As soon as the wind died down this morning, Qualifiers were on and the riders who weren't pre-qualified threw down in an effort to make it to the final round. We witnessed some stellar runs, some disappointments, and what felt like a lot of injuries. Aggy repeated history by winning qualies again this year - everyone is stoked out of their minds to watch him and all twenty three of his competitors showcase their lines tomorrow morning for the Finals.
First rays of the day reveal the Rampage venue.
It was an early day for all involved. The threat of incoming inclement weather has pushed the schedule ahead and practice was slated to start at seven, but the precious light didn't come until just before eight.
Road to Rampage.
Early morning practice laps.
Tyler McCaul getting the first light on the hill today at 7:45 am before the riders meeting and Qualies.
The rider meeting. Otherwise known as the laying down of the law on getting the beast that is Rampage semi under control. Todd Barber presiding.
Metailler's palms.
Barely able to hold on, Aggy cleaned his run playing it safe and saving it all for tomorrow.
Kyle Jameson, rolling in to start quali training.
As soon as the dust settled on Qualies, it was back to the grind: practice makes perfect. But consequences are high. Herbs sessioned the top with zero problems, but fell afoul of a mis-aligned landing and is out with a compound fracture of his left leg.
Morning wind check, yup it's windy.
Ryan Howard
Carson Storch giving a few runs at a few lower small jumps to test out his ankle. He decided to pull the plug and won't be seeing him tomorrow in finals. He trained incredibly hard after breaking his collarbone at Crankworx this year just to be healthy at Rampage. Big things are on the horizon for Carson and will be back soon enough.
R-Dog. Suicide.
Niko Vink won the award for burliest drop at Rampage and it sure was. He landing a bit too far over and not far enough out, compressing on the knuckle and going full charge down the hill.
Tyler McCaul
Remy Metailler coming down his run with a ribbon of smoke following him.
Kyle Jameson had a seemingly flawless run today in the qualies, but it just wasn't enough.
Anthony Messere's second Rampage - probably not his last.
Cam Zink linked up the rest of his line this afternoon. Next time you see him hit this, he'll be spinning it.
Thomas Genon's always been more of a Crankworx guy, but looks to be coming well into his own in the Utah dust.
Ryan Howard
Bernard Kerr only had one run today due to a mechanical. It was an absolute burner, unfortunately it wasn't enough.
Graham Agassiz
Graham Agassiz
Ramone Hunziker launching off his massive drop at the top. Going a little too much rider's right caused him to stack and he ejected about 20 feet down to the flat bottom.
Ramone Hunziker combo.
Nico Vink
Nico Vink easily had the gnarliest line off the top of the course. What made it even gnarlier was the fact that the first time he hit it was in his qualifying run.
Vink went a tad too far to the left off his ludicrous drop, and high-sided hard off the landing. He rode his bike down the course after this happened.
Ryan Howard
Antoine Bizet
Louis Reboul
Andrew Shandro
Mr. Stoked Max
Aggy only needed one run today. How much further he pushes the limit tomorrow is what we are waiting to see.
R Dog with a ridge line no hander. R Dog stepped it up and showed off that doggy style that took him to ninth place today.
Reece Wallace spinning.
Fairclough's line may not contain the biggest features on the hill, but it has to be both one of the most beautifully crafted and most consequential. This evening he added a flip to the mix.
Graham Agassiz guinea pigging his start drop during the first run of qualifying. Unlike last year, he stuck the landing and stomped the whole line.
James Doerfling
Will White
Will White suicide on the ridge.
Anthony Messere's Rampage run didn't get him where he wanted to this week in qualies, but he sure was putting down some nasty style.
Niko Vink would hardly even take medical help after somersaulting down rocks for 50 feet. Riding away with a swollen and most likely broken ankle.
Reece Wallace
Bas nasty flowing through, first time at Rampage and qualified 11th out of the 11 riders to make the cut.
Doerfling sending it down a cliff with the fine Virgin dust hot on his tail.
Ferry's ultra-technical line went down well with the judges and he iced the cake with rad style on the way.
