The lost files: Sam Hill 2008 Maribor World Cup
Not really lost files, just buried, forgotten. Had a clean out of some desk draws and found these two dvds from Maribor 2008. Hidden gems. I swapped some helmet cam footage for these discs after the race from the Nissan mob who were filming at the time.
I’ll try and post the whole lot up but for now here’s highlights of Sam Hill’s winning run.
Hill won by 3 seconds from Camellini and Peaty in 3rd.
Results on www.rootsandrain.com
Blimey how awesome is the Maribor WC track?!





The best rider on the best bike…awesome
There come a time in every man’s life when everything is in perfect alignment….on the crest of a wave
Glad to see Hill doing so well this year. 5th overall shows he’s still got it
charging the whole way!! Sam hill need to watch this video everyday before breakfast! that will give him the motivation to come back in 2013 at top form! gwin who we’ll cry!
I can call that bike mine!
Sam needs to get the finger out. This just show’s the difference between a rider really trying and Sam now. If you look at his riding now, every aspect of his riding from pedaling to attacking a root section, there is far less aggression. I really want Sam to be top of the podium again, but does he?
I hope you’re reading this and you’re quaking with a mixture of fear and newfound inspiration Mr Hill, coach Griffin has spoken and he is not impressed… It would be a fool who doesn’t take heed of coach Griffin…He want’s you back on the top step of the podium PRONTO mister… or there will be big trouble…the question is, do YOU want it mister?? Listen to the coach with his years of expertise as the official UCI mountainbike headmaster (anyone remember Mr pants from ride mag years ago?)and don’t forget all the podiums he has gained throughout his illustrious career (DH and preaching) NOW GO GET ‘EM TIGER. Get over yourself ‘Coach Griffin’.
I’m no expert, i never raced at a high level and i’m no coach but do you think Sam is riding with the same aggression as he did 4 years ago? Is this forum only for positive comments? Thanks for your mature response! I’m off to get over myself and make sure not to have any opinion on dh as i’ve never been a world cup rider unless its positive!! Oh and by the way, I think Sam is a Legend!!
@Jeff.. Where is Mr Pants? last time i saw that joker was at Nass about 8 years ago trying to MC or somthink! oh yeh insane video! good find…
I really want to see Sam Hill back on top of the podium, man’s a legend.
That’s the Sam we all want back fuck me wot a run totally pinned come on Sam 2013? As much as I rate Gwinn sams got that to cool for school attitude that’s guna make Gwinn scratch his head
Sam Hill stil my favourite rider!!
I think if Sam was still pulling runs like this there would be no competition, even from Gwin.
Hope to see him back to this form next year..
Sam on form!!!! What a rider. Give him time – he basically lost 2 years to injury, any of us that know a large injury also know the distance back to 100%, then to have to do it again…. very few will feel that – and even less will have the feeling to come back as fast or faster…..2013 Sam for the title
i just make sure not to miss his dh runs during the wc feeds. just an amazing rider to watch on every single run.
@Jeff.. Where is Mr Pants? last time i saw that joker was at Nass about 8 years ago trying to MC or somthink! oh yeh insane video! good find…
My favourite Mr Pants comment was ‘this bike can take more punishment than Freddie Mercury’s underpants’ GET MR PANTS BACK ON PRIME TIME MAGAZINES hahaha
MORE SAM, MORE SAM, MORE SAM, MORE SAM!!!!!!!!!!
Holy s**t that was awesome! Every time I watched Hill’s runs I remember thinking ‘Is this in fast forward?’. I would love to see a return for Sam in 2013. He obviously still has the skills but there are a lot of fast guys in the form of their lives (as Sam was between ’05 and ’09). Roll on 2013, this year’s racing was awesome!
Its true though, there was more attack in Hills riding then compared to now, he’s mellowed somehow. I think the run of injuries he has had has affected him quite a lot.
Maybe it looks like he’s mellowed, but Sam is not going to win world cups by several seconds even if he does come back to the form in this video, everyone else just got faster. Like Voullioz and Peat before him, Sam was the man who changed the sport with the way he rode. We all know know what getting injured can do to your head space, Fort William 2010 would have really knocked him around mentally not just physically. In the meantime Gwin rocks up, now he’s the man to follow, it looks like people re starting to catch on. Hill is still as good as anyone in the world, but look at the top 5, Gwin, Atherton, Minnar and now, Smith, they are more complete on any course, Sam is will always struggle with pedalling like these guys, and now they are as fast in the steeps because instinctively now,they can be ridden faster, due to Mr Hill. Its just going to get closer until the next guy comes along. 2013 will see Hill faster, for sure, he’ll win something, he’s too good, Hart, Brook and Brosnan will be knocking on the door, he’s going to have to find new ways to be quicker!
nice comment !
Look at his recent results. He isn’t as bad as pedaling as he was before.
he looked even more pinned at the 2008 worlds in val di sole, before the infamous crash. Or what about the Quebec section in Earthed 5? nuts. His extraordinary ability is to fly over tech stuff.
I’ve only been following dh for a few years but I think its a shame there haven’t been any races at Maribor for a while, if nothing else but to see the riders going down the rock garden.
g day, only way ill win in 2013 is if i ride clips.
Sam hill won a rainbow jersey at fortwilliam on flat pedals! never clip in!
Is this really Sam Hill & Scott Sharples?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdhH1Q4VK0M
This may be a start !
I still think Sam has the best style out there. He was consistent this year and i think next year will be even better.