Video: This Crash Couldn’t Stop Nicholi Rogatkin - Red Bull Rampage 2015

Oct 16, 2015
by Red Bull Bike  


RED BULL

RAMPAGE
This Crash Couldn't Stop Nicholi Rogatkin




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264 Comments
  • 514 37
 It's only a matter of time before someone is killed or seriously injured at Rampage. The whole thing is starting to feel a bit macabre, like a base jumping competition where the winner is the last one to open their 'chute.
  • 192 11
 I hate to agree with you...
  • 82 5
 serously injured? tom vsteenburgen pinched a nerve in his back... i think that's pretty serious tbh
  • 44 6
 Can't agree more. All this redbull events are becoming ridiculously morbid : Sky Gate in China, Hardline, Rampage...
  • 44 5
 at the end of the day it's a very dangerous sport...
  • 32 3
 They used to say such things about Formula 1 in the olde days.
  • 117 3
 I agree to some extent, however these guys seem to be well aware of the dangers, also keep in mind they are some best riders out there.

My non-mtb friends react the same way when they see where and how I ride (which is million miles away from what these dudes are doing).
What I'm trying to say is - although it is partly "bread and circuses" where all redbull events are going, who are we to tell these guys where their limits are, what's safe for them and so on? That man just fell of a cliff and jumped back on his bike... for some that would result in PTSD or something.
  • 252 15
 I'd rather do this than ride on city streets with cars. Roadies are the true nuts challenging 2 ton autos for a inch of pavement.
  • 66 3
 Eventually it will escalate to "Red bull's Thunder Dome fight to the death"
  • 27 1
 You need to remember that people have died and been seriously injured in genres of mountain biking considered far less 'extreme' than Rampage, as unfortunately we saw in the EWS earlier this year. On all fronts, these are *calculated* risks the top guys are taking - there's a good reason there are only a handful of invited riders. The difference with Rampage and the other Red Bull events is the level of coverage, and that 'circus' effect, but we can't have it both ways - progression and evolution of any extreme sport has its risks.
  • 12 1
 Though I completely agree with you dakuan, most of these guys ride equally dangerous stuff all year, we're just not aware of it to the same extent. I also don't think that the presence of danger is going to stop most of these guys riding what they want to ride. Knowing that I could get a serious injury racing DH or dirt jumping doesn't stop me from doing it. I just make sure that I protect myself as best I can. Nonetheless, it will be a tragic day for our sport if someone has a career ending injury at Rampage. I pray that day never comes.
  • 14 0
 I think Logan Bingelli is lucky to be walking after his massive crash a couple years ago.
  • 17 2
 I think one of the problems is Rampage also attracts riders with minimal experience on this kind of terrain. That is because they need the FMB points. I wonder if Nicolai trains much in Utah, or big mountain riding in general. Most of these guys have a lifetime of experience to rely on. I remember a couple years ago when Sam Pilgrim came for the FMB points and was so out of his comfort zone it was dangerous.
  • 8 0
 Mark Matthews crash definitely qualifies as a serious injury
  • 8 4
 @properp To me it is more a matter of what we choose to watch as entertainment rather than what others choose to do. I have no issue if someone decides to ride a "Rampage-line", but I start to wonder if I want to support the event by watching it.
  • 8 2
 And then there are guys riding rampage without any protection except the helmet. One of the guys is even riding with a half shell if I'm not wrong. No clue what those guys have to prove...
  • 4 3
 @properp I kinda have to agree with you... I have been a roadie for nine years. Sometimes there are close calls, primarily the idiots who hate cyclists, but for the most part I have always felt safe. There are fewer nut cases out there than people think.
  • 14 26
flag TimFromWales (Oct 16, 2015 at 6:38) (Below Threshold)
 No more dangerous than international rugby. You do it right in rugby and you still get hit by a big guy whos job it is to knock you to the ground without padding or helmets.
  • 8 0
 They been saying that for 14 years. Mtn bikers are tough and calculated.
  • 7 3
 I feel guilty watching it too, if someone dies in Rampage I will feel like I shouldn't have encouraged their behavior. On the other hand what is "crazy" for us it is not for them, for example when Zink flipped the Oakley sender he said on an interview that he was confident on being capable of doing that, and it want irresponsible to give it a go since he have spent countless hours riding his bike off cliffs, fliping, training, etc. making it a calculated risk.
  • 24 83
flag StanMarsh (Oct 16, 2015 at 7:34) (Below Threshold)
 Rampage is just too dangerous. They shouldn't be allowed to have drops and jumps bigger than 8-12 ft. After a crash riders SHOULD NOT be allowed to ride until seeing a dr., I mean he might have a concussion or scratched arm. We need to think of the children because they will be influenced by these events. We should also have a max speed for WCDH, 30km/h sounds good. Also ban all EWS because very dangerous. We need to save MTB and make it accessible to everyone by dumbing down the highest levels.
  • 10 2
 Pave Rampage!
  • 7 4
 StanMarsh: we are all responsible for our own safety. These guy's choose to take risks. Disallowing high speed and big drops is not a clever way forward. A better incentive to make it safer would be to spread the prize money through the field to discourage the "all or nothing attitude".
  • 3 1
 For you people who think rampage is decently safe, I would love to see you have a crash like that the ask for your opinion again. Good point nedatkins
  • 14 1
 @StanMarsh maybe all bikes should have training wheels as well, to prevent crashes? Big Grin
  • 2 3
 Doesnt make any sense to me why the kid doesnt have goggles on, definitely would have protected his face a lot better getting rag dolled down a cliff. At least he has a visor...
  • 6 4
 Darwin always wins.
  • 4 0
 Sorry but unlike most of us, money clearly isn't the motivating factor for these guys. If it were they would absolutely not have the level of dedication they do have.
  • 6 0
 @dakuan I have definitely been thinking a bit of the same thing. although I will give it to the mtb community and say that, more or less, we are more interested in progression than death defying stunts. This was not a death defying stunt as much as it is just high risk riding and gnarly terrain. What you are talking about definitely happened in the ski community awhile ago, and now you have a skier kicking the bucket every few months and it's almost inherent to the sport now. Wil we see that in mtb? I hope not. But if we do, it's going to be a choice made by riders.

