Off the Cuff - Neko Mulally 16

One of America's fastest downhillers is also one of America's greatest hopes for the survival and growth of #USDH

sideshow
11/1/2017 12:53pm
s1600 nekoA 218381

Neko Mulally is a successful American downhill racer who not only possesses world-class talent aboard the bike, he possesses a grit and a drive to do everything he can to the best of his ability. The Southeast local has turned the drive into a budding downhill scene. While looking for ways to train for the World Cups, he fell into and accepted opportunities to further develop the Windrock ORV park's MTB program while, at the same time, develop a regional DH race series. Instead of being another complainer or critic at a downhill race, Neko showed up to do work and gets his hands dirty. The fruits of his labor are beginning to blossom with race results and a growing DH community.

In this Off the Cuff, Neko discusses his 2017 World Cup race season with the YT Mob and digs deep about his passion for breathing new life into the American DH scene.

Photos and interview by Zach Faulkner

 

Neko and family after winning the 2017 U.S. Open.

Downhill Southeast Bailey Mountain Race Coverage

Windrock Pro GRT Race Coverage

2017 U.S. National Champs Coverage

2017 U.S. Open Coverage

Related:
YT
Downhill
Interview
Neko Mulally
Podcast
#USDH
Off the Cuff
16 comments

View replies to: Off the Cuff - Neko Mulally

avatar.png?VersionId=TkOXSLqxgAC412Y 1F6UyzOaMSkN
Mateusz_Gawecki
6 years ago
I stopped respecting Neko when he tried to start with cardboard instead of proper back protector and got disqualified
3
9
c50 s1600 Bizutch Butch Greene 1640094179
bizutch
6 years ago
Wow...you're all just such extreme hyperbole statement makers. Radically over the top in both directions.
c50 s1600 Bizutch Butch Greene 1640094179
bizutch
6 years ago
First..its perfectly fine to pass judgment. it was beyond dumb to not just put a back protector on and leave NOTHING to chance. We all know that and antibody e that thinks it wasn't are just not logical humans since there is ZERO logic (the real kind of logic that eliminates all chance of error) in what he did. So yeah, everybody passing judgement on @Mateusz_Gawecki is exaggerating.
That being said, him saying he lost "all respect " is overdramatjzed. But I certainly lost respect at the time because it smelled of arrogance. In the end, only Nekos brain walked the options that day. All the y divisiveness comes in because we all either wish we had the opportunity he forfeited or we wanted HIM to not miss out on his opportunity as fans.
1
avatar.png?VersionId=TkOXSLqxgAC412Y 1F6UyzOaMSkN
Mateusz_Gawecki
6 years ago
Thanks for good wrap-up. I didn't say that I lost all respect. I just thought of him as a hard working, level headed guy who maybe didn't have as much luck as some others had.
c50 s1600 Bizutch Butch Greene 1640094179
bizutch
6 years ago
@Mateusz_Gawecki you said stopped respecting. Pretty much reads the same as "all respect". To clarify, outs not my not in life to pass judgement on Neko, so I'm not doing that. It sucked. He and I have stuff a few paragraphs to one another so I don't know enough about him as a person.
avatar.png?VersionId=TkOXSLqxgAC412Y 1F6UyzOaMSkN
Mateusz_Gawecki
6 years ago
Yeah... Could you kindly share the facts if you know them and not be a smartass? Maybe it would help others understand the case better.
c50 IMG 4535 1499705728.jpg?VersionId=YZRhw5u5.2J1ib
krisrayner
6 years ago
Riders have been doing this for a long time now. They get used to not wearing them, then they race at a venue that requires them. We only find out about the ones who get caught and DQ’d. Mitch Ropelato had that happen to him a few years back at Leogang.
c50 Photo on 1 17 14 at 9.24 PM 2 1390620415
brad deskins
6 years ago
Riders started digging and maintaining trails at Windrock in the year 2000. It's hard to listen to somebody take credit for the place after digging for a year. The benefits of
having a "professional" status i guess.
4
c50 s1600 Bizutch Butch Greene 1640094179
bizutch
6 years ago
I think the "way better" part is the shuttle guaranteed to run, the trails guaranteed to be clear (because that alone is expensive, hellacious work just with downed trees) and and all the local trail bosses efforts to keep that place viable for more than a decade finally being removed from. them as a money pit and thankless burden being rewarded. Those all make it Way better now. Windrock Park ownership taking a clear and aggressive approach to expansion...way better.
People with heavy equipment tweaking existing trails and building some new features as they go...better.
avatar.png?VersionId=TkOXSLqxgAC412Y 1F6UyzOaMSkN
profro
6 years ago
I started digging there in 2003. Neko and Sean have been the utmost respectful to the trail crews that started and carried the trails up until they turned it into a bike park with a real vision beyond local building trails for themselves.

I walked out of the woods at dark last night with these guys. They are really working hard and long hours to make Windrock something way more than it has been.
2
c50 blumpkin 1508958230.jpg?VersionId=3l796dFvGdUgKSKAa2K
BL69
6 years ago
As someone that loves to take credit for things I didn't do, I recognize it when I see it. I'm pretty sure Neko said that he didn't take credit for starting and building the existing trails. He is however taking credit for making it more accessible and improving upon the infrastructure already in place.

Brad, I'm sure I can get a ticket for yourself and "Chad" to the Player Haters Ball, If you'd like. Slide into my DM's if so...
4
c50 IMG 0091 1485169824
nug12182
6 years ago
Windrock is like a grown ups play ground!You don't even need a bike there to have fun(even though that's blasphemy)Thank you Neko and Sean for letting us have a place to ride all year round.Plus they are both great guys.Win win for us.
2

Deals

See All »