. This is a "SPORT" as opposed to some dumb socio-political posturing.

That all said, I still love Canada. I still miss Steve Smith. I still miss every moment I've spent in BC.

And I can say all that AND say 'MURICA!!!!

 @tracer2: hi dude, my address kosovo, prishtina, street 1 6/7. Pls send me them. Dont hurt them while u drive thank you.

 @BDKR: Well said lad you stick up for your self !

 @mollow: I'm a vegan. Sorry had to say it.

 See I´m a german in while i know i am a bit biased in my answer (strange history) i have a big problem with `murika. I know US-Americans have a different perspective on "Pride" but i can say to you for the rest of the world it convais (isn´t there a better word?) kind of an arrogance and claims a world dominance witch isn´t real and don´t has to be real. Why can´t you appreciate the person behind the incredible win! I mean he is on YT and there was no one shouting GERMANY, GERMANY, GERMANY!
See i know where are you comming from and i can also see that germans are a bit stupid too (other direction) but please don´t be pissed when someone critices you for beeing a bit to patriotic. There are other great countrys, people and bikes out there. No need to claim it for your great country. Just appreaciate that a great Person (huge fan) won a incredible race!

At the end we are all Biker and not Germans, Canadians or US-Americans!
Oh by the way! I absolutely agree with the rest of your post!

 @Gonzo103: You know, the expression of dominance felt by those in other countries is probably the result of our stupid geo-politics! Foreign Policy is probably the more understood term.

@doubleblank: "doubleblank" sounds an appropriate name. Hypocholesterolemia is a mofo!

 @Gonzo103: so you're saying that we should revoke our allegiance to nations that are mere constructs designed to shift the source of our self-esteem from personal achievement and well-founded pride, to subserviency to an organized regime with, at best, questionable motivations?

 @ashlemon: last time I checked Canada was part of North America

 @Gonzo103: That's how patriotism works right? He's from America and some people are very proud of that. YT and the country they represent get credit also. You said it yourself. I myself am American but I'm not super proud at the moment to be so but I envy those who can be proud even when our government is utter shit. I don't pretend to know how Germans display patriotism but I bet your ton would be different had a German won.

 Tone

 We are all Bikers for sure. And not cause I wanna stir the pot, but I can't believe there is not a single comment about wheel size on here? I personally don't care for the argument as my current rig is still on 26. But it seems it was all you fellow riders could talk about at the start of the season... and yet here we are and not a single "And he did it on 650'S!!!" Good on you pink bikers, such maturity you've all shown lol

 @Gonzo103: Aaron wears the red white and blue, stars and stripes at every race. We should all be able to take pride in where we're from.

I will say that though our media does not convey it at all, the average citizen here doesn't want us stomping around the world in other's people's business.

It's difficult too because any kind of pride implies a certain superiority.

As well, as an average citizen we do sense the hostility globally. It does feel like there's a double standard where say a British person, or French person, or ...can take pride in their nation and we're stuck apologizing for things as citizens we don't agree with, that we don't control. Our democracy is not rule of the people, senator's can vote in contradiction of their constituent's views and desires and it happens all the time.

So yes, no double standards, we can all take pride in where we're from and without looking down on each other.

I will say that I have two close friends that expatriated to Germany and I could not be happier for them.

 @tracer2: Go ride your bike dude and stay off the internet for a bit.

 Top comment.

 @meesterover: bar none the best fecking post ever

 @tracer2: Read your reply out loud and tell that it isn't ironic lol

 @CaliCol: And all the butt-hurt Canadians down vote it. Sometimes the truth hurts.

 @Matt115lamb: thank you I was trying to find who would correct him on that. We have a failing educational system here in the states.

 @BDKR: I think it's because the term "Murcia" is representative of a certain type of mindset. The bigoted, misogynistic, homophobic, let's all walk around with an arsenal, build the damn wall, drill baby drill type of mentality. In short the type of Americanism that the rest of the world finds offensive. And honestly none of those above listed items are representative of our better angels.

 I think there's more humor behind "'murica" than you all seem to realize. So why don't you all go kick back and enjoy a beer/life and move on.

 @fattyheadshok: Ignoring the international stage for now, that list of adjectives is something that is consistently blown up in media. You'd almost think it was designed to pit Americans of one region against Americans of another.

So it's curious and good that you use the term "better angels" and all it suggests. But the first thing I'll say is that the insistence on pointing out the "above listed items" further promotes polarization.

