Red Bull Rock Drop - Martha Mine descent in New Zealand

Nov 18, 2010
by Jordan Holmes  
On December 4th, 2010 in Waihi, New Zealand, Red Bull is going to be hosting the Red Bull Rock Drop in the Martha Mine. The Martha Mine covers over 5 acres of ground and is deeper then Lake Taupo, which is the largest body of freshwater by surface area in Oceania. A fully operational open pit gold mine provides a tough and unforgiving rock base, add to this a selection of man made obstacles and Red Bull Rock Drop creates one of the most demanding downhill and free ride mountain bike events ever to be seen in New Zealand.

More information on Red Bull Rock Drop inside...Martha mine in the center of Waihi has seen more than 3 centuries of operation with hundreds of kilograms of gold removed from the open pit; creating a massive terraced hole gouged into the Earth's crust, the perfect place to hold a mountain biking event!

photo


The mine walls are cut into terraces of varying steepness called 'batters'. Some of these are angled at 70 degrees, most are 20m walls that end in 6m flat section steps. The rock geology is varied from flat hard quartz to razor sharp ignimbrite shards and soft petrified ancient volcanic ash sediment called tuff. The tuff is soft, so the crew been cutting some really interesting lines into the stepped batters.

photo
You can just barely see the track being cut in! Soooo gnarly!

photo
Little bit steep

photo
Is that a Red Bull arch down there?

For more information on Red Bull Rock Drop check out this link.
All images provided by Red Bull New Zealand Website

Posted In:
Press Releases Red Bull


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125 Comments
  • 12 1
 that looks sick is the event being aired to the public
  • 43 9
 Drainage would be a bitch on those trails! lol
  • 9 1
 THIS IS GOING TO BE EPIC!!!!!!!
  • 101 8
 you wouldnt need drainage, they invented something called gravity a few years back you should check it out
  • 9 0
 lol ^^^
  • 70 6
 The sarcasm ship has sailed. You missed it.
  • 5 0
 i just pooped my pants and this place is on the other side of the world
  • 10 4
 nz rampage!
  • 15 1
 Entered yesterday. I'm kinda scared now to be honest.
  • 5 0
 dude you have to let me know how it goes i would love to do something like that and good luck
  • 10 0
 I actually Can't believe I entered this... Hopefully get an email in 6 days confirming my entry, or telling me if I have missed out. I heard they gonna get a dump truck and make a step up and step down with it. Fuck that's cool.
  • 21 0
 As much as I hate Red Bulls media player, and the way their product will screw up your body, they are doing some amazing things in the world of adventure sport and I have to thank them for that. This event looks crazy, and the riders can just head out for a surf afterward.
  • 19 0
 that quarry does NOT mix in with its surrounding area
  • 3 0
 thats sooo sick. red bull keep coming up with some amazing event ideas. Can we have an amazing event in england please, red bull?
  • 1 0
 So gutted I can't make it up for this Frown

Would be our version of the rampage. Would be awesome to film.
  • 2 35
flag connorsux (Nov 18, 2010 at 17:08) (Below Threshold)
 gay
  • 28 5
 no need to tell us you take it up the ass connor, keep your secrets to yourself
  • 1 0
 best idea red bulls had in a while
  • 1 0
 I think by the time I'm 20, Red Bull will have done everything! Then again, they always seem to think of something else to do!
  • 1 0
 an open-pit version of the 'race down' from a few years back. such a good idea!
  • 5 0
 Honestly, can't wait to watch this, but I am having a tough time visualizing the line. I am guessing that we gonna see some crazy off camber launches after another. Should be very interested. Oh... and yeah the mine stuff is sad blah blah blah, but I'm sure there's a more suited forum for it. I'm surely not being swayed to boycott any precious metal company based on what I read on PB. Just leave it out.. it just leads to boring PB bickering. Not calllin anyone out , just sayin.... it takes away from the hype vibe.
  • 1 0
 yeah red bull is and epic sponsor and they are built RB Rampage and this so now can we please stop the biccering peeps lets get some shizzled hype like bryantaber said
  • 5 0
 and this is why i love NZ. thats right, an aussie said he loves NZ. thir whole country is on bored with mountain biking. where as in Australia, we have national parks and wildlife! what i wouldn't do to bring that company down! >Frown
  • 10 0
 " thats right, an aussie said he loves NZ" I will never forget what you just said
  • 1 0
 Woah, As an American, I wasn't aware of the Kiwi - Aussie blood feud. Ya'll should take notice of the warm and fuzzy US-Canadian relations we have. It's down right puppikes and rainbows like. It's brings a goosebump to my skin and a tear to my eye just thinking about it now.(sniffle)
  • 12 6
 Sweet riding zone.....sad land rape!
  • 19 11
 You wouldn't be able to ride a bike, watch TV or even bathe without the "land rape" of mining. Or does the aluminum from your bike grow on trees? Moron.
  • 1 9
flag mmakuch (Nov 18, 2010 at 12:54) (Below Threshold)
 +1 Couldnt have said it better myself
  • 20 0
 Just thought I'd remind you that this is a gold mine though...
I get your point, but he didn't say mining wasn't necessary, did he? And you've got to admit a lot of the impacts of mining are sad after all. Im glad they've found another advantage for the mine though, the comp should be sweet! Major props to RedBull for another awesome event!
  • 4 11
flag nouser (Nov 18, 2010 at 14:11) (Below Threshold)
 Yeah the electronics in your computer don't have any gold in them. He bad mouthed something he has no idea about. Mines are constantly reclaiming the land that they occupy. All the waste rock they take out of the pit is piled and replanted, creating new hills. When they are finished mining that pit, it will refill with ground water that they have to constantly pump out and most likely be turned into a recreation area.
  • 7 0
 Did I say they didn't? I was trying to imply that gold mining is less of an essential resource than other things, such as the copper or aluminum you were talking about.

