OT: Paris 2024 Summer Olympics: Games of the XXXIII Olympiad

[Appleyard]

What is funny is Dyrdek's baby... the Street League, is dying... the Olympics were supposed to bring more money and eyes and instead:

It is now partnered with a right wing linked streaming platform and losing more and more money! With probably the worst prize money that has ever been for a top tier skate contest...

and where is the money going? Yeh... less into skaters pockets with brands dying constantly, parks closing all the time, great shops shutting down, and less pro skaters able to live. Japan is basically the only place it is growing...

the amount of money it makes is actually increasing... but that is mainly just due to price increases and a lot of that money is going into the pockets of people outside of skateboarding.


Someone like Jimmy Carlin basically had to retire at 32 years old because skating could not pay the bills... when he was an incredibly creative, enjoyable skater to watch with a personality.

Someone like David Gravette, who is incredibly talented and very creative, has basically become an internet personality to stay in the industry and make a living.

Just a very weird time these last ~6-8 years for skating tbh.

 

[Flybynite]

It really is a format that basically makes the sport more like synchronised swimming than something more "pure" and creative. World Skate have really made it less interesting with the format.

The individual tricks counting for 66.6% of the total score is a comedy show... just a joke. Why even bother doing anything fun and creative in your run when you can just learn 2 tricks and nail them every time and medal!

It favours people with less repertoire and less style. At least some of the best skaters in the world are good enough to still do very, very well...

X Games 18 minute jam with 8 competitors and 3x 0:45 runs where run is over if you go down 2x is the way, way better in terms of cream rising to the top.

And yeh, the individual tricks is not even that good to watch. As it is just basically trying the one trick that is hardest. It was fun years ago in Street League but yeh, getting a bit jaded. Have a f***ing video competition for best trick Gold Medal lmao.

For the entirety of skateboarding history from the 1960s until 2015? This format would have been laughed at... but Rob Drydek has basically single handedly changed the way street comps are ran at the top level and in turn the Olympics were swayed by that format.

And the 2023 changes? Just take it in an even worse direction.

Especially as the "actual" best tricks on earth? Take maybe 100 tries to land in terms of being innovative so will never be in an Olympics.

The result is like if a soccer game was:

30 minutes of 11 vs 11 action... that counts for 33% of the score.
10 penalties for each team, with only ones that go in the net counting, and the ones that go in being counted based on how cool they look lmao.

It is just, well, not really the best advert for skating or one that promotes actual style and creativity.

I agree with a lot of what you said...

As someone who has watched x-games stuff live and in person, I can't imagine how much more boring the format is with what the Olympics has gone with. There's no real pace or flow to the competition at all.

 

[Flybynite]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1817590809400885682

South Korea's women archers keep their streak intact. They have won the gold medal in women's team archery every year since it was first introduced at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

 

[swami24]

Winter Olympics 2010 didn’t a guy die in the luge?

I can remember the video. Ugh

 

[Beef Invictus]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1817590809400885682

South Korea's women archers keep their streak intact. They have won the gold medal in women's team archery every year since it was first introduced at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

They're stone cold snipers. It's always a battle for silver.


Latvian women's beach duo starts tomorrow I think. One of several Latvian teams I stand for. For such a small country, Latvia does routinely churn out teams that will give much larger countries all they can handle

 

[trostol]

interesting about 2028

Lacrosse will be sixes..which I wasn't even aware of...looks interesting though

Cricket of course will be T20..which I think could take off if people understood cricket more

Hurling should totally be in there as IRL should be

 

[MacDonald4MVP]

Yeh, I like Remco's mentality. He could do with improving his bike handling but he has got better... some winter cyclocross would help aha. His descending at least improved from where it was two years ago.