 @fattyheadshok:

 @BenPea: dude, you have to be the best articulate english-speaking french person I've ever met - my compliments! Awesome comment btw hahaha!
@h-beck83 no, he would not react differently if a German had won the race. Take for example Michael Schumacher who won like hundreds of F1 races and dominated the sport. Germans always cheered for "Schumi" as an individual, never for Germany.
Stereotypical Americans on the other hand seem to use achievements of great American athletes (as in individuals) as a way of showing some kind of superiority of their "race" - so to speak. At least that's how it is perceived from an outside perspective. It definitely is kind of weird, lol. I guess that's what @Gonzo103 was ultimately referring to.
I'm a huge Gwin fan by the way... always have been, even when everyone was hating on him for his move to Specialized or his religious beliefs. GWIN (the individual) IS THE ABSOLUTE HYPERBEAST! GO GET THAT OVERALL 3

 @Gonzo103: how about every time an orange or an empire get posted. The Brits go insane over a single pivot !!!

 @mazze: makes up for a multitude of shortcomings. Great comment too. Agree allover. Most countries are guilty of this. Germans have been forced to take a good hard look at themselves for decades and have got the nationalism thing out of their system. On the surface.
Gwin's ancestors likely came from the viking nations, so he is technically immigrant stock.
Can't wait for our countries to merge by the way. Macron's got room for another milfstress, he's french for f*ck's sake.

 @SnowshoeRider4Life: Nothing wrong with that, why not show a little national pride, when did that become not cool? I realize our geopolitical strategy isn't popular (most of us would be more than happy if we would just let the rest of the world fend for themselves). I could personally give a rats ass about how everyone else does it, this is how we express it here, if you don't like it so be it.

 @SlodownU: nothing wrong with it if it contributes to educating people and doesn't fuel hate. How's it worked out for ya recently?

 @mazze: I am American and I do not think the way you say Americans think nor do I think we are superior. Without having been to many other countries I can't legitimately make that claim. However, I don't think there is anything wrong with feeling proud of one's country when someone from that country claims a victory. Guess I'm not stereotypical. Cheers to that. The superior race bit is just wrong.

 @mazze: Uhhh.... So if Eliot Jackson starts dominating in '18, would peeps saying 'Murica be celebrating the "American Race" or "A American"?

 @BDKR: well, I honestly don't know how I'm supposed to answer that question lol. Do you see an American flag in front of my name? Having expected provocative reactions like these, however, is exactly the reason I put the term "race" in quotation marks.
I guess it should be clear to any person only remotely knowledgable in history (which I presume as general education), that America does not have its own race per se.. that is considering that pretty much 90% of native American tribes (also wrongly titled as Indians by the Columbus guy, remember?) were eradicated. But it is rather a melting pot society featuring an excessive sense for patriotism and intra-community solidarity. Nice try though for subtly insinuating that I was racist.

@h-beck83 that's also why I put the word 'stereotypical' in there. It basically implies that I *don't* believe every American to be like this. Just.. you know... the guys in the background of gwins winning interview screaming a chorus towards the camera that went roughly like this: "USA USA USA USA!".
Like I said, from an *outside* perspective that is not just perceived as cheering for the athlete and his achievement. It speaks more a language of a "we as in we Americans are collectively untouchable, because f*ck yeah Muricah".

Jeez, you're being really picky here you know that...? I was trying to clear up a communication problem within the existing debate using pretty much unambiguous wording and writing style - yet I get the feeling my statement is deliberately pulled apart like a testimony.
Maybe you should try debating as impeccably in German.

 @BenPea: I could care less what a bunch of people on the internet think about me.

 @SlodownU: Could or couldn't? Sorry for the pedantry, but the distortion of this expression is starting to bug me.
When I said you, I meant America. The amount of patriotism being expressed there and in the UK seems to be proportional to the quantity of hate crime and unapologetic xenophobia that is occurring. The brand of national pride rekindled by Trump and Brexit have been a disaster for anyone foreign or brown in both countries. Tell me I'm wrong.

 Murica is a ****ing funny thing to say, that's all.

Don't like it? Eat a bowl of d***s

 @LoganKM1982: I don't disagree. Merica and USA USA!!! both have comedic value in this context as long as you don't take it seriously.

 @mazze: Come on mazze... I have no idea what you read in there to get the idea that I think your comment was racist. I said what I said the way I said just to get across that I think you overlooked something.

That said, you are actually wrong about the "excessive sense of patriotism" for two reasons. The first is that you are likely confusing it with Nationalism (That should ring a bell by the way).

Second. Patriotism itself is benign! It is solely an affection for those that are of the same country (which is something that should exist regardless of party BTW).

