World Cup SA 2012

Rankles

Hey guys,

I watched some of the world cup coverage on the BC website this afternoon and was pretty impressed at the general package (although the commentator could do with quicker access to facts on occasion instead of having to correct himself!) but I appreciate what Red Bull are doing.

That said I was a little concerned at the general digs at the womens category and also the complete lack of any commentary on the womens race. I wouldn't have minded seeing it, what with it actually having some British riders in it (the mens race was dominated by Swiss, French and other riders) surely it can't be too hard to have gotten the same commentators to do it?

All in all though it's good that it gets a bit more coverage. There were some great moments even though the lead riders broke from the pack early on, and I'll definitely be watching future shows. It would be good to hear some ideas about how they can improve to increase spectatorship whether it be to the format of the show or even races in general! It would be good to see MTB on TVs again in future...

The Northern Monkey

Where have you been?

This have been broadcasting yearly on Freecaster!

Redbull have now taken over and this is their 1st race. Unfortunately they couldn't stream the wimminz, but did show the highlights as the slower men were coming down the hill.

Much prefered it that way as you don't have to sit through a load of boring riders before you get to the good stuff like you used to have to on freecaster..

ricardo_smooth

I think they must have written it into Warner's contract that he had to tone it down a little though as he seemed rather subdued today!

supersonic

Yeah, Warner was very, well, polite! I guess they are trying to up the image of the sport.

Rankles

The Northern Monkey wrote:

Where have you been?

This have been broadcasting yearly on Freecaster!

Redbull have now taken over and this is their 1st race. Unfortunately they couldn't stream the wimminz, but did show the highlights as the slower men were coming down the hill.

Much prefered it that way as you don't have to sit through a load of boring riders before you get to the good stuff like you used to have to on freecaster..

Ah I should have been clearer, I've never really watched it in the past through lack of having enough interest/looking hard enough. I was curious as to why it was never televised is all.

ricardo_smooth

It's not televised as its bot popular enough for the masses for it to be televised

The Northern Monkey

Did anyone watch the XC?
Put the Olympic XC track to shame!

supersonic

What we need is World Cup 'All Mountain' racing - say a roughly 30 minute ride that covers the lot, so biek choice is critical.

Rankles

supersonic wrote:

What we need is World Cup 'All Mountain' racing - say a roughly 30 minute ride that covers the lot, so biek choice is critical.

I'd actually love for people to throw suggestions like that in - what do you reckon would make a good spectator format even if it veers massively from what races currently exist?

Like how Speedway made motocross prime time, or how twentytwenty cricket makes you not want to kill yourself from boredom as much as regular test cricket.

supersonic

Could have 3x10 minute laps, with a DH section in there, some tricky bits but also climbs and so on. Laps keep it compact, spectators will gather at the bits they want to see and the whole thing would be quite compact.

Hardly anyone buys full on XC or DH rigs! A comp like this will reflect how many ride, and what we are being sold, and would allow us to see what works (plus a full aray of rider skills!)

Rankles

supersonic wrote:

Could have 3x10 minute laps, with a DH section in there, some tricky bits but also climbs and so on. Laps keep it compact, spectators will gather at the bits they want to see and the whole thing would be quite compact.

Hardly anyone buys full on XC or DH rigs! A comp like this will reflect how many ride, and what we are being sold, and would allow us to see what works (plus a full aray of rider skills!)

That'd be cool, the commentators were saying how not so long ago the winners in the races were getting times of 3 hours or more and the lap lengths have come much lower since to get it to the 1.5 hour mark. The technical sections definitely provide the most exciting part for spectators and it seems these are getting more common so it does seem to be going that way, although until people have to throw away their 100mm forks I guess it's always going to need race specific rigs.

It's like I'd love to get a lighter setup this year and I love a hardtail but I gotta have at least 120mm on the front to be confident enough to take on the trails I enjoy the 95% of the time I'm riding offroad outside of a race.

My main beef with spectating in any race events, be it mountain biking, road biking or even formula one, is that nothing interesting really happens until the end, and the hours before it can be a bit tiresome. More technical sections would definitely help this!

ddraver

Is Rob Warner dong the XC commentary too? Who is the "ex-pro pundidt" with him?

Interesting that Nino Schurter is using 650b already...

Rankles

ddraver wrote:

Is Rob Warner dong the XC commentary too? Who is the "ex-pro pundidt" with him?

Interesting that Nino Schurter is using 650b already...

I clocked that too, was it WMTB this month that ran the article on it?

I'm quite open to the idea of 29ers but they made a good point about 650b, especially as I'm a relatively small rider (5'8) so 650b might be worth a look at. Not that I imagine there are many models out there.

leaflite

Where can I find coverage of the downhill race? Been looking on redbull.tv and can find coverage for the qualifying and some supposedly live footage (although the race finished several hours ago!) but nothing else???

cat_with_no_tail

supersonic wrote:

Yeah, Warner was very, well, polite! I guess they are trying to up the image of the sport.

Maybe a certain subset of cyclists had complained to Redbull that they were offended by his remarks.

Just saying.

ddraver

leaflite wrote:

Where can I find coverage of the downhill race? Been looking on redbull.tv and can find coverage for the qualifying and some supposedly live footage (although the race finished several hours ago!) but nothing else???

It's up now on red bull...not that clear though, click on the watch on demand link

Rankles

Cat With No Tail wrote:

supersonic wrote:

Yeah, Warner was very, well, polite! I guess they are trying to up the image of the sport.

Maybe a certain subset of cyclists had complained to Redbull that they were offended by his remarks.

Just saying.

What are we talking about exactly? It's my first time seeing him.

ddraver

this? - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqYgAX6D43Q

He's not any less excited for the other 50 runs either! http://www.pinkbike.com/forum/listcomme ... adid=75527

Rankles

ddraver wrote:

this? - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqYgAX6D43Q

He's not any less excited for the other 50 runs either! http://www.pinkbike.com/forum/listcomme ... adid=75527

Haha that clears that up. Good thing he was impartial too haha.

But yeah that was like watching the fans commentary on sky sports.

Did make me take a sudden interest in DH though...

wordnumb

Is RW doing course rides before each race this year?
If so, anybody got a link?

Mark909

Linky

http://live.redbull.tv/events/25/ucistop1-1/

wordnumb

Thanks, but I meant the course ride. Last year Warner rode down most of the courses, ie Champery last year, commentating the whole way. These can be amusing. Hope the tradition continues.

Northwind

Warner was a bit flat at the weekend but then, it was a bit of a flat track TBH last year it felt a bit like he'd pre-planned some of his "outbursts", he's best when he's just free-flowing. Still, even when he's toning it down he still came out with "He went down faster than a french breast implant" so it's all relative

"He looks like he's just s**t a lego deathstar!"

Northwind

Hah, I just noticed this on youtube- spot the odd one out?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZM-_o0Nj ... re=related