Dak Needs A Sealant Sponsor (And a Bike Sponsor) - B Practice Podcast - MSA Recap
MSA, what a way to end the season. Grueling and daunting, it's a track that other venues will forever be compared against. It feels wrong that this could be the last World Cup at Mont Sainte Anne for a long time (if not ever). At least the final send-off race was one to remember. For our crew, it was memorable because our guy Dak, against a lot of odds, slotted himself into 4th place less than a year after a life-altering injury. We couldn't be prouder. In this episode, we chat about Dak's program (or lack thereof) going into the off-season, Jackson doing Jackson things to take the overall title, the current rider pool being so deep, tire sealant tips, Rampage thoughts, and what type of content is even engaging these days. Thanks for listening and supporting the podcast this season!
--------
1:37:44
--------
1:37:44
You Can't Beat Racing At Home - Lake Placid World Cup Recap with Dak Norton and Dante Silva
The B Practice podcast returns! There was a lot of racing the past six weeks or so. Our main man Dak was busy globetrotting and facilitating one hell of a comeback. So we can't be too upset about his lack of availability. Thankfully, we sat down this week to chat about some DH racing and were joined by special guest Dante Silva. We kept the conversation laid-back per usual, breaking down the unpredictable track from Lake Placid, how Dante and Dak's weekends went, what winning the U.S. Open for the third time meant to Dak, Dante's switch from racing World Cups to being a US-only racer this season, and plenty of other topics. We hope you enjoy this episode, and thanks as always for tuning in!
--------
2:03:32
--------
2:03:32
Why Have So Many Bike Companies Closed in the Last Two Years?
Two years ago to the day, Vital member, contributor and finance specialist, Jeff Brines, posted a question in our forum, "Will more companies be shutting down in the next 12-24 months?" A small, but exciting mountain bike brand, Guerrilla Gravity, surprisingly announced it was closing, and the rest of the industry was in the wake of the Covid boom. It was a dynamic time with plenty of uncertainty ahead, so the question Jeff asked was very relevant and our community was engaged.Fast-forward to today and that forum thread has 414,000 views and over 3,100 replies as the Vital community has followed the topic every day for the last two years. At the request of the thread's participants, we honor the anniversary of the topic as Shawn Spomer, Vital Content Director and Charlie Sponsel, Vital contributor, catch up with Jeff to look back and reflect on the health of the bike industry today and to speculate what may happen going forward.THANK YOU to all Vital MTB members who have participated in this discussion. We're honored to have such a fantastic community of bike riders on our platform.The one-year anniversary podcast with Jeff can be found hereThank you to FOX | Maxxis Tires | Jenson USA for supporting The Inside Line
--------
2:03:26
--------
2:03:26
Dak + Mud = Work in Progress - Vital’s B Practice Podcast From Les Gets
Les Gets is now the unofficial Mud Fest of season after back-to-back years of treacherous conditions. It was a spectacle to watch, and delivered a mix of insane bike handling skills and unfortunate mishaps that could have overall point implications as we get to the end of the season. Dakotah Norton breaks down what it was like to go to battle with such an unpredictable track and the bike changes needed to survive. The crew always debates rotor guards, wireless DH drivetrains, and Joe Breeden's 'Get a Grip' bar ends, stand-out rides from the weekend, Dak's #doitforDale Worlds bike, and thoughts on who could take the rainbow stripes in Champery this weekend. Enjoy!Thank you Maxxis and Burgtec for supporting the B Practice Podcast!
--------
1:25:02
--------
1:25:02
The Man Behind the #USDH Race Replays - Michael The Mangler McQueen
Thanks to Maxxis Tires | FOX | Jenson USA for supporting The Inside LineThis Inside Line podcast episode, recorded at the Pro Downhill Series in Solitude, Utah, features Shawn Spomer from Vital MTB interviewing Michael McQueen—better known as “The Mangler”—about his pivotal but often behind-the-scenes role in U.S. downhill racing coverage. McQueen shares the origins of his nickname from his BMX days, his North Carolina roots, and his background in professional broadcasting, including work with NASCAR.He explains how his DIY BMX filming ethos, combined with big-network experience, led him to refine the race replay format that has become a cornerstone of U.S. downhill media. The discussion highlights the enormous logistics behind capturing and editing race footage—from assembling crews and cameras to coordinating with regional series—and contrasts his storytelling style with World Cup broadcasts. McQueen’s story underscores how passion, persistence, and community collaboration have fueled the growth of U.S. downhill coverage.
México