Nationalism is usually the uniting of people against other people, or conditions. National Socialism is probably the prime example.

Perhaps the reason so many of you (Europeans) have issue with American exuberance is because it's difficult to distinguish from the various nationalist movements the continent has suffered from, and is still suffering from today. Germany today is the perfect example today as can be seen in ongoing clashes between Antifa and ultra right groups like Widerstand West, Der III Weg, and Ring Nationaler Frauen.

And let's not forget that French Nationalism was the justification (part of it at least) used by Bonaparte for his Imperial ventures.

 @BenPea: You're wrong! I'm black here in the US and his presidency hasn't harmed me one bit.

And as I mentioned before, Europe isn't without it's issues right now with mass immigration and the resulting nationalist responses.

 @BDKR: dude, being black in the US has never been a walk in the park has it? If I were a muslim in the states though, I'd be watching my back a little bit more right now... And in the uk for that matter. Europe is not without it's problems obviously...

 @BenPea: I can't speak for the UK, but your wrong about the US. All of my "brown" friends, and I have quite a few (black, Indian, Latino), are more prosperous now than they were under the benevolent ruler Obama, and the evil Bush before him. Actually, the economy is doing quite well. If you are smart, conscientious, and have any kind of positive work ethic, you will do just fine here not matter your color. Don't believe everything the media spews, come see for yourself. We are actually a pretty hospitable people. Those same people chanting "Murika" would probably be more than happy to buy you a pint in the bar and have these types civil of discussion in person.

 @BenPea: Not being argumentative here, but are you getting your ideas about how hard it is for me "today", as opposed to 70 years ago as an example, from experience, or from some form of media?

There are issues here too! No doubt! But exactly what causes one person to fall a foul of these issues is complex. It's not as simple as black, white, asian, mexican, or even who is in office.

Today, it's very possible to have a comfortable existence here as a black male. It's also still possible to have problems but those possibilities existed before Trump.

 @SlodownU: Well said!

 @SlodownU: i can see that 99% of the Murika stuff here is tongue in cheek, and I would love to have several drinks with any of you. I also love all the beautiful things Americans have brought to the world. There is good and bad everywhere, but the US happens to have a big spotlight on it right now. Always has done in fact. You're the champions of Earth so you're judged a little harsher than the rest, especially with 50 million in poverty.
And as for six months of Agent Orange doing more for the quality of life of white and non-white Americans alike than 8 years of Obama, I remain to be convinced, and that's an understatement. I like your optimism though!

 @BenPea: Try to remember that things normally don't change drastically as one president goes from office and another comes in. So six months is not long enough a time to tell.

There is also Legislative and Federal Reserve policy to consider.

But enough of that! Come to the states! DH Rider Exchange Program! If you come, I'll knock back some with you!

 @BDKR: All my knowledge is based on the Fresh Prince of Bel Air, the Cosby Show and the film Friday with Ice Cube. And stats.

 @BenPea: ROFL!!!!!

 @BDKR: I love that movie.
I've been up and down California and to Utah and I absorb a lot of decent US hip hop and political satire, but still probably know very little about the reality on the ground.
Same point I was making about the 6 months. Big Don will be out of office before any meaningful change occurs in US legislature.
If I manage to make the c-change I'm aiming for in my life, I'll be over there within the next year. Got a friend in LA I need to see and a trip to Whistler I need to go on. I'm sure I can drop by your place in Compton at some point ( ;-) )

 @BenPea: Not without getting shot! LOL!

Seriously, I wouldn't want to live there anyway. Too far from Snowshoe, which if any, is my home park.

And we'll listen to Strapping Young Lad while you're here!!!!!

 @BenPea: Did you see the decals being sold at the Aspen Enduro?

Trump with laser beam eyes says it all, hahaha. Also, I was actually a little embarrassed by that USA chant after Gwin won

 @LoganKM1982: nope, laser beam eyes = baked?

 @BDKR: this is long, but was coincidentally posted today. Thought I'd share - www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/aug/08/unlearning-the-myth-of-american-innocence
Sorry, back to bikes asap!

 @BenPea: I was being literal. Trump with laser beam eyes decals made for the Aspen Enduro race recently. It was a kit including a merica for the chainstay, and an uncle Sam and eagle top tube decal. It was hideous.and wonderful at the same time

 @BenPea: Funny, that article.

1) I lived in Izmir, Turkey for a year. Gazeimir to pinpoint it. It was an absolutely stunning and beautiful place. Even more so the people. The friendliest anywhere!

