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Can anyone point me to the link where Hanna interviews sam?
Well that was a bit strange.
Well, he has had a few bumps to the head.
The video has been deleted - from memory, hannah asked sam valid questions about fear of injury, and a couple of times about the perception of slopestyle side of the sport being more associated with recreational drugs and partying than, say, cross country. They then talked about sam teaching hannah how to backflip, which he said he could do in one day. Hannah then asked about up coming british riders, Sam couldn't name anyone in particular, but focused on men. Hannah then asked about up and coming female riders, which Sam couldn't answer and made the "I don't ride with girls" comment as a jokey reply.
Comments are a bit mental. Enjoyed the interview, hope to see Hannah being taught back flips by Sam!
He always seems like the world is against him.
oh no, actually that's his brother Scott.
Ah so no video.
So where's the video?
Is Sam guilty of being a sexist pig or just making a poorly judged, laddish joke?
Nobody comes out of it very well with that article as it is.
Didn't realise the vid had actaully been taken down - hard to judge the context without it. I saw it when it was up yesterday and it was a throwaway comment, not said in any mean-spirited or deliberately inflammatory way. But the fact that he said it at all to a (female) journalist is quite revealing. Someone that well-entrenched in the sponsored rider / youtube influencer world, been interviewed a lot, must 100% know how the game works and how you need to measure your words at least a little bit. To just drop that in shows that female riders have zero standing with him in his type of cycling and he's completely not arsed about them.
I'd take that honesty over Aaron Gwinn-style corporate pish any day like - Yeah man those freeride girls are killing it, totally stoked to be riding with them, I'm learning a lot, but it was unneccessary for him to be that dismissive.
He made a shitty joke that Hannah and every other woman in the sport must hear constantly or some variation of it. Male dominated sports like this are not the most friendly to women, and the fact that Hannah actually has a platform and can raise awareness of stuff like this is really good. Even better that she then went on to do something constructive with it and hopefully the article inspires other women to do similar things.
I don't think Sam is a bad person but there's obviously a huge blind spot when it comes to this kind of casual sexism. There's just no need for it and it's not going to help bring any more women to the sport if prominent figures like Sam keep making jokes and comments like it. I would think there are a lot of younger kids who look up to him whom he has a big influence over, they don't need to grow up spouting the same lazy gender stereotypes that the older generations do.
I was utterly embarrassed at the state of some of the comments on the article.
it was a throwaway comment, not said in any mean-spirited or deliberately inflammatory way
This is literally the dictionary definition of casual sexism, you do get that, right?
Without wishing to get all "wishy-washy liberal" on you, replace with "I don't ride with Jews/black/disabled because they're too slow", does that feel better? worse? the same? I don't think for a minute that Sam is bigoted, but as a professional mountain biker who's job is to get bikes sold to anybody and everybody, it's a remarkably stupid thing to say, doubly so to a journalist who's a woman. It does beg the question, What did he think Hannah would do with that comment?
Is Sam guilty of being a sexist pig or just making a poorly judged, laddish joke?
Neither. He's right.
Sam is next level.
Name a girl doing Darkfest. Nevermind backflipping the 90ft doubles.
the fact that Hannah actually has a platform and can raise awareness of stuff like this is really good
This. It's not the end of the world for sure, but it is a bad reflection on the state of sexism and a sport and I'm pleased it does get called out by those who can when they can. If it doesn't, he'll never be made aware of his own "blind spot" as mentioned above. No-one should feel bad about that, take it on board and try and keep moving forward.
This is literally the dictionary definition of casual sexism, you do get that, right?
Is it casual sexism if this is actually a truth though? I dont ride with any girls and dont think I could name many of them, even more so when put on the spot.
He said, "I don't ride with girls, they're too slow"... this kind of knocked the wind out of Hannah's sails...
But, allow me to play devils advocate... maybe girls are too slow for him to ride with... at his level I mean... and I'll use Rachel Atherton as a yardstick... She's an absolute animal and great ambassador for women in all sports, and yet she's a long way off what the men at their level can do... I'm not denigrating her achievements here, this is a fact.