But enjoy riders who have some panache and balls. Ben Healy right now might be my favourite rider due to that. He would probably have won more if he was smarter... but he just says f*** it and attacks and tried the spectacular. Hopefully he can one day fluke an LBL or maybe even Lombardia win, and potentially a WC suits him one day. Looking forward to seeing what he tried in the Road Race... as he is a poor finisher so needs to be in a reduced group to have a chance (and not be alongside WvA or MvDP).

Remco also does similar.

I used to like van Aert more but so often he tried to play things safe... and also is awful at positioning self in sprints so loses a lot when he should win. Though unreal how good an all-rounder he is. Defies belief still.

Well said. Also unless one gets to watch sprint finish live and witness what kind of insanity it is, then they'll will never truly appreciate the likes of Sagan when it comes to positioning. I mean there's always a bunch of second tier sprinters literally fighting at 60-70kph for one or two wheels in mass sprints and that takes balls. Also that's why pogi is so beloved, because his approach is nothing like sky trains of the past.

 

[Curufinwe]

The first two days have been great, apart from the disappointment of New Zealand not getting to the semifinals in the rugby. If you’re in the US and have Peacock or NBC Sports you can basically watch any event live. Right now I’m watching watching the USA v Czechia in beach volleyball.

 

[Appleyard]

Well said. Also unless one gets to watch sprint finish live and witness what kind of insanity it is, then they'll will never truly appreciate the likes of Sagan when it comes to positioning. I mean there's always a bunch of second tier sprinters literally fighting at 60-70kph for one or two wheels in mass sprints and that takes balls. Also that's why pogi is so beloved, because his approach is nothing like sky trains of the past.

Funnily enough I was at the Volta a Portugal finish 2 days ago in Lisbon aha.

Slight uphill sprint finish on the edge of the city centre. Was fun even though ofc not the Volta of old quality wise anymore.

It makes me laugh that people express disbelief that Cav won in the Giro last year and that Tour stage this year... when so many other sprints he does not even contest or cant match the top ~5-8 guys anymore. He has won everything the last 2-3 years JUST with positioning and smarts. Why he is the greatest sprinter ever... others always pushed more watts but his bravery alongside instinct of which wheel and how to surf is incredible. For me he is more of a rough around the edges artist than the blunt instrument many who are not as invested see him as.

Cav could race until he is 50 and still win the odd pro race if he wanted to. He does not even need to hit 1000w average over a 15-20 second sprint to win... he is just that smart, and a very aero sprinter.

I actually NEED to get a decent road bike here. Have hardly ridden for more than a year and gave my bike to my little brother as he is at Uni and needed it and it was rotting in a shed. (plus I want to race a sprint triathlon in a few weeks and would prefer to have my own bike than rent one)

2nd hand market is not as good here as in the UK though...

have seen a few decent Orbea Orca's M30 105's for under 1000, but 2nd hand carbon frames scare me when buying online. f*** it would scare me in person.

Have actually seem an Orca M32 Ultegra for around 750... BUT the owner has put carbon wheels on it, on rim brakes, and it looks a bit suspect so my guess is they treated it like shit and might not be as good as an older M30 105 if so.

And given the amount I will ride and where there is no point spending too much. I have half a mind just to get a Van Rysel EDR AF 105/Centaur... I do like Campagnolo more than Shimano but know if anything goes wrong then I am bankrupt with Campy ahahahaha.

 

[MacDonald4MVP]

Funnily enough I was at the Volta a Portugal finish 2 days ago in Lisbon aha.

Slight uphill sprint finish on the edge of the city centre. Was fun even though ofc not the Volta of old quality wise anymore.

It makes me laugh that people express disbelief that Cav won in the Giro last year and that Tour stage this year... when so many other sprints he does not even contest or cant match the top ~5-8 guys anymore. He has won everything the last 2-3 years JUST with positioning and smarts. Why he is the greatest sprinter ever... others always pushed more watts but his bravery alongside instinct of which wheel and how to surf is incredible. For me he is more of a rough around the edges artist than the blunt instrument many who are not as invested see him as.