2) I also lived in Venezuela. San Juan Bautista, Nueva Esparta on Isla de Margarita. Absolutely gorgeous and the people were cool as hell.

3) In addition to living those places, I've traveled a good deal, including withing the borders of the U.S..

None of that means I'm better or smarter than anyone, but I'm qualified to call that article bullshit. I'm eager to say that it's dangerous how you and it are keen to enforce American stereotypes. Are we seriously going to say "White Americans" are phucked up and leave it at that, all based on the experience of one girl?

And I said "you" up there because knowing I was black you made a point to mention hip-hop and drop "Compton" in that diatribe. I grew up listening Punk and Metal starting back in the mid '70's. I first knew Santa Cruz when they were just a Skateboard company and use to ride a Santa Cruz Stinger in the early '80's. I rode rice rockets in the '80's and '90's, was a LEO for six years in the '90s', was a music major in school, started writing code (computer programming) when I was 16, been building Turbo Volvo's for better than a decade now, and have studied history and geopolitics now for better than a decade.

How's that for phucking up your view? A view that was clearly based on a stereotype!

And all that article ultimately does is promote further polarization in a world that has far too much of it now. Being told you suck just because you are a White American is just as bad as being told you should pick cotton just because you're black. Those that continue to promote difference and enforce stereotype are worse! They've no clue of the logical conclusion. I've lived through a coup (Venezuela '01) and saw exactly how polarized the people were. History shows up the same thing over and over again. 1936 Spanish Civil War anyone? Valladolid? Who knows how many of the hundreds of thousands killed in that conflict are buried there? But whatever the case, it was an internal conflict where compatriots became polarized. Sure, Franco was an a$$hat, but a large degree of polarization then dehumanization must occur before a countryman can kill another.

So yeah, let's get back to bikes because it's clear nobody has the slightest idea of what pot they're churning.

 @BDKR: mate, the hiphop reference was nothing to do with your race. It's the only social critique of the states i consume, that and john oliver and a couple of others. I've been listening to a lot of Kendrick recently, so that's my window on America right now. What other genre of music is that political nowadays? All the other references to cosby, compton, etc. were just ironic, as you know. Dude, i bore the brunt of a lot of "acceptable" racism in England, because I was half French and the pakistanis and indians had become off limits, and yet I can pass for a native of either country, so I essentially have no nation and no trust in stereotypes as a result. I hung around a hip hop milieu in my young days too, but also indie rock, techno, jungle... f*ck partition walls. I've been around the planet a fair bit too. We're all the f*cking same. I'm not dumb. I know enough non white people who don't fit stereotypes to be disappointed when I'm accused of pigeonholing someone. This only comes from you getting the wrong end of the stick, not from me thinking black dudes are all about shiny rims and hos. I grew up with hindus, sihks and muslims who insulted each other and parodied themselves in equal measure. If one can't laugh about oneself then what topics are left? Man, i feel a little insulted if truth be known. Only joking.

My linking to the article was in no way meant to imply support for its ideas, merely to test its content by putting it to someone with a better insight into the topic than me. And cos I found it relevant and prescient, but obviously subjective. Thanks for your feedback.

I see that you have pierced through a whole lot of received wisdom and aren't ready to waver from your trajectory. You need to have a finely tuned bullshit detector to follow such a path, but you don't need it for me, rest assured.

However, I find your love of metal a little distasteful. I'm listening to strapping young lad right now and am suffering immensely in repentance for whatever sins I may have committed today. If my mind hasn't melted by the end of this track I shall vape this hash in my pocket, stick on some beats, walk into the night that has wafted over this field in Eure et Loir, and exorcise myself of the evil that was Tuesday.

 @tracer2:

Stomping us in the MTB game?
What did you just put your Xbox down?

 @BenPea: OK then. How about DJ Cheb I Sabbah? Shri Durga is Das Scheise!!!

On the other stuff, it's hard to tell intent on line. My bad and I apologize.

That said, my tracjectory is constantly changing as more is learned and experienced. It takes time to understand the difference between being in the stream and watching it go by. Even still, there is a point where you might want to apply what you've learned and do so with vim.

Schism (or division) is the absolute foundation of conflict! There must first be two sides to fight before a fight can occur! Enforcing stereotypes is the tool that promotes division leading further to conflict while passing through dehumanization. Simple fact that!

There is only a small amount of that that I'm going to put up with. Worse yet, a line is crossed when it's suggested too me (however subtle) that I should look down on my own countrymen based simply or solely on race.

 @BDKR: I'll check it out.

I've ordered some vim off the web, I'll see how it works out.

