Video: 16 Great Years of Greg Minnaar & The Santa Cruz Syndicate

Dec 5, 2023 at 9:28
by Sarah Moore  


bigquotesAfter 16 epic years of racing, puzzling, and making memories together, Greg Minnaar is hanging up his Syndicate jersey.

We wish Greg nothing but the best, and want to extend a huge thanks for everything he and the Santa Cruz Syndicate have accomplished together. From the dominant 00’s to his current status as the Greatest Of All Time. It’s been one hell of a ride.—Santa Cruz Bicycles


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124 Comments
  • 181 1
 This does not feel right
  • 21 1
 Right? Been following this sport for 10 years and Greg has been sooo humble in every single interview. This video just doesnt reflect the image i have of this athlete. Hmmm.
  • 69 15
 Lets be real for a minute. Any professional athlete is EMPLOYED. Talk of 'family', history, heritage is wildly overused, it's just marketing departments drumming up brand loyalty... it's not real. Full respect to what Greg and SC have achieved together over the years, they've done it with hard work, great bikes, incredible riding skill, and a BIG FAT PAYCHECK: just the way it should be. Nothing feels wrong or right about this, it's just business doing what business does.
  • 5 0
 No, not at all. Who knows what happens behind the courtains.
  • 17 1
 Right…16 years into a 2 minute clip…
  • 18 2
 Yeah especially the very last of the vid with Greg riding in slow motion, with Rob's voiceover. That is a complete gutpunch for older fans of the sport like myself. DH still needs them both.
  • 2 2
 @nzandyb: pretty much. It’s just business. I get we get tied and feel emotional but at the end of the day investing in the future is the obvious and easy decision for SC
  • 14 0
 Feels like the day the oilers traded Gretzky
  • 2 0
 @notsoogood: *sold
  • 5 0
 Yeah Robs Instagram post hit hard!
  • 3 0
 At least he didn't go to Tampa Bay.
  • 1 0
 @alwayslivingthedream: lol
  • 2 0
 @nzandyb:



"rob_roskopp
What a ride, Greg! I have so many fond memories over the years, on and off the bike. The Syndicate was so much more, it was our extended family. It's hard to watch what has happened to SCB. It all comes down to leadership. My biggest regret is putting people that lacked vision in place. We all make mistakes, but getting rid of key people that made the brand what it was, is just plain stupid! I understand why you wanted to leave. All the best going forward with your new ride. I'm excited to spend time with the family over Christmas and New Year's in SA."
  • 120 1
 stealth return of @sarahmoore, hope you had a good mat leave and that your little one is doing well.
  • 208 2
 I'm back! Thank you!! Mat leave was incredible and the little one is simply the best!
  • 10 0
 @sarahmoore: welcome back and congrats!
  • 63 1
 Love how the crash clip was cut just before his V10 snapped clear in two
  • 6 8
 what do you expect lmao if you were working marketing for a bicycle manufacturer would you ever use a photo or video of your product catastrophically failing.
  • 13 0
 @spinkleswexler: I’m not saying leave the footage in it was just an observation
  • 1 0
 When this happened, I don't recall anyone complained about the quality of the bike. Instead it was praised how Greg managed to walk away from such a crash, how he remained professional and relaxed with fans around and how the team mechanic managed to assemble another bike for him this quickly. But this video is about Greg, what we got to see is him taking a tumble which most of us probably would take as a good while to recover from (if ever).
  • 1 0
 Every single bike, carbon, steel, alloy, etc would have been rendered unridable after that violent of an impact against a steel post (which is what it hit) with high velocity at the exact same angle and impact area as that crash.
  • 2 1
 @bman33: Wooden post, but still pretty gnarly. Go watch the old Syndicate vids, Peaty dug it out of the ground and brought it back to the pit.