Cav could race until he is 50 and still win the odd pro race if he wanted to. He does not even need to hit 1000w average over a 15-20 second sprint to win... he is just that smart, and a very aero sprinter.

I actually NEED to get a decent road bike here. Have hardly ridden for more than a year and gave my bike to my little brother as he is at Uni and needed it and it was rotting in a shed. (plus I want to race a sprint triathlon in a few weeks and would prefer to have my own bike than rent one)

2nd hand market is not as good here as in the UK though...

have seen a few decent Orbea Orca's M30 105's for under 1000, but 2nd hand carbon frames scare me when buying online. f*** it would scare me in person.

Have actually seem an Orca M32 Ultegra for around 750... BUT the owner has put carbon wheels on it, on rim brakes, and it looks a bit suspect so my guess is they treated it like shit and might not be as good as an older M30 105 if so.

And given the amount I will ride and where there is no point spending too much. I have half a mind just to get a Van Rysel EDR AF 105/Centaur... I do like Campagnolo more than Shimano but know if anything goes wrong then I am bankrupt with Campy ahahahaha.

Good luck with your race. Seen couple of frames absolutely wrecked by seemingly innocent crashes. Takes a smallest crack and frame can go at any time. I never had issues with carbon bikes myself, but that was pre pandy and I was 10k lighter. However first time riding on a carbon fork was a game changer to such extent I could never imagine it possible. As far as Van Rysel bikes go I haven't heard a bad thing and even old bwin brand had some decent gravel builds.

Buddy who worked in bike shop showed me around once and had me switching bottom brackets changing gear cables without a second thought. Ever since then I've done all the maintenance myself, which saves a lot more than expected. I think it took like two years for the tools to pay themselves off.

Used to have 2 or 3 bikes at a time, but then everything got stolen including the tools that were in the shed. After that I rebuilt my trusty old mtb my dad had laying in his garage. It was probably the first bike I had fitted so still rides great and I'm having so much joy on trails again. Even odd 100k ride here and there since I have lockout suspension.

Overall I'm a huge fan of buying second hand. Just have to really inspect the frame, so many of them can be ever so slightly bent. And avoid specialized like a plague, but that's just my personal experience.

 

[Beef Invictus]

The Child, just now, watching the uneven bars:

"I like this part because you could die"

 

[Jack Straw]

The Child, just now, watching the uneven bars:

"I like this part because you could die"

Has she watched any fencing?

 

[Beef Invictus]

Has she watched any fencing?

NO ugh. I love fencing but I haven't seen it on yet

 

[Jack Straw]

NO ugh. I love fencing but I haven't seen it on yet

It's been on Peacock. I think the individual events are done, team events will be coming up. US women took gold and silver in foil.

 

[Appleyard]

Toledo vs Stairmand in the surfing last night was insane. The last 10 minutes of the heat were just preposterous. Try and watch it if you can.

One of the best head to head events so far in the Olympics. And Toledo is not known for his barrel surfing.


Florence being drawn vs Robinson this early is a bit annoying. Two of the best five in the world and one will be gone before the quarters... probably Robinson as he is not quite as good a pipe surfer Florence is.

Hilariously Italo Ferreira (reigning Olympic champion) won the WSL event at Teahupo'o just a few months ago but did not qualify aha.

 

[DancingPanther]

Toledo vs Stairmand in the surfing last night was insane. The last 10 minutes of the heat were just preposterous. Try and watch it if you can.

One of the best head to head events so far in the Olympics. And Toledo is not known for his barrel surfing.


Florence being drawn vs Robinson this early is a bit annoying. Two of the best five in the world and one will be gone before the quarters... probably Robinson as he is not quite as good a pipe surfer Florence is.

Hilariously Italo Ferreira (reigning Olympic champion) won the WSL event at Teahupo'o just a few months ago but did not qualify aha.

Was there bare ass on the screen again? If not, then it's nothing to me

 

[Appleyard]

Rafa's commitment to not shaving his head is commendable.