@StanMarsh, that's ridiculous. Maybe it just irks the libertarian in me, but this is personal choice and personal responsibility. If I wanna huck off cliffs, it's my damn right too

@JBinKC I have to say I have thought the same thing. I know these guys are all great riders on any bike, but for a lot of these slopestylers, it does seem like rampage is a bit of a stretch. Dirt jumping is nothing like this. Rampage is definitely for the big mountain guys and downhillers. Yes, a lot of the slopestyle dudes are fantastic DHers and big mountain riders, but I also wonder if a lot of them are out of their element.
  • 6 11
flag StanMarsh (Oct 16, 2015 at 8:34) (Below Threshold)
 @nedatkins yes spreading the prize money so riders don't try to get first would be a great idea and make 40ft drops much safer but there would still be some risk and its just too dangerous. @Milko3D has a good idea with training wheels to reduce accidents. Would also be nice to see the riders hug and hold hands before dropping in, just to set a better example for the children and grow the sport! @trialsracer irk'n Libertarian's is what I do
  • 16 0
 StanMarsh is Trolling .... he knows he is spewing nonsense.
  • 8 4
 I'll probably get neg propped for this but I feel this crash may have partially been due to Nicolai's inexperience on this terrain
  • 3 1
 fair point tbh, hes not really unfamiliar but he does not appear to have such a big mountain background like most of the other riders
  • 4 0
 HE QUALIFIES IN MY BOOK FOR THE FINALS. EVERYONE WANTS TO WATCH A RIDER LIKE THAT IN THE FINALS. HE IS YOUR TOP QUALIFIER!!!!
  • 2 2
 He's got as much bike mountain experience as say, Sam Reynolds, and Reynolds looked solid. So I don't know if it's background or experience. He's definitely been focused on slopestyle as of late though, and his results show it.
  • 2 6
flag levleon13 (Oct 16, 2015 at 9:48) (Below Threshold)
 thats a stupid statement . thats extreme sport , and it is exactly how it should be . now go .
  • 9 0
 If the event won't provide insurance against potential CAREER ENDING injuries (it isn't just the initial medical bills that these guys need to worry about, it is their entire livelihood...) can they at least agree on a minimum level of protective gear in order to compete? Full face, neck brace, back protector, eye protection, mouth guard. Maybe require a fresh helmet and a bike check after a big crash?
Common sense stuff.
  • 3 3
 Did you just discover Rampage ? what a useless comment
  • 2 1
 Hey Dukuan.. Formula 1 used to kill people on a REGULAR basis. It WAS out of fricken control.
  • 3 1
 He washed out a front tire. How many of you have never done that? Just because he was at Rampage, your going to question his riding ability?
  • 3 0
 ya seems like most of you forgot about mark matthews. he shattered his femur, that could put most riders out of the sport for good.
  • 3 0
 I am amazed at how little of the money that flows through at the top level at events goes to the riders. As a roadie we raced for 10,000 to top 20 all summer as our everyday normal event. I bought a house with the money and renovated it cash. These comps have a way to go. I wish so much for fest series to come up as a rider owned business that does it correctly.
  • 2 13
flag Jsmith123 (Oct 16, 2015 at 22:34) (Below Threshold)
 All u gay mt. bikers are trying to FUCKING CONTROL FREERIDERS why the hell do u care how pitted the riders get they dudes that r riding this lines have the most wisdom about it TRUTHFULLY some of the layed back freeriders are building lines to progress themselves not send themselves supply infant of the spectators
  • 11 1
 Dude wtf? It's an EXTREME SPORT. These boys live for the danger they'd do it anyway whether its on TV or not.

Isle of Man TT, big wave surfing, freestyle Moto X all in the same insane category.

I love it properly wild event where the best most ballsiest riders out there get to push their limits.

