Meet the 12 Freeriders of Red Bull Formation 2022

May 11, 2022
by Alicia Leggett  
Robin Goomes shapes a landing at Red Bull Formation in Virgin Utah USA on 09 May 2022

The talent at the forefront of women's freeride mountain biking has been growing quietly for the last decade. In the last few years, numerous riders have launched into the public eye, putting women's freeride on the map - a movement that has been ushered in, partly, by the creation of Red Bull Formation. The Formation field has grown from the original six riders in 2019 to eight in 2021 and now twelve. These skilled athletes hail from all across the globe, with the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Scotland, and Argentina represented among them. The riders are already hard at work shaping their lines for the three ride days this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and we checked in to learn about who they are and what they hope to achieve this week.



Photos by Re Wikstrom, courtesy of Red Bull


Cami Nogueira at Red Bull Formation in Virgin Utah USA on 09 May 2022
Name: Cami Nogueira
Age: 27
Hometown: San Martín de los Andes, Patagonia, Argentina
Current home: Aspen, CO, USA
Formation experience: 2021
What do you hope to achieve this week at Formation? "Another top-to-bottom is my goal. That would be super sick if I can do that."
Instagram: @caminogueiraa


Casey Brown at Red Bull Formation in Virgin Utah USA on 09 May 2022
Name: Casey Brown
Age: 31
Hometown: Revelstoke, BC, Canada
Formation experience: 2021, attended but didn't ride while injured in 2019
What do you hope to achieve this week at Formation? "I'm just hoping to do a T-to-B run. I'm really excited for our line and that's the dream goal - to get from the top of the mountain to the bottom of the mountain and feel like I'm having fun."
Instagram: @casey__brown__

Chelsea Kimball at Red Bull Formation in Virgin Utah USA on 08 May 2022

Name: Chelsea Kimball
Age: 31
Hometown: Mesa, Arizona
Current home: Down by the river
Formation experience: 2021
What do you hope to achieve this week at Formation? "Have a lot of fun and work with other girls on different features."
Instagram: @chelseasendsit



Georgia Astle at Red Bull Formation in Virgin Utah USA on 08 May 2022
Name: Georgia Astle
Age: 24
Hometown: Whistler, BC, Canada
Formation experience: Digger in 2021
What do you hope to achieve this week at Formation? "I'm already learning a lot, so that is being achieved currently, and then my next goals are just to improve on my riding that I know I can do, believe in the process, and hit the lines that are built. Get comfy on them."
Instagram: @georgiaastle

Hannah Bergemann at Red Bull Formation in Virgin Utah USA on 08 May 2022
Name: Hannah Bergemann
Age: 25
Hometown: Hood River, OR, USA
Current home: Bellingham, WA, USA
Formation experience: 2019, 2021
What do you hope to achieve this week at Formation? "I'm hoping to achieve a full run from the top to the bottom that I'm really stoked on. It has elements that make me scared but that I know I can do, and then also some elements that I think are just going to be fun."
Instagram: @hannahbergemann

Harriet Burbidge-Smith at Red Bull Formation in Virgin Utah USA on 09 May 2022
Name: Harriet "Haz" Burbidge-Smith
Age: 25
Hometown: Canberra, Australia
Current home: "Nowhere. Everywhere. Still figuring that out."
Formation experience: Digger & alternate rider in 2021
What do you hope to achieve this week at Formation? "Put together a fun line that's super sessionable and have fun, pretty much."
Instagram: @haznationbikes

Louise Ferguson at Red Bull Formation in Virgin Utah USA on 08 May 2022
Name: Louise Ferguson
Age: 25
Hometown: Fort William, Scotland
Current home: Queenstown, New Zealand
Formation experience: Rookie
What do you hope to achieve this week at Formation? "Just ride my line and get really comfy on it, and ride some of the other girls' lines. Some of them, I looked at before and they looked really gnarly, but now I can see how you would ride them."
Instagram: @louise_anna__

Robin Goomes at Red Bull Formation in Virgin Utah USA on 09 May 2022


Name: Robin Goomes
Age: 25
Hometown: Chatham Islands, New Zealand
Current home: Queenstown, New Zealand
Formation experience: Digger & alternate rider in 2021
What do you hope to achieve this week at Formation? "A bloody good time."
Instagram: @robin_riding_hood



Sam Soriano at Red Bull Formation in Virgin Utah USA on 09 May 2022
Name: Sam Soriano
Age: 21
Hometown: Littleton, CO, USA
Current home: La Verkin, UT, USA
Formation experience: 2021
What do you hope to achieve this week at Formation? "Mostly just have fun, also to have a line that I'm proud of building as well as knowing that I rode to my highest potential."
Instagram: @samanthasorian0


Vaea Verbeeck at Red Bull Formation in Virgin Utah USA on 08 May 2022
Name: Vaea Verbeeck
Age: 31
Home province: Québec
Current home: Vernon, BC, Canada
Formation experience: 2019, 2021
What do you hope to achieve this week at Formation? "I just spotted this one jump and was like, 'that looks really cool.' What I'm hoping to achieve is a top-to-bottom including that jump. That goal led into spicier goals lower down on that same line."
Instagram: @vaeaverbeeck

Vero Sandler at Red Bull Formation in Virgin Utah USA on 08 May 2022
Name: Vero Sandler
Age: 29
Hometown: Nelson, New Zealand
Current home: Wales
Formation experience: 2019
What do you hope to achieve this week at Formation? "Mainly, I've picked a line down the hill that is going to be something different to what I'm used to riding. It's got some bits in it that are like some bits from home that I love to do, and some big drops and stuff like typical Utah riding."
Instagram: @veroniquesandler

