Torquato Testa's Run That Didn't Win White Style 2018 - Video [Updated With New Information From FMBA]
With a double flip linked straight into a cork 7, Torquato Testa's qualifier run had him in 1st place. Unfortunately fog rolled in and forced the cancellation of the event.
The official press release is here, but we've seen some conflicting reports about the top 4 riders choosing not to drop in, and potentially not being awarded prizes.
Update 1: Sunday, January 28
Keeping in mind that this is just one side of the story, Torquato got back to us with his description of how things unfolded.
"The contest was a battle and the last 4 riders that got to the semi finals (me, Simon Pages, Antonin Honore, and Frank Paulin) weren’t paid, while from 5 to 8 place got their money.
When the semifinals where starting a really thick fog just came down. We couldn’t see the first jump, so we said that we couldn’t ride with those bad conditions! After 15-20 min waiting they just said to us that the contest was off and we thought that the kept the results of quarterfinals. But, when we were walking down the course the organizer of the event (a guy from Leogang) just came to us screaming “if you don’t ride I will cancel the event and no one will get his prize money and FMB points.”
So we start arguing with this guy for 30 minutes while the fog was getting a bit better, but we where still waiting 40 minutes in the cold. So we just decided to go up and just finish the contest for this guy that was forcing us to ride. We did 4 identical run, without big tricks, just because we weren’t feeling it anymore. The judges gave us different points for the runs, but when we came down the organizer just said to us the the contest was cancelled." – Torquato Testa
Torquato also posted a video of the confrontation on his Facebook page.
We're waiting to hear back from the organizers and the FMBA, and will update this story once we have more information. In the meantime we're not jumping to conclusions, but it's a bummer to see the year start off on this note.
Keeping in mind that this is just one side of the story, Torquato got back to us with his description of how things unfolded.
"The contest was a battle and the last 4 riders that got to the semi finals (me, Simon Pages, Antonin Honore, and Frank Paulin) weren’t paid, while from 5 to 8 place got their money.
When the semifinals where starting a really thick fog just came down. We couldn’t see the first jump, so we said that we couldn’t ride with those bad conditions! After 15-20 min waiting they just said to us that the contest was off and we thought that the kept the results of quarterfinals. But, when we were walking down the course the organizer of the event (a guy from Leogang) just came to us screaming “if you don’t ride I will cancel the event and no one will get his prize money and FMB points.”
So we start arguing with this guy for 30 minutes while the fog was getting a bit better, but we where still waiting 40 minutes in the cold. So we just decided to go up and just finish the contest for this guy that was forcing us to ride. We did 4 identical run, without big tricks, just because we weren’t feeling it anymore. The judges gave us different points for the runs, but when we came down the organizer just said to us the the contest was cancelled." – Torquato Testa
Torquato also posted a video of the confrontation on his Facebook page.
We're waiting to hear back from the organizers and the FMBA, and will update this story once we have more information. In the meantime we're not jumping to conclusions, but it's a bummer to see the year start off on this note.
Update 2: Monday, January 29
We've just had the official word from the FMBA.
"We are aware of the events that transpired during the FMB Silver Event last weekend. We have started an investigation to assess exactly what happened during and at the end of the contest and will keep you updated." – Oliver Junggeburth, FMBA Press Officer
We've just had the official word from the FMBA.
"We are aware of the events that transpired during the FMB Silver Event last weekend. We have started an investigation to assess exactly what happened during and at the end of the contest and will keep you updated." – Oliver Junggeburth, FMBA Press Officer
Update 3: Wednesday, January 7
We've just had a further update from the FMBA.
"After reviewing all information provided by the riders, the event officials and the event host, the FMBA Disciplinary Committee has come to the following decision regarding White Style 2018:
The Top 8 athletes will be awarded prize money and FMBA points based on the scores from the quarterfinal round. Due to the behaviour expressed by both an athlete and a representative of the event host on the day of the event, the FMBA decided on further disciplinary consequences, which will not be disclosed out of respect toward each party. Such behaviour is not acceptable and reflects badly on the sport, the riders, the event host and the FMBA. We expect both event hosts and athletes to treat each other respectfully at FMBA sanctioned events and will not tolerate unsportsmanlike conduct.” – Simon Bischof, FMBA General Secretary
We've just had a further update from the FMBA.