On the rest, I'm with you.

 @h-beck83: Perhaps travel to other countries, gain some perspective, then decide if you are proud of your own. This lack of perspective, in a nutshell, is what most people find so frustrating about this american pride...its largely blind.

 @DGWW: Having travelled extensively I have learned to not judge the citizens of a Nation by their government.

 I think the real GOAT is going to be determined by how many wins Greg can rack up before he retires. While at the same time, if Gwin can keep winning while remaining injury free. I know Greg is about 6 or 7 years older than Aaron, so that's a big a advantage for Gwin. Greg looks to be quite fit lately, but I'm sure it's a little rougher on him now that it used to be. In the long run, I think that Aaron will take the GOAT title.

 @Slowjams: But how about this: what if someone went through the times of every Minnaar win and every Gwin win and added up the winning margins? I suspect Gwin might come out on top.

 Let's not forget Greg also has 3 world championships Aaron has 0 so far. Obviously that can change but until he closer in that count that's always going to favor Greg a little.

 Maybe a single GOAT is a flawed concept, one that limits. GWIN, GREG,...GOATS

 @noahcharles:

All time Minnaar is ahead, but that was Gwins first year racing:
www.rootsandrain.com/compare2949,926

Last 5 years Gwin is:
www.rootsandrain.com/compare2949,926/filters/years2013,2014,2015,2016,2017

 Agree. Gwin is on another level. When Gwin is at his best he is truly unbeatable.

 @Slowjams: It's not just the wins it's the context.

 I shagged a goat once...

 @WAKIdesigns: Moms are just the greatest!

 Don't under estimate how difficult it is to stay at top level as long as Minaar did. I think Gwin has the potential to beat Minaars' numbers someday, but it ain't done yet. If I had to bet I think he will though.

 Consistency. Minnar is Stacy Peralta, and Gwin is definitely Jay Adams. Minus the drug problem.

 Neither of them would be as great as they are with out the other!

 I think Gwin is only a few wins behind in the overall.@bighitfsr:

 True, but still one of the dumbest ideas ever to have one race be the "championship"@mfoga:

 @mfoga: I've always had a hard time with the weight placed on the world championship race. It just one race, just like every other race. But you get this crazy title for a year if you win it.

I think it's a great honor, and that's all well and good. But I don't think the championship should matter that much. Winning a WC is equally impressive, and winning the overall is honestly much more impressive.

 How many wins does Minaar have, and how many does Gwin have? I can't seem to find an accurate number...

 Roskopp used to beef about this: that the wc overall title should matter the most and I agree. Worlds to me, is just another race. Otherwise I have to listen to stupidities like "Vouilloz is the best ever" and crap like that.

 @WAKIdesigns: lol..out of the blue..

 WC overall > World Championship > Single WC win & there is no GOAT in mtb.

 @westeast: no GOAT? Did you grow up being given participation awards for coming in last at everything? f*ck outta here with that nonsense.

 @bighitfsr: I was just looking at your data. Very interesting! thanks for posting. So I guess Minnaar is still ahead slightly even with margins. I still think there is something special about how emphatic some of Gwin's wins have been though

 @therealtylerdurden: The GOAT title is pure opinion and your logic sucks. Unless you know the future, how can you say who is the greatest of "all time" and how do you equate my opinion of there being no GOAT with we shouldn't have winners at races?

 @westeast: I never said there shouldn't be winners. I'm saying you probably grew up with participation awards being thrown at you. #readingcomprehension

 @WAKIdesigns: bet you shagged a GREG as well

 @therealtylerdurden: You said "no GOAT? Did you grow up being given participation awards for coming in last at everything? f*ck outta here with that nonsense."

You're equating my opinion of there being no GOAT with me being against having winners and instead getting participation awards.

I said "The GOAT title is pure opinion and your logic sucks. Unless you know the future, how can you say who is the greatest of "all time" and how do you equate my opinion of there being no GOAT with we shouldn't have winners at races?"

Notice how I didn't say that you said "there shouldn't be winners"? You accused me of this. It's your reading comprehension that sucks which means you probably still won't understand any of this and I'm just waisting my time.

 @westeast: I get the feeling you're just a f*ckin contrarian who needs something to hate. Go away.

 I think what sets Minnaar apart is his ability to adapt over the years... Let's be honest, as much as we love them, guys with long careers like Sam Hill, Gee and Sik Mick have not been consistent every year like Minnaar has. How does one person stay in the game for nearly two decades and always be in the running for the title every single year... That takes something special. Consistency over a long period, despite how many wins he may or may not have, that's what makes GM the GOAT... No doubt Gwin is the best racer right now, another 5 years at the top and the name GOAT will surely belong to him should he keep up his current consistency

 Gwin's been another another level for a number of years now. You can see it in the other top riders faces. It must have been so disheartening yesterday for Hart, or Brosnan after the chainless run. Gwin really shook this sport up.