Can't believe some ppl go watch tennis or some shit Frown
  • 1 0
 True, but it is calculated what they do and they have brakes.. If you see what those bmx and fixed gear riders do without brakes, that is so crazy...
  • 2 0
 @santoman If some one has the skill to jump of a cliff with a bike Im going to watch it. I might even buy a shirt.
  • 3 0
 A few people on pinkbike don't get sarcasm it seems
  • 1 1
 Good for you @properp, buy one for me too. Size M please!
  • 1 0
 I think watching that video has created some PTSD among some non-riders as well lol
  • 1 0
 I'm assuming you're being sarcastic, if that's the case i agree. Btw, Bender started the whole hucking cliffs scene and they told him countless times he was "reckless".
  • 3 1
 Lot of folks in here overstating the ability of professional riders. Fact is, no, our favorite riders *DONT* actually ride this kind of stuff outside of Rampage. That's why so many riders opted out of a second run and were just relieved it was over. This is far past their natural limit. They might do an occasional banger cliff drop in a movie segment or something, but for the most part, no... Rampage has become an event where our favorite riders feel compelled to do things they just don't do on a normal day. The fact that over 5 professional riders went down this last week for Rampage should be proof enough for you, these guys are typically healthy outside of this competition. T van steez temporarily paralyzed himself, bizette broke his f*cking arm, p bass is currently paralyzed... these are people who went a lifetime in their biking careers without ruining themselves this hard, and now where watching a big handful of them end up in the hospital for one competition. As extreme as the sport is, Rampage is pushing it too far, too quickly.
  • 3 0
 That's a very good point @anchoricex, every single one of them said "I'm happy to be alive". "I'm happy to be down" at the end of their runs.
The issue is being discussed by the public, the riders and organisers, so I guess some moderation at least will be in order soon. Hopefully it'll change things for the better.
  • 1 0
 @dakuan In the end Rampage is there cause people are watching it. If no one would watch it there wouldn't be rampage. You choose what you are watching
  • 1 0
 @darknut, I just realized that he was obviously being sarcastic. My bad, I was skimming
  • 1 0
 ...as far as i know, there allready have been serious injuries...(in this special case i dont even count a broken bone i.e. fractured collar bone as serious (even if this is a serious injury))
but if i remember right, in 2014 one of the riders farktured a lumbal or toracic vertebra during the crash, resulting in a paraplegie ....Frown
  • 253 8
 Footballer gets tapped on the ankle requires a stretcher to be taken off. Mountain bike falls off a cliff, casually gets back on the bike carrys on down his crazy line including launching a canyon gap! Respect
  • 116 6
 Footballer has a ferrari, condo and trophy wife.
  • 106 3
 @kolya trouble is, a footballer needs that to assert his masculinity. These guys just need a bicycle.
  • 151 2
 Football only requires 1 ball.
  • 12 2
 @iian lol, you nailed it
  • 27 0
 Rogatkin is the true #ManOfSteel
  • 20 7
 Simply put a footballer is a pussy, a mountain biker is a man of steel.
  • 5 17
flag cunning-linguist (Oct 16, 2015 at 7:14) (Below Threshold)
 Rogatkin's got my attention! He is now on the list of double ard cunts!!!!!!
  • 19 0
 Rogatkin just became a man in the MTB world.
  • 3 1
 It's because football has been appointed the circus component of "bread and circus" to keep the masses occupied. All the big corporations have been behind it from its inception, not surprising because of its said inventor.
  • 3 1
 You don't lose rookie status in MTB till you fall off a cliff. We've all done it!
  • 1 2
 Yeah and traumatic brain injuries.
  • 12 0
 Don't ya'll know? The more tattoos you have the less safety gear you need! It is a proven fact that tattoos repel injuries, I read it on the internet.
  • 3 0
 Glad he didn't lose his visor in that little tumble
  • 3 2
 Football? Who wants to watch big men in tights jumping allover each other? I will stick to bikes.
  • 1 0
 And doing a backflip to top it off
  • 1 0
 And a beer
  • 101 1
 I actually am very surprised none of the medics there stopped him from finishing his run. He could have had something broken and not noticed it until he's over the Canyon gap. Would have taken a brave man to try to stop him from the looks of it.
  • 22 2
 Agree, he looked far from ok when he finished
  • 82 7
 I completely agree. As an EMT, the lack of proper medical protocol here is horrifying. Besides the fact that he probably had a concussion based on the condition of his helmet and blood on his face, I'm way more concerned about his spine. Continuing to ride and hit jumps with even a small damage to his spine could result in permanent damage. He obviously had so much adrenaline that he wasn't feeling pain, but those medics need to have there licenses revoked. I'm so glad he's ok.
  • 18 4
 Agreed - he should never have been allowed to get back on the bike. Respect to him for wanting to carry on, but sometimes people need to be saved form themselves when they have serious amounts of adrenaline pumping around - I mean, he just fell off a cliff for god's sake. You just need to see his eyes at the end to know he was far from ok.
  • 28 3
 For sure. Holy crap. FMB/Red Bull need to sort out their medical protocol on this. There is absolutely no way he should have been allowed to get back on the bike.
  • 20 2
 The medics probably had no idea he was going to jump on his bike and finish the run. Athletes often get up to "walk it off". What were they supposed to do when he got back on his bike all of a sudden? Tackle him? Actually, that would be pretty awesome...
  • 5 1
 World's first tandem cash roll!
  • 11 0
 There really should be something similar to the concussion protocol in rugby where a rider after such a crash would have to get properly assessed before continuing. I realise the riders involved are tough but sometimes the rush of the moment can make you do something stupid like carrying on when you're concussed. At one of the rounds of the world cup this year, Fairclough had a really bad crash, couldn't walk straight for a little while and then continued riding. It does make for an amazing story but Rampage and DH World Cups are incredible enough without the added danger of riders riding when they really shouldn't be.
  • 20 5
 Come on folks, the medics don't have the power to stop someone from doing anything. If they refuse treatment, that's on the patient.
  • 14 1
 @biking85 The medics may not be able to stop the rider but redbull can certainly mandate that not seeing the medics results in a DQ or other penalty
  • 10 9
 Let's be honest, safety from physical injury isn't the paramount concern in this sport...that's kinda the point. If the utmost safety is always your primary concern I'm sure you have a couch calling your name.
  • 3 1
 If theres anything Ive learned from the east coast family, you can't tell them shit!!!
  • 3 1
 Unfortunately, Red Bull is more concerned with letting a good show go on. This clip will be recirculated on the interweb on sites of all shapes and forms and Red Bull will gain tons of new followers from it. Good entertainment = more $$$
  • 2 0
 @j12j wouldnt matter, he knew he wasnt winning after the tumble. It was a pride thing.
  • 3 0
 That clip just made mainstream national TV news here in NZ. Redbull sales meeting on Monday - "well team, that event worked for us this week"! what can we do next week?
  • 2 2
 It's the land of the free Bro! If you wipe the blood off your face and tell the Doc to pissoff....then you may do so.
  • 3 0
 Not the land of the free healthcare though!
  • 1 0
 Definitely questionable, but you gotta love the ability to deny service. He definitely was conscious so he could withhold concent. If he insists he's fine there isn't anything you can do. But I wouldn't be too worried about him simply of the way he rolled, he rolled side ways with his arms and legs absorbing most of the impact and he didn't take a straight drop to the ground but tumbled. If it were head over heels or a straight drop I'd be much more worried. Plus I know the dirt there is like powder that absorbs a lot of force on impact. And the scratches from his face were from debris and the bushes he ran into I think. I wouldn't suggest he ride, but if he carried on and resisted, that'd be all him.
  • 3 0
 But adrenaline is a hell of a drug.
  • 2 0
 Competely agree shouldn't have been allowed to finish that run. Should be a simple rule, big fall your out. He trashed the run anyway, so why bother. But I don't take it away from him, gnarly dude, but the decision should be out of his hands. Also, I don't see Red Bull as a sponsor on the Paul Basagoitia/road to recovery page. Lots of other brands there, I assume that means they donate, the others brands that is.
  • 61 0
 He could have been broken and not know it, the bike could have been broken and not know it. Just calmly clears the canyon gap without a care in the world! Mental doesn't do it justice.
  • 19 3
 I'm afraid to say that meds and organizers shouldn't let him proceed. The amount of adrenalin in your head after a crash like that must seriously prevent you from taking the right decision. This is soo wrong....
  • 4 0
 It was well played on the mental game side of things - I think him completing his line was like that "get back on the horse" moment.
  • 5 0
 He Evil Knieveled the shit out of the Canyon and everything else. I'd say he was shitting it.
  • 2 0
 If someone denies treatment and they haven't lost conciousness and aren't in an altered state of mind, you can't make them or have them do anything. If he wanted to finish that run he could.
  • 60 3
 Holy f***** moly!

