Update: Gee Atherton ‘Not Too Bad’ After Massive Rampage Crash

Blimey, not another big one.

That man does not know when he’s beaten 

After yesterday’s video it seems it was inevitable sadly , just didn’t expect it so soon . I’m all for progression to a point but at what cost for other people’s entertainment 😞

i dont think thats why they do it?

Exactly what i was going to reply. People like that do it “because it’s there..” and “to see if we can”..

The entertainment side just pays some of the bills… but they’d still find a way

It’s OK, he’ll just build a new one 😀

Exactly what i was going to reply. People like that do it “because it’s there..” and “to see if we can”.. 

The entertainment side just pays some of the bills… but they’d still find a way

Doubtful. If there wasn’t an industry built up around it, I doubt they’d be helicoptering to the top of mountains to build so many lines.

The “just send it, bro” culture in mountain biking isn’t healthy IMV.

Doubtful. If there wasn’t an industry built up around it, I doubt they’d be helicoptering to the top of mountains to build so many lines.

MTBers, snowboards, climbers, etc have been doing it for decades without the exposure from media there is now.. even before media they were doing stupid stuff… it’s just stupider and bigger as tech moves on and makes it possible.

I think it’s naive to suggest that social media and sponsorship doesn’t indirectly encourage a greater level of risk taking.

Also, see Matt Jones latest video. He seems to think this stuff is much more sketchy than slopestyle. And he was riding the tamer ridge lines.

crossed

Full Member

I wonder how long it’ll be before the prediction from Benji (possibly!) in the STW podcast comes true?
Someone will end up paralysed or dead doing shit like this. Fair play to them if that’s what they want but it’s not like it’s even interesting to watch when it goes right!

Didn’t that already happen to Paul Basagoitia?

edit- blimey that was 2015

MTBers, snowboards, climbers, etc have been doing it for decades without the exposure from media there is now.. even before media they were doing stupid stuff… it’s just stupider and bigger as tech moves on and makes it possible.

Yes they have, but it being publicised and financially enabled and rewarded makes it more common.

I also think it feeds down into the rest of the sport and encourages reckless risk taking at all levels.

I watched some footage of guys constructing the trails… climbing around the cliffs, and I thought… loose rock, big drops… you should really have a lid on and be roped up for that.

The big stuff like the canyon jumps… you can mitigate the risk there with giant trapeze circus nets. Yeah, it wont look so dangerous… because it’s not so dangerous. And you can edit the nets out in post-production.

I understand super talented riders doing this is as risky as me riding a regular trail centre. But I never get more than a foot or two off the ground, and rarely exceed 20 mph. These guys are 100 feet out and doing motorcycle speeds… and those bigger numbers equate to bigger impacts, and bigger consequences.

I suppose my point is that this could easily be less risky.

People doing wacky things have had a cameraman or reporter in-tow since forever.

Rubbish.
I remember fairly recently seeing a film about Josh Bender. Filmer had to go looking in the mountains for him. He was out there on his own chucking his bike off stuff for his own enjoyment.
Maybe the ones you see are the ones with cameramen in-tow eh?

I also think, as has been mentioned, that some of the current MTB culture is unhealthy.

This is my only objection to Rampage. and any slope contest, and big freeride videos.

The pro riders know what they are doing and understand the risks. They have done a thousand drops and gaps before and know how to judge it. They have more experienced riders to help them get the speed right. Everything is built and adjusted to expert specifications.

A twelve year old with a youtube account and a shovel has none of those things. When they decide they want to do their first gap jump but lack the ability to judge the angles and speeds nor have the knowledge to build a feature that will hold up.

Not to mention the next person who comes along a week later and finds a new feature in the woods. They’ve never seen it ridden. But hey, theres tyre marks on it so it must work right? hold my go pro and watch this…

Although I will admit I dont profess to “getting it”. I’ll watch rampage. I’ll watch a Semenuk video. But thats it. On the other hand; I’ll be glued to the DH world cup, Hardline etc. Racing the course provided, against the clock gets my interest as an armchair spectator, not judged tricks.

Tell you what has been about forever – this desire to wrap other people in cotton wool for their own good. Ooh you shouldn’t do that, it’s dangerous! **** off! All the more reason to do it!

Film of the crash here – https://www.instagram.com/p/CyO9tz1LRgr/

Tell you what has been about forever – this desire to wrap other people in cotton wool for their own good. Ooh you shouldn’t do that, it’s dangerous! **** off! All the more reason to do it!

Letting people do what they want, and incentivising people to do stupid stuff for their, and a companies, financial gain are very different things.

Deeks was walking sections.

Without being harsh to Deaks as i think he’s an awesome guy and i chat rubbish to him regularly, he only beats my lad by 2s in most races. I’d expect Fairclough to be a lot more precise/better/skilled than Deaks

This. The event is a marketing event for the sponsor. What happens if things go wrong in a life changing way? Will RB pick up the long term care costs

You seem to be making a lot of assumptions that NO is the answer on here and on PB, however in truth none of us know what would/does/may happen in terms of aftercare, insurance, health cover etc. Unless you’ve got something to add, you’re basically just assuming.
I have no doubt it’s a marketing thing… However does that make it wrong ? Everything in sport is marketed in some way nowdays, that’s how society works. You seem to have a bit of an agenda/dislike here from what i can see.

You seem to be making a lot of assumptions that NO is the answer on here and on PB, however in truth none of us know what would/does/may happen in terms of aftercare, insurance, health cover etc. Unless you’ve got something to add, you’re basically just assuming.

No assumptions, no idea is the truth, hence the question. I accept I have a cynical starting point but no idea.

Is it just me or does anyone else find it slightly disturbing that Gee has barely got to hospial before the crash is on social media for entertainment