jnm

My thoughts on the whole Rampage and Red Bull is too much, Zink crashing in front of his family, etc. stuff. There is no question what is in store for these guys when they sign up for Red Bull Rampage. It's billed as, and is, the most extreme sporting event in the world. These are big boys making decisions with all the knowledge of what they're getting into. They are there scouting it all week, building it, checking weather. Some bailed on run 2, some bailed on run 1 even. They make the call they're comfortable with knowing all the risks, but also the rewards. Aggy wrecked himself. Well, have you seen some of his videos? This guy is gonna do enough gnarly stuff to have that same level accident or worse whether Red Bull is involved or not. There's countless crazy built trails and jump areas that guys are riding daily for fun, no glory other than personal and a few buddies. They're doing this anyways. 40 foot drops? Ok fine, not that on the daily for most, but it's extreme and fast enough to cause as bad an injury or worse. It's no different than other extreme sports. As for Red Bull. They are making money yes, for sure. They are also providing medical staff that was at Aggie's side within a moment, and he was in a chopper in minutes. That doesn't happen in the woods. I crashed in a highly populated area and I wasn't in an ambulance for 15 minutes. The medics were talking about guys who crash in the middle of the woods and it turns into rescue efforts walking the guy out on stretchers. So, for that, Red Bull is at least making sure the right assets are there. As for accelerating the sport, well these riders are. Rampage is giving them that platform. Do most guys even know about Rampage? I don't know, but the bikes these sponsored riders are riding, and the shocks and gear they use, it's almost a test lab like any other racing sport. What is learned and offered by them trickles into what we ride. Look at a mid travel or enduro bike today, that itself is more than what they had in Rampage 1.