Hopefully the people giving Nicholi a hard time for being an unstylish tailwhip one trick pony will have new found respect for him. Flippin' awesome rider and this only cements his status as one of the very best further
  • 6 1
 Nailed it
  • 7 0
 #ManOfSteel
  • 11 3
 Sorry Danny Hart...someone just surpassed you in the balls category.
  • 58 2
 Yeah, I'm okay with not being a professional freerider
  • 6 5
 Me to!
  • 13 6
 You to what?
  • 4 0
 To neverland of course
  • 39 1
 I have goosebumps, Nicholai just gained a lot of lifelong fans I bet, I know I am one. Man of steel.
  • 17 0
 Total fucking hero! Smashed nose, 40ft plummet, carries on. Does the canyon gap for fun. I'm retiring my son now at 3 years old and getting him a set of golf clubs. The shit you'll have to do to win this in 15 years is inconceivable at this point. Rogatkin is going to win it in the next few years.
  • 33 3
 Websites and Redbull making lots of dough off this. Him...not so much.

He had an insanely difficult line with those transitions...but who let him continue that run? That is not a properly trained medical team to allow him back on the bike without some sort of eval. 99% of the time, your equilibrium is wrecked and we watch a guy die on live TV hammering his body into the face of the canyon gap a few seconds later.

Zero reasons (and hard as Fokk is still not acceptable) he gets to finish that run!
  • 11 5
 100% agreed. To let him continue was unacceptable.

