World’s Best Mountain Bikers Ready to Take on Legendary Freeride Event In Utah’s Remote Desert Landscape
After 10 years of making and breaking careers, launching insane tricks that fill global highlight reels and pushing the boundaries of professional freeride mountain biking, Red Bull Rampage will once again bring the best of the sport to Virgin, Utah for a downhill spectacle that will be sure to drop jaws around the world. For 36 chosen athletes, Red Bull Rampage will be their chance to prove who’s the most spectacular and well-rounded freerider on the planet on October 5-7, 2012.
The athlete selection process will ensure that the best of the best take on the steep descents of the desert. The winners of the last two Red Bull Rampage events, young Canadian phenom Brandon Semenuk and 2010’s hero Cameron Zink will be automatically placed into the final on October 7th. Also confirmed to compete are the top 12 finalists from 2010, including names such as Darren Berrecloth, Andreau Lacondeguy, Robbie Bourdon and Thomas Vanderham.
Prior to the final, a qualifier battle will take place on October 5th where 24 athletes will try to prove they are worthy to go head to head against the best. The top 12 ranked athletes from the FMB World Tour will receive invites to the qualifier, including current point leader Sam Pilgrim and the top two from the Chatel Mountain Style 2012 will also receive invites to compete. Joining this year will be top World Cup riders, chosen because of the their proven freeride skills and ability to ride this type of terrain including 2010 World Cup champ Gee Atherton, Brendan Fairclough and Mick Hannah. Riding the qualifier will also be Paul Basagoitia, who landed the first-ever double backflip on natural terrain – a move that fans hope he will pull out of his bag of tricks on the steep slopes in Utah. First timer young gun Anthony Messere will join additional wild card athletes with proven big mountain riding ability that will receive the remaining invites. Results and film will be reviewed by a selection panel of event organizers, filmmakers and athletes to determine who makes the cut. Final wildcard athletes invites will be announced after Red Bull Joyride at Crankworx, Whistler on August 21st
See and be seen: Red Bull Rampage is known for catapulting riders into the spotlight – and in 2012 this includes showcasing their talents in a national TV broadcast on NBC as part of the Red Bull Signature Series. The event will air on Saturday, December 8th from 2 to 4pm. The Red Bull Signature Series is made up of 35 hours of one-of-a-kind programming on NBC and NBC Sports all year long. Red Bull Media House and Alli Sports, a division of the NBC Sports Group, are building the most progressive and innovative snowboarding, mountain biking, freestyle motocross, ice cross downhill, skiing and BMX events, showcased on custom courses from the inspiration of the athletes themselves. Go to www.redbullsignatureseries.com for web videos, photo galleries and see more of the action that makes up the Red Bull Signature Series.
Elevating the competition are event partners the Utah Sports Commission, Specialized and Oakley, along with Signature Series presenting partner Casio G’zOne Commando. Oakley returns this year with the Icon Sender, an on-course, custom-built feature that was the catalyst for the most awe-inspiring tricks in 2010. Through the Utah Sports Commission, the event will once again return to the majestic backdrop of Virgin that has proven to be the best terrain in the world.
Log-on to www.redbullusa.com/rampage for further event details and to watch the live webcast on October 7th.
FBM World Tour For the first time, the Red Bull Rampage will also be the Finals for the FMB World Tour. This highly anticipated tour will feature 18 stops around the world and will highlight Big Mountain, Slopestyle and Dirt Jump events. The results of Red Bull Rampage will help determine who wins thet the 20,000 Euro prize purse. For more information and http://fmbworldtour.com/2010/
About Utah Sports Commission The Utah Sports Commission is a not-for-profit 501c3 charitable organization governed by an all-volunteer Board of Trustees consisting of statewide sports, business, community, and government leaders. The Sports Commission was created to foster national and international amateur and professional sports competitions to be held in the state of Utah, acting as a catalyst in unifying the states sports community and strengthening Utah's presence in the global sports marketplace. The Sports Commission works closely with communities, sports entities, and organizations to provide event services ranging from the bid process, on-site logistics, volunteer coordination, sponsorships and promotional opportunities and other related services. For more information, visit www.utahsportscommission.com
same same same same same same same same same same same same same same same!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So looking forward to this. Flights have been booked for a while now from UK to Vegas and hotel in Vegas booked for a few days. Guessing the location is just outside of Zion like last time. Trying to work out whether to book a room nearby or rent an RV for a few days. Anyone know the GPS coordinates so I can work thing out?
it's gonna be downhiller vs slopestyle rider battle again ... slopestyle rider got so much advantage, but Gee-man just behind Zink last year,, with few more downhiller compete this year, it'll be soooo sick!!! i want to see SickMick in there !!!
Don't forget that brendog is also a super sylish Dj rider too , if he can do a run with the speed and style of Gee's with a few nacs and no handers I think he could win it.
My four year olds sons favorite mountain bike DVD is Redbull Rampage 2010. Every time he watches Zinc do the Oakley drop he comes out with "That's easy". Makes me laugh every time.
Pilgrim will be a fish outta water at Rampage, its just not this style of riding. I'm pretty confident he won't podium. If he trained for it year round in Utah like a lot of Pro's do, i'm sure he could do well.
I have a friend who's a local to Virgin, Utah and he's just an absolute shredder I think it would be so sick if he was able to be a wildcard for Rampage. He shreds so hard and could definitely compete in rampage.
I'm gonna go with Cam Zink. Iknow he won last year but I thinkhe can do it again. He's been doing a lot of big muntain stuff too. remember that video with Strait when he landed that massive backflip?
Sick to see Steve Romaniuk in that video. The guy is so under rated i think cuz he doesnt really do much anymore but he'll still send the biggest lines
I think now highly over rated. Got lazy and you could see when he first attempted his line in 2010 that he was never strong enough to hold onto the bars. Don't get me wrong he still shreds but I think he believed to much of his own press. Got to put in the work to keep up.
I think thats false. Gee Atherton, an amazingly fit, in awesome shap rider, did a smaller line than steve and still barely held on. Steve almost rode his out and it was quite a bit bigger than Gee's
Yeahhhh man, this will be my third time going as well! Its was a dream come true to see this event in person, especially since I thought it was never going to come back after they discontinued it. Best weekend ever.
Can't wait! 
Best olympics ever!
