Look at the terrain he's riding at warp speed in the 'quebec' clip (as well as the narrow handlebars). Bonkers
@boardinbob and Keene came 24th in Chile which I would say is a pretty solid performance, only one behind Greg Callaghan, and a damned sight better than lots of other big names - Rude, Graves, Bryceland.
24th isn't exactly a great result. I don't know about the others, but Richie Rude had a couple of stage wins before a mechanical lost him several minutes. Rude is similar to Sam Hill, a massively talented rider who walks the walk, rather than talking the talk.
For the unpredictability of enduro I'd take a seasons result as an example rather than one race.
Always enjoyed watching him ride, although you could always know he was on the track even if you couldn't see the screen, as too often there would be a cry of "and he's binned it" and five would get you ten; it would be Hill. In fact the two rides his best known for; Cham in 2007 he crashed and came third despite being so faster than everyone, and the Champs at Val de Sole when he crashed on the last corner..
Sam hill is not that fast, when he was practising for the ews in finale last year i got to the bottom of the trail before him*
*I did have about a 20 minute head start, and then only finished about 30 seconds before he did.
So just to be clear - I'm neither a massive fan nor a hater of Sam Hill but looking at what i am reading it seems there is plenty to like:
Seems like a nice guy, not too loud or brash.
He's won a stack of races on different tracks all round the world, he's won a good few DH World Championships over a long period showing versatility and longevity, not to mention has 2 more where he crashed and lost it despite being faster than everyone else. Then he's switched discipline and been the champion again.
And if you see some of the comments from other pros about how good/nice/unbelievably fast he is that sort of convinces you that he's the real deal.
That's legend status in any sport to be fair isn't it?
Talking of that Keene Red Bull thing - they did a few minutes on Sam Hill in this episode.
Really worth the watch.
Hill makes an appearance at 3:04 and doesn't finish until 7:14
https://www.redbull.tv/video/AP-1RA3H8SZN1W11/the-rules-of-enduro?playlist=AP-1JYQCXBC12111:season:4
I think Hill has earnt the adulation - he's still bloody quick. He had a super successful DH career and often smoked the competition, leaving them scratching their heads as to how he did it. He's now switched to the EWS and is still winning despite being a bit older than some of the great white hopes, riding flats, smaller wheels on a bike that isn't super long or super low or super slack. Plus he seems like a good chap. He always looks good on the bike too.
Plus he's proof to all of those who ride flats that flats do indeed win medals!
However cool points need to be deducted for the use of hand guards!
It's nice that this thread has probably ended up generating more love - and even new fans - for Sam.
However cool points need to be deducted for the use of hand guards!
He's earned the right to race with a pink basket strapped to his handlebar if he wants too. Don't think he's bothered about being "cool" anyway.
However cool points need to be deducted for the use of hand guards!
I've got to admit, I would quite like those handguards on my bike - my local trails are mostly bordered by gorse and barely a spring/summer ride goes by without me having to extract multiple thorns out of my hands afterwards, and sometimes it takes days to get the buggers out. Handguards would be a massive benefit...if they weren't fifty odd quid a pair, I'd have them.
And that's partly because Sam Hill makes them cooler.
Not cool. But cooler!
The AVS handguards came out of the Riviera where there's loads of sharp bushes to chop hands up and grab brake levers. For an inside line specialist like Sam, they make more sense than for most people! Have a look at 2:14 here to get an understanding......
inside line specialist
This is what he should have printed on his business card.
I remember the days of "Hill can't pedal"
Then he wins the EWS😂
I believe he came 6th in the Aussie national XC champs a few months ago.
Not bad for some that couldn't pedal and whose career was supposedly finished.
I cant think of a racer I don't like on some level. They all bring something to the table and I'll always respect someone who takes the risks they do over such a typically short career. SH deserves all the praise he gets in my book.
<span class="bold">Men's Final Results</span>
1st. Sam HILL 18:01.99
2nd. Marcelo GUTIERREZ VILLEGAS +0:47.54
3rd. Damien OTON +1:11.03
Keeping himself relevant in Colombia
Brilliant riding from Hill again.
Watched the highlights and I think it was Melamed. Showed him tripoding down the trail and then being interviewed. He mentioned Hill had overtaken him. Then cuts to Hill absolutely destroying the trail Melamed was mincing down. So good.
<div class="bbp-reply-author">BoardinBob</div>
<div class="bbp-reply-content">
I remember the days of “Hill can’t pedal”
Then he wins the EWS😂"
</div>
When he was doing his Return To Downhill, someone- maybe it was Jones- asked him "Why are you doing enduro, didn't seem your thing" and he just replied flat out "It's fun, and I think I can be world champ" "Would you not say the same of downhill" "Well no"
Hill could always pedal though. It just wasn't as obvious because he was better at carrying speed than most
Melamed was mincing down
That was Wallner, Jesse ain't no mincer 😉
Did you see that inside line in the mud?
OK, there were probably several, but one in particular on the highlights video just showed a stunning amount of commitment and confidence.
He's basically the best rider in the world and he's lovin' it.
That was Wallner, Jesse ain’t no mincer
1 min 42 back says different. 😉
It’s nice that this thread has probably ended up generating more love – and even new fans – for Sam.
he has certainly converted me, the OP. I think him being an understated bloke means he has passed me by somewhat.
Thanks for everyone sharing the videos too, previously hadn't seen anything of the chap except race coverage/ post race interviews.
This does pose a new dilemma though, now he has won the first 2 races, who is the plucky underdog to cheer on?
The entire rest of the field, basically.
He’s basically the best rider in the world and he’s lovin’ it.
But so humble with it, which makes him eminently more likeable. Awesome rider in every way.
https://www.pinkbike.com/news/official-highlights-video-ews-colombia-2018.html
Look at his line at 8.22 - catches the spectator hanging over the tape completely off guard, presumable because he's taken a different line to the 200 odd riders before him
That's the section I meant. In total control but right on the edge. Awe-inspiring.
that's the classic sam hill line of old
That Champéry run.
This does pose a new dilemma though, now he has won the first 2 races, who is the plucky underdog to cheer on?
Always lots to watch. Youn Deniaud has been the the one so far this season, and you've got Callaghan and Scott both within the top 10.
It'll be interesting to see if Hill is more conservative for the rest of the season. I see Rude, Maes and Dailly as the only riders likely to consistently beat him, but they've all had poor start to the season. It would take a DNF for him to lose the title now I think.
It’ll be interesting to see if Hill is more conservative for the rest of the season.
The common factor in Chile & Colombia seems to have been a big lack of grip, which probably explains Sam's dominance.
Next round is likely to be dry, as are the last four. So I expect the other top guys will be more on the pace. He'll be very hard to beat for the overall now, agreed.
To me its the way he just quietly get on with his business. He is clearly super talented and serious athlete who doesnt feel the need to shout about it all over social media or make endless videos to justify his meal ticket.
Ah, Sam Hill!
Firstly he rips up the preconceived rule book in DH. The gnarled old pros should have hated him at the time, but they couldn’t and they just sounded pretty awestruck and got on with getting better themselves.
He conducts himself brilliantly in interviews. Steve Jones irritates me as an interviewer (as a lot do). Generally Sam Hill tries to be modest but when he is pushed on “why do you think other riders can’t hold the lines you can?” he just goes “I dunno, you’ll have to ask them”.
So he doesn’t come across as a personality-less gym monkey, yet he also doesn’t come across as a total slacker. He wins, he makes it look easy, yet he works hard but doesn’t rub any else’s nose in it.
