New Venue, Format Changes For Red Bull Rampage 2016

Jun 23, 2016
by Mike Kazimer  
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 steepest drop on the hill okay maybe bar Vink s but on of the smoothest under pilot Cam Zink. Just a straight-air today tomorrow who knows...
Cam Zink drops in during last year's contest.

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
2016 Red Bull Rampage logo


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202 Comments
  • 327 8
 WE WANT Vinny T as a wild card this year. LISTEN to us this year redbull
  • 76 1
 Yes we want vinny T!
  • 73 13
 and give Jaws a chance!
  • 2 2
 @nikifor88: mógł by pozamiatac Szczeki Razz
  • 36 1
 New lines, new format, best news I heard all day. If redbull could only control the wind....or can they??????!!??
  • 37 0
 Vinny T or Niko Vink!!
  • 24 0
 It looks as though Red Bull has listened. These are huge changes on a bunch of topics that people have been complaining about.
  • 6 1
 @fecalmaster: RedBull will give you winds!!!
  • 2 1
 Yes!! The most inspiring new rider
  • 14 0
 @LiquidSpin: Vinny T AND Niko Vink!
  • 1 0
 @nielsdeschaetzen: haha I concur!
  • 7 1
 @Tinga: I think they listened to the riders instead than us, wich is way better
  • 4 0
 @fecalmaster: the winds are always calm down there from sunrise until about 1 or 2 pm. If they started the event at 6 or 7 am they wouldn't have the problems they've run into in previous years - like telling Aggy that he has 5 minutes to do his run or be disqualified. They don't give a shit about the riders and don't realize how riding there in the wind is literally a death sentence
  • 5 1
 I just want bas to be a wild card!
  • 1 0
 @LiquidSpin: BOTH OF EM!!
  • 4 6
 Bourdo, Doerfling, Vinny T, Nico Vink, Wade Simmons, Bender..
  • 1 0
 @Tinga: Yep. RedBull listened a lot from last year.
  • 1 0
 TOTALLY!!
  • 2 0
 @LiquidSpin: After last year, yeah I'm on board with Vink.
  • 1 0
 @Trials-FTW: Those monster jumps he did blew me away. He's fearless and has balls of a bull on steroids.
  • 285 9
 I thought I was 10th... Apparently I moved to 11th now. Exited for the new venue.
  • 111 6
 Stop destroying Whistler - for fox sake Remy! Be nice and maybe they'll rank you higher...
  • 6 0
 Final results of Rampage 2015: www.redbull.com/us/en/bike/stories/1331754159427/rampage-2015-final-results

