cherouvim

Have you ever ridden with Chris Akrigg?

A bicycle rider who is interested in becoming constantly better by learning new tricks or perfecting existing ones has to deal with times where progress does not happen. Sometimes not only doesn't he/she learn new stuff but it seems that pulling "already mastered" tricks is hard. And these periods may last for days. The worst part is that frustration from those moments make these periods longer.

1. Does this ever happen to you?
2. If yes, how do you deal with it?

Any bike setup changes specific to rampage? e.g stiffer shocks, more pressure on tires?

For some riders starting their real line requires them to ride for a bit on narrow, soft terrain or do some nasty manoveres like a switchback on an almost vertical loose spot. Does this make you more nervous (apart from the nervousness due to the bit stuff that you'll need to hit later on)? Could something like that affect the placement of your line while digging it in the previous days? Or is riding to your line a piece of cake? Cause in TV it looks scary.

In previous rampages some people rode with air forks and/or shocks (instead of coil). Do they do that due for sponsors? If not, why would they ride with air? Does it offer any benefit for a site like rampage?