So, perhaps he was just speaking from his personal experiences... the rotter!!
Hannah was just as flippant with her drugs comments in fairness, and had he wanted to he could have taken umbrage with what she said to him, instead he gave as good as he got... it was a light hearted, jocular type of convo, very matey in truth.
Hannah did however chose to lead the story with faux outrage at his comments... what's that you say? There's a storm brewing in your tea cup?
Poorly chosen comment/joke from Sam but also a poorly worded question from Hannah regarding drugs.
He is free to ride with who ever he wants. If that excludes slower riders then so be it, that's his choice. He is top level, let's not pretend there are any women riders out there that would even come close to his abilities on a bike. Talking to a journalist though he should have known better than to say he doesn't ride with girls. But given the writers reaction, the original article clickbait title, later clarification and retraction, even if he just said he doesn't ride with slow riders she would have interpreted it the same anyway.
But, allow me to play devils advocate… maybe girls are too slow for him to ride with… at his level I mean…
So he never rides with anyone who isn't within, say, 7% of his stage time. Or just the girls that aren't. Does he have a fixed threshold for what is too slow; is 8 or 9% acceptable to ride with him? Or is it just that all girls are too slow and no boys are. Sorry, but I'll bet what you suggest is not at all what he was implying.
just LOLz - nobody can say a damn thing anymore - if I was remotely famous I just simply wouldn't bother doing any interviews ever. period. theres always someone out there trying to twist the knife and make you stumble
I cant see what hes said is remotely sexist - its factual, why would he ride with women just for the sakes of it? to look PC? he's fast, ALL of the elite level riders at his level/genre are men, why on earth would he ride with women if there's no call for it in his chosen sport? how does that even become a question he needs to be asked?!
its a question that's loaded, and shes trying to get a rise out of him, to which hes jokingly responded
ask stupid questions and this is the sort of answer you will get off someone being honest who's a bit mental, instead try to turn it on its head into something its not....
Thing for me (having not seen the video) is it sounds like a smart arse and someone being bitchy. The article as it is isnt doing anyone any favours imo without the context. So either put the video up or pull the article.
BTW i see where this was going i taking a flippent remark and using it to empower someone to better themselves and to let people know that you dont have to take jibes. But its just uncomfortable.. (maybe thats the idea?)
I met Sam yesterday at Rogate Bike Park. He came across as an absolute gent, was talking to all the local young shredders, had a chat with me about a few bits and was a generally nice person to talk to. He was working (filming a few bits for his channel) but took the time out to connect with folks that were around him / interested in what he was doing.
Not related to the article but I found him to be a nice, down to earth friendly chap.
Oh also, he is so skilled its insane. Watching him chuck an ebike downhill and the air he gets on one was stunning.
Neither. He’s right.
Sam is next level.
Name a girl doing Darkfest. Nevermind backflipping the 90ft doubles.
Maybe there aren't any girls doing Darkfest because they get put off by shitty sexist comments like that from the guys? You really have to understand that as a man, you are in a very privileged position to never have to put up with shit like this all the time.
If I was a girl trying out mountain biking and constantly hearing shit like this, I'd probably give up and go find a sport that's less hostile to me just because of my gender.
There's nothing 'PC' about not being a dick to women.
Neither. He’s right.
But stupid. His job is not just 90ft backflips, his main job (like all professional mountain bikers) is selling bikes, and now we all know that Sam doesn't think that 50% of the population are good enough to ride with him, and that got broadcast on the biggest mountain bike site in Europe. I imagine the product managers (the people that pay his wages) are well chuffed...
Neither. He’s right.
Sam is next level.
Name a girl doing Darkfest. Nevermind backflipping the 90ft doubles.
Casey Brown probably could, she was a prospect for Red Bull Rampage last year.