Alloy bike wouldn't have shattered like the plastic bike did, but would have been dented/bent for sure.
  • 56 1
 Sorry for your loss @SantaCruzSyndicate
  • 9 113
flag spinkleswexler (Dec 5, 2023 at 11:05) (Below Threshold)
 loss? greg was a loss. he cost the team way too much with the other superstar racing power on the team. dont feel sorry for the team that decided he cost too much to keep.
  • 64 1
 @spinkleswexler: mate, read the room
  • 15 0
 @spinkleswexler: UndercoverPonCEO, is that you?
  • 47 1
 Ever since Kathy left, I feel like somehow the vibe changed
  • 114 3
 Ever since Ratboy left
  • 5 1
 @kkmb: true
  • 24 1
 Since Roskopp
  • 6 0
 @suspended-flesh: Exactly. Glad I was around to see the Syndicate in their prime.
  • 4 0
 @bashhard you mean, ever since Kathy was sacked...
  • 4 0
 @northernwig: When i noticed that Kathy was missing in the vids I sent her a DM and all she said was that she was no longer in the team. Kinda implies it wasn't her decision.
  • 3 0
 @suspended-flesh: look at Roskopp's insta post about this... He didn't hold back feelings.
  • 2 0
 @adrennan: can you elaborate for a non-insta person?
  • 9 0
 @sickriderch: "What a ride, Greg! I have so many fond memories over the years, on and off the bike. The Syndicate was so much more, it was our extended family. It's hard to watch what has happened to SCB. It all comes down to leadership. My biggest regret is putting people that lacked vision in place. We all make mistakes, but getting rid of key people that made the brand what it was, is just plain stupid! I understand why you wanted to leave. All the best going forward with your new ride. I'm excited to spend time with the family over Christmas and New Year's in SA."
  • 4 0
 I can understand why Roskopp is upset, but... isn't it all kinda his fault? I don't blame him for cashing out (I would have done the same), but what did he think was gonna happen after he sold it to a corporation? It was obviously just a matter of time before they f*@$ked it all up and everything he'd build was gone. It has simply reached it's logical conclusion.
  • 4 1
 Jackson is bringing some good vibes (and results), Nina as well. Fresh blood is giod and welcome... let's look towards the future, past is over and the wheel's turning.
  • 3 0
 @Paco77: always been a fan of Roskopp, but it's been hard to see him for this past while. Comes across a like he still can keep his company and the payout.

Dude you cashed out, take your millions and hide way in one of your mansions and play with your race cars and let the new ones take over. Past is past, it's been 8 years and lots has happened since you sold, and the industry isn't the same.

Personally, I'm stoked on the new direction of the Syndicate, the Frat Boy team was fun at the time, but I'd rather watch Nina and crew.
  • 27 0
 Hot Takes city:
With the SC podcast today, it's crystal clear that the decision lay with Santa Cruz, not Greg, and, well, that's just a ridiculous decision on Santa Cruz/PON's behalf.

Just seems insane that there wasn't a middle ground to be met to let Greg have 1-2 more seasons and then retire gracefully as the GOAT, letting the Syndicate forever be the GOAT team.

As someone who got interested in DH racing around 2015, I personally find Greg's brand to be 500x more valuable than any of Peaty's nonsense that SC seemingly throws endless cash at.

I do wonder if after winning two races, Goldstone had salary guarantees that torpedoed the Syndicates budget for Greg?

Gotta say too, as a DH fan, you gotta love the drama this brings to the new season, 2014 can't come soon enough.
  • 6 1
 I like to remember that I don't really know shit about the inner workings of situations like this. Same with Gwin and YT. We want to believe some narrative but we have no real proof and if Greg remains a Pro which I have no doubt he will, he won't say too much. Time to order the next round.
  • 10 8
 Nico Violluz is the real G.O.A.T no one has ever come close to dominating like he did when he raced.
  • 27 2
 @dhrracer: When Nico was racing everyone else had jobs and raced with hangovers. His biggest advantage was taking it seriously while everyone else was dicking around.
  • 1 0
 Agreed. I think this is great for the fans - this is gonna put a fire in Gregs belly for sure next season...
  • 28 3
 Really? 16 years and al theu got is 2 min video?
  • 7 0
 A whopping 9 seconds for each year.
  • 14 0
 they lost the oportunity to show up each V10 he won with
  • 3 0
 Greg: So that's it? After 16 years, so long, good luck?

