Mountain Biking - Going to Bromont to Spectate World Cup

I'll be heading there tomorrow. I have too many things going on this weekend so will only be able to manage a visit tomorrow. That means I get to see some downhill and 4X practice. I'll post up some pictures from the event.

This will be the first time I go to one of these type of events. Anyone ever been? Any tips on what to do, what to bring? I was basically going to bring a small knapsack, hiking shoes, my digital camera and a rain jacket. Can I "walk the pits" so to say, or is it locked down like a Formula 1 event?

I'm pretty stoked and can't wait to check it out.

That sounds cool. Hopefully, since it sounds like a practice day, you might be able to get "behind the scenes" so to speak.

Hope you have a great time.

That sounds pretty cool. Hope everything goes well.

Everyone's pretty accessible. I'm sure your girls will get a chance to chat with some of the women and get stoked out. Dont miss the opportunities for swag. As far as gear goes, if I recommend you wear your lederhosen and bring the alphorn.

Things are warming up: http://www.dirtmag.co.uk/news/category/videos/dirttv-bromont-world-cup-day-1/dirt-1231742.html

Live coverage Saturday at http://freecaster.tv/1000006_1005378

Everyone's pretty accessible. I'm sure your girls will get a chance to chat with some of the women and get stoked out. Dont miss the opportunities for swag. As far as gear goes, if I recommend you wear your lederhosen and bring the alphorn.

I'm leaving the girls home. They're announcing really crappy weather and they will not last the day (I intend to stay for a fair amount of the day). Swag? I should bring a bigger bag.

I've always loved the sound of the cowbells. I hope they sell cowbells there.

More cowbell...

DH Course presumably:
http://www.vimeo.com/1035196

4X Course
http://www.mondialduvelo.com/Francais/12heures/images/Bromont_HD.jpg

What an awesome day. I was so happy that the rain stayed away. We've had a lot of rain lately. A lot. The ground was wet, spongy, muddy and sloppy but I had my good hiking shoes and my good BDU-like pants so I was well protected and I was able to easily hike the DH course.

I basically walked along the entire downhill course from bottom-to-top and then back down again. Every once in a while I'd stop and take pics and be in awe at what those kids (kids!) were doing. Pcad has it all wrong. The road nazis may think they dress like superheroes but these Downhillers are the real deal. I saw amazing riding. I saw sections of the course that looked like a rock-climbing wall, stuff that I had trouble walking and these guys (and girls!) were flying right over it.

Some pics:

This is just part of the pit area. I didn't get any swag nor was anyone selling any cowbells. I'm disappointed as I really wanted a cowbell.
http://stradasystems.com/mtb/bromont2008/SDC10011.jpg

Crazy little 4X bike, at least I think it's a 4X bike. I've never seen one in person.
http://stradasystems.com/mtb/bromont2008/SDC10012.jpg

There were some really freaky bikes. This is an Orbea short travel XC rig that had beautiful carbon chainstays. It was set up for road training. I saw Kabush take off on a Litespeed road bike for training. I wasn't quick enough with my camera to catch him.
http://stradasystems.com/mtb/bromont2008/SDC10013.jpg

The truck-less Subaru/Gary Fisher team. I spoke with the guys about it. They were shopping for a new truck.
http://stradasystems.com/mtb/bromont2008/SDC10014.jpg

DT Swiss makes forks. I didn't know.
http://stradasystems.com/mtb/bromont2008/SDC10015.jpg

