Dominant redheads...

4/12/2017 11:52am Edited Date/Time 4/14/2017 12:34pm
With the amazing Aaron Gwin doing his thing in MTB, he kind of reminded me of the GOAT and RV with his red hair. Those redheads must have something special in their blood, from Wikipedia:

"Red hair occurs naturally in 1–2% of the human population. It occurs more frequently (2–6%) in people of northern or western European ancestry, and less frequently in other populations. Red hair appears most commonly in people with two copies of a recessive allele on chromosome 16 which produces an altered version of the MC1R protein"

Quite a few dominant redheads on 2 wheels:
Carmichael
Villopoto
Ferry
Hepler
Canard
Aaron Gwin

In other sports:
Shaun White
Mark McGuire
Plenty of hockey players

I'm sure there are plenty more. Pretty cool article on Gwin for those who are getting into racing "late":

https://www.pinkbike.com/news/aaron-gwin--the-interview.html

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4/12/2017 12:03pm
Ive always wondered about this as well. Redheads seem to excel at motocross. Its strange.
dboivin
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4/12/2017 12:06pm
known for pain tolerance...so i would think that would translate into training/endurance.
doofy
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4/12/2017 5:01pm
Im a red head. Its been explained to me theres a difference in our genetics, that coincides with the recessive gene of red hair that allows for higher pain tolerance. Commonly hear about redheads being angry/aggressive... dont know if that can be proved scientifically

The Shop

4/12/2017 5:52pm
Red Head here also, thought it was strange that red heads excel at extreme sports.
4/12/2017 6:08pm
doofy wrote:
Im a red head. Its been explained to me theres a difference in our genetics, that coincides with the recessive gene of red hair that allows...
Im a red head. Its been explained to me theres a difference in our genetics, that coincides with the recessive gene of red hair that allows for higher pain tolerance. Commonly hear about redheads being angry/aggressive... dont know if that can be proved scientifically
Higher pain tolerance? Interesting, I didn't know that but I guess that explains Conor Mcgregor perfectly....didn't think about him until you mentioned that.
oldblood
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4/12/2017 6:11pm
nytsmaC wrote:
[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2017/04/12/187584/s1200_IMG_3245.jpg[/img]


Hey isn't she a trainer? Because I've been thinking I might need to get in shape. For racing of course.
TXDirt
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4/12/2017 6:11pm
According to South Park, redheads have no soul. So therefore they feel no pain!
FolkLoar
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4/12/2017 6:22pm
Don't forget Broc Glover, the Hill Brothers, Oldenburg, Anstie, I'm sure I'm forgetting some.

Two years ago we took a buddy of mine(legit ex-special forces) to his first supercross in ATL. The subject of redheads doing well at MX came up. He said that in one of the special military schools he went through that had a high drop out rate, about 50% of his graduating class was red headed. He happened to have brown hair but said he thought there was something to it. Like someone else said you seem to see it throughout other sports.
Kawisrok
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4/12/2017 6:36pm
I'm still stuck on the Canard being dominant thing. I must of missed a season or two.
TXDirt
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4/12/2017 6:43pm
Kawisrok wrote:
I'm still stuck on the Canard being dominant thing. I must of missed a season or two.
Didn't he win a 250 outdoor championship? That's not nothing. Probably doesn't compare to all your accolades though. Whistling
4/12/2017 6:49pm
Kawisrok wrote:
I'm still stuck on the Canard being dominant thing. I must of missed a season or two.
I had to include him. He's pretty damn fast on 2 wheels, regardless if he doesn't always keep the rubber side down.
Flip109
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4/12/2017 7:33pm
Less soul, more room for talent.
Kawisrok
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4/12/2017 7:42pm
Kawisrok wrote:
I'm still stuck on the Canard being dominant thing. I must of missed a season or two.
TXDirt wrote:
Didn't he win a 250 outdoor championship? That's not nothing. Probably doesn't compare to all your accolades though. Whistling
Interesting, a singular outdoor championship 7 years ago won because the points leader of the final race crashed out doesn't exactly tickle my brain as dominant.
ts.p311
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4/12/2017 7:48pm
Kawisrok wrote:
I'm still stuck on the Canard being dominant thing. I must of missed a season or two.
TXDirt wrote:
Didn't he win a 250 outdoor championship? That's not nothing. Probably doesn't compare to all your accolades though. Whistling
Kawisrok wrote:
Interesting, a singular outdoor championship 7 years ago won because the points leader of the final race crashed out doesn't exactly tickle my brain as dominant.
Not to mention he won his first 3 250 pro SX races, and the title. Also his outdoor title was not won by luck of Pourcel going down in the last round. Canard came on really strong about midway through the season. If not by Red Bud, for sure at Millville he was on the gas, and stayed that way through the rest of the season. Why was it Canard you picked off that list to single out? Why not Ferry, Hepler, or Gwin? If those guys can be on the dominant ginger list, then Canard certainly deserves a spot. Maybe not currently dominant, but he's definitely been "the guy" on 250s at times, and he's even won on a 450.
JAFO92
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4/12/2017 7:58pm
One of the raddest gingers to twist a throttle.