Santa Cruz: I don't recall saying good luck
  • 27 6
 This video is about as heartfelt as the saying don't left the door hit you on the way out. Unfortunately after last season & think the writing was on the wall that Greg's time at Syndicate was coming to a end. Back from injury, not overly happy with the new bike, to many mechanicals, no spring chicken anymore & a young superstar hotshot kid that is going to be the new face for as long as the money is there. PONS probably was looking at the numbers & made this a decision about money. The days of the Syndicate being cool are long gone & this was the last piece of them being cool leaving.
  • 10 34
flag f00bar (Dec 5, 2023 at 14:24) (Below Threshold)
 I think it's the exact opposite. Loris Vergier said it himself that he was glad his team mates in Trek are around his age and it works better - in other words, Syndicate was too old. Greg is simply too old to sell DH bikes, that's where Laurie and especially Jackson step in today. It's perfectly normal that a 40 year old can not compete with kids half his age. Happens in every single sport - the legends take on new roles, or continue racing in lesser leagues (teams).

Syndicate can not be "not cool" with Jackson pulling off runs like the last season.
  • 18 3
 @f00bar: what an incorrect hot take
  • 9 13
flag f00bar (Dec 5, 2023 at 14:54) (Below Threshold)
 @MrRight: you're in denial if you think that's a hot take... who would you rather let go? Nina? Jackson? Laurie? all 3 of them are the better choice to keep around
  • 9 0
 Nobody wins in the PB comments.
  • 19 0
 Listening to the santa Cruz podcast, it was not his choice to leave the Syndicate
  • 4 0
 You have link to podcast by chance? Or name of which you are referring to? Thanks!
  • 9 0
 @stormracing: open.spotify.com/episode/1Sic51mbwf76x3s5zFsgwf?si=rk2zSAtxTJSiVXtI7xUESg
  • 3 0
 @christiaan: thank you!
  • 4 0
 Reading Rob Roskopp Instagram post. I think it’s quite the opposite he stated about Greg “I understand why he wanted to leave” I think you should check it out. Sounds to me like Santa Cruz stuffed him under a bus….
  • 16 0
 '...he's tangled with the best...' - image of Peaty; narrated by Peaty. Nicely played Peaty.
  • 15 0
 As long as the GOAT still racing, life has not been altered drastically
  • 9 0
 Hmmmm - I watched GM get more and more frustrated as he experienced rear flat after rear flat, race after race, this season. I was astonished that they did not find a remedy. Once in practice, normal. Twice in practice, frustrating. Once in a race - when few others were flatting....infuriating. Twice in races...something not right at all.
  • 3 0
 This! I wonder how many flats or broken rims he had in the last 4-5 years. Not really following every detail of a wc, but even to me it seemed like he had flats way more often than others. Had the impression the carbon rims didn't like him.
  • 3 0
 He seemed to have more mechanicals after marshy left but who knows, maybe the wheels or suspension kinematics changed things.
  • 4 0
 Not hating on GM, but do you think line choice had anything to do with it? Maybe he was pushing it a bit trying to stay at the sharp end?
  • 8 0
 Y’all fooling. Minn-gnar had a hell of a career at the top level and rode through 3 generations of top DH racers and helped the sport evolve. He’s the Tiger Woods of DH. At 42 years old and to still be a contender like him has never been done before.

Santa Cruz is owned by a lame ass conglomerate that cares about bottom line and saving their ass not a DH program as much as we want to believe. They can find 2 or 3 new youngins for the price of G who let’s face it, is in his 3rd act simply due to his age and wear and tear on the bod through years of this sport.

