About Us
Contacts FAQ Terms of Use Privacy Policy Your Privacy Choices Sign Up! SitemapAdvertise
AdvertisingCool Features
Submit a Story Product Product Deals Photos VideosRSS
Pinkbike RSS Pinkbike Twitter Pinkbike Facebook Pinkbike Youtube Pinkbike Instagram
what happened to brendan fairclough?
How was he not top 5?
And great job sorge and antoine!
Oh, and, well done Bizet!
Cam = Class act.
jono and thewelsh: Both Brendan and Gee injuried themselves before finals, same as Zink. Gee's the biggest bummer because he first thought on friday he was out, then tried and his ankle was holding up great and then he ate shit big time again on saturday and couldn't ride again, that time for good. But yeah, too bad we didn't get to see them, was so looking forward to all of their lines.
The judging was def. questionable but screw it, who cares. What went down was insane and will continue to further this sport (two 3s in one run!?) regardless of what the judges think.
Kurt nice
but Kyle Norb also robbed .... 2 - 360 with rather big drops
Regardless of who placed where, it was another spectacular Rampage. Bingelli impressed me the most, but Sorge killed it too.
So many Trek riders, but they all placed poorly. Does Trek really belong in freeride, seems like an odd match? Think about it, this is the same brand that won 7 tdf's....oooops, no they didn't! Anyways, I know they have lots of money, but it's better spent on racing....who wants to take a Trek to the local dirt jumps?
Awesome Rampage coverage this year Pinkbike!
First and second places spot on, well deserved. After that, maybe a bit questionable.
Trek has made some questionable decisions starting with their first full suspension design and continuing when they dumped Greg Lemond and his brand cause he exposed Lance for being the biggest cheater in the sport. Now Lance is going to lose all his titles and Lemond will be the only American Tour de France winner. Looks like Lemond will get the last laugh! Massive fail Trek, just like your results at this years Rampage!
What a stupid name for a mountain bike: Trek! Ok name for a touring bike though, a bike you would ride slowly throughout the countryside, enjoying the scenery. A good name for a bike you would ride to Utah to watch the Rampage, but not for a bike you would ride that knarly stuff on. Seriously is there a more stupid brand name in the mtb world? Ergon, maybe?
on another note this rampage was amazing to watch although there was some questionable judging i believe the right guy won in the end sorge's line was amazing.
I'm watching it again now to critically analyze the judging from a technical standpoint, whiner clones. I'll report back later, after a few beers....
Censorship...Pinkbike, you should kill it!
Congrats to all the competitors, some freaking awesome runs!
The whole excuse that it's hard to put together a score on the fly in a timely manner is bullshit. The judges responsibility is just to watch what the rider does & assign a fair score. The riders job is not die. There's a big f*cking difference & I'd be surprised if any of the judges noticed Norbraten switched a 3.
live.redbull.tv/events/114/red-bull-rampage
then we will know who the real winner is!!
I was sleeping till now, but I'm going to watch it at work today :-)
(this internet voting works unless, that is, jeb bush is involved then maybe there is a voting conspiracy hahhaha).
I agree, the judging wasn't as bad as all these rampage hating clones think, the event is evolving, just like DH racing is. The judges want to see fast, exciting, high paced lines, not runs where the guy spends a bunch of time pedaling along a traverse, or almost comes to a stop before he drops into a tech line. That's why Sorge won, he chose the best line and pulled off his tricks.
www.quickmeme.com/meme/3r9mc6
I made this just for you...
And about judging, many got robbed, but most robbed was Norbraten, even Zink himself said it. And he did indeed do an oppo 3, on his second run one was regular and one oppo. And the judges were way too hard on Martin Söderström, manhandling that hard landing on the 3 and riding away (not a stylish ride away, but he didn't fall of the bike, he kept it rolling).
@Protour Were your there? did you make the trek out?!! yeah an ass stunt woulda been interesting to.
1. There needs to be a big stunt of the day award in addition to a winner. Gulevich would have had my vote for the drop into Oakley sender.