The last big jump, this is just before the finish line.
http://stradasystems.com/mtb/bromont2008/SDC10017.jpg

http://stradasystems.com/mtb/bromont2008/IMG_6344.jpg

http://stradasystems.com/mtb/bromont2008/IMG_6345.jpg

http://stradasystems.com/mtb/bromont2008/IMG_6346.jpg

http://stradasystems.com/mtb/bromont2008/IMG_6348.jpg

http://stradasystems.com/mtb/bromont2008/IMG_6351.jpg

http://stradasystems.com/mtb/bromont2008/IMG_6352.jpg

Pink bike parts. I have a soft spot for them.
http://stradasystems.com/mtb/bromont2008/IMG_6353.jpg

http://stradasystems.com/mtb/bromont2008/IMG_6356.jpg

This is the start of the 4X course. I didn't get to see any of the 4X practice as it started after I left. I left Bromont at around 3pm. Only then I saw the riders start heading towards the course. The 4X course was very, very impressive looking. There were huge banked turns, huge rock sections, huge gaps/tabletops/etc. I really wish I could see some of this live.
http://stradasystems.com/mtb/bromont2008/IMG_6358.jpg

http://stradasystems.com/mtb/bromont2008/IMG_6359.jpg

This series of pics is from a really hairy section. The pictures do not do it justice. The first two are of a switchback section (nothing like the switchbacks I ride!). This was crazy steep, a lot of big rocks. A few exposed slabs of stone that looked really slick.

I saw a rider really take a hard fall in this section. He slammed his chest against his handlebar really hard and was moaning and groaning on the trail for a while. He was able to walk away but he looked like he was really hurt. He was able to walk away but I'm pretty sure he busted a rib or two.
http://stradasystems.com/mtb/bromont2008/IMG_6360.jpg

http://stradasystems.com/mtb/bromont2008/IMG_6361.jpg

http://stradasystems.com/mtb/bromont2008/IMG_6362.jpg

http://stradasystems.com/mtb/bromont2008/IMG_6364.jpg

http://stradasystems.com/mtb/bromont2008/IMG_6365.jpg

http://stradasystems.com/mtb/bromont2008/IMG_6366.jpg

http://stradasystems.com/mtb/bromont2008/IMG_6367.jpg

http://stradasystems.com/mtb/bromont2008/IMG_6368.jpg

http://stradasystems.com/mtb/bromont2008/IMG_6367.jpg

http://stradasystems.com/mtb/bromont2008/IMG_6368.jpg

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http://stradasystems.com/mtb/bromont2008/IMG_6370.jpg

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http://stradasystems.com/mtb/bromont2008/IMG_6374.jpg

http://stradasystems.com/mtb/bromont2008/IMG_6375.jpg

Scrublover-like image.
http://stradasystems.com/mtb/bromont2008/IMG_6377.jpg

This drop was huge. Huge.
http://stradasystems.com/mtb/bromont2008/IMG_6378.jpg

http://stradasystems.com/mtb/bromont2008/IMG_6379.jpg

http://stradasystems.com/mtb/bromont2008/IMG_6380.jpg

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http://stradasystems.com/mtb/bromont2008/IMG_6384.jpg

http://stradasystems.com/mtb/bromont2008/IMG_6385.jpg

http://stradasystems.com/mtb/bromont2008/IMG_6386.jpg

http://stradasystems.com/mtb/bromont2008/IMG_6387.jpg

http://stradasystems.com/mtb/bromont2008/IMG_6390.jpg

http://stradasystems.com/mtb/bromont2008/IMG_6392.jpg

Gnar boots! It'd pretty awesome to see those guys ride up close.

Some observations:
- some riders, primarily the European ones, were wearing something that looked like the Hans Device.
- the women are hot be they XC or DH chicks, they were just hot.
- riders were pretty split with respect to flats vs. clipless pedals. A lot of Mallets I notced.

A few videos. i sent them to Google and they really degraded the image quality, they weren't great to begin with but at least you get a feel for what it was like:

http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=-6608425642802314746&hl=en-CA

http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=-7753450453872942315&hl=en-CA

http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=-4148119888219042187&hl=en-CA

http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=1892917048693405735&hl=en-CA

Some observations:
- some riders, primarily the European ones, were wearing something that looked like the Hans Device.


http://www.leatt-brace.com/

Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for all the pics.

I've been in a DH race once spectating. It was nothing big but still watching photos and videos is nothing compared to seeing it live. Glad you enjoyed it.