Maybe there aren’t any girls doing Darkfest because they get put off by shitty sexist comments like that from the guys? You really have to understand that as a man, you are in a very privileged position to never have to put up with shit like this all the time.
Ooo no, someone said girls can't do something, so no girls will try... stop trying to be offended ffs... watch the video, its banter nothing more... they're ribbing EACH OTHER
His comment is no more shitty than her drugs question.... is it?!
His comment is no more shitty than her drugs question…. is it?!
OK, lets address the drugs one, as it seems to be an excuse that some folk are trotting out to try to defend Sam's casual sexism.
Hannah started by suggesting that he had a reputation for NOT being a party animal in an environment that is OK with hard partying and casual drug taking (Ratboy, f'instance, just for starters) Sam answered to the effect that he didn't mind letting go occasionally, but that he watches his diet, Hannah then presses with the "No drugs?" question, to which he answers along the lines of "no, it's never been his thing"
That's pretty much it.
stw suscribers are offended again lol. Put the video up. It was probably just banter. I am sure he'd say the same thing to a girl rider and they would give him some banter back. No harm done.
Ooo no, someone said girls can’t do something, so no girls will try… stop trying to be offended ffs… watch the video, its banter nothing more… they’re ribbing EACH OTHER
Ah yes, "Stop being offended" - the classic response from someone who doesn't actually have a good argument. You gonna call me an "SJW" or a "snowflake" next? The fact that you don't even see how his comment could be anything other than "banter" just goes to show how out of touch you are.
The world is moving on from casual sexism like this and the more it's called out the better it will be. Reactionaries like you are just mad that your outdated views are being left behind. I'd say judging by the state of the comments on the article, the "offended" people are the ones who's sexism is finally being called out.
No. She couldn't @hypnonewt.
it's cool girls are stepping up and progressing fast but they're still way off the level all the Fest guys are at.
there's some great riding girls. See the crankswork videos. The downhill girls are also awesome.
@tetrode
You have absolutely no idea what sexism or the level of it I have encountered in my life.
STOP BEING OFFENDED ON BEHALF OF OTHERS
@geex - are you a woman? Cos if you're not then you've never encountered sexism.
I think Sams comments are a bit immature though. I think I was in his position I'd pleased there are more girls riding.
@Princejohn
No. I absolutely have.
Thanks for sharing your limited understanding of the word.
are you a woman? Cos if you’re not then you’ve never encountered sexism.
Are you one of those muppets that think only white people can be racist?
No. I absolutely have.
Thanks for sharing your limited understanding of the word.
I very much doubt it. I think you need to improve your understanding.
Have a read of this then come back to me.
"Kat George is an Australian writer living in New York. She is the creator of the web series "The Big Gulp" and author of the book "Pink Bits". Her work can be found at VH1, The Village Voice, Noisey, i-D, Vice, The Gloss, Refinery29, and a bunch of other places."
No thanks.
https://www.bustle.com/profile/kat-george-1909461
She seems more than a little obsessed by writing about the 90s and not exactly a genuis with it.
How old is she?
“Kat George is an Australian writer living in New York. She is the creator of the web series “The Big Gulp” and author of the book “Pink Bits”. Her work can be found at VH1, The Village Voice, Noisey, i-D, Vice, The Gloss, Refinery29, and a bunch of other places.”
No thanks.
So that alone is enough to make you not want to read it? Why, out of interest? It's a reasonable discussion of sexism, and isn't particularly controversial (though I'm certain that STW will find controversy 🙂 )
Not alone Spidey. no.
Seems Kat was 29 when she wrote that massively naive article.
I wonder which other 20 something's words John holds highly in his view of how the world works.
Perhaps Miley?
So massively sexist person - experiences sexism... OK.
Who are you calling massively sexist?
Seems Kat was 29 when she wrote that massively naive article.
Because if anything makes what a woman says even less worthy it's when she's young, amirite? Or if she's old. Or middle-aged, that would do it too. Oh, hang on...
ooof getting a bit bitchy all this isnt it....
Who are you calling massively sexist?