 Not taking away from Greg or Rachel - Aaron Gwin isn't just winning, he is spectacular. Greg is cold and calculated, Rachel used to be absolutely dominant. There's a value to it, but they are rarely kicking the blood pressure like Danny or Sam Hill or Ratboy. Back in 2011 - 2012 he was "just" riding fastest to the finnish, railing sht, but these days, Aaron is focking spectacular. He is often nailing lines, but when he is going sideways but still stays on it, it means he is faster than anyone else. Kind of kicks in flashbacks from movie "Senna"

 @Spark24: Nicely said I think you're right on point.

And about world championships.. This ain't stupid at all and one world cup win isn't equal as a world title. A world cup race is part of a world cup season.. Some racers may be conservative to secure points, avoid risks to stay healthy for further races, etc. You have to be good on the long run and that implies strategy.

At the world championships, everybody is going full on for the win because it's the only race that counts. That puts a lot of pressure as you have only one chance to be the best. Which makes it much more difficult (and rewarding) to win. The level of performance is higher in those conditions and it takes a complete and great athlete to win.

That is true in almost any sport. It's similar to the olympics in a way. It's MUCH tougher to win an olympic gold medal than any world cup title in skating, running, skiing or whatever even if all the competitors are the same.

 @t1000: World champs compared to World Cup overall have a lot to do with luck. Ask Jared Graves, ask Peaty, ask Gwin. They are greater and "completier" athletes than a few dudes who got the title as half rookies. Bruni for instance. Sam Hill won gold in MSA and said he didn't feel on form.

"What's better" are generally quite flawed discussions...

 @WAKIdesigns:

I compared world cup win to world championships win.

Not world cup overall vs world championships.

Of course the overall is the most difficult. But world championships is much more difficult than a single world cup, no doubt about it like in most sports.

 @t1000: my bad

 @powderturns: world champs is everyone on their A game, end of the season so no race next week to worry about being injured for, no playing it safe and totting up the numbers, fastest on the day from A to B, a true test of the fastest racers, the fact you can win a world cup series without winning a single race makes the champs the premier event. Rob's a top guy but ask the racers who've won both which means more...

 I root for the GOAT because we are the same age. And I root for Gwin for his awesome runs and such cool and chill attitude. Both are awesome ambassadors for the sport.

 @WAKIdesigns: build a bridge, no one calls you bridge builder afterwards, **** one goat and you're a goat ****er for life.

I feel your pain. I've had to move twice because of.... nevermind.

 @LoganKM1982: Polish highlanders told me that the key is to put goats back legs into your wellies so that she can't run away, and put her facing down the edge of a cliff - she pushes back better. They are prime sheep shaggers but have also mastered love making to other beasts

 @LoganKM1982:

 @sevensixtwo:
Believing in god might as well be a drug problem. It's killed way more people.

 @jflb: so did sheer stupidity, no one is talking about that

 @jflb: wow bro, you're so edgy that you wouldn't even need a knife if you wanted to cut yourself!

 @WAKIdesigns: which is easiest to address?

 @BenPea: probably the goat f*cking thing.

 @therealtylerdurden: man you can't make goats illegal can you? As long as these animals exist, someone will try to shag them. And sheep, and donkeys, and chickens, i could go on. It's human nature. Putting one's dick in a car exhaust pipe is a thing. There are no limits anymore. I reckon we tackle sheer stupidity. We'll hit some of the religious deviants with the same stone.

 @BenPea: lol. The problem is that it has become societies mission to outsmart survival of the smartest, of the fittest. We need to let people die off. f*ck it.

 @therealtylerdurden: I don't know man, i would favour a commandeering of all the cash and infrastructure in the world by some sort of higher power, to be redirected towards rectifying our past indiscretions dating back to a couple of millennia BC. In the absence of the necessary skills, the planet may have to outsource this project.

 @WAKIdesigns:
Pretty sure you spend a lot of your time on the subject.

 @BenPea: yeah, no. Lol idk wtf you're talking about, but I don't like it. I just don't like there being so many idiots about. "Our" past indiscretions? Litterally an oxymoron. "We" didn't do shit. Slavery, the slaughter of natives, all that ish, "we" had nothing to do with, and there are no reparations owed.

