Red Bull Formation Cancelled For 2023
Red Bull Formation has announced it will not return for its fourth edition this May. The freeride event is designed for women riders to build and ride lines in the Utah desert whilst providing mentorship, community, and the chance to break barriers and further develop women's freeriding.
Earlier this year the April event was delayed to the fall, and then over the past few days we heard rumblings it was cancelled altogether for 2023. We reached out to the organizers, who confirmed it.
 | “Red Bull Formation has been postponed for 2023. We are excited to be working with the athletes and select industry leaders to best evolve the event in anticipation of its return.” |
No word on the challenges that led to its cancellation, but we'll keep digging. The event has been a huge success as a global stage for women in freeride, and this news will come as a disappointment to many.
| Red Bull Formation was formed to create a future path for women in freeride mountain biking. Last year was a spectacular event. We saw the sport progress in ways we didn’t think was possible in such a short amount of time, and it proves how much talent there is in the women’s field that needs the opportunity to blossom. |
Kelsey Toevs working on Pinkbike's all-female media team in 2023. Photo: Katie Lozancich
Below are some highlights from the 2022 event.
196 Comments
Or is to avoid saying "not even women wanted to huck themselves for no money this year"?
Or...we got booted from the site because electric unicycles were poaching it?
Or.....
Or.........root beer.
I'm not saying they are or aren't more nervous, but the appearance of nerves makes the spectacle more compelling and allows me to relate to the rider in a way that I can't when Semenuk rolls into a million foot drop like it's nothing. It's the perfection of those riders, which comes from their experience, that has made Rampage less exciting to me over the years, despite the feats becoming more and more incredible each year.
not acknowledging men and women are psychologically different: dumb
What ROI metrics are antiquated?
What ROI metrics would you use?
it was a big giant money suck, and the people that run the company have their investors interest first and foremost, LEGALLY.
…you mean make money?
They had revenue of 5 billion. I don’t know how much of a money suck (relatively) foundation was. I’m sure and I wish they would find a way to keep the event going.
I don’t think Red Bull wants to make money from the event itself (I.e. event ticket sales) but more so to use it as a marketing tool to sell more Red Bull. If it’s the latter, then ROI is harder to calculate.
I am an investor in a private company, and the language of the contract expressly commits those running the company to first and foremost gaurd my investment. Which means, they have to make making the business grow in value and turn a profit, their first priority always.
now, perhaps Red Bull doesn't have any outside investment interest, but I would doubt that. At that size, it would be almost unheard of to not have some outside investment capital involved.
you’re original comment of “ the people that run the company have their investors interest first and foremost, LEGALLY.” Could be true, could be not. Since they aren’t public and with limited investors, hard to tell but I’d say unlikely they have that sort of language.
furthermore, that 3 way split in ownership in no way means they don't have outside equity involved. you don't get ownership by investing as a matter of course. you clearly don't understand all the ways VC can and does work.
Highest formation views: 112k
Highest hardline views: 22M
Highest rampage views: 221M
Gargantuan difference in eyeballs drawn for what is simply advertising.
When I worked in shops for a decade I would often ask customers who their favourite rider was and I eventually watered that question down to did they following any of the racing, etc. I would say less than 10% of customers had any idea about EWS while buying their 170mm 29’er.
If I want to watch, I just go participate myself.
*I went to CotA last year for MotoGP weekend, but that was on the invitation of my mother who has become a professional motorcycle race photographer and had a press pass.
I also don't see a lot of Croquet matches televised....
Also, it’s probably because they want to get ahead of that issue and cancel it before too many MEN attempt to participate.
Women's Pro DH is roughly equivalent. I watch UCI DH and usually watch the top 10 women before the men start. the step between the last women(#1 qualifier) and the first man(last qualifer) to drop is like a completely different sport.
To highlight with my very average ability. the last Ft. Williams race in 2019, I would have been on the podium with my PR down that track, if I simply identified as a woman. worse yet, is I have only ridden Ft Bill like 10 total runs lol. I am 46yrs old and not a pro. I am a fairly quick old guy.
Women's DH isn't even competitive!? there are like 3 women that are fast(for women) then a giant f*cking chasm back to the also rans that are like 10+sec off the podium. every single race. meanwhile, the men have 2sec seperating the top 20.
Womens DH is like being forced to listen to a 3rd grade music recital of Bach being played on Kazoos, while the SF Philharmonic is also playing across town. Just......why?
For example Kaylee Gibb, super talented rider, learning a backflip at 33 on a mountain bike nonetheless. In the her instagram profile header:
Kaylee Gibb
Fashion Model
Do you really expect women freeride to get big with these participants?
Do you follow robin goomes? Ellie chew? Casey? Harriet haz nation?
They post constantly!
And as more companies actually back this new wave of free riding female you’re only going to see more and more.
Your negative attitude is an example that you are part of the problem
Maybe a Formation series? New venue every year and a crew of women shredders show up, build rad trails for the local community and throw down??
I’d watch that-and maybe travel to those trails.
Hopefully they are working on structure to get more involvement, more support, more riders, more diggers and push the progression further.
My instincts tell me something more disappointing and reductive is at play.
hehe
The event does not have to make money it is a statement not a financial risk. The riders paying for their dig and time seem to risk it all before they even climb on a bike.
I don't think anyone expects Rampage like support by the fans but it seems to me sponsors with loads of cash are really missing it here.
Where is Trek? Giant? GT? and everyone else including CliffBar and others.... Hello Pepsi, Coke?
Who is going to step up to build a platform?
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