Attack on the Xperts

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Neo
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Attack on the Xperts

Postby Neo » Sun Jul 22, 2007 8:15 pm

Hi all,

This is a subject that has troubled me for some time. But I’ve always felt it best to keep it to myself…But rightly or wrongly…today, here goes……


Let me start with a question….Do you have the be a selfish, arrogant, inconsiderate son of a bitch to become an Xpert?.....Apart from being young, is this what it takes to be one of the best?

Don’t get me wrong...I love watching the Xperts and I admire their skills. But being around their anti-community behaviour reminds me of being at an MX event.


More questions.

1. When was the last time you saw an Xpert, who had just received a round applause (for some death defying action),….actually say “thank you” to the people that had just applauded him?

2. When was the last time you saw an Xpert walk through a section and give advice to a junior on the best way to ride something?....I know in pushie Trials. The top riders are always advising the lower grades.

3. When was the last time you saw an Xpert ride (or have a conversation in a section) with anyone who was not an Xpert, just to be social?

4. When was the last time you saw an Xpert consider less capable riders, on route, or around a section?

5. And I’ve seen many Xperts use tips and tricks (on and off their bikes) that I never read about anywhere on this forum (in the past 3 years)….What’s the problem…are the Xperts concerned that sharing this information could increase their competition?

6. How many Xperts actually post anything (apart from “Bike for sales”) on this forum?


There are of course, Xperts who are “exceptions to the rule”. So if your'e an Xpert reading this, you might consider that you are that exception….but then again…. you might not.
And here’s an additional tip…..Top Sports people, who love their supporters, are loved BY thier supporters….for more reasons than one. Which kind of Xpert would you rather be on a bad day?


And one last question
If there were no other grades. And no one to admire and applaud. Would the Xperts still be the great people they are today? Most Xperts may be too young to understand this. But in life, you only get out, what you put in.


Best of balance.... to all non-Xperts….(because most Xperts don’t seem to need this gesture of good will).


Neo

PS…I’ll apologise in advance for offending anyone. But I just want some people to consider the impact of the way they behave in a Trials community.


"Nothing more and nothing less than the vision of success"..... Ryan Leech
"TRIALS....It's not life or death....It's much more serious than that!!".....

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Sherco H
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Postby Sherco H » Mon Jul 23, 2007 9:23 am

Hope your not mistaking the fact that these guys take their sport serious. Train, practice, and have a very strong will to win. A social chat in the middle of a section is very distracting, when you are trying to absorb every detail, and dare I say get into the" zone" where total concentration is the goal.
I`m sure Casey Stoner would have the same personality, if you wanted to have a chat to him on the start grid.Trials is no different.
Talk to any of the guys after the event, and I`m sure you`ll change your mind.
ShercoH


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bigdamo
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Postby bigdamo » Mon Jul 23, 2007 10:26 am

I saw a couple of Xpert's help a twin shocker up when he crashed in a section
at the wollongong club trial last month.

One Xpert let me in front of him in the queue while waiting to do a section.

I think they are just focussed on what they have to do.



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Postby Phoenix » Mon Jul 23, 2007 11:03 am

Obviously you haven't been to many Qld events

The Willcocks are very social giving every body pointers when the need it and even if we need catches they are always there to lend a hand and take the time out to do things for any rider


Frank van Heerden


VIVA MONTESA

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XPerts

Postby gmcdesign » Mon Jul 23, 2007 3:39 pm

By opening his post with the statement: Do you have the be a selfish, arrogant, inconsiderate son of a bitch to become an Xpert?.....Apart from being young, is this what it takes to be one of the best? Neo is obviously fresh from a run-in with a particular Expert/s. I detect a little envy here too (something to do with not acknowledging applause). For Neo to apply sweeping statements to a whole class of riders is pretty obnoxious. My own experience with Experts is not great admittedly, but I have not found them to be particularly antisocial or "anti-community" any more than other trials riders. In fact, the only bad experiences I've had were with people who take life too seriously and in these instances they were certainly not Experts. Experts do ride together, but this is reflected with other grades is it not? Trials riding is pretty intense as far as concentration is concerned and it worries me not that Experts are focussed on the job at hand. To be an Expert you would need a healthy competitive streak and this again is no different than any other sport as stated in the last post.

I'm not particularly religious but I quote: He who is without sin cast the first stone.
Perhaps Neo is without sin?

G.


Life is a trial.

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Postby CRAFTY » Mon Jul 23, 2007 4:38 pm

Neo,
As a past A grade rider the experts were ALL willing to help out it was just a matter of asking (obviously not in the middle of a state title event). Kevin and Colin Zar, Mick Byrne, the Willcox boys, Tomo, Trevor Campbell, Dylan Rees have all been a fantastic help at some time or another, as have many more. Maybe you would get a better response from expert riders if YOU were less of a knob and kept your dribble to yourself.
Glenn.