Brendan Howey loop de loop.
A trick free run was enough to put T-Mac into third thanks to some ridiculous airtime.
Now riding alone for team Van Steenbergen, Bas rode with more than enough Van Steeze for two.
Aggy. Massive.
Sam Reynolds was riding like a madman today. Reynolds qualified tenth.
It's hard enough to ride the lines here at Rampage, much less with a whirlie bird hot on your heels.
Good eye-wear choice for Rampage.
Robbie Bourden
Kyle Jameson fllat spinning the YT booter.
Antoine Bizet with a fairly massive suicide no-hander over the gap. Smooth as silk.
Nic Pescetto showing exactly how big the canyon gap is.
Remy Metailler qualifying a very respectable 8th today.
Sam Reynolds superman over the canyon gap.
Antoine Bizet was already locked into finals for tomorrow, but decided to flip the canyon gap anyway on his second run.
Conor McFarlane flip no-hander.
Ryan Howard - all style and made it into the finals with his nasty bike skills.
Antoine Bizet suicide over the canyon gap during the first run, ending his day in the second spot for qualifiers.
Three worked mofo's.
The godfather in desert attire.
Remy Metailler
Claw, cracking tables.
Bourdo going airborne.
Tommy G inverted.
Pierre Edward Ferry dropping down to the RZR booter.
R Dog, Rheeder, and Shandro looking on to the action after R Dogs first banger run.
Remy Metailler with a well extended no hander. Remy qualified eight today and will be gunning it in the big show tomorrow.
Tyler McCaul sending it off El Presidente getting himself 3rd in qualifiers. T-Mac ended up building a 50 foot triple after this massive drop just to make his line even gnarlier. After a try at it, he unfortunately came up short and knocked himself out. He's alright, but won't be riding tomorrow in finals.
Darren Berrecloth back on his game after a few years away from Rampage, nailing his line and ended up qualifying 5th.
Look ma...
Robbie Bourdon rode shirtless with an open face D2. After he crashed out on his second run he enjoyed the view with a cold brew.
Margus gives Paris some icy relief from the heat. Our brains are melting from the heat and the riding.
Even legends need a break from the sun. No, this photo isn't crooked, the ground is extremely uneven.
Andreu Lacondeguy, looking all healed up for tomorrow's finals.
Flat just isn't enough for The Claw, who appears to be well and truly 'back'.
Benard Kerr rolling down fast and flowy, unfortunately not making finals today.
Number 1 back to back qualifying champion.
The boys that made it through finals.
Cam Zink's run last year was basically unfinished after this point, and his line is looking on point for a top game run. Sending it for the first time this year and stomping it clean.
Andreu Lacondeguy back in the saddle again after nearly deciding not to ride finals due to an injured hand.
Kelly McGarry warming up his line at afternoon practice.
The calm before the 15 meter drop.
Cam Zink looking looking down the 50+ft drop that he plans to three on his finals run.
The steepest drop on the hill (okay maybe bar Vink's) but one of the smoothest under pilot Cam Zink. Just a straight-air today - tomorrow, who knows...
Hats off the kiwi newcomer Conor McFarlane, he absolutely sent the big stuff this afternoon.
Kelly McGarry taking an alternate line this year after his terrifying crash on the canyon gap last year.
Andreu Lacondeguy.
Kurt Sorge sailing over the ridge hip.
Big moves in the evening from Strait, but nothing of the size we should expect tomorrow.
MENTIONS: @redbull.com/rampage / #rampage / @redbullbike / @aggy
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dv65 0.072625
Bummer, there is no shots of Bingelli, his 4th means he must have had some gnar?
Also, does Bourdon compete or not? He is in no list on the results page.
isn't Zink doing the same drop he 360d last year?
I know there are lots of amazing gaps, drops and tricks up there, but that one is the pic of the bunch for me.
-It's not Messere's first rampage
-That's not Norbs sending it down a cliff its Doerfling
-Its not Robbie Bourden its Bourdon and he also did not ride shirtles...