I’ll take 50 to 1 bets right now that if Jackson has another season like he did he will be on specialized or trek come 2025/2026. Facts. 9 times outta 10 and history will repeat itself. Bottom line is they should all be paid more than they are. Greg is just from the era when the companies paid. Remember Palmers deal ???$$$$$$
  • 7 0
 Odd for how family like things were for years that this is the vid. Much below the surface it would appear

Always been my inspiration riding and racing and the guy I’ve looked up to. Been blessed to spend time riding with him too and he’s as genuine and rad as it gets!
Excited for what’s to come for him!

Hopefully we can see him back in those rad OGK Kabuto helmets he used to wear!
  • 14 4
 Wow those old school bikes look like clown bikes now; how did any of us ever get down a mountain?
  • 3 0
 They were powered by rattly chains and more suspension than you could use.
  • 2 0
 I had a VP-Free. Death trap
  • 1 0
 cause everyone was hatin 29ers by then... seemed impossible to make it into DH...
  • 9 2
 Can this turn out like the Open AI thing? The team threatens to quit if they don’t bring him back and a few of the people who were in the room who made the decision get let go?!
  • 10 0
 Still miss Levy, but so glad Sarah is back!
  • 8 0
 Thank you! No one can fill those shoes unfortunately!
  • 5 0
 Video seams strange to me as well. despite peaty talking of the good old (and newer) days it was so impersonal for a team where the good times always seamed to be valued a lot. I looks to me as there is something underneath that now one wants to address in public and they just want to get it done in an unsuspicious way. Hope I am wrong and this is a good move for Greg, doubt it although...
  • 5 0
 This one doesn't hit me that hard because i follow Greg since de 90s and saw him race and have amazing highlights in some of the best teams in DH like the Global Racing , Honda and others... i've always saw him go big in every team so my memories of the GOAT's career are way greater than just the Syndicate . And i'm so greatful , so Thank You for the Memories , Greg
  • 7 0
 If anything will motivate Greg to get another win before he retires this should. That video was pretty wack.
  • 9 1
 Minaar should come full circle and ride the new M1.
  • 8 3
 Well the only thing that kept me interested in Santa Cruz and created some goodwill towards Santa Cruz bikes was Greg Minnaar, guess that is history and Santa Cruz bikes is dead to me.
  • 3 5
 Jackson Goldstone doesn't need you.
  • 11 1
 @suspended-flesh: But SC bikes need us
  • 1 1
 @pioterski: Racing DH doesn't sell their bikes. They are pre-approved by the Dental/Sprinter cabal and then noticed on the trail by aspirational riders.
  • 6 0
 Change is good, but this is like wearing pants on backwards. It feels very very uncomfortable
  • 2 0
 I did not check every team in depth but was thinking in the morning when I heard the news: Which team has three male riders in elite ?
Usually there are two in top teams, no ?
In this light and with Goldstone out of the diapers, is it really a shock ? It was a surprise to some extent, though.
  • 5 0
 Specialized
  • 6 0
 Santa cruz are dunne but not out
  • 2 0
 Those people saying he's past it are talking outta their ass, he had a bad 2023 with mechanicals and some teething problems getting used to the new frame, he's still getting on the podium, world champ at 40 just two years back and the year before that was in contention for the overall with it coming down to the last race, they should've let him have one or two more years before retirement, they owed him that much. The man is the GOAT, an icon a legend and much loved and respected rider.
  • 6 1
 First Levy now Minnaar…
  • 2 0
 It's all about $$$. Bike industry is hurting, can't afford to pay both Greg and Jackson. It's a safe assumption that Jackson will eventually (if not already) be the highest paid rider in the sport.
