Locking down a date and time to record podcasts with Dakotah Norton could be one of the most challenging endeavors Vital has taken on. He's a busy man, and we love him for it. The time crunch between the La Thuile and Andorra World Cups was tough on everyone, so we decided to wait until Dak returned to Tennessee to discuss how his first four World Cups went and what his plans are for the rest of the season. 

It'd been a few weeks since the crew caught up, so the first 40 minutes of this podcast cover plenty of non-racing topics, like the wall of responsibilities that hit Dak when he returns from Europe, how fun flying with bikes can be, and some insight into a rad bike packing trip Tanner just did up in Canada. We hope you enjoy the banter, and thanks so much for listening to these podcasts!

0:00 - The B practice crew is haggard
2:00 - The B practice crew hates the dentist 
6:30 - Dak's struggles of life on the road
9:24 - Airline baggage fee debacles  
13:24 - Flying with bikes pro tips
16:29 - Hobbies are too expensive now
23:20 - Tanner's hut-to-hut bike packing trip in Canada
28:12 - E-biking adventures
30:54 - Dak's not going to Crankworx, stop asking
31:45 - Dak's house prep before leaving for two months
36:00 - The fear of not having a ride next year
37:34 - Dak's self-evaluation of his first four World Cups back
46:31 - Last corner issues in Andorra
47:35 - The pace this year is so high
50:59 - Andorra vs. La Thuile track comparison 
57:41 - Loic's shift in focus at Andorra - gotta win
1:00:00 - Jackson vs. Loic riding style
1:05:04 - We got a V10 to add weights to 
1:09:52 - New Mondraker DH Bike
1:16:38 - Frida gets into back-to-back finals!
1:19:41 - Tanner still hates Juniors
1:23:48 - The struggle of getting UCI points at World Cups
1:24:38 - Aaron Gwin's elbow injury
1:27:52 - Reece + flats = finals
1:28:53 - Schedule changes in Andorra
1:36:00 - Gracey is hooking this year. 
1:38:16 - Davide Palazzari - what could have been
1:42:42 - Valentina Roa Sanchez first final of the year
1:43:22 - Martin Maes is going crazy fast
1:44:19 - First team overall victory for FMD (Orbea)
1:46:41 - Juanfer on fire
1:47:48 - Junior Women Overall Standings
1:48:50 - Junior Men Overall Standings
1:50:03 - Elite Women Overall Standings
1:51:49 - Elite Men Overall Standings
1:53:53 - Burgtec Labour of Love Awards
1:55:43 - What's on the horizon race-wise?
1:58:09 - Dak's new mechanic this year

Vital's Forum Discussion on the FOX Podium

Charlie's FOX Podium Review

Podium Tech Talk with FOX product developers

Vital's FOX Podium fork review dropped on Tuesday and our tester, Charlie Sponsel, encouraged you to leave any questions that remained. Sorting through dozens of great inquiries, the highlights have been pulled and Charlie answers them so you can learn more about this expensive, heavy, but incredibly-performing enduro fork. 

0:00 - Intro, baggage fee avoidance struggles

10:00 - Charlie's Zeb setup (it's not stock)

13:46 - Is This basically a prototype for sale?

16:40 - Did the CSU Creak?

19:06 - Why is it 29er only and does it matter?

20:03 - Is the FOX 38 really just the 38SL and Podium is burlier version?

21:19 - Won't the stanchions be really easy to damage?

27:28 - Podium's crown, weight and why no 180mm

33:25 - Would you run 180mm if they offered it?

34:07 - Why is it so heavy?

36:16 - Could a lighter fork be as stiff?

37:48 - Currently compatible 20mm hubs?

39:26 - Why not have swappable axle size options like EXT?

42:50 - Do you think axle size was a reason for your positive experience?

46:23 - Why not put the airspring on the opposite side to avoid brake rotor contamination?

51:06 - How does Podium differ from an Intend or a Push fork?

52:37 - Would you buy one?

57:23 - Would the Podium work on a TrailDuro setup?

1:03:57 - Burly Freeride build, Podium or a 190mm dual crown?

1:05:23 - Why would Podium be better for ebikes?

