Rampage; probably the gnarliest mountain bike event ever. For us gravity riders who are familiar with the sport, we know that it takes a special breed of riders to ride it, and we know what it means to be a part of Rampage.
Rampage is an event that I look forward to. I may not be a rider, but there is something about the desert, the heat, dust, equipment getting destroyed, and scenery that always puts a smile on my face. Call me crazy, but I think it’s being able to personally witness the sport reach new levels, and also capture images while doing it.
Luckily, this past Rampage was my third attendance (at the new site). That may not be much compared to others, but more than most. I first witnessed Rampage in 2008 when Red Bull brought the event back. I worked as a bike herder. Personally, I was terrified when pushing the bikes up the hill. There were cliffs on both sides of me, and getting out of the way when riders came down made it even more interesting. When I had the opportunity, I would take photos in between lugging bikes. Thanks to my friends at Red Bull, I was allowed to take photos on show day. After leaving Rampage with a 12 hour drive back to Albuquerque, tired as hell, camera covered in dust, I told myself I would try to make it back every time.
Four years later, I was on a flight bound for Las Vegas, NV, then a 2 ½ hour drive to Hurricane, UT to meet up with Brendan Howey, Brett Rheeder, Mike Zinger & Ace Hayden. I was as anxious as ever to return to Virgin, UT. Mainly to see what lines riders have came up with. Rampage in 2010 was pretty crazy, with Cam Zink’s 360 off the drop, and I didn’t know what to expect for 2012.
When I arrived at the site, I worked my way up the hill. I was blown away by what the riders had come up with. In 2008, riders were pumped to make it down the mountain. For 2012, Rampage was on a whole new level compared to previous years. It was crazy to see how much hard work everyone was putting in the lines, and the mass crews that were making it happen.
If you ever have the chance to make it, do it. Personally, I feel that film and photos never seem to do Rampage justice. It’s crazy to be there in person and really take in what these riders are doing. It is also cool to see what the media and logistic guys have to go through. You have the Freeride Entertainment guys running around with heavy gear on their heads all day long, photographers in random locations hoping there isn’t a rattlesnake next to them, some people (Stan Evans) rappelling down to get a new unique shot, or me tumbling down the hill in an attempt to scramble to my spot. It really makes everything unique.
I’ll stop my rambling as everyone surely has seen the footage and images. I thought I would share my images and rider quotes from Red Bull Rampage and hope you all enjoy them. See you guys this year in Virgin, Utah.
| Yeah, I liked that jump a lot, with a big boosty tall wood lip, you can just sit back behind your rear end and go to the moon! I love jumps like that. - Brendan Howey |
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| This step-down wasn't the biggest thing on my line, but it had a super short landing which meant I had to hit it right the first time or else it was gonna hurt. This was on the last day of practice, the night before finals, and I knew that if I cased it or landed flat then I'd potentially injure myself and not be able to ride the contest the next day. The landing was blind and not very wide, so I had a friend stand on the left corner of it so I could hopefully see him as I was coming in and know where the landing was. I probably took about 10 to 15 run-ins, which is a lot, but it was the last piece of my line that I had to hit in order to link it all together and I didn't wanna screw it up. When I finally hit it I landed about an inch or two down from the top, right where I wanted to be, and it felt damn good. - Tyler McCaul |
| The idea of trying to spin a drop at Rampage was one of my goals going into the event. The idea of spinning two drops came after I qualified for finals and I knew I had to step it up. The set up for my second 3 drop was a hipped landing to the right, so I had to spin almost 450 to stick the landing smooth. I ran the motions through my head all night before finals and felt super confident. I figured, if I eat shit or stick it, it's still going to be memorable. Fortunately I stuck it in both my runs, making for good memories and one of the best feelings I've experienced on a bike! - Kyle Norbraten |
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