Downhill Exposure

FatYZ0

Likes Dirt
Now this has probly been talked about heaps befor and delete it if you must but i was just watching The news on Channel 10 and once again Downhill montain Biking is getting more and more exposure around the world.
Sam Hill has just had the latest mention on channel 10 for winning the latest DH round over in canida.
I was just wondering if anyone has any more ideas on how we can get the name out there more for more publicity.
 

fleshbone

Likes Bikes and Dirt
Tough job.It's always going to be focused around the highest of the ranks,jsut because they're usually representing auzzy.As you might of scene,there has been minor focus on the young riding groups of the auzzy race scene.But as i said,it'll be tough to get more exposure for the mountain bike community,even the sport is getting bigger and bigger.

Wait and see what comes of it.
 

Woffa

Rotorburn Enthusiast
Now this has probly been talked about heaps befor and delete it if you must but i was just watching The news on Channel 10 and once again Downhill montain Biking is getting more and more exposure around the world.
Sam Hill has just had the latest mention on channel 10 for winning the latest DH round over in canida.
I was just wondering if anyone has any more ideas on how we can get the name out there more for more publicity.

Just keep the media interested in the sport. Keep all the DVD's and other MTB movies coming... Over the last few years we have seen the bike seen grow quite a bit. For example an old Victorian downhill series would attract around 150 people, now we have over 200 people turning up to some of the races. If you ask the youngsters why they started they usually say i saw a friend doing it, or i saw a movie/tv show and it looked fun so i wanted to try it.

The overseas scene is so much bigger also due to their large events etc.
if we keep holding major events like the Oceanias and especially the World Championships at Mt Stromlo, media will cover the aussie scene much more than they do now...

So if we keep all of our major events and media (DVD's, TV etc.) we can make our scene grow and become as popular as the overseas MTB scene.

Hope this helps James...

Cheers,
 

ajay

^Once punched Jeff Kennett. Don't pick an e-fight
It was posted in another thread, but what exactly are we trying to achieve by further commercialising MTB?
 

Dozer

Heavy machinery.
Staff member
I reckon it is kind of simple and it is happening as we speak.
The younglings and older pinners see DH in their area and they give it a go. They tell someone else about it, thewy buy a bike and a few magazines. They watch all of the latest movies and they are hooked.
The young people enjoy their DH and they progress through the racing scene, they get good results and go racing overseas. They win the world champs and start winning bulk wold cup rounds and presto! They are on the news for achieving some good things.
I think more participation from the common folk on the planet will always boost the interest in a household. More riders means more exposure.........;)
 

GDonehue

Likes Dirt
Most people outside of the sport (even most of those who own a 'mtb') don't understand it as a sport. It isn't about commercialising it, ajay, it is simply about building it, because by doing this we have more of a say in facilities for the sport and can access resources at the same level as larger sports. One of the best programs I have seen is run by cyclesport Vic where they conduct intro sessions in cycling (road and track) within schools. It is inexpensive, professionally run and it is a great way of building interest at the lowest levels.

TV is driven by numbers - the more people who want to watch a sport = the greater chance of it going to air.
 

Hopper

Likes Dirt
It was posted in another thread, but what exactly are we trying to achieve by further commercialising MTB?

Well I think that more exposure=more people in the sport=more parts/bikes/accessories being bought.

When there are more sales then the companies producing these items will get more money, this should mean more on research so we get a better product. Also by selling more components more can be made in bulk meaning prices should drop.

Also I have no idea if this is possible or not, but if more components are being sold does that meand that a second importer and distributor for a brand could be started in Australia (ie is it technically possible for two different importers to get SRAM components or Specialized bikes etc)? If so this would mean greater market competition and lower prices for us consumers.


This is of course in an idealistic world where companies will actually work for the intrest of its users, not its own wallet.
 

Trevor_S

Likes Dirt
It was posted in another thread, but what exactly are we trying to achieve by further commercialising MTB?
Better land/track access.. I can drive arounf town and see footy fields (pick any code) and sheds and grounds, $100,000's of support etc.

I beaver away with one or two guys every second weekend on mostly illegal tracks hoping our submission representing a handful of riders will be recognised by Government, just to get land access, not to get money to get other people to build it for me.

I don't think the "better products" arguments hold too much weight, there has been a constant evolution of product design and quality. I think there is enough critical mass of riders world wide for that now. For me, more exposure = better facilities = better land access & more tracks
 

24alpha

mtbpicsonline.com
Better land/track access.. I can drive arounf town and see footy fields (pick any code) and sheds and grounds, $100,000's of support etc.