Been clinging on for a good 10 years now...

 

[Appleyard]

Also... hope Pidcock can win today.

Crazy his versatility.

Best Cross-country Mountainbiker in the world.
3rd best Cyclo-cross rider in the world.
Top 10 Classics rider in the world.
Top 20 Climbers in the world.
Top 20 GC guys in the world.

He is 24 years old and should win his 2nd Olympic Mountain Bike Gold today.

Though do feel like he should probably start to specialise more, especially in the classics. On paper he should be able to win a few Monuments and maybe complete the entire Ardennes Classics set and contend for many of the Flemish Classics...

 

[Appleyard]

Pidcock is absurd in XC...

lost 40 seconds with a puncture as had to get a wheel change.

Somehow clawed it all back in just 3 laps... and then as soon as gets to the leader he attacks him over the top.

He makes the other world class XC MTB guys look like 2nd rate riders, when he probably only rides a Mountain bike about 10x a year lmao.

 

[Flybynite]

The size difference between this skateboarding final heat is nuts.

Ginwoo Onodera of Japan looks 90 pounds soaking wet.
Cordano Russell of Canada is 6'3/230.

 

[ellja3]

They're stone cold snipers. It's always a battle for silver.


Latvian women's beach duo starts tomorrow I think. One of several Latvian teams I stand for. For such a small country, Latvia does routinely churn out teams that will give much larger countries all they can handle

Lessgo! Countdown: 30 minutes.

On this topic, our 3x3 Basketball guys start tomorrow.

 

[Appleyard]

Ribeiro f***ed up so badly today. Also kind of a comedy show as he got blocked off by a camera-man lmfao in his 2nd run and had to re-do it when was nailing it.

Probably should have got a medal based on talent... or been damn close and did not male the final.

His issue was actually trying to ride the runs with some creativity and hard stuff thrown in lmao. As he bailed on both his runs (after being impeded and getting a re-do at his 2nd run) so no matter what he did in the tricks he could not qualify aha.

Should have been more tactical (since it was just quali) with this format (sadly) and just mailed in a run of ~80 or so as he will always get ~180 in the tricks section.

 

[Appleyard]

Nyjah might have just won this.

Now he is a bit of a jock-twat skater and the whole sex assault rumours thing and promoting ponzi schemes for self gain makes me dislike him more.

But jeez is he a good skater.

Albeit the Michael Jackson of skateboarding too with his Dad Adeyemi being such a f***ing loser who was abusive to him to just try and live his own skateboarding dreams vicariously though him.

Yuto looks shook which is rare.

280 is a very, very hard score to get.

All Tury does is heel-flips lmao. Not nice looking ones either.

 

[Danko]

Ribeiro f***ed up so badly today. Also kind of a comedy show as he got blocked off by a camera-man lmfao in his 2nd run and had to re-do it when was nailing it.

Probably should have got a medal based on talent... or been damn close and did not male the final.

His issue was actually trying to ride the runs with some creativity and hard stuff thrown in lmao. As he bailed on both his runs (after being impeded and getting a re-do at his 2nd run) so no matter what he did in the tricks he could not qualify aha.

Should have been more tactical (since it was just quali) with this format (sadly) and just mailed in a run of ~80 or so as he will always get ~180 in the tricks section.

He was so pissed

 

[Appleyard]

He was so pissed

Sad as he is one of the more "likeable" comp skaters. (Luan Oliveira is a great guy but not here and does not seem to do contests much anymore... Milou seems chill too, Joslin seems nice... and then Ishod when he still properly skated street is ofc a boss, Kyle Walker)

Lots of the comp skaters are pretty jockish and arrogant... and while the Japanese are not they are kind of, well, a bit boring albeit incredible.

Tury is also super likeable but damn he has an awful style.

Yuto deserved to win... best comp skater in the world. And outside of Tury maybe most likeable guy in the final.

But they were some inflated scores across the board towards the end.