From your dismissal to that article without reading it, & your other responses I am calling you massively sexist.
Although a bunch of privileged white men arguing about sexism is pretty much peak STW.
STOP BEING OFFENDED ON BEHALF OF OTHERS
Says the person using all caps haha!
Used all caps to make it easier reading for the stupid.
Seems to have worked.
I dismissed the article because it's written by someone with very little experience on the subject of male discrimination.
I actually skim read it. and can confirm it's bollocks.
But I had a pretty good feeling it would be by the use of "litterally" in the title.
have a look through Kat's back catalogue of articles before hailing her as some sort of social philosopher.
Are we talking about male discrimination now? I thought this thread was about female discrimination until a someone decided to say 'what about me!!'
Yes we are John. It was you who brought the subject up.
Have a read of this then come back to me.
Written by a woman, telling men what they do or don't experience and trying to dictate and redefine the meaning of sexism. Like she also does with racism. I'll pass but thanks for posting although I couldn't be arsed reading beyond the introduction.
FWIW
joey here is one of my all time favourite riders to watch male or female
I'm also 100% in favour of equality. I'm just also 100% realistic about who the best mountain bike riders in the world today are and what sex they happen to be.
He's right, the current women are slower but it doesn't mean that women won't catch up in the future. However he sounds like a right arrogant, sexist prick by saying that he doesn't ride with women because of it, there's plenty men who are slow as and couldn't keep up with women, even me
I’m just realistic about who the top mountain bike riders in the world today are and what sex they happen to be.
Who's your top 10 then? Mine would have Rachel Atherton, Jolanda Neff & Cecile Ravanel in there for starters
there’s plenty men who are slow as and couldn’t keep up with women, even me
There was the tale from when a bunch of car park warriors jumped in the middle of the group of the ladies on one of T-Mo's racing girls rides, they got chased down very hard by some very talented champions 🙂
He’s right, the current women are slower but it doesn’t mean that women won’t catch up in the future.
Too right! Who knows what evolution has in store for our species?
I didn't mean Joey was in my all time WOMEN's favourite riders. I meant all time favourite riders full stop. I have way more than 10 favourite riders. You simply can't categorise every rider either.
none of the three you mention are favourite riders of mine.
Your car park warrior tale is rather dull Mike. Soz Xx
However he sounds like a right arrogant, sexist prick by saying that he doesn’t ride with women because of it
He didn't actually say it in the way the "offended" of STW are saying he did.
Sam has ridden with girls. The UK DJ scene is pretty small. and friendly.
He just doesn't go out progressively riding/competing/training with any. (for fairly obvious reasons)
The actual words reported were.
"I don't ride with girls, I never would, they're too slow"
there's no qualifications, no exceptions, just a blanket no, I don't think Sam needs you to put words in his mouth, geex, do you?
For clarification. the words he used were objectively sexist. There's no denying it, they very clearly are. End. You can try to imply that he meant something else, or that it was out of context, but Hannah is, by any standards, a good enough journalist to report the truth.
Now, you may know Sam, you may know him to be open and willing to ride with women, this is besides the point. You can have a discussion about what some-one has said, vs the person they may well be. The two things can be separated. I have no beef with Sam Pilgrim, of all the stuff I've seen him in, he seems like a decent bloke. It doesn't mean that what he said isn't daft, and I don't understand why folk are trying to defend it really.
WGAF, perenially offended excepted.
Folks who probably don't know who Sam Pilgrim is, the rascal.
"A Note From Hannah:
This article originally appeared with the video interview, however it is clear that it could be taken out of context of the article, which was never my intention, and I’m sorry if anyone was upset by it – that’s not who I am. We had a fun chat, and following the interview Sam was impressed to see the riding skills of female friends we showed him on Instagram. The point of the article was to highlight how Sam’s comments had spurred me into acquiring some new skills, and to light heartedly suggest that maybe I could take him up on his suggestion that he could teach me to backflip in a day – not to have a go at Sam."