I was horrified to see him continue and do the canyon gap Frown
  • 17 2
 Where'd you get that 99% statistic? I think you're 86% wrong.
  • 10 0
 60 percent of statistics are made up 100 percent of the time
  • 2 1
 This ain't hockey we're talking about, I agree with all the safety related comments yet no one ever says anything when these same guys crash on a slopestyle course and finish a run anyways. There's more consequence at Rampage you'll say, my opinion is the consequences are always the same. Although the crash looked gnarly as f*ck, if he felt fine (... ) then he knows; their career is based on getting back on the bike... If you really disagree, don't watch Rampage videos ever again... tough decision
  • 1 1
 @PhattyMatt Knowledge. Fact. Or...my way of saying that if you wreck hard enough onto your skull that you wind up somehow bloodying your face, your equilibrium is jacked. Sure...he made the canyon gap, so the bros can tell you how savage he is, but so?
  • 2 0
 Guys legally if he says no to treatment the medical staff can't treat him and have to let him be they can warn him about how he can injure himself, but resisting treatment is totally in his power. And it didn't really look like he'd let anyone stop him. Plus he looked fine, just a bit dirty with some cuts to the face from the bushes and dirt.
  • 1 0
 Same thing happened to a guy in the Air DH race at Crankworx many years ago. Got up and carried on, hit the next jump and his spine collapsed as a result of the injury sustained in the crash and he was paralyzed for life.
  • 32 1
 Seems like a good example of why all the athletes should be appropriately compensated
  • 3 12
flag PhattyMatt (Oct 16, 2015 at 6:43) (Below Threshold)
 What is the "appropriate" compensation for this? Seriously...should this kind of behavior be highly regarded and promoted or frowned upon? I, for one, know where I stand!
  • 4 2
 Not sure how you can view this as 'behaviour' to be frowned upon, but generally speaking when professional athletes risk their lives pushing the envelope of the sport while entertaining millions and offering brands an international advertising platform, they can expect to be compensated accordingly.
  • 6 1
 I don't know what the appropriate number is but I am pretty sure it is more than 0. How much money does redbull make from the adverts and increased brand awareness when this is viewed 2000000 times on youtube? How much of that does Nicholi see?
  • 2 8
flag PhattyMatt (Oct 16, 2015 at 7:45) (Below Threshold)
 Who said I thought this behavior should be frowned upon? I simply posed two opposing views and stated I'm secure in where I stand...with no mention of where I stand.
  • 5 3
 It's a perfect example of why they aren't compensated. If 2 million people watch this on youtube, that will make for about 1.9 million people who had never heard of Nicolai Rogatkin now recognizing his name and his massive balls. If he did this in his backyard with his brother holding a handi-cam, no one would give a shit about it. Instead he did it at a large event, with multiple camera crews filming him in HD. Redbull doesn't need Rogatkin to show up and fall off a cliff- the exact same number of viewers would watch the event whether he was there or not- and hundreds of other riders would happily stand up to take his place and risk falling off a cliff, for little to no compensation. Rogatkin on the other hand, will become a household name, albeit for a short period of time, because of this video. He needed Redbull to provide a venue for him to be seen and heard, far more than Redbull needed him to show up and fall off a cliff. The fact that he showed up and did this for free, is exactly why they don't pay people like him.
  • 5 1
 I wouldn't necessarily say they need to be compensated... but I do think Red Bull should offer health insurance to all the participants.