Remy and Kyle swapped for [editorial?] reasons....
  • 143 0
 Sorry for the temporary demotion, Remy. You're back in 10th now.
  • 27 0
 That's the penalty for taking the french enduro line down the mountain and cutting every F"ING corner full gas!!! I loved it and HB would be proud! Wink
  • 4 0
 @ckcost: right on the money. The line was like a race run!
  • 135 9
 Rider insurance?
  • 17 4
 this
  • 75 1
 There's no mention of that, but in most instances, whether it's Red Bull Rampage, a big mountain freeskiing competition, or a similar type of event, athletes are required to have their own insurance policy in place before being allowed to compete.
  • 260 4
 How about Cam McCaul and Brett Tippie for the announcers this year?!?!?! Seriously
  • 17 9
 Hah I checked stuff this year before entering an Enduro race in Sweden. National Health Care has me covered for eventual hospitalization and rehab expenses. HOWEVER my private insurance company, doesn't support anything competition related, despite me paying the top rate injury insurance. The company covering the race license is said to not be that good, so no insurance for "loss of ability to perform work" will be given if I wreck myself on competition. A friend involved in organisation says: nobody wants to insure competitors anywhere here, in any sport: DO NOT CRASH. Nuts
  • 2 1
 @mikekazimer: Remy and Kyle are mixed up in the 2015 results above - Remy was 10th
  • 2 4
 @theedon: Because Red Bull wants the event covered by NBC on TV they have to let NBC do the announcing...
  • 3 1
 @WAKIdesigns: It's OK to race bikes and get disabled in the USA. At least there's that.
  • 9 5
 @endlessblockades: it's also ok to get yourself a job and buy your own insurance, if the job doesn't provide it. Participating in a risky sport, but not having insurance is kind of dumb, if you think about it, no?
  • 10 0
 @mikekazimer: That's because the event can never provide a blanket rider insurance policy and still give the riders the complete freedom to do what they want. As soon as a third party assumes any liability (whether it be Redbull itself or an outside insurance company), that third party is always going to impose restrictions. Does anyone really want Redbull or some insurance company stepping in to tell a rider that the drop they plan to hit is too big or too dangerous? Because once someone else is on the hook for any costs, that's what would happen.
  • 2 0
 @SlodownU: Agreed, I was just saying that in my experience it's fine to get busted up racing in extreme sports comps and expect insurance to pay. I've had several incidents and they've known full well how I broke hand, foot, tore up knee and ankle ligaments, separated shoulders, torn rotator cuffs, etc.They always have come through for me! Blue Shield, Kaiser, etc. Sounds like Waki's private insurance doesn't cover injuries incurred in competition.
  • 2 0
 @endlessblockades: most insurance companies here don't cover for injuries sustained under the course of a competition but NHS provides for a lot. The issue is: sustaining injuries that make unable to perform your work, that is not covered by NHS
  • 1 0
 @endlessblockades: Agreed. Once you've paid your premium, your good to go, even in competition. You show up at the hospital, tell them you crashed on your bike (technically, you don't even have to do that), and that's it. Our healthcare system leaves much to be desired, as does the insurance industry, but at least you won't go broke getting patched up.
  • 2 1
 @theedon: yes please!
  • 5 1
 @theedon: I think people forgot how bad the announcing was, otherwise this would have more upvotes. I'm even down for Tippie to do a "just the tip" segment mid run.

Tippie: "What are you thinking before you drop this sender?"

Andreu Lacondeguy: "Double or nothing!"
  • 2 0
 @SacAssassin: Didn't Cam McCaul announce it last year? I thought I remember it being him and Pat Parnell.
  • 1 1
 @SlodownU - I am pretty syre that insurance company will investigate your case, at least to bare minimum, if you minced yourself like hell so you have to come up with a better excuse. If they are about to pay you few hundreds of thousands because you broke the spine or lost function in your right hand, they will want to know what they pay for. You won't need to involve NSA in it, but you need to come up a consistent story with your buddies and family, and that may be hard with a broken spine. They can litigate you for lying, even in Sweden.
  • 2 1
 @endlessblockades:
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?
  • 2 3
 As a matter of interest how do M/C and MX racers get it right. 5 deaths and no doubt a few more severe injuries at this years Isle of Man TT - surely they manage to get some kind of cover?
  • 2 0
 @theedon: Please for the love of god... YES. People want to listen to genuine stoked commentating, not just event hype from someone that doesn't ride.
  • 3 0
 @YoKev: There's another aspect to this, too: not throwing the event runners under the bus. I've had insurance companies send me forms asking if I got hurt at some sort of event or place of business, & whether I filled claims with the event's insurance. Which, unless they have excellent insurance, means somebody's going to try to bill the promoter directly.