Hmm...
She can't seriously be saying stirring up a bit of controversy at Sam's expense in the very first paragraph wasn't intentional? Especially considering the hand wringing tendencies of the readership here.
If Hannah ever bumps into Warner in the pub after a few shandys she's gonna end up DH world champ the following season. ;).
It's cool to see how you're progressing Hannah. STW could certainly do with a decent rider writing for them 😉
this thread needs to be joined with the autism thread really.
Because?
Maybe, just maybe Sam Pilgrim really doesn't give a shit what you lot think anyway.
Because of the difficulty some here clearly have in understanding that a collection of written words may in actual fact not have been delivered in the way they've percieve them to have from simply reading them.
Autism can mean even spoken words have a similar effect. My sense of humour is kinda dark and can be incredibly dry. It's often quite subtle when I'm gently taking the piss but often far more obvious. This means many people often won't get it... well... not straight away anyway. You too fall into this category pf person Kerley (autistic or not).
tick...
tock...
I don't care what Sam thinks either Dez.
I'm not a girl 😉
or easily "offended"
Autism can mean even spoken words have a similar effect. My sense of humour is kinda dark and can be incredibly dry. It’s often quite subtle when I’m gently taking the piss but often far more obvious. This means many people often won’t get it… well… not straight away anyway. You too fall into this category pf person Kerley (autistic or not).
So earlier on you weren't being sexist, you were being funny? I see that now.
You don't seem to see very much John.
It really wouldn't surprise me to hear you fall over your own feet daily.
I recon geex is sexist too.
Met him for a ride and he gave his ebike to Mrs stu to ride up one of the climbs while he rode her non ebike the sexist bastard.
He was also really helpful and encouraging to her on the previous ride.
I was shocked at his outdated behaviour.
I'd have let her struggle.
Scuppered.
It's a fair cop guv.
may in actual fact not have been delivered in the way they’ve percieve them to have from simply reading them.
I watched the video, i still think it was an ill considered remark. Probably played for laughs, that came out wrong (if I'm being generous)
geek, just for reference, you don't come across as someone with a dark sense of humour, you come across as an obvious troll with a desperate need for validation from a bunch of strangers on a bike forum.
And yet you still stalk me trying to get one over and fail time and time again?
hmm.. :/
those sound like proper next level issues you got going on there nick.
how's your blood pressure?
You don’t seem to see very much John.
It really wouldn’t surprise me to hear you fall over your own feet daily.
So in place of any argument you're now resorting to cheap insults. Classy.
Where is this video? Seems to have disappeared, so sort of pointless trying to have an opinion.
Haha. John. You've called me a lot of unfounded things in this thread. I'm merely pointing out you could benefit from opening your eyes a little.
Not you John.
The other John.
ok john?
Met him for a ride and he gave his ebike to Mrs stu to ride up one of the climbs while he rode her non ebike the sexist bastard.
That's only so the sexist pig could stare at her arse. Don't be fooled.
seems it's monny o'clock again already guys
's'been emotional
I'll leave you in the capable hands of pilgs. The bounder.
L8rz H8orz
Not sure if I need to answer, as I'm not sure whether I'm one of those who commented and you think are either offended or under some illusion that Sam Pilgrim GAS what I think. I'm not at all offended in any way whatsoever, but I do think he missed a point that the kind of comment he made was an example of casual sexism, and I still think it was. He might still think it wasn't. I am also absolutely convinced there are probably at least thousands of people whose opinion matters more to him than mine, if not millions. However, one of those might be a female MTB journo who interviews him and if he's a decent guy (and I've every reason to believe those who have met him and say he is) I'd hope he'd listen to that feedback. What he does with the feedback afterwards is up to him.
Of course, this is a Catch-22 and that by clarifying that I'm not offended I'll probably just come across as offended. Oh FFS 🙂
In the video yeah, there was lots of laughing. There was no offensiveness.
More importantly, does anyone remember that time SP appeared on that daring gameshow thing with Vernon Kay