  • 2 0
 Greg said in the beginning of that Roller Door podcast "... I was kinda blindsided by it all... tough one to swallow.." so obviously not his decision.
  • 4 0
 I will miss the therapy sessions with Jordi on 'Dialed'.
  • 4 0
 Honda should get back into mtb.
  • 1 0
 Probably not what we'd want to see, but if they'd dive into bicycle sports again it would like be the assisted variety. With the racing organization (UCI/Discovery/whatever) getting increasingly messy this past year, I'd expect them to wait it out until things settle down. So no Honda for Greg unfortunately. He'll continue to dominate the unassisted disciplines until he's well over 50yo!
  • 4 0
 Something werid went down at Santa Cruz?
  • 5 0
 Shame on you Santa Cruz.
  • 1 1
 Wishing Greg all the best in his move.
Both Greg and Peaty have been a fixture since the Naughty’s and it’s great to have them both still in the sport!
Both consummate professionals!
Great send off Peaty well put!
Here’s to many more years with you both contributing to the sport of DH that we all love!
Cheers!
  • 1 1
 Minnar got done the way any corporate hive of profit grabbing soulless executives wearing khakis would have done. There was no one at Pon that saw anything special in Minnar other than race results and profit, and they already have Goldstone the child robot prodigy for that. Rob let Peaty chill out. Peaty retired and walked away to wear SC on his chest for as long as he wants. Peaty was not a draw on the bottom line. I wonder if Minnar walked away, would Pon encapsulated Minnar into legend status? Will Peaty get stuffed as well in the house cleaning? I can't imagine Steve is real happy about this for his own sake. .
  • 3 0
 But will he race next season?!
  • 4 0
 Yes
  • 2 0
 He's allegedly riding for Norco
  • 1 1
 @danielfloyd: Also what I heard, related to a pending buy-out.
  • 1 0
 @mammal: ?
  • 1 0
 @donaarblitzen: Just an industry rumor I heard, we'll see how it plays out.
  • 2 0
 Feels more like an obituary than a 'farewell'... Something has happened in that camp fo' sho'...
  • 2 0
 He tangled with the best# as peatys giving Greg a hug. There's only enough room in this town for one of us .
  • 3 0
 Thank you Greg!!
  • 2 1
 Ya boet, it's not kief that you you're leaving 'Cruz. Hope you have a jol at Norco.
  • 2 1
 Doesn't get much better than this youtu.be/9o_EZ0qrYeY?si=PcU8S5i7-yJGr8WC&t=46
  • 1 0
 One of the finest sportsmen ever. He just may be the Kelly Slater of the MTB Kingdom. Much respect. GOAT contender for sure.
  • 1 0
 Actually cant wait to see him on another bike/kit/suspension. he's still got it and I want to see him win again!
  • 1 0
 MINNoooooAARggggghhhhh!!!!!
  • 1 0
 That video is 2:23 long, should be 2:22.
  • 3 0
 what does that last comment even mean? good bye to our old china?
  • 4 0
 @Struggleteam: China plate : mate. Cockney rhyming slang
  • 8 0
 @fish-monkey: Got it thanks. Guess I need to go watch a Guy Ritchie film and bone up.
  • 4 0
 @fish-monkey: "China" is a South African colloquialism. "my china" is a a friend or a mate. similar to "my bru". I am guessing it must come originally from cockney slang - but in this context it's very much a reference to greg's heritage
  • 2 0
 @stretchza: Interesting, thanks!
  • 1 1
 DH will never be the same. First Bryceland, now Minnaar, and I'm sure Peaty won't stick around forever either
  • 1 0
 Jackson is tagging in at the right time for the Goat to hang his helmet.
  • 2 1
 Minnar to Unno
  • 2 2
 Get Out And Thrash!!
  • 2 4
 He will be sorely missed, but never forgotten
  • 35 0
 He's still alive and will be racing.
  • 3 0
 @watchtower: hahaha thank you!
  • 3 0
 @watchtower: his memory lives on forever!







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