Vinny Armstrong at Red Bull Formation in Virgin Utah USA on 08 May 2022


Name: Vinny Armstrong
Age: 23
Hometown: Queenstown, New Zealand
Formation experience: 2019, 2021
What do you hope to achieve this week at Formation? "Just get a full line done, have fun, and ride my bike."
Instagram: @vinnysarmstrong




Author Info:
alicialeggett avatar

Member since Jun 19, 2015
740 articles

47 Comments
  • 57 0
 Legends
  • 11 0
 Indeed, this is really cool. No comparisons, none needed. This is just independently great!!
  • 42 1
 Total population of New Zealand, as in the whole country, is a good bit smaller than Washington State. If you count Casey Brown, there are 5 Kiwis in this field of 12 riders. There's something about New Zealand...
  • 7 1
 and then theres multiple diggers that are doing some riding on the side from NZ to!
  • 21 1
 We like to play outside here.
  • 3 0
 @Velocipedestrian: I live in Washington State, and we definitely like to play outside here. You all must be taking that to a whole different level. Nice going.
  • 19 0
 down by the river, chapeau to Chelsea for that elder millenial humor
  • 5 0
 Matt Foley loves this. I think she may actually live in a van down by the river as she and her boyfriend, Ryan RADriguez who rides for Propain, are mtb nomads, lol!
  • 6 0
 Humbling to read that the goal for a lot of the top free ride athletes in the world is to successfully hit a top-to-bottom run.
  • 6 0
 I live close by and have been to the site numerous times for RBR and so on, it's uncomfortable to WALK on this course let alone ride it. Respect.
  • 9 0
 I dig it
  • 8 0
 Excited to see this!
  • 6 0
 Lets go!!!!!!! Cant wait to see what they get up to this year!
  • 6 0
 Cant wait to see the edits and video!
  • 5 0
 Everything about the women's scene blowing up is awesome. Hope this continues.
  • 1 0
 Very cool and I am a big fan of all these riders. These events are so important and look forward to seeing what comes out of it. Also, while on the topic of women doing rad things in the sport, a shout out to Kay Gibb who is pushing the "ride like a Mom" boundary well past the post and doing unreal things on a bike www.instagram.com/kayleegibb/?hl=en
  • 5 0
 Can't wait for this.
  • 8 4
 I do think there is more to be done to have diversity in events like this. That being said, imo Anita is not yet at the skill level as these other women. Straight airing A Line jumps and no major race results should not be a ticket to an event like this. She should get out there and have a friend film her riding. Perhaps build some jumps or a trail and film it and upload on youtube - Look what Jordie Lunn or Reece Wallace did to get Rampage invites. Let her riding do the speaking.
  • 6 1
 Support to all the ladies! Again, just thought it was an interesting read. Lots of shreddy ones outside of this little bubble of marketable mainstays.
  • 6 3
 Compare this crowd to the original legends of male freeride progression. Everyone (but Tippy that legend) was 100% honky and from one Province, and mostly from one town.

We're moving along ok I'd say. Give it time.
  • 4 4
 @ralbisurez: So a win in a slalom race 13 years ago should qualify you for every event? None of those other women riders are still making a career out of it.

There are tons of races in BC with pro categories and no invites required- Canadian Enduro Series, Squamish Enduro, BC Cup, Crankworx Summer Series, etc. Go enter one of those and get a good result to get your name out there again.

Also there is always the option of going and building some stunts and having someone film. Since she has that many sponsors I am sure they would gladly pay for someone to go out and film for some exposure. It just requires actually going out there and doing some digging.

I do agree that there needs to be more diversity in biking - Let your riding do the talking.
  • 3 9
flag stacykohut (May 11, 2022 at 14:35) (Below Threshold)
 #diversitysohotrightnow
  • 5 0
 @Kamperk87: I'm just curious what makes you think she's even trying to compete in any free ride events? You don't have to be a free ider to be sponsored. Companies sponsor people for a variety of reasons and sometimes seemingly for no reason at all other than they like someone as a person.

Mountain biking needs more diversity for sure. Myself and other people are putting in work to help ensure that happens and that it gets out to people. My only point is that it doesn't make sense to call Anita out when she is clearly not trying to be a competitive free rider. Lots of companies have ambassadors who rock their gear and support the brand any chance they get. It's nothing new.
  • 2 6
flag Kamperk87 (May 11, 2022 at 17:07) (Below Threshold)
 @ralbisurez: I am curious, what are you actually doing to make a difference?
  • 5 1
 @Kamperk87: started up a publication where I am highlighting bipoc athletes in the action sports world and organizers that are creating groups where they educate and introduce bipoc to the outdoors. I also lead bipoc group mtb rides where I live and do clinics for beginner mtb as well. And I work with a few other local groups that are doing the same in other sports like surfing and snow sports. And people are super stoked on all that.
  • 2 1
 @ralbisurez: Holy crap. Well done my man
  • 2 0
 Amazing, Sam Soriano, and Vaea look like they are there to compete, not just have fun.
  • 4 0
 Plus the crazy big hits Robin Goomes, Chelsea Kimball & co. were launching at DarkFest hint they are going to push themselves and everyone else attending.
  • 3 0
 That is a whole bunch of bad ass right there. Dayumm!
  • 2 0
 Super impressive lines and riders. Stay safe out there ladies!
  • 1 0
 Pioneer cowgurls who are breaking barriers and boldly going where no women have gone before! YEehaa!
  • 2 2
 The one event where causing desert erosion is okay. screw redbull rampage and their destruction.
  • 1 0
 I could be wrong, but I always assumed that this was done on private land?
  • 1 0
 Wheres Dani... ?
  • 1 0
 Support!!!
  • 1 0
 Here for it!
  • 1 0
 let's go Sam!
  • 1 2
 Where's CJ.....??
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