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.)
  • 1 1
 hoping for assurance from insurance
  • 1 0
 @YoKev: You're probably correct, but I don't believe they view non-professional bicycle racing as a dangerous activity ( maybe not as dangerous as motorized racing). Rampage is another story I assume. On another note, I've noticed some events like the Sea Otter have contracted with race-weekend insurance firms like the Life Flight Helicopter to Hospital service. I think it was a box you could check during registration and it was only about $60. I didn't want it, but it stuck in my mind and somewhat reasonable.
  • 126 12
 Concussion protocol this time around? I would not like to see another instance of someone falling off a cliff only to get up to continue their run
  • 35 5
 No need for anyone to neg prop this. Definitely required
  • 11 41
flag lyophilization (Jun 23, 2016 at 15:32) (Below Threshold)
 here we go again...
  • 113 1
 Pains me deeply not seeing McGarry in that list. Miss you, bro!
  • 10 0
 Exactly my thoughts when I read this.
  • 5 0
 @Mirks: Yeah still gutted even now Frown
  • 79 3
 I hope they take a moment to remember McGazza.
  • 245 2
 They should just forever make the "Peoples Champ Award" the "McGazza Trophy".
  • 7 0
 @MQTBMX: What a Fantastic idea! +++++
  • 6 0
 @MQTBMX: such a good idea
  • 1 0
 @MQTBMX: TOTALLY
  • 3 1
 Good idea! Or make a new "Rider's Choice" Award for MVP of the day and name it the McGazza! Might carry more weight with the riders... Either way, this should happen!
  • 72 1
 Will be interesting to see who the wild card invites are. Bizet needs to be one of them.
  • 62 0
 Bizet, Vink, T-MAC, to name a few
  • 4 0
 @Lagr1980: Absolutely can not complain with those guys getting a ride
  • 53 1
 And Rheeder
  • 50 3
 And Simon Cowell. I'd like to see him ride Rampage.
  • 5 0
 Word. Imagine if he goes for a double backflip and makes it this year. I will trip balls :o
  • 40 7
 Rogatkin
  • 31 1
 Tom van steenbergen
  • 10 2
 Adolf Silva
  • 42 0
 James Doerfling
  • 58 3
 Lets launch Trump with a unicycle.
  • 7 2
 Szymon Godziek and Rogatkin
  • 4 4
 @szusz: dont feel like it s compulsory to see rogatkin this year
  • 2 0
 @trevor-attridge: James MUST be one of the wildcard invitees. Can't imagine a Rampage without him. Especially with this new format, more vertical and natural lines... James' style!
  • 5 0
 Not enough wild card spots. There needs to be at least 15. Judges are probably still going to reward certain areas on the new venue more than others. The riders need to learn how to share lines. Should not matter who built it. It's about who rides the line the best.
  • 55 5
 So a big mountain event is going back to being a big mountain event. THANK GOD!
  • 46 1
 I'm sure Darren will be sporting a big smile again for this year's contest.
pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/2586664217/o78k5fogx5g3hdy6peai.jpeg
  • 6 0
 Hahahahaha!! This made my day! Smile
  • 16 0
 ^^^ Sweet selfie @claw
  • 40 1
 T Mac better be number one on the list of "wild cards" every one knows that if his balls weren't so big he woulda been on the podium last year. And this format plays into him way better than the man made retardedness of the last few years.

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.
  • 3 0
 According to the red bull vid with claw, mccaul and sorge the judges will all be past riders of rampage. You have to know how to ride it to judge it. Know the difference between fast and loose and fast and sketchy. Hard job no matter what.
  • 2 0
 @T-Bot: I think I know where you're going with that fast and sketchy comment. LOL!


