Does everyone really want a RedBull helmet? 

The contract is signed before they get the helmet. The rules around the helmet are pretty hectic.

Getting the helmet is a surprise in a sense of WHEN you get it, he's already signed with redbull and is their athlete at that point, so the only surprise is the actual timing of when he gets the helmet, nothing more.

i think someone (maybe kade, not sure) said on one podcast that they usually know and are in talks with redbull about becoming their rider, but they don't know when are they getting the helmet. It's not a full surprise.

Red bull takes care of their athletes when they get injured. Eg when Danny Macaskill hurt his back badly a few years ago, RB paid for his full rehab in their american HQ, paid for all the medical bills, flights, accommodation, insurance etc. I would assume that when RB gives a helmet publicly, negotiation have started way in advance and the athelete knows it's about to happen. RB also sponsors athletes with long contracts. You never see an athlete with RB just for a year or two. They usually work hand in hand for years to support the athlete and push them as much as possible.

no, we just want redbull to take UCI DH again

Riders can submit CVs to Red Bull to be sponsored, so they know in advance. Red Bull (and Monster) will speak to managers, how much athletes are involved in the process will depend on whether they need to agree the contract - Jackson's was agreed with parents (managing him at the time) so who genuinely knew nothing about it. Other times, the athletes know it's coming but they don't know when - the presentation is the surprise - one of the female Monster riders said the same. Why they want it? Red Bull is amazing with support - medical, the riders really get looked after, they also have team camps (which Ronan was on in Queenstown, so be interested to know if it was locked in then), and then sponsorship, plus it's that badge of, you're at the top of your game. Monster by comparison, I've heard it described as they give more sponsorship money but don't have the same support. The above info came from hundreds of podcasts and RU-vid videos like this, so thanks for the content Dean!

They know they're getting it, they just don't know when.

I mean, I'm almost certain that ronins manager knows who his dream sponsors are and therefore wouldn't throw him under the bus by signing deals with brands he doesn't want a bar of.

RD was at a Red Bull training camp in Queenstown in January. Talks must have have been on then. Winning Hardline Tasmania, would have tipped it over the edge. The plain white helmet he was wearing was not by mistake. Deal would already have been done.

Jess Belwitt explained it in a podcast. Normally their manager is settling the deal. At the time she didn’t had a manager so she made the deal with Red Bull herself but didn’t know when she will get it.

Why everytime I see Monster helmet it makes me think its the 2nd place or the 3rd place guy. Redbull always out there looking for the Champ

If you sign for Red Bull, do you have to drink it? Because that would be a massive hurdle for me. That and not having any discernible talent.

It would be interesting how they deboard athletes… :)

The terms surely are agreed upon prior. Also, in our sport, the deal for an athlete is a no-brainer.

Yeah I remember billy bolt talking about it in his podcast and saying it’s not a surprise ,

Looks like its been on going for months. He was in Queenstown in Feb I seen him with my own eyes. Hes also been at Redbull track days in Qt and Rb Qt gym sessions

Let's face it. Redbull sells poisonous fizzy drinks.

You are having a laugh, right? It's the presentation of the custom helmet that is the surprise, the contract and all that comes with the sponsorship had already been done. It would be ridiculous to assume that the helmet would be the first indication that Ronan had that he would be a Red bull athlete. It's the final part of the deal not the first. He alluded to the deal well before Hardline and had talked about it a couple of podcasts.

I know for a fact that the contracts, terms, pay etc are signed and sealed well before they're presented with the helmet. Mostly months in advance. The athletes just don't know when they'll be presented with it, and, as far as I'm aware, not all RedBull athletes go through the "surprise" process. That's mostly done when there's considered to be a valuable PR opportunity surrounding the presentation.

All ronan really wants is a new caravan for his ma in any colour she wants 😂

You know Donny, they have already had that chat?

Didn't Pauline Ferand Prevot stop with the Red Bull helmet? I'm sure I read somewhere that she didn't want to promote the drink anymore because she thinks it's bad for you.

The athletes probably have multiple meetings and contract discussions detailing their contract. I'm assuming Ronan's team sent Redbull multiple helmets to be painted. The "surprise" helmet reveal at Hardline worked because Ronan was told his helmet won't be ready until after Hardline on purpose.

I am wondering the exact same thing. Yt algo arrived in my brain finally

I was wondering the exact same thing this morning.