1:07:56 - Is Vital's testing method flawed?

1:13:49 - Why Charlie really enjoyed the Podium

1:17:05 - Berm performance, less compromise on setup because of less binding

After plenty of drama and mild discontent surrounding the first three races of the season, it was nice to have a good old-fashioned downhill race in Val di Sole. No one complained about the track being too straight or too easy. There were plenty of fresh sections and line choices. And the racing was as competitive as ever. Our main man Dak was back for his second race of the season, and his weekend was nothing short of a battle. We discuss how Dak’s feeling at this stage of his recovery, as well as Jackson’s ‘bouncy’ riding style, Reece Wilson’s 6D windshield goggles, Team Points, what to do with the Junior categories, Dak’s experience going from Shimano XTR/Saint brakes to SRAM Maven’s, and more. Plus, the usual race recaps. Thanks for tuning in, enjoy!

0:05 - Bring back 4X Racing
5:48 - Content and Media Landscape
10:05 - Where’s the culture??
14:53 - After party tales
19:56 - B Practice does Whistler
22:29 - Dak is filming a Vital RAW
24:26 - Dak’s war stories from VDS 
31:07 - Dak’s approach after getting two races under his belt
38:33 - Balancing recovery with giving 100%
43:02 - Dak’s pre-ride warm-up routine
51:43 - Dak’s experience going from XTR/Saint to Maven brakes
1:02:32 - VDS Track Talk
1:03:48 - Jackson’s ‘bouncy’ style = speed
1:10:20 - Dak compares his style and setup to Jackson’s
1:13:27 - USD forks: so hot right now
1:15:13 - Track changes, but similar times?
1:17:33 - No more complaining about straight, easy tracks after VDS
1:19:42 - Reece Wilson’s 6D windshield goggles
1:22:22 - Sam Gale’s bloody crash
1:24:21 - DH is dangerous, period
1:26:25 - Team Points discussion 
1:31:34 - How Team Points will affect junior selection in the future 
1:33:30 - No juniors 2026 discussion 
1:48:28 - Maxxis Make or Brake Section
1:51:40 - No chains 2026 - chainless racing only
1:54:03 - Junior Women’s Race Recap
1:55:43 - Junior Men’s Race Recap
1:58:16 - Elite Women’s Race Recap
2:09:26 - Elite Men’s Race Recap
2:18:07 - Burgtec Labour of Love Award
2:19:44 - La Thuile next week - thoughts?
2:22:58 - Vital Fantasy tips

Host, Charlie Sponsel

Watch this interview - https://youtu.be/Z5CN3pD_7Yg

FOX Podium Review - https://youtu.be/UEW1tMYVM20

The Podium isn't FOX's first foray into the upside-down MTB fork market. In 2011, they developed a prototype downhill fork that used an inverted design for 26" wheels. It was heavy and flexy, so they dropped it. Fast-forward 14 years later and their single crown Podium inverted fork has dropped and we wanted to see why. Charlie Sponsel sits down with Ariel Lindsley, Jordi Cortes and Neko Mulally to learn how the FOX Podium inverted MTB fork came to be.

0:00 - Ariel Lindsley - 2011 FOX 26" inverted DH fork prototype, Podium development story

28:43 - Jordi Cortes - Why he was against an inverted fork and what does he think now?

43:29 - Neko Mulally - on trail performance of the FOX Podium

A lot of people who mountain bike also snowboard, and vice versa. Two tools with different jobs but a shared goal—provide an experience that evokes excitement and creativity. With so much time spent with a bike or board between our two feet, we were curious if these vessels of stoke had more in common than meets the eye. At the end of the day, they strive to solve many of the same problems, balancing comfort with performance, specificity with versatility, and durability with weight and price. Not to mention balancing consumer demands and industry trends to create products that riders actually want. 

To discuss this topic, we tagged in Ryan Burney, engineer and long-time downhill racer; Evan Finses, design engineer at Burton Snowboards; and Austin Smith, Director of Innovations and Marketing at Bogus Basin Ski Resort. Tag along as Vital Tech Editor Jason Schroeder finds out how the engineering behind snowboards and mountain bikes is a lot closer than one might think.  