oldblood
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4/12/2017 8:07pm


Damn straight bro
JW381
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4/12/2017 8:48pm
nytsmaC wrote:
[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2017/04/12/187584/s1200_IMG_3245.jpg[/img]


Some threads belong on the dumbgeon, some threads belong in, well, you know where (RIP).
Forty
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4/12/2017 8:50pm Edited Date/Time 4/12/2017 8:51pm
When I thrashed my shoulder the surgeon said---good thing you're a redhead, this could have been a lot worse. something about the quality of the connective tissue. He also talked about the pain threshold thing as well.
4/12/2017 8:58pm
Forty wrote:
When I thrashed my shoulder the surgeon said---good thing you're a redhead, this could have been a lot worse. something about the quality of the connective...
When I thrashed my shoulder the surgeon said---good thing you're a redhead, this could have been a lot worse. something about the quality of the connective tissue. He also talked about the pain threshold thing as well.
Too bad about your fair skin though.



Jk Wink
Bearuno
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4/12/2017 9:05pm
Ranga's Rule - all You others Drool!

Yes, I'm a 'racialist' (c/r Ali G). If you are not a Ranga, well, bow down before Us .



By the way, this is a joke - well, maybe not - Ranga's are the bestest. Hell, what's wrong with a bit of Ranga promotion, when a common saying is "beaten like a red headed step child"? I can attest to the aggression, at least when I was a little bloke - mess with me and / or my brothers, and you paid dearly. Got older, mellowed out a lot - perhaps it's all the aggression being dissipated by the bodies efforts in dealing with continual pain from permanent injuries? Nah, it's just the calm one attains as you realize how far above all 'others' you are as a Ranga...............WoohooWhistlingSillyEvil
Forty
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4/12/2017 9:14pm
Forty wrote:
When I thrashed my shoulder the surgeon said---good thing you're a redhead, this could have been a lot worse. something about the quality of the connective...
When I thrashed my shoulder the surgeon said---good thing you're a redhead, this could have been a lot worse. something about the quality of the connective tissue. He also talked about the pain threshold thing as well.
TripleFive wrote:
Too bad about your fair skin though.



Jk Wink
Well.....there's that.
MikeyMo
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4/12/2017 9:30pm
Could probably add Blair Morgan to that list as well, very strong presence in CDN Moto for years, and well that whole re-inventing how a snowmobile would not only be ridden, but engineered as well.
oldblood
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4/12/2017 9:59pm
Jim Rippey was (is)completely badass base jumping off foresthill bridge from a hauling ass rv, not to mention moto, snowmobile, snowboard savvy.
Kawisrok
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4/13/2017 7:20am
TXDirt wrote:
Didn't he win a 250 outdoor championship? That's not nothing. Probably doesn't compare to all your accolades though. Whistling
Kawisrok wrote:
Interesting, a singular outdoor championship 7 years ago won because the points leader of the final race crashed out doesn't exactly tickle my brain as dominant.
ts.p311 wrote:
Not to mention he won his first 3 250 pro SX races, and the title. Also his outdoor title was not won by luck of Pourcel...
Not to mention he won his first 3 250 pro SX races, and the title. Also his outdoor title was not won by luck of Pourcel going down in the last round. Canard came on really strong about midway through the season. If not by Red Bud, for sure at Millville he was on the gas, and stayed that way through the rest of the season. Why was it Canard you picked off that list to single out? Why not Ferry, Hepler, or Gwin? If those guys can be on the dominant ginger list, then Canard certainly deserves a spot. Maybe not currently dominant, but he's definitely been "the guy" on 250s at times, and he's even won on a 450.
Look you guys, I'm not disputing the guy is a great racer, I really like Canard, I just don't believe he's ever been dominant is all i'm saying.
GalagaOnMYArm
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4/13/2017 9:50am
We do kick all sorts of ass. Not sure about the pain tolerance thing, but the anger/aggressive thing...that could be a little true.
mark911
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4/13/2017 7:34pm
Forty wrote:
When I thrashed my shoulder the surgeon said---good thing you're a redhead, this could have been a lot worse. something about the quality of the connective...
When I thrashed my shoulder the surgeon said---good thing you're a redhead, this could have been a lot worse. something about the quality of the connective tissue. He also talked about the pain threshold thing as well.
TripleFive wrote:
Too bad about your fair skin though.



