User:MichaelQSchmidt/Mountain Biking Videos


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Mountain Biking Videos were first produced as instructional videos in 1987 by two partners at a San Diego video production company called New & Unique Videos. Patty Mooney and Mark Schulze, video producers, had learned about the sport of mountain biking while in Canada on a vacation. The couple married each other on their mountain bikes in the mountains of the Cleveland National Forest on July 23, 1987. Schulze and Mooney decided to share their love of the sport with others via instructional videotapes, and they marked their first wedding anniversary in 1988 with the worldwide release of "The Great Mountain Biking Video: The Complete Guide to One of the World's Most Exciting and Fastest Growing Sports!"

Historical background of special-interest videos
The 1980's and 1990's comprised the "gold rush" of special-interest video production. During this time, small companies flourished, producing instructional home videos on a variety of topics, such how to tap dance, how to play a guitar, how to grow a garden, and even one on how to hang a door. These videos were mastered on a variety of videotape formats, including 1-inch, 3/4-inch, and 1/2-inch in the first few years, followed by Betacam SP which offered more broadcast-quality clarity, and then distributed to viewers by direct mail on VHS videotape in a plastic or cardboard box.

The Great Mountain Biking Video
The Great Mountain Biking Video was distributed around the world and created the demand for a second video with technical instruction from professional mountain bikers, called Ultimate Mountain Biking: Advanced Techniques & Winning Strategies. This video featured Tinker Juarez, Cindy Whitehead, Glen Adams, John Howard (cyclist) , Margaret Day, Jim Deaton and Trials Champion, Ot Pi Isern of Barcelona, Spain, and was released in 1989. The release of “Great” coincided with Mooney and Schulze’s second wedding anniversary and is divided into the following sections: Cross Country, Uphill, Downhill, Singletrack & Switchbacks, Turns & Berms and Trials, with information on training, nutrition, stretching, strengthening and bicycle preparation. The video title includes footage of the 1988 Mammoth Mountain Kamikaze where Ot Pi Isern won the World’s Observed Trials Championship, and of Isern performing Trials on the moonscape terrain of Corona Del Mar.

This video included tips and techniques presented by mountain-bike racing professionals, Ned Overend, Martha Kennedy, John Tomac, Julia Ingersoll, Tinker Juarez, Trials rider, Kevin Norton and Olympian John Howard (cyclist). Interviews were videotaped at Big Bear Lakes with B-roll footage shot in Big Bear and other Southern California trails, including some of the first helmet camera footage ever videotaped, showing singletrack trails from the rider’s POV (Point of View). "The Great Mountain Biking Video" won a National Telly Award in the Sports/Instructional category and earned many reviews including this one from Billboard Magazine: “A fine introduction to the exciting world of mountain biking... Anyone interested in taking up this activity is advised to view this program beforehand...”  NORBA (National Off-Road Bicycle Association) gave the video its endorsement:  “NORBA proudly endorses and recommends The Great Mountain Biking Video. It is a complete guide to all aspects of mountain biking, and offers a lot to beginners and expert riders alike.”

Said Video Rating Guide for Libraries: Since this sport appeals to men and women, young and old, this program is an excellent one to watch if you’re thinking of getting your feet wet in the sport... Where to ride, who to ride with, good times of the year, riding tips, and an introduction to racing — it’s all here, neatly packed into timely segments. With interviews from top pros, and tips from riders with years of experience The Great Mountain Biking Video provides a good basic foundation for anyone considering taking up the sport of mountain biking. - ****

Ultimate Mountain Biking
Featured Isern’s signature 180-degree flying dismount on his Montessa Trials bicycle. “With practice,” said Ot Pi, “you can be world champion.” Additional locations featured in "Ultimate" are Moab, Utah during the 1988 Fat Tire Festival, Palm Springs (Cindy Whitehead's Desert Classic Series), and San Diego's Mission Trails. Cindy Whitehead, like the other riders, stressed how important it is for mountain bikers to "be courteous to equestrians and hikers, slowing down on blind turns. We must share the trail if we are to keep our land access." "Ultimate Mountain Biking" earned several awards including a Telly, a Houston International Film & Television Festival Award, a Ben Franklin Award and an International Film & TV Festival of New York Award.