"After reviewing all information provided by the riders, the event officials and the event host, the FMBA Disciplinary Committee has come to the following decision regarding White Style 2018:
The Top 8 athletes will be awarded prize money and FMBA points based on the scores from the quarterfinal round. Due to the behaviour expressed by both an athlete and a representative of the event host on the day of the event, the FMBA decided on further disciplinary consequences, which will not be disclosed out of respect toward each party. Such behaviour is not acceptable and reflects badly on the sport, the riders, the event host and the FMBA. We expect both event hosts and athletes to treat each other respectfully at FMBA sanctioned events and will not tolerate unsportsmanlike conduct.” – Simon Bischof, FMBA General Secretary
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We are aware of the events that transpired during the FMB Silver Event last weekend. We have started an investigation to assess exactly what happened during and at the end of the contest and will keep you updated."
Wtf !! that's like Saudi police "due to the behaviour of the victim and the rapist, we will send both of them in jail"
Thats not the point in my opinion.
To put it in the official statement like that shows that the fmbs doesnt want to admit their fault, but wants to find it somewhere else. It may also hurt the reputation of the riders especially the one that stood up an didnt want to take it like that.
By also calling the athletes unsportsmanlike in the last sentence this statement shows that the fmba has the same spirit about riders having to risk their lives even in bad conditions as the organizer.
Giving the points and prize money to the best 8 riders is only due to the public presure.
Thats too bad in my opinion
This kind of crap has happened in skiing on multiple occasions and its only when the people running the show are publicly called out for it are any changes even considered.
Yah, I thought not
So it's ok to keep the takings from the gate, but not give the guys who everyone came to see their cut??
#organizerMcDouchebag
In the fifth grade a classmate stole my money and I yelled at him for it.
We both got in trouble and my mom had to come to the school.
F you elementary school principal Ms. Steely.
F you.
Edit: I’m just gonna leave it.
Steve Crandalls response "wait, this contest didn't involve pallets, a dead turtle, beer, and 20" wheels? I think you are looking for the FMB, not FBM"
did the FMB and the organizer state their point of view?
What is quite funny is that Tarek Rasouli FMBA's Vice President (or just one of the three FMBA board of directors) is the organiser of White Style through being managing director of Rasoulution and was present in the video Torquato posted, being less then ten feet from Torquato and appearing to instruct the aggressive event staff member what to say.
There are another two interesting potential things that Tarek Rasouli can do to boost his personal and company finances through using his position of influence within the FMBA.
First is the fact that his company Rasoulution run two more FMBA gold events in Europe, 26Trix and GlemmRide. Tarek Rasouli is on the board of directors who decide whether events have FMB wildcard status, this allows the top two riders not on the FMB Diamond Tour to attend most often the next pro-level Diamond Tour event. This chance to attend a diamond level pro-tour event obviously is a big draw for up and coming riders or experienced professionals trying to get back on the tour. Therefore being able to grant FMB wildcard status to your event will increase the amount of sponsorship revenue and the overall kudos of the event through a higher quality of riders attending and also greater coverage.
Second is that Tarek Rasouli through Rasoulution is agent for a number of riders on the tour. This is a strange relationship as it is akin to Sepp Blatter being the agent for Messi and being put in a situation where he would benefit personally from the enhanced success of his player - through say winning the Ballon d'Or. Now for a board member of the FMBA to be in a situation where they would benefit financially by influencing judges to judge one of his riders more favourably is an odd one - and one in which a reputable professional organisation would not allow to be a possibility for a member of their board.
And if he's one of three on the board, then surely there's a voting system in place, rather than a dictatorship?
here’s the facebook post on it
78.media.tumblr.com/2296b34dae0a95bd263e0970974427aa/tumblr_o7ttb6Tn0R1s9njzmo1_500.gif
If a contest is stopped (riders decision or not) for weather /safety reasons. Then the results should be decided on the placings at that time.....?