The Red Bull Rampage will be returning once again to Virgin, Utah, this October, but several changes have been implemented to the format of the most-viewed freeride contest in the world. Even the venue will be different – riders will now be making their way down an entirely new zone that has approximately 100 more vertical feet of elevation to work with. The focus for this year is on natural, big mountain terrain, with few, if any, man-made structures on course.
The number of competitors has been greatly reduced, and the field will now consist of a select group of 21 riders - the top 12 finishers from last year's contest, along with nine wild card entrants that will be announced at a later date. Fewer riders on the hill should help prevent the petty squabbling and drama that ensued in 2015, and hopefully allow each athlete to build and ride the line of their dreams.
The riders will have four days to construct their line with the assistance of two diggers, and there will then be a mandatory rest day followed by four days of practice. There won't be a qualifying day this year either – it'll be a one day, winner-take-all style event, another change designed to help reduce the number of injuries – after all, it's hard enough to pull off a risky, death-defying line once, let alone twice.
Controversy is inevitable at any judged event, since choosing a winner isn't as cut and dry as looking at a stop watch, but this year all of the judges will be former Rampage competitors. This means that they'll all have intimate knowledge of what it's like to tackle those steep sandy slopes, and have a solid background to draw on when determining a final score.
Red Bull Rampage 2015 Top 12 Finishers : 1 - Kurt Sorge
2 - Andreu Lacondeguy
3 - Graham Agassiz
4 - Brandon Semenuk
5 - Thomas Genon
6 - Cam Zink
7 - Darren Berrecloth
8 - Brendan Fairclough
9 - Sam Reynolds
10 - Remy Metailler
11 - Kyle Strait
12 - Pierre Edouard Ferry
More information:
redbull.com/rampage
Remy and Kyle swapped for [editorial?] reasons....
Tippie: "What are you thinking before you drop this sender?"
Andreu Lacondeguy: "Double or nothing!"
I don't know about that man.
I used to road race motorcycles, and IIRC sometime in the late '90s I believe it was the feds(as opposed to my state's legislature) that passed a law letting the insurance companies balk on injuries sustained while involved in 'dangerous activities'. After that I magically never got injured racing again, but developed a bit of clumsiness at home. Several times I injured myself while 'gardening', and at least twice I tripped on the dog(once the injuries mandated that I tripped over the dog, then fell down the stairs).
As I posted last year(or was it the year before?) when that dude came on here looking for help to pay for the broken leg he sustained while competing in the Rampage, I [still] can't believe Red Bull doesn't have medical coverage for ALL participants in the event-at least in order to cover their own ass(es) from lawsuits.
ESPECIALLY since they've got a major television network involved, who also can be listed as a defendant in a lawsuit.
They've gotta have multiple ambulance/Paramedic crews on site, so who pays for them?
Are they supposed to verify a rider's insurance coverage if/when they roll up on him after a crash, and if he doesn't have any, walk away?
This is especially true if you're signing a waiver: remember kiddies, waivers help you win liability lawsuits, they don't keep you out of court in the first place. & a lot of events are run on such a shoestring budget they can't afford that court case, even if they'll win it. Be a bro, tell your insurance you were just riding in the woods, not at an event, & only if they ask. (obviously, if you get hurt so bad that they take you straight from the event, you're screwed, but otherwise, be cool.)
pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/2586664217/o78k5fogx5g3hdy6peai.jpeg
I hope the judging is reviewed as well. I can't stand the way it is right now. You basically all talk to each other and effect the scores. Once you get hyped up and start going back and forth scores rise... so the early guys get screwed. I'm glad you've got riders judging but my suggestion would be that each one judges a discipline and puts their scores down... no talking and cross hyping. Put them in. Combine them. Total score. This is supposed to judge all aspects of big mountain riding and when they hype gets rolling I think too much is focused on 1 thing. If each person has one thing they're looking at then it's more consistent. 1 for tricks. 1 for line choice creativity and difficult. 1 for speed and flow. 1 wild card that just goes off the entire run combine... that should be the guy with the most experience on your panel.
Good move on less riders. I like the format change. Qualifying is stupid. If you're there you deserve and equal shot at winning. Getting f*cked up on a qualifying run is just insane.
But... no matter what you do... the glory of the pink bike comments section will still talk all the crap in the world. Because we know what's best after all.
But yes... very hard job. No results will please everyone... usually. Every once in a while there's a clear winner. It's usually the rest of the podium that people get pissed about.
I just want to see T Mac finish a run. I felt like he got hosed a couple years ago and then this last year he had podium written all over him. The horribly low score on his qualifying run pushed him to add that feature... ultimately crashing out. I think if they didn't have qualifying last year and just took 2 runs... he podiums.
But there are some guys that can seriously through down running this year.
Everything was becoming too serious, too dangerous and too sketchy. There's no safe way to hit 50+ ft gaps, but this definitely makes the risks more calculated
#ZinkGotRobbed
#NorbsGotEngaged
Can't Wait for Rampage!!
www.pinkbike.com/news/fmb-diamond-series-2016.html
While in previous years, the season finale was held at the infamous Red Bull Rampage, this season, the showdown will be held at the fourth Diamond stop and the mecca of slopestyle: Red Bull Joyride at Crankworx Whistler.
jk I love seeing them play to their strengths. Hopefully this time it'll be better!
www.instagram.com/p/BFaoHmyw0Mp/?taken-by=edmasters
THANK YOU!
just because youre riding at a venue doesnt mean they should pay for your insurance.
try that argument next time youre at a bike park and let me know how that flies...