Red Bull clearly makes a shit ton of money off of this event (hence why they keep doing it)... the least they could do is make sure riders lives aren't ruined (as much) if something goes wrong. They don't need to necessarily enrich them, but there should be a safety net IMO.
  • 27 0
 My vote for "People's Choice Award" for sure!
  • 22 0
 "No time for this sh*t, I have to finish my run...". What a warrior.
  • 19 1
 Nicholi you're an animal.
  • 18 2
 Watching the pov footage, didnt look all that bad. Step back and the view from the deck and yeah f**k! Go rampage!
  • 9 0
 It's a bit like crashing yourself and watching someone crash. When it is you everything is such a blur and you have to do the check when you stop tumbling but watching a buddy crash can be horrific as you know exactly what is happening
  • 2 0
 looking at the size of the cliff compared to the people, imagine falling from a 4 story house onto a thorn bush that is growing on some sharp gravel...
  • 14 1
 How is this event getting too dangerous? The isle of Mann TT race kills on average two people every year for the last 105 years or more of it's history. More people die snowboarding and skiing every year then in mountain biking.
  • 12 2
 more people ski and snowboard too.
  • 5 4
 What the hell is your point here?
Lets have some (more) deaths to the sport?
I would never want our sport to became viral on national TV beacause some dummass just didn;t clear the canyon gap LIVE.
Oh and seconds before it just happend that he fell 40ft to his face and nobody stopped him from continuing...
Some things are way more serious than stupid comments like MANOFSTEEL....
  • 1 0
 I would never want our sport to go viral on national TV period...what's the upside to that? Maybe some very slight upside, but dwarfed by the downside risks...
  • 5 0
 Id say the fact your comparing it to the TT is evidence enough that its become extremely dangerous.
  • 1 1
 The point is every year there is a flurry of comments about this event being too dangerous and where is the limit and blah blah blah. As far as i know there has only been one fatality on all of mountain biking and it wasnt at this event. Lets not even talk about big wave surfing.... Hell more kids die every year playing football then in all the action sports. If this wasnt dangerous then who would even care? The danger makes it great, it isnt a reason to tone it down or neuter it. Every one who thinks its too risky can either put a chest protector on or not compete, problem solved.
  • 1 0
 So...you just gave some evidence that MTB isn't very dangerous, then concluded that the reason it's so great is due (at least partly) to the danger...?
  • 1 0
 Im just saying that the rising danger level does not mean it should be canceled.
  • 11 2
 Everybody has their own limit for risk, there is a scale called the risk aversion factor. It is not our job to tell people what they should or shouldn't do. If he wants to risk obesity by sitting on a couch all day, we should let him do it. If he wants to risk being eaten by a shark, let him swim in the ocean. If he wants to risk falling off a cliff on his bike, let him do it. This event is invite only, these riders make up the smallest percentage of riders on the planet, they are the best of the best, and many of them are the toughest of the tough. The only thing that needs to happen here is this man should be congratulated for having balls of steel. The medics at these events are highly trained and some of the best medics in the world. There was no way to stop him short of tackling him. He kept going, his choice, a choice that maybe some believe he couldn't have made wisely because he may or may not have hit his head hard or had an adrenaline rush, but you cannot compare his choices to your choices under the same circumstances as his equalibrium, pain tolerance and ability to clearly think through an adrenaline rush is what makes him able to do what he does, it's what makes him better than us at what he does. Cheers to Nicholi Cheers to Redbull Cheers to everybody sitting behind a keyboard and judging them. Cheers to everybody who supports them!
  • 2 1
 Well said.
  • 10 0
 HARD ... AS . ... FUCK .... wow .. respect
  • 8 0
 This just shows how much passion these riders have for the sport. Truly inspiring!
  • 6 1
 Don't get me wrong, I love watching these supremely talented guys do their stuff but .... The more I watch, the more I feel like some ghastly event is going to unfold before my eyes. Just how far can you / should you push the envelope?
  • 7 0
 Further. Always further...
  • 9 0
 Unlike most other riders it looks like he is wearing protection.
  • 5 0
 He is a WINNER in my opinion and deserves a medal for that run/crash WHICH leads me to my next point.....These athletes are not being compensated properly for putting it on the line, risking life and limb all while REDBULL rakes in millions which they would not be able to do without the athletes. I watch Rampage because of the riders not because of the poison that is REDBULL.....It is very similar to what is happening in the music biz where companies like Apple, Tidal and Spotify are making millions while the artist starve.....The riders need to come together to bring about change and begin demanding payouts like they have in Sakteboarding where these kids are making 100k at a contest.
  • 9 1
 First time with a visor on his helmet... He kill it!
  • 6 2
 Is it time for Rampage to starts throwing the towel for some of these guys?

Neg prop if you want but there are loads of cases where people have serious injuries they don't know they have. Imagine if he had something wrong in his neck that the landing from the canyon gap exposed?

These guys are obviously under tremendous self pressure, but when you add the cameras, heli, and girls at the bottom they might be willing to take unnecessary risks.
  • 7 0
 rampage quali 2015... the day nicholi rogatkin became a legend.
  • 7 0
 Rogatkin for "People's Choice Award"!!!
  • 3 0
 That is one for the history books for sure - Amazing, daft to continue, but I know many of us are the same after a crash, adrenaline rush and carry on - its only after, when all settles down you stop and think ... SHIT ... WTF !!!! .. the it starts hurting - lol

All those mentioning the "D" word - Look, we know its dangerous, we accept that - but we don't talk about it, what's the point, if you ride fast on fireroads, woods, steeps .. anything .. then its dangerous - just enjoy it
  • 6 0
 That was the most AWFUL, BRAVE, FOOLISH, INSPIRING, thing I've ever seen at This event!!!
  • 3 0
 Gnarly. Gnarly. Gnarly. I was really looking forward to him in the finals. He's got some serious tricks in his box of goodies. Glad he's alright. Way to just get up and finish out man. Big balls. Solid mind. Next year dude.
  • 4 0
 Rogatkin could be the poster-boy for protection. He wears more than most, and here at Rampage, he looks stuffed like a ball-sports player, and faired well as a result. Respect!
  • 7 1
 Lucky he had the visor on Wink
  • 5 0
 How the f*ck did he end up in one piece? How it's even f*cking possible? I would crack in half!
  • 1 0
 Survival instinct
  • 2 0
 I guess got a litte help of his protection gear
  • 3 0
 You sir, have my respect for carrying on after literally crashing & falling down a cliff... People should start calling you Nicholi 'Pitbull' Rogatkin- not scared to shake things up!
  • 8 1
 Bender 2.0
  • 3 0
 I don't care who wins this year. This man has my respect because that took massive balls to crash like that and get back up and finish his run. This should be a motivational poster!
  • 3 0
 Remember when everyone was shit talking Rogatkin at crankworx for being a trick machine and having no style? You think those same internet trolls would shit talk him now? #yourfavoriteridersfavoriterider
  • 2 0
 It's the same with the tt isle of Mann every year there's a couple of fatalities riding motor cycles everyone knows the risks and excepts it don't get me wrong I don't want to see any rider injured or dead but that's the risks and that's what makes the sport or we would all be sitting in the house knitting the bigger the risk the greater the glory when it all goes well no one is forcing anyone we have all got a choice
  • 6 0
 that was savage as fuck
  • 5 0
 POV doesnt do any of these runs justice - keep them heli views comin
  • 5 0
 it didnt looked huge on gopro and its 5 stories high
  • 4 0
 Anyone else notice that he pretty much did a cash roll during his free fall
  • 4 0
 Dude, Rogatkin is insane. Balls deep! Well done man!! That'll surely keep you in the MTB history books!!
  • 5 0
 and this, children, is how you achieve immediate legend status
  • 1 0
 I just do not understand how Red Bull (and the rider sponsors) can convince the riders to ride this. For me to ride this, the following would have to be fulfilled
A) Skill to compete at this level
B) $4+ million first place (as in decent enough payouts to set you for a long while, if not life)
C) Great medical insurance coverage
D) Great career insurance coverage should there be a career ending injury