Jk Wink
Agree about the pain. I've driven myself from the track to emergency many times with major broken bones and dislocations.

And yes, if red hair is a blessing in some ways it comes with the curse of fair skin. In fact, it's my feeling that red hair fair skin males are the minority of minorities in the US. And as a minority with different skin color you face very real social issues with respect to acceptance and ridicule, particularly growing up (kids can be very cruel). As a result, at least in my case, I tended to direct myself towards activities/sports that didn't involve a team and where my fair skin would be less obvious (no shirtless/shorts type sports). Motocross was a perfect outlet for me so I spent most of my free time riding or working on my bike while all the other kids were hanging at the beach, lake or pool. Remember, this was back in the early 70s.

I've wasn't blessed with lots of athletic ability but did relatively well at the local races just because of the sheer amount of time I spent with my bike. My experience on the track was one of those few times I truly felt I was being judged by my actions and not my hair or skin color, a major source of motivation for me.

Times have changed a bit, but if kids still make fun of "redheads" like me, just think of the potential of someone born with more athletic talent! It might help explain the rise of fair skinned racers in the sport. Or not.
4/13/2017 9:01pm
Forty wrote:
When I thrashed my shoulder the surgeon said---good thing you're a redhead, this could have been a lot worse. something about the quality of the connective...
When I thrashed my shoulder the surgeon said---good thing you're a redhead, this could have been a lot worse. something about the quality of the connective tissue. He also talked about the pain threshold thing as well.
TripleFive wrote:
Too bad about your fair skin though.



Jk Wink
mark911 wrote:
Agree about the pain. I've driven myself from the track to emergency many times with major broken bones and dislocations. And yes, if red hair is...
Agree about the pain. I've driven myself from the track to emergency many times with major broken bones and dislocations.

And yes, if red hair is a blessing in some ways it comes with the curse of fair skin. In fact, it's my feeling that red hair fair skin males are the minority of minorities in the US. And as a minority with different skin color you face very real social issues with respect to acceptance and ridicule, particularly growing up (kids can be very cruel). As a result, at least in my case, I tended to direct myself towards activities/sports that didn't involve a team and where my fair skin would be less obvious (no shirtless/shorts type sports). Motocross was a perfect outlet for me so I spent most of my free time riding or working on my bike while all the other kids were hanging at the beach, lake or pool. Remember, this was back in the early 70s.

I've wasn't blessed with lots of athletic ability but did relatively well at the local races just because of the sheer amount of time I spent with my bike. My experience on the track was one of those few times I truly felt I was being judged by my actions and not my hair or skin color, a major source of motivation for me.

Times have changed a bit, but if kids still make fun of "redheads" like me, just think of the potential of someone born with more athletic talent! It might help explain the rise of fair skinned racers in the sport. Or not.
This has pretty much been my own personal experience. Freckle faced red headed kid with glasses is no way to grow up in the deep South. So I chose a sport at the time (early 70's) that made me unique. I was lucky to have some natural ability and was good on the strategy end of racing.

As far as the pain thing, when I was having my second Melanoma surgery (yeah, that's another red head thing) the doc asked if she could do it with a local. Since she was uber hot and I liked looking at her, I said what the hell, go for it.

She numbed me up, gave it some time to work, and started to slice into my arm. At that point I asked her if the scalpel was supposed to feel cold.Dry She almost had a heart attack at that point. Lot's more numbing ensued.Laughing She couldn't get over the pain tolerance.

BTW, everyone missed the dominant red head from my era...Wardy.
4/13/2017 9:45pm
Y'all forgot about Andy Jefferson, Pedro Gonzalez, and Akira Narita...so obvious.

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