If there is one thing we can almost guarantee, it's that Leogang will provide some incredibly tight racing. This year was exceptionally snug. Dry conditions and a similar track layout as years before meant little time was spent sorting out line choices or using the brakes. The recipe was simple: rally the main line with confidence and tuck-to-win on the motorway. And what transpired was some of the most competitive racing we've ever seen and a lot of talk about the safety, speeds, and simplicity of tracks. Tag along as we discuss the validity of these concerns, along with how Dak's first race back went, the back-to-back Canadian double victories, 510s athlete summit, Y2K freeride fashion, and more. 

0:13 - What is 510's athlete summit all about? 
3:50 - How Dak as an athlete benefits from the summit
8:42 - Balancing expectations and deliverables with sponsors
10:25 - Dak follows Danny Hart in Schladming
11:51 - When are the 510 Desert Storm boots coming back??
13:11 - Freeride fashion = Y2K
14:32 - Dak just learned about Apple Pay
16:05 - Dak's weekend in Leogang
20:14 - Hardest part of the track in Leogang?
22:11 - Critiquing the motorway 
23:56 - Where are the jumps??
24:48 - The need for new sections of track
26:22 - Are tracks too fast/too straight? Or is competition just high?
45:13 -  Wall ride gossip  
48:08 - Do you race with your phone in your pocket?
49:50 - Jackson was racing on an e-bike
53:19 - Why aren't TMD mounted at the front axle
54:55 - Are enduro bikes more useless than downhill bikes? 
57:56 - Ellie Hulsebosch's TMD falling off in finals
58:17 - Best World Cup racer to never have won a World Cup?
59:17 - Maxxis Make or Brake Section 
1:03:54 - Dak doesn't ride used tires
1:07:12 - Junior Women's Race Recap
1:10:34 - Junior Men's Race Recap
1:16:05 - Elite Women's Race Recap
1:24:21 - Elite Men's Race Recap
1:26:05 - NOTICE: there is less practice this year with Q1 / Q2 schedule
1:32:53 - Ronan Dunne's race craft is maturing
1:41:16 - Burgtec Labour of Love Award
1:42:55 - Is Dak ready for VDS?  

The second round of the 2025 World Cup from Loudenvielle, France, produced some of the fastest racing we've seen in recent memory and was (somehow) filled with more funny drama than the first round in Poland. But it turns out a dry, straight track makes for iconic Hail Mary race runs, and the UCI/Warner Bros/Discovery not knowing how to enforce their own rules makes for good podcasting banter. We had fun this week chatting about the ongoing #polegate disputes, Dak's panic after watching racing from the sideline and rushed last-minute prep before Leogang, the Henry Keifer situation, the Stan Nisbet situation, Ronan showing why we ride with tires on our rims, track safety and the need for more turns, and most importantly, the tightness of riding pants. 

We have been treated to some iconic racing thus far this season, and Leogang this weekend will surely be exciting. Now let's just hope our co-host-extrodinare can make it past Q2! 

0:13 - The Dak Update
3:10 - Dak's panic from watching people ride in Loudenvielle
6:05 - UCI trying to copy our post-race show
9:05 - More insight into Dak's prep before Leogang
14:13 - Has the field gotten faster this year?
16:30 - #polegate again
17:50 - Henry Keifer's start hut pit stop
19:39 - Stan Nisbet stopped from racing
24:15 - Ronan doesn't need tires. Or does he??
27:45 - Track talk and how much they straightened it
29:52 - Why is everyone's gear so tight right now
33:50 - Complaining about the broadcast again
36:00 - XC did 5 people podiums
36:28 - Complaining about rider payout again 
37:03 - How many people even watch the racing these days?
41:08 - Brembo brakes
49:17 - Maxxis Make or Brake Section
52:36 - Jackson and Gracey sending it at the bottom
55:40 - Jackson's bike setup is wild
59:13 - Junior Women's Race Recap
1:03:15 - Junior Men's Race Recap
1:09:43 - Elite Women's Race Recap
1:13:43 - Elite Men's Race Recap
1:22:00 - radial tire gossip 
1:24:37 - Dak's tire choice for Loudenvielle
1:27:07 - Gwinny is back 
1:30:52 - Burgtec Labour of Love
1:33:10 - Reece Wilson saying tracks are too straight, fast, not technical enough
1:35:49 - Jackson's average speed in his race run
1:41:12 - Thoughts on Leogang track
1:43:34 - Who's gonna be fast in Leogang

In this episode, the crew covers all the hot tea from the first World Cup in Poland, but most importantly, gets an update on Dak's highly anticipated return to racing. 