Although mines do put a lot of effort into the sites after they leave, you have to think about the loss of habitat and impacts on the communities while they are there, which would be in the decades.
  • 6 2
 Regardless... it is land rape! What do you mean mines reclaim the land they occupy, mines don't reclaim anything, they just... claim it. And then screw it hard till it doesn't have what they want. Obviously mining is not going to stop but to claim it's O.K. because they "create new hills" is a bit of a stretch.
  • 14 2
 If you want to get into land rape, talk to the indigenous indians of your country. THEY can tell you what land rape is.
  • 1 6
flag nouser (Nov 18, 2010 at 15:15) (Below Threshold)
 1. Gold is essential to every electronic device. I was talking about gold in your TV and computer.
2. Collin you have no idea what you're talking about, have you ever even been to a corporation owned mine site?
  • 7 2
 We dont need tv's, computers, and bicycles to live, however, we do need the earth. please dont take what i said and blow it out of proportion...i like having all these things, but at what cost?
comp is gonna be sick. props to RB
  • 1 0
 They are making it into a lake once mining has finished in the next few years.
  • 3 0
 Got everything planned, I'm heading down there to witness it!
  • 2 0
 gold is essential, ever heard of the "gold standard"? for every dollar circulating, a country technically has 1 ounce of gold. thats why some countries curencies are less, some are more, depends on the amount of gold they own.
sick idea btw!!
  • 2 0
 everyone stop bitching mines are around they will always b rb took advantage of that 4 a sick event so chill
  • 2 0
 Regardless of whether gold is an essential resource, aren't there more environmentally friendly ways of extracting it than open pit mining?
  • 1 0
 not really, its in the rocks, you need to bring out the rock, sift through it, add chemicals and all sorts of other shit to do make it the gold that we know
  • 1 0
 There are almost always alternative ways to extract certain ores, even ways that are more environmental friendly. It's the cost of extraction that decides how it is done. Open pit mass leech is cheaper and safer than adit type mining. So regardless which way is cleaner and better for the land, it will go the way that is more cost effective.
  • 1 1
 Just because it's an open pit doesn't mean they use leaching to extract the gold. To get the ore from the ground, you have to dig for it, period. There are thousands of ways to process it once you have it out, but you have to dig to get it out the ground. If it can't be grown, it's gotta be mined.
  • 1 0
 You're right it doesn't have to be leeching... but this mine is. My point was in most cases the less socially accepted solutions are the cheapest ones.
  • 3 0
 Im Gonna Be Up There Filming The Event For Everyone Who Wants To See The Madness,i'll put an article with vid and photos on pinkbike a couple days after the race. Should be sick!!
  • 2 0
 Pretty cool idea. When I was working in a pit mine over the summer I kept envisioning riding on the huge benches cut out and thought it would be cool to have an event like this. Is the mine completely shutting down for this event? If so, it seems like an extremely costly operation for the company. The mine I was at would produce over a million dollars of metal in a 12 hour shift, although this one seems quite a bit smaller, but regardless looks like Red Bull's making shit happen once again.
  • 1 0
 They have a new mine now so this one isn't the main one anymore.
  • 2 0
 RedBull, you are f*cking amazing. Without you where would this sport be? You sponsored and produce the best mtb events the world has ever seen.
Rampage, Dirt Pipe, Hell Barge... this list is huge, and now this added to it.