 @sevensixtwo: Oh 5h1t! Names I've not heard in some time!

If Powell and Peralta knew what MTB'ing would become they would've followed Santa Cruz into the industry!

 @Slowjams: Which is why I don't think it really matters that much too Gwin.

 @BenPea: going back and reprogramming human brain to not fall into spiritual beliefs and synthesize them into religions, is the exact reason for creating mess. Subjecting possibly largest populace to your ideological doctrine to save people from themselves, for the greater good. Acting in your own self interest, changing yourself to improve the world, always provides the best outcomes. That's why if I had access to time machine I would go to 1998 and pick up those few girls that I now realize were into me and shag the hell out of them. Especially one that later became a model.

 @WAKIdesigns: girls as in people or sheep?

 @therealtylerdurden: that's why i want to go back, it would be human girls, not cattle. But instead of realizing there were many girls around, I was into Martha... all 5 years of my high school... intoxicated from the first day I saw her. She was into music and horses, so I thought I will be a bit of a cowboy, get a guitar, learn to play and sing. One night I was playin for everyone by the fire, as it got really late I noticed people were going away, it was only Martha and Rob left, so I kept playing in hope he would go away too and we would be there alone. I started playing "the sound of silence", closed my eyes, imagined both of us under the moonlight, by the lake in the warmth of fire, holding each others hands. I didn't intend to kiss her, I thought it would be too soon. She was so delicate, so shy, I knew she was the one. I opened my eyes and they were gone. I went looking for her and heard some rumble in one of the tents. I heard Marthas voice screaming: fk me Rob, fk me! So good! Sooo Goood! This is the best stallion I rode in weeks! Ooooh...

Few years later I met Rob. He was kissing a dude. It broke me again...took my love only to realize he is into guys. Later he would explain, that Martha made him scared of girls and he met this sweet dude playing guitar. He said my song that night would always stay in his memory. But he said: when you love someone, don't hesitate again. Never. You have nothing to lose. Hesitate masturbate!

It demolished me... after 3 suicide attempts incluging closing myself in a box with a sleeping bull and kicking his balls, I realized that I am a coward. Hesitate masturbate was ringing in m ears. So after realizing that batman suit, tie and door handle don't get me high anymore I decided to shag farm animals... but no more mr nice guy. I spoke sooo dirty to them! Oh I fk you Martha, I fk you! Soo goood! Sooo goooood! You are the best sheep I had in weeks! I am your daddy! Yes! I am your shepherd! I am the love! I am the light!

 @WAKIdesigns: huh.

 @WAKIdesigns: hmmm...

Earlier, I wasn't talking about a time machine. I was talking about the brains and will to use what we have on this planet to eradicate poverty, suffering, overpopulation, political corruption, religious corruption, industrial terrorism and all the other poisons that are taking humanity down. A little green man with the power to disarm every country in the world, re-educate the fevered egos that run them, spend their defense budgets for the greater good, teach people how to not be dicks to others (and make sure they've understood)... That kind of thing. There's probably enough profit made in California alone to feed the planet. Imagine what we could do with the rest if we (everyone, that is, Usa, Uk, EU, Saudi, China, Africa) were forced to think about how to be good to our fellow homo sapiens (we're all homos in the womb).

 @BenPea: Force people to be good to each other, I like this. That would take some serious violence. Use violence to be non-violent. It's called prison. Unfortunately it requires separating the "wrong" types from "good" types. If you lived under British Empire then it was quite fine, since you could end up in New Zealand, but with Stalin, you only had a gulag in Syberia and that's attractive only to people who exercise cold exposure, crossfit with pickaxes and interminnent fasting.

The most recent utopians believe that Artificial General Intelligence could become just that, savior of humanity. Access to all information, unmatched ability to compute. In other words: The Good father, or Good Mother, omnipotent, knowing everything, just and merciful. You see we went the full circle... let's create someone to wipe our arse and call him God. Oh, you don't want to pick up garbage? I will tell god on you, in fact he already knows. I know cuz I know God.

Oh wait some leftist vegan told god to save planet. It is currently developing a huge set of thrusters that will move the Earth out of suns orbit. - why the fk is it doing that?! Sun will become a red giant no earlier than 1 billion years! - tell god we meant polar bears, save polar bears. God knows that, for now it will move the planet just a bit so that planet freezes a little. - ah ok... what a wonderful death , freeze to death to save those wonderful majestic creatures. - what's that?! Oh a polar bear! God threw you a polar bear, it's a blood thirsty beast, but for some reason you thought it is vegan. God also thought that it will make you not worry about your grandchildren anymore Wrrrr! Roar! No nooo noooo wrrrr bhre aaaaaa asaaaaaa Roar! Roar! aaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

 @WAKIdesigns: prisons are underfunded, badly thought out and do not contain nearly enough politicians and dictators.
You have to deal with kids right? There are good and bad ways to handle misbehaviour and foster goodness. Violence breeds violence. The species needs sectioning and prolonged therapy.