We hope you enjoy the show, and we will see everyone next week for a post-Loudenvielle podcast! 

0:00 - Intro / Crew Updates
5:32 - Dak Injury Update
13:37 - Dak's return to racing??
16:30 - Post-injury fears getting back to racing?
19:13 - Transparency while recovering
22:14 - Bike setup post-injury 
25:34 - Is there too much coverage per race weekend? 
30:27 - #polegate #bringbacktape 
36:05 - Ryan Gilcrest going around the start wand at Crankworx 
40:29 - Course marking inconsistencies 
42:40 - Q1 and Q2 thoughts and strategy 
47:27 - Pit boards in qualifying
50:16 - 3 person podiums: yay or nay?
53:54 - Rotor guards: so hot right now
55:23 - Fenders vs. mudguards 
58:07 - Lit Kit & Worst Kit in Poland
1:01:41 - Maxxis Make or Brake Section
1:04:01 - Riders looking tired mid-run 
1:04:42 - Tire choice for the weekend
1:05:45 - Is Poland too one-lined?
1:11:31 - Goggle setup thoughts for the mud
1:20:08 - Junior Women's Race Recap 
1:21:15 - Junior Men's Race Recap
1:24:40 - Tanner's hot take on Junior racing
1:29:40 - Elite Women's Race Recap
1:32:12 - Jason's first ride impressions of the new Orbea Rallon DH bike
1:37:23 - Elite Men's Race Recap
1:43:53 - Thoughts on the vibe around Poland/this World Cup season 
1:52:46 - Who has the most podiums now that we only do top 3
1:53:25 - Burgtec Labour of Love Award

Ahead of the Tennessee National taking place this week, we sat down with Sea 'Griz' McClendon to run through some USDH names to watch on the national circuit this year. Of course, we had to get the Griz update and hear how he ended up spittin' heat on the mic at Downhill Southeast races and in the booth with the Gravity Coop doing post-race shows. We also touched on all the Americans racing World Cups this year, which World Cup racers are coming over to race this weekend at Windrock, and a bunch of other nonsense mostly related to downhill racing. Enjoy!

If you want to race downhill, check out these regional series!

NW Cup (Washington, Idaho, Montana)

Southwest Downhill (SoCal) 

Southridge USA (SoCal)

Downhill Rockies (Colorado, New Mexico)

Eastern States Cup (Connecticut, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Vermont, Pennsylvania)

Downhill Southeast (North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia)

Monster Energy Pro Downhill (North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia)

With most team rumors debunked or made public, we wanted to discuss which changes are most exciting and who's posed to go fast in 2025. Of course, like any good B Practice Pod, we floated between topics, mixing in chit-chat about Supercross, racers racing longer nowadays, Gates' $100k belt drive bounty, the cause and effect of setup changes, and why Dak should never read the comments. Enjoy!

0:00 Rambling intro
9:00 - Supercross bench racing
16:22 - Developing a race bike first, then going to production 
25:20 - chasing small gains in bike performance mid-season
30:45 - cause and effect of testing and changing setup
36:08 - comparing setups with other pro DH racers
37:48 - final team change news for 2025
46:08 - what happens to the few names stuck in the middle
52:28 - Biggest team change of 2025??
1:03:08 - Most excited to see at the races in 2025??
1:14:22 - Will we see more racers racing into their 30s in the future?
1:20:55 - Dak injury update
1:25:02 - Thoughts on Gates $100k belt drive competition
1:37:52 - Dak's comeback plans
1:53:08 - Dak shouldn't read the comments