Are You a Racer? 19

bturman
12/9/2011 2:51pm
We're curious. Let us know by voting below.

Vital MTB poll

How do you really feel about snow?


What drives you to compete? Leave a comment. You might just give someone the spark that eventually leads them to a World Championship...
19 comments

View replies to: Are You a Racer?

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iceman2058
12 years ago
I enter all the races I can. Not with a goal of winning...I tried that a couple of years ago, too much time spent recovering from injury as a result...so now I enter just for the fun of it (+I got bills to pay!). I don't take all the risks I should to be fast...

Preparing for, and racing a track, is a very different approach to "just" riding the same trail. When you are trying to shave seconds off your time, you have to approach it in a whole other way - that's what I like about it. When you are just out there to hit the jumps and enjoy the track, you ride it in a way to set yourself up perfectly all the time. When you're racing, can't do that. The fast line may be less smooth, or instead of popping the lip for a big smooth jump, you have to pin it and suck it up, or you have to go for the gap even though you had a wobble just before it, etc etc...I love the days before the race when you're up there with your buddies, working on lines, banging out runs.

And then, sitting in the start gate, with all your friends ready to cheer/heckle you, waiting for the beeps....goosebumps!!! If you haven't tried it, you have to!
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ColoradoDirt
12 years ago
Racing for the comradery, commitment, and adrenaline. All Mtn / Trail riding for backcountry exploration, flowing down massive peaks, and excitement... Ride Bikes!
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Primoz
12 years ago
I think we need a side by side poll or sth, which asks which discipline do people race in.
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brian.pisani
12 years ago
How about the people who race for fun? I am by no means a super competitive guy, but I like to race just for the feeling of being with a bunch of other people who like to ride similar 2 wheeled contraptions
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bfrich
12 years ago
Racing because whether your a Beginner or a expert nothing beats the rush of racing the course and crossing that finish line. Freeriding is great fun and i love riding with my friends...but the commitment to race and get to the start line and then finish the race adds a level of excitement to the sport that everyone should experience at least once.
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maximumradness
12 years ago
yes, Mikaël there is. its called loving it. you know how hard it is. your perspective is ten times that of the couch potato watching football. that is why you are always welcome to try. we are all riders. and racing is our own little proving ground to no one but ourselves. and those chumps who sandbagged for two years. them too....
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maximumradness
12 years ago
here is the deal. racing is fun. not racing is fun. so when you do both, alternating, you appreciate both more. more fun. i started racing cuz it was better and cheaper than a shuttle day, or weekend of camping. it seemed like the best way to hang with all the people in my region who do what i do. ride the big bike fast and session cool trails. and shuttles all weekend? are you kidding me? id say its worth the travel to see all these sick spots i had no idea existed, meet all these cool people who totally get what im about. then... IT happened. i realized the sweet quiet and peace that comes to me after two whole days of just dissecting and destroying a single trail with unparalleled focus and all the precision i can will. getting to know myself and my bike at a level that freeriding just never ever came close to. racing is like training for shredding. shredding is training for racing. the two compliment themselves so well. jumps are funner. fast is funner. back and forth. the best part of racing is the people. so many great people to ride with, now all over the place. the best part of racing is the tracks. so many great trails, and trail networks to train and session all the time all over the place. the best part of racing is the bikes. sickest mountain bikes ever made. the best part of racing is the jumps. jumps you can sprint into at 40 mph and send as far as you can. jumps with rock gardens for landings. jumps with no way out. the best part of racing is beating yourself. improving in a way that is notice-able, on the track you raced on last year. racing is the big brother to FR. we had no money in our sport without racing. now we have FR, but he is the little brother to racing, learning from watching the older kids do it first. then showing them whats up. now we racers go bigger and throw whips in our world champs runs. in the mud. on flats. and clips. lets go ride, and talk about it in the truck on the way back up......
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Mikaël_Buzaré
12 years ago
Can you explain me why? Why I love so much DH racing while not being a good racer. I started MTB I was 22 years old, during the last 8-10 years I raced and never get any results........ Or maybe king of crash!!! Today my work, budget and my private life are keeping me far from race scene for the last 2 years and I don't necessarly live it good.
Is there a future in this sport for someone like me?
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Erik_Hansen
12 years ago
I tried racing 3 years ago and was dead set on beating everyone in my beginner class. Little did I know how many sandbaggers race in cat 3. Long story short I got injured and didn't want to race anymore. Now I am going to train all winter and race the local series with the goal of beating my old best times on the tracks and if I can win some then thats just an added bonus.
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swilson669
12 years ago
just finished my fourth season of collegiate racing. definitely going to miss it...
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easyrider
12 years ago
It sounds bad but once you win or get on the blocks the thought in your mind of Im faster than everyone in my class is a fantastic electric type feeling that is so great you strive to taste it as often as can.
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JimEG
12 years ago
Super D/Enduro/Endurance Downhill racing have given me a good reason to race.
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Big Bird
12 years ago
I second Primoz' motion. I used to race years ago, mostly to get to ride different tracks. But now'adays I just ride for the fun of it and, surprisingly, mostly on the same fourty acres.
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Pwest
12 years ago
That's how it all started out for me. Had a great time racing but it cost quite a bit to travel around to different resorts. Good way to get yourself into debt. Now I work as a trail builder and ride for free, hell sometimes get paid to ride. I get to converse with a lot of racers in my field and find that most of them don't ride the mountain, just the race course. I like racing but find it takes out some of the fun. Could your imagine going to Whistler and only riding Canadian Open course. I know it's sick track but there's so much more. There's nothing better than shredding the whole park with your good friends.
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Scott_Townes
12 years ago
Tried to by traveling up to Oregon this past season but got injured but since hearing about the Grand Prix and including super-d, I have more motivation than ever and can also have a cheaper season next year to work up to it!
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Primoz
12 years ago
What about 'i used to be a racer but i like to enjoy now'? :D
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sideshow
12 years ago
I get that excited/nervous feeling just thinking about "beep beep beep - *starting ramp rumble"
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BrianBuell
12 years ago
Racing my bike provides me the motivation to get up in the morning, creates a strong work ethic and most of all takes me places I never imagined myself ever going!