 Oh yes and who will section that and sorry but what made you assess that. I am a man who can say: it's good enough. What a wonderful time to be alive. Kill me now if you must. I'm sorry, you won't find a revolutionist in me, he died about 5 years ago after 2 years of reading greenie-leftist bollocks, where lots of people shout: "this is wrong, this must stop" and nobody provides any solutions. So peace out for me. I hate utopians and idealists because they are dangerous, they scare the crap out of me.

 @WAKIdesigns: Lucky you, lucky me. Ever heard of empathy? And yes, there are no solutions as long as people are running the show, which is why I'm placing my hopes in ET. I hope he turns up soon with some serious peace-and- love-oriented mind control methods.

 @BenPea: empathy is just a feeling, reacting on it can lead to various outcomes. Like expecting a medal for being empathic and becoming aggressive for not getting credit for it. A terrible disease among social justice warriors, moralists, animal lovers and what not.

 I think we all were. I cannot lie the brilliance of this run made me tear up a bit.

 Danny had a smoking fast run too, very fun to watch him ride. Gwin just would not be denied, amazing rider.

 Normally you post some pretty decent comments but I'm gonna have to call bullshit on this one @makripper:

 You know, or maybe not, the whole "luck" and "deserve" topics that come up on pink bike just make me want to puke. To say a particular run was "luck" just discredits the rider. Even worse, when a rider loses (or wins) and someone said he/she deserved to win is just upsetting to me. Just desserts only play into the factors of a situation when kindergarteners are involved. Pardon my digression, but was it "luck" that Danny Hart only placed second? Maybe you get my point, maybe not. @makripper:

 Calculated risk? Isn't that what they are all doing?

 @makripper: true luck is preparation plus opportunity.

 @makripper: So you're saying if you had the same luck as AG then you would have won the race? Or should we replace luck with skill? Skill is what won the race. Luck wins lotteries. Get it straight.

 @makripper: The harder you work, the luckier you get

There's no such thing as luck, merely action and consequence. The best combination of those results in a victory.

 Actually if you remember the Champery run was actually around 1 sec behind Hart before he had a crash. Actually Gwin is good at all terrains but he has good and bad days . With the bad luck he has he should have around 22-23 wins by now but never mind.

 @fla3h: actually he was almost 3 seconds back
www.pinkbike.com/photo/7650341

 @hillman-hunter: yeah you are right ... he was 1 second back on the previous section I think , or smth like that. But you get the point that he has no serious problem with any terrain.

 I agree with you 100%. That was truly a superhuman feat of bike handling. Gives me chills just thinking about it.

 It must be cool to be an actual goat. Because no matter how much better any of the other goats are, you're still the goat.

 @kubaner: can't argue with that ha ha.

 I agree on every point, except that it was one of the best race runs. I mean it was epic and nothing short of what I expected of the incredible Gwin-machine... it brought me on the edge of my seat like most of his runs do.
But his last race was even better until his flat happened... and then there was his chainless win... and the win (or nearly win?) on the naked rim!!! Also there was Val Di Sole where everybody was fighting over 0.0001 seconds and Gwin f*cking demolished the race with a whopping 8-10 seconds LOL!
He is without a doubt the best downhill prodigy ever and it won't be much longer until he is going to take the GOAT title from Minnaar. Just that he won the same amount of races in pretty much half the time compared to Minnaar, then.

 @kubaner: only if you're the goat who's "the man", I believe.

 The Aussies also did really good

 The situation is more complicated than that, and they both wanted something else.
At the end of the day, specialized will sell bikes with and without Gwin.
Gwin will win races with and without Specialized.
Also do you feel the same way with Gwin and Yeti, Gwin and Trek, and soon when Gwin leaves YT?
Specialized picked up Loic who is an awesome rider also.

 Hahaha, you got to love Gwin's name and the internet bike community.... the Gwinner, Gwizard, those are just awesome creations!
Fun fact: winner translates to "Gewinner" in German... speaking fast more like Gwinner... Makes it even better.

 Hahaha, that's awesome.

 People could barely make it down the mountain at Champery 2011. And that whip... Danny's run for me.