2. Not as many spectators , photographers on course and keep them in confined spaces like cattle. Bearclaw would agree.
3. The last 60 yards or so of boring trail would be filled with a fast wooden rollercoaster with doubles. Not a big fan of wood but put something there and make it even longer.
4. Make this event double points on the fmb tour. Have another event on the tour mid season with similar terrain to give the big mtn guys another chance to show their skills.
5. Give top 20 World Cup DH automatic chance to qualify.
6. Have a seperate girls competition, even if there are only 2 or 3 who wanted to do it
Maybe I'm wrong but in relation to your statement about pedaling down hills, why would you hold a girls contest if no girls have expressed any interest? Get real, you don't see girls in slopes, or FMX, you won't see many, if any volunteers here. The only girls contest anyone is gonna wanna watch at Rampage might be a little mud wrestle in the red Utah dirt. You really, really are a tard aren't you? If girls have shown interest then yeah it should be in just to be fair, but have any?
1. Its called the best trick. Cam won it.
2. Yeah well I guess its a good thing they had staff with knowledge of everyone's lines and made sure they were kept clear for the riders... and spectators were still confined into certain areas.
3. Last I heard you were out of your mind crazy about the 5 wooden features they had this year... so you want more wood?
4. Yeah make an INVITATIONAL event worth more in a series in which not all riders are invited to.
5. Doubling the amount of people in qualifying would extend the contest time by another day, a day that they cannot afford to do.
6. ^ again, events aren't free to put on and this one is the most expensive to hold so even though you're purposely saying stuff to get people worked up, I also think that you truly have no clue and are that stupid in some aspects.
www.quickmeme.com/meme/3r9mc6
Just for you...
I was also completely surprised his line for the finals was down the same line that Doerfling came down. Doerfling made a deal with Bourdon to use the line if it worked out for him for a cut of the prize money. Bourdon spent a month out there with his brother chipping away at a bunch of rock to make the line. Bourdon broke his back and couldn't compete and James made a deal with him....very professional given the work that went into it all. It made sense for James to make a deal with Bourdon to use the line if it worked out because he had been working so hard at it.
I was not stoked to see Bizet use the line for a podium when he hadn't contributed (as far as I know...if I'm wrong and Bizet can or Bourdon can correct me on this I'll withdrawal my remarks).
Etiquete in these events is subjective as is the judging but it is known amongst the competitors (and the rest of us out digging) to ask permission to use a line as a courtesy to your fellow competitors).
Again this is all subjective and from what I saw of Bizet at the event he is a super cool guy, has a fun loving attitude. Just pointing out a bit of etiquette that can mean the difference in placing for others.
The level of judging those judges do is insane.... :/
I though the contest ended up great. Our worries about all the wood were all unfounded. But there wasn't anything that really made me say "holy shit" like Zink's 360 last year. There was nothing on that relative level this year.
I think that if Zink had been healthy this would have been a bit of a different competition.
As it was, I'm in agreement that the judging was off, and not in any small way.
Norb was slighted big-time, and for what he did, so was Wil White.
The biggest disappointment was Cam... though if I HAD to find a reason to agree with the judges on his runs, I think he's been publicized in our sport so much that it's possible they were expecting something even crazier from him. I dunno. Is that an unreasonable explanation? Now Tyler... not fair.
Sorge definitely deserved this, and congrats to him, Bizet, and Bingelli. All killer runs!
P.S. The quarter WAS retarded.
In my opinion, Sorge´s run definitely deserved first - speed, gnarly top part, fluidity, blind step down flip ... but the McCauls could´ve placed higher, that´s true ...
Let the rest of the lines be natural and / or built by each rider for each line they have invented.
The only reason that quarter should be there is for the smaller bikes to do more with, but none (that I'm thinking of) made it into the finals!
I'd say Vanderham, Berrecloth, Schley, Simmons, Bourdon (yes, I'd put him in there), and CG (plus *maybe* Hunter) would be my big picks, TBH.
Once those are retired, of course.
Remember the Armageddon?
Agreed on the part about White and a better bike co. backing him...
Now which company would fit him?
THAT'S IT.
COVE. Perfect fit!
