Mug's guide to Red Bull Rampage
Roll up, roll up, beginner’s guide to people falling off cliffs here!
Undoubtedly the most famous event in freeride mountain biking, and possibly in mountain biking as a whole, Red Bull Rampage has been going down (literally) for years. So for anyone who doesn’t know their Zink from their elbow, here’s a quick way to get up to speed on the important stuff.
Where is it?
Virgin, Utah.
When did these nutters start this thing?
2001. A bad year for freeriders’ physiotherapists everywhere.
What is it?
The riders’ instructions go something like this: “Here’s a piece of Utah. Start up there, finish down here, do something huge and impressive on the way down. Preferably many huge, impressive things. Try not to fall off. Make it a big one if you do though.”
Does it hurt?
Yes, if you get it wrong. Have a peek at this:
Where’s this “Utah” then?
Who’s going?
Who’s won before then?
2010 – Cam Zink
2008 – Brandon Semenuk
2004 – Kyle Strait
2003 – Cedric Gracia
2002 – Tyler Klassen
What decides who wins?
It’s judged on line choice, technical ability, and complexity of the tricks thrown down. Who’s got the biggest danglies, basically.
Important info:
It’s happening on October 7th.
The course?
Thanks to builder Adam Billinghurst’s twitter account, we’ve got a few photos of the course building in action. Looks like they’re emphasising the “ramp” part of Rampage!
Looks promising!
Is this a step-up or a step-down? It’s huge, whatever the verdict…
More ramp-age
That’s one big kicker. Would you honestly hit this? I’d take a lot of persuading…
The builders have been working overtime this year by the look of it.
That’s enough of twitter feeds and instagram now. To finish off, here’s the official trailer:
See you in October!
Great to see Mick Hannah and Brendan Fairclough on the list – is this the first time they have done it?
Shame it’s gone so ramp focussed though… should be all natural terrain as far as I am concerned.
I think it is. A more downhill-influenced round then?
The riders do get their choice as to lines though – they can avoid the ramps if they want…
Kinda agree with you on the wooden ramp thing , but I don’t mind so much when it’s some thing huge !
It’s wooden slope style features that really seem out of place to me
Wow love the disconnect between the freeriders and the WC guys. Apparently they think Fairclough is French and couldnt even be bothered figuring out where Sic Mic is from…
Why does Brendog have a French flag next to his name on the list?
Brendawng Fercloo
Brendchien ?
I can’t see the flag properly but it looks like Brendan has an Italian flag next to him
Really interesting to see what Mick Hannah and Fairclough can do there. I just wanna see them throw down a quick technical line and pin it!!! That kind of thing gets my vote way more than boring lines with a 360 thrown in.
Is Brendan Fairclough French?
Now, yes.
Ha ha Brendog French, and they say that the Americans cannot do irony..
Just heard Guido Tschugg is in plaster for the next 4 weeks after coming off the mx bike. Who do we want to replace him?
Looking forward to seeing Gee, Hannah och Fairclough. Those downhill boys will ride it aggressively. Wish list for last spot? Greg Minaar.
But Soderstrom will be most fun to watch. And maybe Vanderham.
Personally, I don’t want to see another 360 drop, okay? Looks unflowy.
The Bender Sender was 2003!?!
I feel old
Wade Simmons won the first Rampage back in 2001
I am actually starting to wonder if British riders are aware that other adjectives are freely available, besides ‘stoked’?
It seems not even the US riders are able to use this half-assed term any more. ‘I’m so so, erm, utterly stoked about this event that, I couldn’t really be bothered to think of an original term to describe how utterly stoked I am about it. Like, totally, stoked!’