Amazing. Simply outstanding work.
  • 4 0
 Red Bull also sponsored the first mountain bike trail ever made in the uk, at coed y brenin, now called the tarw trail.
  • 2 0
 just realized that this isnt really a new event: all that theyve done is moved it halfway across the world. a few years ago there was a similar event in brazil in a gold mine. but it was in tunnels rather than in open air
  • 2 0
 Yahoo! Red Bull can always come up with some whacky locations for DH, Slopestyle bikers and Dirt Jumpers.....thanks Red Bull for that.
I can imagine It could be more fun and exciting than coming down to rock garden sections in any W.C. DH events without worrying about the trees or spectators ahead of the riders; at least the rider can concentrate on their speed alone.
  • 5 0
 i think i might go and try to find some of that gold
  • 1 0
 it looks funny without any tailings. theres an abandoned open pit mine in my town, and our horizon consists of a massive rock wall miles long, the pit of nearly filled with water now and i had always envisioned a wakeboard comp down there, no wind, and redic seating
  • 3 0
 i love red bull. i wish they did it in a real pit tho, not a weenie little one haha. imagine it in the Superpit in Kalgorlie, three times as deep....
  • 1 0
 yeah that would be awesome (for anyone who doesn't know Kalgoorlie is in oz)
This will still be a sick event, wonder how many pro's will turn up? would be cool to see blenkinsop win.
  • 1 0
 can you imagine how much it'd cost em to get access to the superpit tho? thousands of dollars a minute id imagine. it'll still be the coolest race since the redbull goldmine tho Smile
  • 1 0
 isn't Kalgoolie where Kevin Bloody wilson comes from
  • 1 0
 They need to do this in Kennecott, it's almost a mile deep. However it's pretty nasty and the dirt eats your tires (went through a few trucl tires running parts through the pit). SO rad either way!
  • 2 0
 bit more info here www.spokemagazine.com/2010/11/rockdrop/#more-7296
and time to get the ropes n harness out for some photos :-)
  • 1 0
 Hello RedBull? Event organizers? How did you guys work out the logistics with Martha's mine to make this a fully legit event? Can you make it happen in Canada? I have the perfect venue. Unfortunately I am not ceo of the company who owns the mine, but maybe I could help push the right buttons to get in! (Please boss dont fire me!) Have look at the venue.

www.pinkbike.com/photo/5895234

Does Martha's mine make some kind of dollars from this or is it all donated free use of land to hold mega epic bike event?
  • 2 0
 This will be great to watch! Will we be able to watch it on freecaster or anywhere on the internet??
  • 3 0
 seeing as it's Redbull, it'll be everywhere, just with crap streaming rates
  • 4 0
 red bull is awesome
  • 2 0
 ive stood on the edge of that mine and it is gnarly ...cant belive they rode down that !!
  • 3 1
 red bull corp. big wigs just keeps on makeing more $$$$ as the riders get busted up and go broke...great concept
  • 3 0
 I KNOW AMCAT, really!!!! RedBull must have a really big, shiny new gun to all those PRO riders heads to make them take that sponsoreship money and force them off those cliffs with only an $8,000 Dh rig to protect them. just thank the Lord that we don't live in a country where Capatlism is King and making money is the cornerstone of our society. Give me a break..........