Or maybe Knolly?
I think where we want this to have been different is that IF you fall you are not awarded so MANY points, and NOT at that ratio!
Is that fair?
This that post:
"...Let this be a standalone, and the season ends with a Platinum stop that happens every year.
That way guys like the SS-centered riders with single crowns won't be TOTALLY outgunned, and core big mtn. guys like Hopkins and his fellows have a place just for this type of riding..."
Let this be separate, since it only happens every two years, and let the FRWS (that runs each calendar year) be ended with a Platinum stop, EVERY year.
Let THIS event be big-mountain like it was meant to be!
AND guys like Norbraten and Doerfling won't be underjudged and forced to compete with trick-centric riders for this event's title....
Qualifying for Rampage by riding in FMB slopestyle competitions in mountain biking is a lot like qualifying for the Verbier Extremes by winning the X-Games snowboard slopestyle.
Lots of people get to rise to the level of incompetence.
If you want in, ask. If you're that crazy, prove it. If not, go home before you get killed.
I understand the point about a well-round freerider, but there goes some of these guys!
I mean for example (and correct me if I'm wrong) take Doerfling and Hopkins: NOT known for their dirt jumping or pure SS skills, but AMAZING big mountain riders. You don't see them in the FRWS anywhere but here, and that's because this is their specialty. Why punish the SS guys by saying "you have to kill it here to (possibly) win the title" - like this year with Semenuk and Soderstrom - when they have a higher chance of failure and DEATH because of the venue? Good Lord, "Harry" McGarry freakin' hurt his foot TRAVERSING a scouting line, with a damn bottle of water in his hand, and he IS a big mtn. rider! This venue is NOT NORMAL, so if you want it to be:
It needs to happen every year, like the bulk of the rest of the calendar.
Wouldn't make much sense to have an NFL, NHL, or NBA season every year, but only crown a champ or have an all-star game every two... (I know that's a labored analogy, but go with it!)
I don't know if I'm connecting my thoughts correctly, but it is a magnificent event, and I relish the chance to even see pictures of something I once dreamed of doing, much less ever would do.
@Tim Zim - Not a bad analogy... and it's pretty accurate. But then the whole "Are you a well-rounded rider?" question comes back up. I dunno anymore.
In most sports they say if a competitor doesnt take his helmet of he doesnt want to talk.
I mean, yeah you didn't win the Rampage, but you DID just get the overall!
I will agree on the helmet though... He wasn't in the mood right then...
That being said, I really enjoyed everything else about the event, everyone seemed to be having fun with each other more than competing. the judging was pretty questionable regarding the mccauls, but by the same merit i wouldn't have wanted to be in the their shoes, the top 10 runs were all absolutely mental.
it goes well beyond the interview, hell i can understand the fact he doesn't want to talk to the cameras, but its the whole vanishing and not being out there to support his fellow riders and competitors and interact with fans like PROFESSIONALS are supposed to do. The shit attitude was amplified by the fact that he still has lots to be happy about (winning the FMB cup, as ugly as it is) but he acts more butthurt than any rider out there. Did you see cam maccaul storming off and avoiding his fans when he got 7th place on a gnarly run? NO,all smiles from that guy. did you see Claw loose his shit about not putting down even one solid run? NO, How about Cam zinc when they asked him all kinds of dumb questions about his injuries? NO how about Stroderstom when he didn't make the cut for the FMB cup, and he also had two less that satisfying runs? NO beginning to notice a theme here? Its because most professionals realize that part of their job is demonstrating at least an ounce of maturity.
I mean really its no skin off my back if thats how he wants to act, but if he keeps shitting the bed, his personality certainly won't be keeping him any sponsorships. rant over i guess.
I don't mind the attitude initially, with the helmet on and all that, but it's continuing to be a prat that is less that seemly in my opinion.
Ya'll defend Semenuk over this, but Claw's "tantrum" on Where the Trail Ends was unacceptable? C'mon.
1.Sorge
2.Norbraten
3.Bizet
4.C.McCaul
5.T.McCaul
Rider judged next time, has to be. Who were the judges! You just took a dirty great shite all over your sport!
