Looks great I wish we had trails like that here, I am getting of the 28hr drive to BC!!!! And 'Squampton' lol

Thats not really true, I understand you can have big jumps and high speed (just as in dh riding) but the forces are still much much less than those seen in mx accidents

Your sarcasm is evident, but yes that would be safer with less risk of brain trauma.

I think a lot of people fail to realize that helmets albeit expensive are supposed to protect you first and foremost. Buying a mx helmet for even the gnarliest of dh and freeride riding is a very very unsafe move. I understand that people can't afford a mx helmet and a separate dh helmet, but why sacrifice that fancy carbon fiber bar or titanium railed uber light saddle for a good helmet that will hopefully outlast your bike. The best way to look at this is an analogy, would you rather drive a 3/4 inch thick steel plated car around or a standard car. Which would be safer? You might say o well if I hit something with a armored car i will just destroy whatever I hit (the hummer/big sub theory) but realistically in a bicycle crash with you head meeting tree, rock, earth the tree rock or earth will win. Dh specific helmets are like regular cars designed to absorb impact not just transfer it to your body. Another great example which maybe someone can speak to that has been in the situation, when an armored vehicle (or effectively an mx helmet) is hit with a huge amount of force say running over an a mine or explosive charge, the people inside are safe (which is better than dead) but are shaken up pretty badly (i don't mean bruises either, very serious permanent damage!!)

I don't get why companies get rid of all of their bikes when they refine suspension designs. Both rocky mountain and norco redo their suspension and get rid of most of their models. It doesn't make sense, if you refine the platform extend it too a range of models that encompass all that which you currently make. Its like if toyota said well we want to make our cars more efficient so....we will get rid of all of our trucks and suvs and just stick to passenger cars. If you don't want to spend money and time redesigning every model at least continue to make those instead of just abandoning them. This bike is obviously what should replace the norco xxxx and maybe even the empire 5, so why norco do you not get on the ball and make this? As for rocky mountain, the company that claims to have started the freeride movement. They don't even make a freeride bike anymore whats up? I am tired of companies releasing tens of cross country and trail bikes and then not making anything else. I ride cross country just like the next guy but come on people!!!!

*white pronounced silver

Just to let you know guys we are all entitled to our opinions of the design, but the person that won was a kid (teenager) and he probably put a lot of time and effort into the design, so lets be congratulatory and constructive rather than trash his design/work.