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Postby bigdamo » Mon Jul 23, 2007 5:10 pm

I once asked a Xpert if the Sharks could ever win a Premiership and he said

"The sharks will never win a Premiership"

I found that rude and hurtful :shock:



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Postby Neo » Mon Jul 23, 2007 9:26 pm

Hi all,

My opening lines were indented to shock and motivate the replies… so that’s worked well so far.
But speculating about “run-in with a particular Expert” or “a little envy” (leading to revenge) is way off track. Except for the fact that I would like to ride the magic way that they do :lol:

Look, I appreciate all your feedbacks. And I even understand the reasons for the insults. But please be aware that I am talking about anti-Trials-community, not anti-social behaviour. I’m not saying that they don’t ever talk to anyone away from the sections (Howard I know this aligns with what you’re saying). I’m just saying that a lot of them don’t often contribute to the less-skilled, competing, Trials community. That admires them so much (yes that includes me too).
And I personally don’t compete. So I’ve got no gripes here away.

As mentioned, in pushbike Trials, even though these guys are a mainly a young community. The top riders are always helping and advising the lower grades.

And many times, in other sports. Top players show appreciation for the support they are given. Because these player know that it will come back to them again in the future.

Bigdamo….I appreciate and respect your first post. I really only have exposure to Xperts in NSW….so it's quite likely that they are different in different states.
Within any group of people, there is a tendency to do-as-some-do. And a group tends to behave the same way a few individuals, in that group, behave (good or bad).

I repeat my apology for offending anyone. But please keep your feed-back coming. Even if it is just insults towards me….I don’t mind…at least you get it off your chest.


Oh, and it would be great to hear a reply from any Xpert …. defensive or supportive of this claim.


Best of balance.

Neo

PS..This may be dribble to some and brain-storming to others. But it may just be a seed of inspiration to those Xperts that really have the Trials Community in their hearts. :wink:


"Nothing more and nothing less than the vision of success"..... Ryan Leech
"TRIALS....It's not life or death....It's much more serious than that!!".....

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Postby BJ » Tue Jul 24, 2007 8:46 am

Neo

I can't agree with you on this one at all. The person that has bothered to come to my place and ride the most, give advice on riding and engine tuning, suspension setup and general technique is Matt Newland. He's taking a year or two off now but until last year was one of only five X's in the state. I might say all the help he has given me hasn't helped much because he says my problems stem from a lack of something that would make my voice deeper :oops:

At events I talk to all the Experts (and they talk back) and find them ready to have a good laugh (usually at me). We don't bother sharing to many tips on air turns and wheel hops because they know the closest I'll ever get is a video. I often see Dylan Rees, Tommo and Trev Campbell spending a lot of time with talented juniors and there is always an Expert ready to turn up at a coaching day.

I would say that most experts are not good to get advice from about riding sections for low grade riders. Why, because they often forget that we have very little skill when compared to them. What an expert takes for granted is usually the basic skills we aspire to acquire. It won't help much being told that small rocks roll when ridden over and not to put your foot down. We know that but do it anyway. It also doesn't help much when an expert tells you to aim for a particular point because it will give the best line if your eyes are closed!

I can't say I have had too many bad experiances with Experts but some of their parents can be a problem :roll:


BJ
Gone over to the Dark Side for a bit!!!!
http://www.parlagully.com

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Postby Steve Holzhauser » Tue Jul 24, 2007 1:15 pm

Hi Neo and all,

You sure put your thoughts straight out there Neo, but as the replys indicate I bet all Experts would gladly give their advice and guidance, but it is a matter of timing.
The great thing being around and riding since early days is knowing pretty well all the guns this country has produced.
The last 17 years in particular riding with these current A and Expert boys, as they have progressed, really gives you an insight to their make up.Some have a real pissed off attitude to themselve when its not happening, whereas others are not afraid to ask for a little advice even though their skills are far superior.
The most common characteristic that I have found in all that I have been involved with, is their love of what they do so well, and they are without exception all pretty good blokes.
Under the watchful eye of their fathers and in a lot of case their mothers, the pleasure of seeing the devopement of these little kids on TY 80s progress to be National title holders ,Kevin Z, Kale Reed, Colin Z even back as far as a young full of confidence Shane Mitchell arriving at an event on his shiny new red Montesa with the will to conquer anything put in his path.Then there is Rick Kent with the larrikan flare and his trade mark bandana, and a little stick of determination Lee Dreissens who would just not lay down no matter how many times you had to pick him up, start his full size bike, put him back on it and see him battle on.
There are many others still riding and others who no longer compete that come to mind, Peter Paice is to me, without a doubt a rider whos presence and manner, as well as his tremendous riding skills that are a standout, he always had a guiding hand or a quick chat for anyone.

Neo, the pity of being at an open event to watch them compete, is you rarely ever get to see the relaxed side of the best most talented riders because they are always pretty much focessed on the sections their are trying to tame.
So dont be too hard in your judgement, and if you have the opportunity to see them at a club day or better still, get along to a trials schooling day and see the side that is not always on display, you will more than likely have a change of heart !
Your question 6 is one that I understand , I do not blame any of the top experts for not pening a few lines, as it seem the replys and taunts that seem to flow on is really not worth the aggro.

Steve.




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