Rant over.
2 Bizet
3 Cam Mccaul
4 Andreu
5 Norbraten
(my top 5)
1. Sorge
2. Cam McCaul
3. Bizet
4. Bingnelli (good speed and tough upper line)
5. Norbraten
6. Lecondeguy
7. T McCaul
8. Will White
9. Doerfling
10. Vanderham
I did think Will White and Tyler McCaul had some of the sickest runs but Sorge won because he went big and tricked ALL the way down
It seems sad that if you wanna won the Ramapge you basically have to hit the Oakley sender now, other much more inovative lines got no reward at all
Tyler's runs were decent. Judging--I can't say for sure what the standard was that they were using, but I do know that originality and difficulty of line played into Tyler's lower score. Yes, he was fast on the ridge, but not a whole lot of tricks tossed in and not a truly difficult line compared to some of the billy goat moves in between the original start ridges. Had he done a suicide no hander off that big step down at the bottom, likely he'd have moved up to the podium.
Also REALLY surprised to not see Claw doing anything to impressive, missed his first run, but his second run seemed a bit lame, he seemed to miss most of the big stuff doing only 2 drops and crashing on one of those doing a 360.
There was some impressive riding, Cams first run had my super stoked, and Tylers, but wish we'd seen something huge.. Was kinda hoping Lecondeguy was going to flip the Oakley sender, that guys is usually on another planet...
Was anyone else surprised by this? I mean I would have thought he'd throw down his best run and try to take the win regardless of what happened on run 1. I mean this man has nothing to prove. What does he accomplish by finishing say top 5? Thats great for some up and coming rider to make a name for themselves but a rider like Claw you would think would be gunning for nothing less than a win.
Incredible event! Yet, incredibly inconsistent judging.
Anyone know why Fairclough didn't compete?
Biggest travesty of judging imo was Wil White, he hit a similar line to Vanderham and Gully but with far more finesse & tricks, with a crazy drop on his run into the Oakley sender that went unnoticed. Using the silly quarter pipe probly let him down though albeit he rode it better than any other rider.
Sorge second!.
Cam McCaul third!.
why dose the rampage needs to be an fmb stop?.
the judges need to more like tippie and CG!
Let this be a standalone, and the season ends with a Platinum stop that happens every year!
That way guys like the SS-centered riders with single crowns won't be TOTALLY outgunned, and core big mtn. guys like Hopkins and his fellows have a place just for this type of riding.
I'm not being exclusionary or anything like that at all, but Soderstrom is a prime example. Asking advice (because he definitely needed it) between runs, just to try to land a trick and win the overall? That cannot be a fun feeling for him.
"Well shit, this isn't my forte, but I have to come here and take a swing if I want the title!"
I wouldn't like that...
And what the hell happened to Brendog, cause I wanted to see his epic gap! Seriously, the build up for his gap judge has been all week long, then we don't get to see it!
as a mtn biker i see how many riders had a bad time in virgin&this is not the norm for FMB events so
Personally My favorite was Hopkins..holy shit! That dude is awesome, hope he is ok!
Cam & Norb got totally robbed. Martin didnt deliver where most was expected from him.
From Italy
So Semenuk's result was better than Sorderstrom's by 0.25.. on what basis?
additionaly many riders had not his line maintainance.
....and Cam McCaul obiously pokered too much with this huge canyon gap, which was huge but also just solid..
Cam's 1st run was insane!!!! Top 3 at least...
proud of euro dudes, surprising!!
congrats everyone envolved, specialy the winner Sorge.
for McCaul, epic!! estocado!!
:L
think the judges where more concentrated on some red bull girl ....
maccoul was great - he's only who jumped kenny's gap.
and of course congratulations to sorge!
Most everything he's ever ridden on film back in the day were one-hit-wonders and he barely rode away from any of them!
That shit is the OPPOSITE of this event.
"I'm gonna hit this drop and do a no footer right as I land, it's gonna be sweet!"
Holy crap, I said that because I just don't like the designs that much, not to be a troll.
You're trolling.
NO TROLL, NO!