Battle At Durango: The First-Ever World Mountain Bike Championships
Battle At Durango was shot in Durango, Colorado in 1990. “Battle” earned a Classic Telly Award. According to Velo News, “The First Ever World Mountain Bike Championships" is aimed directly at the knowledgeable fan. That’s no surprise, inasmuch as New & Unique specializes in mountain bike videos, and is responsible for ‘Ultimate Mountain Biking,’ — probably the best of the numerous, off-road, how-to tapes... The world’s video takes a complete look at the entire, six-day event (from the opening ceremonies to the finish of the last race), highlighting nearly every race, including junior and veteran classes, and giving the results of every category.  A comprehensive and exciting program (with) close-ups of riders suffering on the ascent, along with footage from bike-mounted cameras and interesting aerial shots from the ski lifts overlooking the course...  As might be expected, some of the video’s most exciting visuals came from the downhill part of the cross-country, and the downhill event itself. A generous portion of the tape is devoted to this discipline, and the thrilling descents of Greg Herbold, John Tomac and others. The judicious use of slow motion gives us some idea of just how rigorous and electrifying an event this is.... A point-of-view camera is perhaps given its most interesting assignment in the observed trials, when we’re taken along for a “ride” with winner, Hans Rey, as he hops and bounces over rocks, culverts and other obstacles....”

Full Cycle: A World Odyssey
Was an around-the-world mountain-bike adventure featuring Mooney & Schulze (who at the same time produced the documentary) in search of the world’s greatest mountain biking trails. Schulze, Mooney and a camera operator traveled to nine countries including the USA, Canada, Costa Rica, Wales, Switzerland, Greece, Australia, Tahiti and India. “World Odyssey” won several awards and honors including the 1999 - Classic Telly, 1998 - Aegis Award, 1998 - Jade Crystal Communicator Award, 1996 - International Cindy Awards - Two Bronze, three Blue Ribbons, 1996 - Video Pro Am Award, 1995 - Chicago International Film & Video Festival - Silver Hugo, 1995 - Charleston International Film Festival - Silver Award, and 1995 - New York International Festivals Award. As mentioned in Post Magazine, "[This show] features several “world’s firsts”: first Westerners to travel (and bicycle) through the Himalayas of North Sikkim, India; first to ride a mountain bike 60 feet under the Pacific Ocean, and in a semi-active volcano in Costa Rica; first to document nine-times world’s champion bicycle trials rider, Ot Pi, performing stunts near and around historical landmarks in Athens, Greece."

Additional resources

 * "An Athlete's Guide to Cycling - Biking Videos"
 * "Beating Around the Bush"
 * "Bikes, Races & Videotape" by Robert Hecker
 * "Cut & Print" by Jeff Stinchcomb
 * "El Gran Video de Ciclismo de Montana"
 * "Fabulous Footage From Around the Globe" by Marc Loftus
 * "From New & Unique Videos"
 * "Full Cycle"
 * "Full Cycle: A World Odyssey" Review by Nancy McCray
 * "Full Cycle: A World Odyssey" Review by Catherine Applefeld
 * "Full Cycle: A World Odyssey" Product Review
 * "Travel Videos" by Betty Martin
 * "Full Cycle: World Odyssey"
 * "Funny Helmets and Spandex Pants" by Jack Sweet
 * "Great Mountain Biking"
 * "Guide to Off-Road Videos"
 * "Local Couple Comes 'Full Cycle' With Video" by Robert J. Hawkins
 * "Mountain Bike Video"
 * "Mountain Biking All Over, And Switzerland by Train" by Deloris Tarzan Ament
 * "Mountain Biking Books and Videos"
 * "Mountain Biking Just Gets Better and Better" by Patricia Mooney
 * "New & Unique Video"
 * "NORBA Endorses New Mountain Biking Video"
 * "Nouveau Kudos"
 * "On the Ride of a Lifetime"
 * "Re-Live It!"
 * "The Great Mountain Biking Video" by Bob Babbitt
 * "The Great Mountain Biking Video" Review by Jamie Elvidge
 * "The Great Mountain Biking Video" Review by Sue-Ellen Beauregard
 * "The Great Mountain Biking Video" Review
 * "Too Cool Video"
 * "Travel & Geography" by J.Scholtz
 * "Two For the Trail"
 * "Ultimate Video"
 * "Video Couple Ride Into Sunset Together
 * "Video Guide to Mountain Biking"
 * "Video Previews" by Catherine Applefeld
 * "Videos"
 * "Videos"
 * "Winter Rechargers"