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.
  • 29 1
 ED FOR RAMPAGE!!!!! #edforrampage
  • 1 0
 That boy has skills Wink
  • 24 0
 B I Z E T
  • 26 3
 #semenukGotRobbed #ZinkGotRobbed #fansDidNotgetRobbed
  • 3 1
 Agreed. This is such a great event and very difficult to judge- though I agree that Semanuk and Zink had the best lines.
  • 25 2
 ATWILL IN
  • 2 0
 Hell yeah!
  • 22 0
 Conor MacFarlane FTW!
  • 6 0
 I second that. Dude needs another chance to show what he can do - one of the best all-round riders out there.
  • 18 0
 Doerfling better get a wild card and some fresh tanktops for even considering anyone else for the list.
  • 5 1
 And Burdo with his open face.
  • 1 0
 Doerfling really needs to land a huge indian air
  • 11 2
 This needed to happen for the event to reach new heighs.
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
  • 8 0
 Dylan Sheffer. He is one of the few keeping true old school free riding/building alive on the west coast. He has to get an invite!!
  • 4 0
 James Dorefling
  • 11 1
 Actually like this format. will be interesting to watch.
  • 17 7
 #IRideForPaul
#ZinkGotRobbed
#NorbsGotEngaged
  • 16 1
 #McGazzaForever
  • 9 0
 I like it. Should've happened sooner.
  • 9 2
 Interesting! Would love to hear more about the drama from last year. Was it just fighting over real estate?
  • 7 10
 Don't ask, just go have a look through some of the articles
  • 15 1
 If you didn't pick up a even a wiff of drama then you must have been following Rampage from under a rock. It was like an old mothers meeting!
  • 5 0
 Yeah lots of drama over real-estate. The veterans had their lines dialed and dug in while the new guys were scrambling for a free patch of dirt. And then there was Paul Bas....and get us started on tbe scoring!! so yeah a lot needed reviewing.
  • 8 1
 I think mountain bikers will like it. The average viewer in TV land? Probably not so much.
  • 1 0
 Why not?
  • 8 1
 @dropoffsticks: Less crashes and that`s what many people are watching it for, especially the average viewer. Also, big jumps look more "extreme" and "cool" on camera than steep, technical terrain.
  • 5 0
 well, screw them
  • 7 0
 So good to see Brendan Fairclough & Sam Reynolds in that list.
Can't Wait for Rampage!!
  • 6 0
 Paul Bas def should be there...maybe judge?
  • 7 1
 These changes sound great! Can't wait for it to start!
  • 8 2
 Can i get a wild card? I suck at mtb but i want to see that for real
  • 2 0
 Has anyone ever gone to this? Buddy and I are riding Moab and we have thrown around the idea of going to watch the event, but we are currently decided on riding instead of watching others ride. Just curious if you can actually be in a position to see most of a run (but that seems highly unlikely). I would like to go check out the event, but I have a greater desire to ride my bike.
  • 7 0
 It is worth going to for sure, tv and internet do not do this stuff justice and you will never really know how gnarly it is until you are right there watching cam zinz backflip a massive stepdown just 100 feet away.
  • 4 0
 My mind was suitably blown. I'd say if you're considering it, do it.
  • 2 0
 Do it!!! It is so rad to see them send it. Also you can bring your bikes, great riding in Virgin and surrounding areas.
  • 2 0
 @brandaneisma: go ride the old rampage site before the event and see what they're having to deal with. it totally puts their riding into perspective. i tried riding the top line at the new site and just about had an anxiety attack just walking up that top knife-edge spine
  • 8 2
 tl;dr version: we changed things so hopefully you all bitch less.
  • 6 1
 with a little bit of "sponsors were getting a little iffy about paying to put their name on the side of a crazy ramp that's probably gonna kill a kid."
  • 4 0
 not that I'm a big fanboy, but isn't this fmb points? What about Reeder/Rogakin
  • 11 1
 I don't think it was on the list of fmb contests this year.
www.pinkbike.com/news/fmb-diamond-series-2016.html
  • 3 2
 @cmitchell: Nice Catch, wish i could give more props.

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.
  • 6 0
 Bizet!
  • 6 0
 The old venue was robbed
  • 3 0
 Lacondeguy is a seriously stylish rider and they chose that picture of him for the poster...surely they could have picked a better shot!
  • 3 0
 What says Rampage more than when he won't style something up.
  • 6 1
 it ain't rampage without Wil White !!!!
  • 2 0
 @suicidedownhiller damn right its not
  • 1 0
 @angrynipples: im definitely gunning for it this year
  • 3 0
 Hopefully they pick T-Mac as one of the wildcards. His run last year was insane.
  • 13 11
 Let's see if Remy gets it this time... #ItsNotARaceRemy

