No Slopestyle at Sea Otter in 07

[cam@nsmb.com]

I'm pretty disappointed by this.

Here is the gloomy news. (http://www.nsmb.com/shore_news/seaotter1_03_07.php)

[connor]

That's pretty lame on the organizer's part..

[Lady Gravity]

huh
and here i was considering taking a roadtrip this year. oh well, maybe next year.

[FlipFantasia]

whatever, sea otter is still sea otter! everyones gaga for slopestyle, give me the deep berm dual slalom action anyday over the aforementioned....

[Mic]

I remember that a reporter once said that the SeaOtter is the season starter. Maybe I am wrong, but ever thought about how serious this is for the so-called "freeriders" and its industry?
Djing is nice, but not the same.

I am a bit disappointed.

[DanB]

Aah, that sucks. I'm going down this year to shoot it and was hoping for something a little more interesting.

[shirk]

dirt jumping is Slopestyle's ugly, predictable cousin

I couldn't agree more.

[BRT]

To bad for Sea Otter. Pretty dicey conditions for a slopestyle comp. The DJ comp has always been plagued by high winds and soft muddy dirt. Luckily Slopestyle contests have spread all over the world filling just about every weekend for the entire summer. Just imagine the star riders/film makers trying to put a film/segment together(Busy)! It would be the media event of the year to have one at Monterey though... Thanks for the well written news update Cam, bet yah saved some slopestyle fans some gas money and dissappointment.

[IFO]

i totally know how u feel Cam..

i feel much the same way about Whistla this upcoming season..

with what has been happenign up on teh Garbo expansion cuz of Oly. preperations, has left me wondering if im gunna even bother with a seasons pass this year...

ima prolly just day trip it up there a few times and find something else to fill my weekends riding with instead..

the loss of No joke has really affected my desire to travel all the way to Whistla...

must admit i find the lower park to small now, and original sin just doesnt have the "Flow" that No joke offered..

p.s. no Cypress park again this year really conpounds the problem to.. 8-(

[FlipFantasia]

the loss of No joke has really affected my desire to travel all the way to Whistla...

must admit i find the lower park to small now, and original sin just doesnt have the "Flow" that No joke offered..

p.s. no Cypress park again this year really conpounds the problem to.. 8-(
rip no joke.....I've been scouring my digi topo data and bikepark trail coverage, I think I've found a possible spot for a new trail that wouldn't cross anything else....and could be built with megaflow in mind.....now just gotta float it to the powers that be......

[IFO]

AWESOME...

u got my vote 8-)

[ito]

That's pretty lame on the organizer's part..

Not really. I've seen attempts to "up the ante" on the DH course and they always fall way short of the average. I can't really imagine the SOC organization getting the funding or a designer for the course in time. I could see it in two years, maybe next year, but I doubt it.

I also question SOC as the right venue for a Slopestyle. I don't care what Cam says, the size of hills in the area really aren't big enough for a true Slopestyle. There isn't enough elevation change and you have to remember that this area isn't dedicated to biking. Shipping in tons of dirt and making massive wood scaffoldings is pretty damn tough when you only have a week or two to build and limits on how much permanent change you could do to the area (as it is now they barely get the DJ's in time for the jump jam). I'm sure SOC brings in money to Laguna Seca, but I doubt they want their hillsides torn up for one event.

Also, weather is an issue. Last year was a mud fest. Horrible trail conditions, no one was happy. How do you throw a Slopestyle comp when people can barely ride a bike down the hill without getting stuck in mud? Also high winds always keep the DJ jam pretty tame. Any decent course would be too high up on the hillside for wind protection. The weather would be unpredictable and should the comp get cancelled then the SOC committee would be out a ton of money.

You can't blame the organizers for failing to pull off the near impossible. Personally I think that the industry is beginning to outgrow SOC. I for one won't be going this year, doubtful about next year (despite attending for the past 6 years). It is huge, but nothing is ever new. I'd much rather attend Crankworx. Things always seem to grow there. Don't get me wrong, the SOC is a remarkable event, but it isn't going to be able to embrace freeride/slopstyle the way you want it to without some serious changes.

The Ito

Edit: Cam, thanks for the solid reporting, we all appreciate it.

[redsdisease]

I'm not surprised, just a little bit upset that they would send out press releases about it when they must have known that it was an impossibility. It seems extremely unprofessional to me.

[BRT]

redsdisease - SOC actually had a designer and building team lined up, seems like they saw the light before they poured the money into it. Putting a good slopestyle course together is not a walk in the park and conditions need to be perfect. Plenty of contests this season to make up for it.

[BRT]

Been down in Cali building what promises to be the best DJ line Sea Otter has ever seen. Not a slopestyle, but these jumps are really big and the drop off the red bull start tower is all time. Cowan, Tom and I are stoked with our finished product. Let the fun begin!

[Mic]

YES!!!!! Even if i do not really consider myself a huge fan of dj'ing...this looks killer. Finally - have seen that one at bmx comps years ago. anyways, good to see to kinda up the comp. :)

[menehune]

that looks great!

[cam@nsmb.com]

That looks cool. I have decided to go down after all so I'll be sure to report back on the action.