This would slightly move the scale of risk vs reward for me personally, but hey, major props to them, as I will never ride anything like this.
  • 2 1
 Yes, mad respect - getting back on the bike after getting pummeled like that, and then sending it over that gap - wow. Here's the thing, though - the freaking helmet got mangled. For the organizers to not stop him from getting back on and riding the rest of the line was seriously negligent. I am unbelievably glad that he was apparently very much OK - the way he rode the rest of the line shows he was not dazed or compromised. But neither he, nor the organizers, knew that when he got back on the bike. As a rider and fierce competitor, the amount of adrenaline and his general badassitude got him back on the bike - but that was not an informed, well reasoned decision. That would be where organizers have to step up and pull him off the course. If he'd gotten his bell rung even slightly, he might have reacted very similarly - and that would likely have resulted in some serious injury. Again - mad respect for his skills, his resilience, and his guts. That's truly inspirational. But damn - that could have been seriously bad. It's fine to say he assumed responsibility for the risk of running this thing when he dropped in. But when he dropped in again AFTER the crash, with everything we know about head trauma these days, the organizers could not just assume that he knew what he was doing.
  • 3 2
 Why are there people whinging on here about how 'someone should have stopped him', or 'it's inly a matter of time before someone dies'. Didn't you just see what happened in the video?! Nicholi is a f*cking hero for doing that, if testicles had levels, he'd be over level 9000. Show the man respect, not silly comments practically saying he shouldn't have it...
  • 1 0
 I'm agree with Milko3D. Those people are invited to this contest and nobody force them to do it. I think those competitors love it and need to ride like this to be happy in their life. I'm not allowed to tell them "Hey ! Stop to do that, for your safety it's too dangerous". Would you say that to a racer at the start of the Isle of Man race ? Or to a rider on the starting grid of a MotoGP race ? In some places in this world, the sentence "for your safety" is so used that u feel chained on everything.
If you begin to bann every event, or even every human initiative which has a bit of danger, life will be as boring as a an australian freeway.
You are major, you know the risks, it's your life, as soon as you don't put an other life in danger, do what you want.