I thought it'd all be pre organised. Think it was remy mortan saying he knew a few days or something before the surprise

I know that the money incentive isn't massive at all, it's all the stuff that red bull brings with it... training camps, coaches, rehab, marketing gurus etc...

I highly doubt it was really a surprise sponsorship. The moment of getting the helmet might have been a sursprise ( as in; he did not know when he would get the helmet), but the sponsorship itself was certainly not a surprise. He already signed that contract for sure...or at least all negotiations had been done and it was just a matter of signing the contract.

Turning down the helmet on live tv would be OG legend shit

They gotta be in talks before getting the helmet. Once they get the lid, then they're a Redbull Sponsored athlete/influencer, there are terms and payments attached to that surely, which necessitates a contract.

If u dont have a sponsor on ur head, ur not turning away a redbull helmet and the cheque it comes with. With a redbull helmet on ur head you can negotiate a better deal with others u were talking to u. Beauty of capitalism

I'm pretty sure my local paintbrush artist could fix that 😅

I know in skateboarding they must wear it and if they lose the hat they get fined. Dont know if they still do that tho.

I think of any of the ‘redbull helmet’ athletes, Ronin actually consumes more of their fizzy drinks than any of their other athletes. A university should do a study on the long term effects of his legendary ingestion of the Jekyll and Hyde drink (as it clearly amps up his performance - is it more mental or physical or how much of both? Or a placebo?)

Surely you WC riders know? I assume the terms of the agreement are agreed with the rider and riders management. The new helmet is a theatrical, marketing thing (probably don't tell the rider when they'll get the helmet to make it more special). Ronan was at the Queenstown redbull training camp months ago...

Good question. BK’s such a pro with sponsorship isn’t he? Leatt are all about safety and he’s all out easily the best, most consistent and progressive Hardline rider over time who’s also doing good work coaching the ladies. And whilst the complexity of when the contract’s agreed is a ‘thing’ that’s part of answering your question, we can look at other recent events for an answer. Sam Pilgrim has just walked away from Monster - must be him walking away as he’s hands down one of their primo effective advertisers to a wide audience (multiple age groups, cross discipline in cycles, but also surfing, kites and jet skis and still competing in ‘Gold’ comps and getting into the top ten. So, what was going on there? Money, no doubt, but did Canyon insist he dropped Monster or did Sam choose to walk away from that vibe? Interesting stuff, thanks 🙏

Here for the answers!

If I buy Red Bull or Monster do I support their riders?

Dean, sure it was all sorted out before hardline... that surprise is just acting. Ronan already knew for sure

like moto everyone is on a helmet sponsor i'm sure they were in talks what do you think of the monster US DH SERIES MONSTER are smart they know the market of USA and size

You can tell by his reaction that he knew already. If you think.. Red bull would need to get the helmet he is sponsored to paint it etc. it's like a job, you have to sign contracts before it goes out to the media. My guess is that they all pretend it's a surprise.

This is a pretty naive chat!

Billy bolt actually explained this when he got his, they are extremely far in the deal

Deano, why don't you ask moi moi on how he ended up on monster, I'm sure it's the same, they may do it another way, like Ronan did get an alpinestars redbull helmet so I am assuming they must've contacted him and his sponsors, plus someone to paint it, if anyone is going to tell the truth about it's the morriset mad dog moi moi.

Shout out to Wyn for the first check.

I guess redbull means money and access. Its funny but not once do i think about the drink redbull. I think F1 or some crazy stunt . Alot of other products i think about the products.

Why don't fruit companys set up like redbull, ever ride takes a banana or two with them on a ride, imagine having a Fyffes helmet 😂😂

Id rather wear a water brand helmet.

I feel like a bunch of Matt Jones’ money came from RedBull. He was rockin’ the Lambo and house before his RU-vid got above like 150k subscribers and before all of his Helfare stuff with Ben.

Oh you think Red Bull is a drink company and or a content/action sports company at heart. Hahahaha.

They do suck on the corporate aid to be sure road and cyclo-cross ace also Pidcock whilst we're at it. But I feel I can stomach it as long as it doesn't get too much. Red Bull have sponsored a fair bit to these events and guess what>>> they need to because the public are not attending these events in Wembly numbers.

IIRC BK declined the offer.

Haha yeah I think it’s corny.... Red Bull definitely goes after the flavor of the month rider. Ronan is that. I kind of like how Minnar was anti-energy drink...Back in my time there weren’t Red Bull but Chevy trucks Coors light there was a lot of big name sponsors and the mountain bike industry I wish that would come back instead of poison water sponsorships.