jk I love seeing them play to their strengths. Hopefully this time it'll be better!
  • 24 2
 Someone hitting the course fast and stylish looks so much better than someone doing 15 different scooter tricks per jump, in my opinion. But then, as awesome as rampage is, I do prefer wc dh so perhaps I am biased Razz
  • 10 0
 @gabriel-mission9: Couldn't agree more. I thought Remy's speed was awesome to watch, and his steeze all over that hill was insane. Loved his run.
  • 9 0
 @VwHarman: bring back Gee Atherthon to Rampage!
  • 2 0
 @VwHarman: I also loved how he didn't try to compete with the other guys for tricks and instead went for the speed, style and pure gnarlyness that was his line. He was definitely one to watch and will be this year too
  • 3 0
 @TheLongMan: I was thinking this as soon I read the article. Makes a lot of sense. He's dropped out of contention in the WC's and his bro's a supreme builder and the more natural terrain will suit. 2 years ago his name was on the provisional entry list but it didn't materialise but it was extremely close to the World Champs which he won.
  • 3 0
 It didn't materialize for a tweaked ankle he got in practice! But it would have been gigantic riding if not!
  • 1 0
 I thought the crash in practice which done his ankle was a good few years back. I sure he was pencilled in to ride last year or year before but didn't enter the country.
  • 1 0
 @hassall79: oh that I don't know about..
  • 4 0
 This looks good. Nice work.
  • 4 0
 only 2 builders per riders is cool so same chances for everyone !!
  • 2 0
 like the changes. So happy that former Rampage competitors will be the judges. glad there's something to be stoked for later this year
  • 5 0
 #edforrampage
  • 1 0
 Great news! Thought this after last year's event. The pressure on riders to throw down a winning run in a comp lead to some crazy stuff going down in both good and bad ways The jam format makes SO MUCH more sense
  • 2 1
 Anyone know how ticket sales will work this year? Last year was first in several that I missed due to new system. This year I want to be ready!!
  • 1 0
 I have no idea, I looked around but I couldn't find any info. I wanna go so bad this year!
  • 3 0
 Get Eddie f*cking Masters a wild card! #ED4RAMPAGE
  • 3 0
 Viny T , Nick P , Bryan R
  • 3 0
 amen. Vinny T. and Nick P. for sure... and Nico V. again! let the freeriders ride!
  • 2 0
 "The focus for this year is on natural, big mountain terrain, with few, if any, man-made structures on course."

THANK YOU!
  • 1 1
 Rob Warner should comment - her is the new and professional voice for Rad Bull. He can have another Freeride guy with him who isn't riding, but has personality and knowledge.
  • 4 1
 Norbs got robbed.
  • 13 0
 *"Norby, as his friends call him"
  • 9 1
 Lol, I can just imagine them calling Berrecloth "Bear Tooth" or something equally dumb. Semenuk is Brandon "Seven Bucks"... f*cking dumbasses lol
  • 1 1
 where is James Dorefling? he is the only true big mountain freerider out there and hes not on rampage yet the slopstylers are?
  • 1 0
 top 12 from last year got qualified, other few will get an invite, Doerfling for sure will get one.
  • 1 0
 Well thought out, I like it. I always look forward to the riding out of Utah, Rampage never fails to impress.
  • 2 1
 What happened to 'the cool bros' who said F*ck Rampage? Income has more value than principles, I guess......
  • 2 0
 maybe Rampage changed to have the cool bros back
  • 2 0
 Get carson storch and norbs
  • 1 0
 I reckon they should do a ghost run of Kelly Mcgarry like they did with chainsaw.. Just a thought...
  • 1 0
 sounds a little bit dangerous in my opinion, the idea of the people choice award or the best trick being named the McGazza trophy seems like a better idea.
  • 3 0
 VANDERHAM!!!
  • 4 1
 Rogatkin!!!
  • 2 0
 The changes sound good. Good on RB for taking steps.
  • 2 0
 Great to see Red Bull listened. Not enough props given on here, nice one.
  • 1 0
 great birthday present!! 4me
  • 1 0
 happy birthday man
  • 2 0
 @willba12 #ed4rampage
  • 2 0
 I vote Dylan Stark
  • 2 0
 Thank U, Tah.
  • 2 0
 WAS ROBBED
  • 9 0
 THEY TOOK OUR JOBS
  • 3 0
 DEY TERK UR JER!
  • 2 0
 Claw-ampage!
  • 2 1
 Kevin Aiello would be one of the wildcards for this years event!! @redbull
  • 2 0
 #keithforrampage2016
  • 2 0
 invite Gee
  • 2 0
 HUCK TO FLAT
  • 1 0
 Fuck yes!!!
  • 1 0
 Me likey.
  • 2 5
 Would love to see Dan aherton involved in the design of the new and few prebuilt features...
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