Go for it ! Go wild on me Smile
  • 3 0
 Honestly, i think he should get the prize money just for getting back on his bike, let alone flipping the freakin jump at the end.
  • 2 0
 Holy f*cking shit, that guy tho...besides all the risk he´s taking for doing it, that was just an impression of the love and detecation for mountain biking this guy has...! much much respect!
  • 5 0
 zero f@cks given.
  • 4 0
 How does Nicholi sit down with a giant set of brass balls like that?
  • 3 0
 Mad props to nicolai. Finish his run after a crash this hard requires much passion to the sport. He's a beast!
  • 4 0
 Mad props for you Nicholi. Respect.
  • 2 0
 So they have the heli, the comentaters, the on site cameras and the crowd but no live feed for qualis? Also I hope this kid gets the respect from the haters that he deserves.
  • 4 0
 it just wasn't his day!!!!...to go to heaven.....!!! what a beast ..
  • 2 0
 Definitely the gnarliest way to get down the mountain, can't imagine what that felt like to stop rolling and be like "ok, I'm ok". Sick
  • 4 0
 So Strong! Such a sportsmen
  • 3 0
 The Beast with steel balls!!! This episode deserves more respect than even cashrolling the canyon gap.
  • 2 1
 Some say that wearing an extra protection like body armour at rampage is pointless, Well in this case he probably wouldn't be able to continue his run without it. So yes, it is individual choice but protection matters.
  • 4 0
 This......is why soccer sucks!
  • 3 1
 if he doesnt place then he deserves a medal for getting back up after that...
  • 2 0
 Super lucky. That could have gone terribly very fast, but massive props to stomping the run with that in your head
  • 4 1
 The Chad Reed of freeride!
  • 3 0
 I think it's time for a new mountain biking vs football video
  • 3 0
 Now he is made. No one can deny it.
  • 2 0
 SICKholi Rogatkin! My favorite rider since watching him in Whistler at Joyride '14. New England yeah boyyyyy!
  • 2 0
 That was a lot of head impacts. Medics shouldn't have let him near a bike. One tough hombre though.
  • 3 0
 This makes me so proud of our sport
  • 3 0
 And not a single fuck was given that day...
  • 2 0
 at 2:12 you can see Semenuk taking a photo, probably thinking: "got the money shot"
  • 3 0
 Rogatkin is now my favourite rider
  • 2 0
 I have to say I didn't like him, but after I just seen this, BIG RESPECT FOR NICO
  • 2 0
 Nicholi is the man! Many would quit riding all together after a crash like that but he continued only minutes later.
  • 2 0
 That is so fucking inspiring. It gave me chills when he got back on his bike. Hell Yea!!!!
  • 2 0
 BALLS. Even though I think it was probably not smart for him to continue so soon....RESPECT.
  • 2 0
 I take my hat off to Nic to coming back from a crash like that and riding the canyon gap and flipping was incredible!
  • 1 0
 Nicoli is one radical dude. Major props for completing the run after the face plant. Kali needs to revise that ridiculous looking helmet.
  • 1 0
 I find it amazing that my insurance company for work won't let me get on a ladder over 2.5 meters high, but somehow red bull can get insurance for rampage.....
  • 1 0
 LOL man, that's just too true. Red Bull is getting WAY too dangerous.
  • 2 0
 Man that was the biggest wreak! Rag doll wreak. so happy you were ok! Animal!!!!!!!!!!
  • 1 2
 Im gonna get lots of hate but man, this kid sucks at rampage. He can do whatever the fcck he wants on a hardtrail with that robot style but man, let him ride rampage is too dangerous. Every year is the same, crashing hard just riding his bike down the hill. Let just freeriders/racers ride rampage or someone like this kid is gonna get fcck really soon
  • 1 0
 Wasn't there a BMX guy that didn't like visors and was too damn tough for his own good? What was his name again? Hoffman? Condor? Lofty company, #ManOfSteel.
  • 3 0
 Soo gnar! Mad respect!
  • 3 0
 Thats the truth! Much mad respect for this beast.
  • 2 0
 The man is indestructible!
  • 2 0
 holy shit man. resilience for sure
  • 2 0
 he just doesn't give a f***
  • 3 0
 goosebumps!
  • 3 2
 I fucking love Rogatkin, he's such a beast. If anone says this guy's got no style, I will fight you.
  • 2 0
 Balls to the walll....who gives a fu............Rogakin dont!..........
  • 1 0
 the biggest front washing ever....and power of adrenaline rush to get up on the bike and fly again.....
  • 3 0
 Hero!
  • 3 0
 I blame the visor
  • 2 0
 He's a crazy dude indeed.
("Crazy" in positive way)
  • 2 0
 chills just went though my body..
  • 3 3
 Very few people in the world have as much experience as these guys at crashing and assessing their capabilities...Stop second-guessing everything you lame-wads...
  • 2 0
 That was savage. can't believe he got up, let alone finished his run.
  • 2 0
 holy shit...what a mofo badass...
  • 2 0
 Was waiting for his VISOR to fall off..... lol
  • 2 0
 What go pro mount does he use?
  • 2 0
 Wow. Rider POV i was like 'was that it??' That replay though! F**k
  • 2 0
 FUCKING RESPECT DUDE!!!!!!!! Fucking Hell! I think that should do.
  • 1 0
 Sooner or later "it" is gonna happen and Rampage will be history. Every year we say the same thing.
  • 2 1
 What a BOSS! bloody face and all. Brandon's face when Nicholi takes his helmet off says it all.
  • 3 0
 Where is Brandon in this video?
  • 1 0
 Could someone tell me the name of the song thats playing in the back when he gets back up? Such victorious music, i Iove it
  • 1 0
 One death and the whole system collapses. But then they're to late. That shouldn't be what it takes.
  • 2 0
 What a beast!!! This kid can kill it
  • 2 0
 I actually got shivers when he got back on the bike. Incredible!
  • 2 0
 WOT that was crazy. I would be happy to make it down at all!
  • 2 0
 I now have so much respect for this guy
  • 2 0
 I have to stop crying after every crash I have
  • 2 0
 impressive for sure !
  • 2 0
 Incredible
  • 3 1
 Unreal!
  • 3 2
 He was probably using Avids.
  • 5 2
 I blame his visor
  • 3 1
 Such a Bad Ass! Unreal!
  • 2 0
 Unbelievable
  • 2 0
 RoGODkin.
  • 1 0
 if you listen carefully someone says....ur good to go buddy
  • 2 0
 holy craaaaaaaapppppppp
  • 2 0
 #manofsteel
  • 1 0
 does red bull put mini doctors in their drinks?
  • 1 0
 He's qualified with that run. He better make the finals.
  • 2 0
 His bravery makes me cry
  • 2 0
 added to favorites.
  • 1 2
 Donny, your out of your element.
  • 1 2
 I wonder if that would have happened on a 26inch?
  • 2 2
 He broke the visor...
  • 1 2
 This is so hard...
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