I beaver away with one or two guys every second weekend on mostly illegal tracks hoping our submission representing a handful of riders will be recognised by Government, just to get land access, not to get money to get other people to build it for me.

I don't think the "better products" arguments hold too much weight, there has been a constant evolution of product design and quality. I think there is enough critical mass of riders world wide for that now. For me, more exposure = better facilities = better land access & more tracks
I agree with Trevor here. All I want is more places to ride. And who cares if ESPN picks up mountain biking in the next X Games. It hasn't hurt BMX, Skating, Surfing, Inline Skating, Skiing, Snowboarding etc etc.....:cool:
And I'll get to see more of it on TV.
 
Last edited:

Jack122

Banned
Getting our name out over the net, in this modern age is the best way to do it but getting younger ones (12-13) into it who can ride will help fark loads:).
 

ajay

^Once punched Jeff Kennett. Don't pick an e-fight
Better land/track access.. I can drive arounf town and see footy fields (pick any code) and sheds and grounds, $100,000's of support etc.

I beaver away with one or two guys every second weekend on mostly illegal tracks hoping our submission representing a handful of riders will be recognised by Government, just to get land access, not to get money to get other people to build it for me.

I don't think the "better products" arguments hold too much weight, there has been a constant evolution of product design and quality. I think there is enough critical mass of riders world wide for that now. For me, more exposure = better facilities = better land access & more tracks
Yeah, i agree with you on the "better products" front.

As for land access, I like the fact that MTB'ing is a secluded sort of sport. I cherish my solitude. So riding the few tracks that I do suits me just fine. It would be nice to have a vast array of track at my finger tips, but at the expense of my solitude and serenity? No way.

Im not "against" greater exposure per sé, but Id hate to see it get to the point that we've lost our little niche.

Keep it real.
 

RaID

Likes Bikes and Dirt
Yeah, i agree with you on the "better products" front.

As for land access, I like the fact that MTB'ing is a secluded sort of sport. I cherish my solitude. So riding the few tracks that I do suits me just fine. It would be nice to have a vast array of track at my finger tips, but at the expense of my solitude and serenity? No way.

Im not "against" greater exposure per sé, but Id hate to see it get to the point that we've lost our little niche.

Keep it real.
pretty much hit the nail on the head
if riding numbers increased dramatically so more legal trails were available (good quality trails), this would mean considerable large amounts of people on the trails. This would lead a small "core" of people to build illegal exclusive trails just so that they could get away from the masses which i think is what the sport is really about. We do it because its fun but partially because its not footy or cricket that every one else plays.

Look at skiing or snow boarding. Heaps of facilities everywhere around the world. But the best places to ride are still the backcountry bowls or powder tree runs where you dont have to share the trail with hundreds of people. You want get what other people cant get to you cant get in the resorts.
 

GravityGuru

Likes Bikes and Dirt
I personally don't see any weight to the "crowded trails" arguement... If more quality legal trails are built there will be a great range of trails available for everyone. If you want some peace and quiet get out there at 5am. And more easy to find, legal trails will mean less squids trying to find your... "personal selection" of "secret" trails
 

ajay

^Once punched Jeff Kennett. Don't pick an e-fight
I personally don't see any weight to the "crowded trails" arguement... If more quality legal trails are built there will be a great range of trails available for everyone. If you want some peace and quiet get out there at 5am. And more easy to find, legal trails will mean less squids trying to find your... "personal selection" of "secret" trails
If it got the point where suddenly there was all this access being granted to build more and more legal trails, then I would suggest that there would actually have be a large crowd to warrant such a move in the first place.

Oh, and 5am? some of us do actually have jobs/lives to attend to...
 

stevenw

Pro Rider
I've been involved with a few sporting organisations over the years and I've got to say that I can raise thousands of dollars for soccer or union, but MTB is a different story. I'm in the middle of trying to raise sponsorship for the National Series in November on the Gold Coast. Even though I have managed to get Prime TV, Fuel TV (Foxtel) and of course SBS to come out and film all the racing, I still can't get any major sponsorship happening. Even the local council won't throw money our way. All I can do is try to make this event in November hugh and hopefully the sponsors will throw money at me next year.

Grants would be an option if the track wasn't on private land. We are the Gold Coast Mountain bike club yet our track is in the Beaudesert Shire, so basically the Gold Coast Shire won't help because of where our track is situated. Beauy shire won't help becaue we are a Gold Coast club. I'm frustrated!

I'm doing my best to promote the sport but shit its hard work to promote the sport.
 
Top