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[i]First of all: this is a somewhat commercially motivated question, so please feel free not to contribute or to blame me for misusing this forum. The later is not the intention as I hope that the topic is interesting for other users, too.[/i]
Which female or male biker would you recommend as a guest speaker for an international brand conference? He or she is preferably a current or former active racer (gravity preferred but not a must) with some VIP-appeal. Sporting success would be great, charisma is more important though. Topic of the speech should be to introduce the audience (international brand managers and general managers) to the sport of mountainbiking, e.g. the essence of going for a ride, the lifestyle around cycling, different styles of biking, major innovations and at the end of the speech open questions.
Writing this it could also be a journalist. So I extend the questions a little:
if not a racer, which journalist or other 'bike person' would you recommend for the same job?
Many thanks for any contribution!
hock
the copyright manager for Specialized
Steve Peat.
Fabian Barel.
So you are trying to introduce a sport with soul at its heart, to a group of international brand managers, a group whom one assumes are the very definition of soulless?
Good luck with that.
🙂
T-Mo is very articulate and professional (not to mention successful).
And she's dabbled in other discplines as well as transitioning very well from DH to Enduro - which may offer a useful business message for your clients.
Warner!!!
CG or/and Steve
Rob warner. Would be perfect
Dr Steve Peat
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Fabien Barel - multiple world champion, great presenter, very engaging guy in real life. Look up his "Fab Barel presents...." video series online.
Kenny van Vlaminck, of course.
Tony Doyle?
I find him fascinating to listen to and what he has to say applies to more than just mountain biking.
Tracey Mosley, as above successful and articulate
Sven Martin would be good.
GW.
8)
Tracey Mosley, as above successful and articulate
Agreed. Nicest pro I've ever met too.
Hora
Me.
I haven't won much (anything...3rd last in 2001 Resolven Dragon Downhill is a highlight) but I'm cheap.
Stephen Hawkins
How about Josh Bryceland 🙂
Guy Martin? He has the enthusiasm
Guy Martin is a character and does have a passion but **** I don't have a clue what hes saying. He speaks like he rides 😆
Whereas Michael Dunlop is the opposite 😀
No mentions of Rachel Atherton?
Bearclaw?
Definitely Guy Martin. At least the audience may have heard of him (even if they can't understand him).
Humbled by such names linked to our passion, looks like OP is spoilt for choice.
Sam Hill
Danny Hart
[quote=Onzadog ]Tony Doyle?
I find him fascinating to listen to and what he has to say applies to more than just mountain biking.
I'd agree. If I wanted a non-corporate type speaker but still good to motivate etc (and he'd do it) I'd get Jedi like a shot.
It's got to be either Tracey Mosley or Rob Warner, or both as a double act?
Of those suggested I think any one of Tracey Moseley, Steve Peat or Fabien Barel would be excellent choices.
Alternatively how about Danny McAskill? He can turn his hand to all sorts of riding, has worked in the bicycle trade and is probably known by more people than any other UK MTB rider.
A few other to throw out there - Chris Akrigg, Hans Rey, Brian Lopes, John Tomac, Nick Craig
Warner!
I rode with Guy Martin last week...didn't know who he was at the time...nice chap...with lots of energy & enthusiasm!
Spoilt for coice! 🙂 MANY thanks indeed!
Have Tracy, Pete, Barel on the top of my list now.
Time schedule-wise some of the 'not racing so much anymore' might be interetsing, too.
What about Ned Overend?
Guy Martin might not be corporate enough... 😉
Missy Giove neither.
I "witnessed" an interview/QandA session at ShAFF in 2011, where Rob Warner was the host interviewing Steve Peat. IMO they were totally unprepared and fairly unprofessional. Off the back of that I wouldn't recommend either of them, but maybe they had an off day.
Magnus Backstedt always comes over really well when he's on Eurosport.
Warner would be at the bottom of my list for exactly the reason above.
Really depends on what kind of image you want the speaker to portray. If you want MTBing as bad ass with accompanying foul language then Warner is your man! If you want someone to appeal to the corporate mentality and show the professional side to the sport then I would agree with Fabien Barel or what about Martin Whiteley of 23 Degrees sport management for the insight into the behind the scenes of a MTB racing team?
Rob Warner is out for above mentioned reasons.
I want someone who can introduce people from a corporate world to the scene of a sport like biking. So they need to bridge between the two world a little.
wade simmons. lovely guy and articulate as well as sooooo good on a bike
Lance Armstrong.
Nick Craig has a good cv. Danny MacAskill comes across well in interviews too.
No one here will come up with the right answer without knowing the following;
Target Audience (for the brand), clothes, Personal care, hardware, equipment..?
Target Geographics, it's no well saying International, as having seen all this second hand (missus was Brand Manager at BIG FMCG)International marketing always has to be geared towards the largest common denominator.