Thank You Red Bull!!!!!! for evreything you've done for our sport!!!
  • 2 0
 You really think capatilism is king ??? Where have you been the past three years,Just about every country is broke,the us dollar is worthless, and were on the verge of resourse and currencywars,wake up !!!
The founder of red bull is worth 3-4 billion and the guy has a first place purse of $10-30 thousand,boy thats a good deal !!!! l'm all for some good entertaiment but this guy is useing the greatest athletes in the world for chicken feed...
All I'm saying is the guy is running a good con,this company drums up more hype than anyone,the more hype,the more $$$ in there pockets.
Most of these guys are to young and have'nt figured out the game yet,we have all been there. I dont want to see these guys work for nothing.
  • 3 0
 That looks small in the photos. It seems 10 times bigger in real life.
  • 4 0
 ive seen a video of it before and it dosnt look that big untill you realize the little black dots coming out of it are dump trucks
  • 2 1
 that looks anything but small to me
  • 1 0
 That pit is tiny compared to the superpit in kalgoolie western australia.. Red bull should take a look at hosting an event there
  • 1 0
 u nas w Bełchatoie jest najwieksza dziura Europy i raczej nic sie nie da z tym zrobic, a szkoda bo jak widac jak sie hce to mozna
  • 2 0
 There is no way i am going to mis out on going to watch that
  • 3 1
 Why dont we have anything like this in the UK ? England sucks.
  • 1 0
 Then leave. I did and have no regrets. (I'm from St.Albans by the way)
  • 1 0
 Easier said than done though.
  • 1 0
 i agree with your comment that england sucks
  • 1 0
 any 1 from whangarei/ northland going down im so keen just need a ride will chip in for petrol and stuff plzz
  • 2 0
 Red bull has the sickest events/races on the planet
  • 2 0
 This looks sick! doubt it beats rampage tho.
  • 2 0
 redbull never stop to push the limit's
  • 2 0
 best corporate company ever
  • 1 0
 Another great event from redbull yet still shown in their shitty flash video player.
  • 1 0
 My thinking is....next stop for Red Bull event could be held in Amazon Jungle for XC riders to do 24 hrs race.
  • 1 0
 WOW, sweet as! Gonna be a kick ass event Smile
  • 1 0
 70% is pretty steep... lookes like a lot of fun
  • 1 0
 gona be sooo sick!! cant wait to get out there!! STOKED!!
  • 1 0
 looks sooo sick! another great event from rb!!
  • 1 0
 aiiiii jasuuuuuuuuuuuuuuus!!!que tolinhos.....
  • 2 0
 fucking sick!
  • 1 0
 Can't wait to see that. What a great idea
  • 1 2
 The tuff is soft, so the ''crew been cutting'' some really interesting lines into the stepped batters. just a little grammatical error there, i think...
  • 1 0
 Oh why didn't i ever think of finding a mine?! That is so awesome!
  • 2 0
 Wow Eek
  • 1 0
 so cool idea, epic track, hardcore ride hereBig Grin
  • 1 0
 Song in the clip? Anyone?
  • 1 0
 epicness!this may out do RB'S RAMPAGE!
  • 1 1
 Why don't they have cool stuff like that in the U.S. ! Red Bull is awesome!
  • 6 0
 Hmmm, Rampage comes to mind.
  • 1 0
 This, topped the 5 reasons to fly to new zealand ...
  • 1 0
 RED BULL, YOU NEVER SEEM TO STOP AMAZING ME!!
  • 1 0
 whats next redbull, the Everest something?
  • 1 0
 Red Bull is trying to kill us. Insane.
  • 1 0
 nice drops! AWESOME i want going ((( not many f*ck
  • 1 0
 I live in Waihi, these faces are totally insane. The truck tyres are about 10 feet in diameter and the trucks look like little black dots. Then my 16 yr old wonders why I told him he is not allowed to enter!!! He can go ride the Dubbo or other tracks out in the bush. It is a magic spot, if any of you guys want any local knowledge just give me a buzz. Cheers
  • 1 0
 gee wiz!
  • 1 0
 Sick shit is sick!
  • 1 0
 CANT WAIT
  • 1 0
 RB keep it up
  • 1 0
 the war begin >Smile
  • 1 2
 THESE GUYS R RISKING THERE LIVES FOR ONLY $10,000!?!?....DAM REDBULL IS A BUNCH OF TIGHTFISTED GREEDY f*ckS! LOL
  • 2 0
 I'm with ya,red bull is running a good con job.....do a goggle search on the founder,the guy has one hell of a business plan !!!
  • 1 0
 glad somebody agrees! lol and i'll be sure to do tht, i love researching stuff...sometimes im just scared to find out the truth lol but yea, i totally agree with what u said, the riders are young and unfortunately dont know any better....or they just think they're invincible because of there age and just dont care if they get seriously injured? I know id never risk my life for 10 grand lol....i mean i risk my health sometimes on my own for no money or prizes lol but thats completely different.
  • 1 0
 what is this?
  • 1 0
 xc?
dh?
  • 1 0
 Xc? Really, do you serously think it would be xc, It clearly says its Downhill.
  • 1 0
 looks nuts!
  • 1 0
 ha awesomely insane
  • 1 0
 that looks like sick
  • 1 0
 that´s gonna ROCK!







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