Money - there will be an unrealistically low price coming out of someones budget for this.
Se you've also said "like biking", this to me says you have many more appropriate options to choose from, get some one with some Olympic golds would be my advise.
Marc Weir?!
Mark Beaumont? Not strictly mountain biking but would no doubt be a great speaker.
@Sui:
- not looking for a testimonial, thus target group is not the point really
- it's not about selling someone a product but about giving an insight into a different world
- most well-known olympic golds would probably be beyond budget
Thanks anyway! 😉
Pimpmaster Jazz - Member
Lance Armstrong
Sorry, don't walk into a thread and smear the bottom of your shoe against some great suggestions. Now go and scrape that shit off your shoe!
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rob warner
I'd be looking at someone with either an Olympic reputation (if you get the right one the price isn't going to be too bad) or one of the expedition climbers. We've had some cracking speakers at the local lecture series, best by some distance was Eric Boomer but I think you've missed him being here.
If no one knows them, and that covers any mtbers then they need to be really engaging or have a really good story to tell.
[b]warner for the win![/b]
hopefully his ripped groin has recovered from this cheeky stunt I was showing him..although this could also be the source of his swearing the past seasons!
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Minaaaar, Yah Bru!
What about Robert Penn (He wrote 'Its all about the bike')? I think he talks at all sorts of events and comes across as a pretty interesting fella. Easy to get hold of through Twitter as well and probably a damn sight cheaper that a lot of the big names. Not a racer but has just done a big ride with Freddie Flintoff.
If gravity discipline not essestial then I was going to suggest Nick Craig as above, or Oli Beckingsdale.
T-Mo is very articulate and professional (not to mention successful).And she's dabbled in other discplines as well as transitioning very well from DH to Enduro - which may offer a useful business message for your clients.
+1 or maybe Kathy Sessler, possibly more interesting as ahe's made the transition form Racer to Team managment in what is TBH quite a "Male" sport still...
Hannah Barnes
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Adam Brayton
Marc Weir?!
Great rider and seems like a character, but will your audience relate better to somebody who's got the achievement of being a world champion and/or world cup series winner?
And wouldn't it be pricey to fly him in from the US? This is in the UK isn;t it?
If you've got a blank chequebook, consider Jared Graves too. 4X legend, BMX Olympian, Enduro machine, DH world championship bronze medalist.
Also seems v down to earth from his blogs.
Sorry, don't walk into a thread and smear the bottom of your shoe against some great suggestions. Now go and scrape that shit off your shoe!
😆
He has a great story and is very eloquent speaker!
(Not to mention short of a penny or two)
Dan Atherton seems to be able to both develop independant thoughts, and express them, not to mention having an interesting career and having done a huge range of events.
If it's the corporate side you want then how about one of the team managers (Kathy Sessler -Santa Cruz Syndicate or Dan Brown -Atherton Racing) or someone from Hope, Orange etc?
What about Mike Hall?
Held the round-the-world cycle record and also Tour Divide record holder. Plenty of solid 24hr solo results including a win at Strathpuffer.
Eloquent and educated and I am sure he has plenty of good stories to tell.
A bit different, and not an MTBer, but [url= http://www.lboro.ac.uk/service/publicity/news-releases/2012/226_Director_Sport.html ]Peter Keen CBE[/url] came to my work for something random and I was lucky enough to spend some time with him. Was amazing, and a fantastic blend of commercial and inspiring/motivating with a load of amazing anecdotes.
For me the dream team (might cost a bit in air fares) would be Brett Tippie for raw enthusiasm showing how this hobby gets in your blood for life and Greg Minaar for pure professionalism and focus.
Emily Batty would go down well(not literally)i imagine
Interesting I've just realised that Hannah Barnes the mtber isn't the same as Hannah Barnes the roadie...
TMo
Many thanks again! Quite like the idea of having a team of two or three different characters to show the variety of the sport and have also different roles (inspiring, cray, corporate, success in sport, success in managing). One could then easily do a little podium discussion at the end with questions from the audience etc.
P.S.: These three would be a nice team. 😉
2nd For Peter Keen - he was my lecturer at University and is a very interesting articulate man - plus he can give more of an insight into Olympic Cycling then possibly anyone else out there.
Assuming you want articulate and talking to corporates, TMo would be hard to beat and was the first to spring to mind.
Otherwise, James Fairbank of Rapha (head of marketing) is good (I should know, I booked him once!) on the talks scene and does this a lot.
Warner all the way he's been there all the way an he can tone it down now days.
But CG if you want to sell it as his style with speed on the bike talks for him, but he can also talk a good game
How about Chris Ball - knows the scene inside out and bloody nice chap.
Plus one for Mike Hall