Rampage Updates: Storch Out, Zink Bruised Lung, Vestavik Injured [Updated with Videos]

Oct 14, 2021 at 20:51
by Sarah Moore  
It was a heavy day on the hill today with Carson Storch, Cam Zink, and Brage Vestavik all crashing off their biggest drops.


photo
Carson Storch after breaking his collarbone on his massive drop.


Carson Storch

Carson Storch was guinea pigging his big drop this morning and came up short. He broke his collarbone in this crash and will not be able to compete tomorrow. Carson has been looking amazing on the bike all week and we are gutted that we won't be able to see him ride his incredible line. We wish him the best of luck with his recovery.

bigquotesWell… unfortunately I broke my collarbone again guinea pigging my big drop today. Pretty gutted to not be competing tomorrow. But I’m grateful I didn’t get more hurt, or get concussed. @girocycling new helmet honestly saved my head. This event is one of the most mentally and physically demanding ever, and sometimes this is just the way she goes. Gonna keep my head up and stoked to watch the boys put on a show tomorrow Can’t wait to get back on the bike already.—Carson Storch

Carson Storch Crash

by jamessmurthwaite
Views: 23,572    Faves: 4    Comments: 0



Just before we lost all light for the day Zink got this drop out of
Cam Zink stomping his massive drop earlier this week.


Cam Zink

Cam Zink stomped his biggest drop two days ago multiple times in a row, and today he tried to backflip it. He missed the landing and had a massive crash. We were so happy to see him walk away from this one. He's posted an update on his Instagram channel here saying that he is planning to drop in from the top tomorrow, despite a bruised lung. We are so relieved to see him walk away from this one.

bigquotesAs far as injury, I have a bruised lung, but they gave me the 'you know, you're an athlete, you can do what you want. I should advise against it.' But he pretty much said he'll be on the hill tomorrow, Dr. Coombs said he'll see us on the hill tomorrow and he's kind of expecting me to ride—Cam Zink


photo
Brage Vestavik cased his 47-foot vertical drop.


Brage Vestavik

It's Brage Vestavik's first year at Rampage and he's taken inspiration from the early freeriders with a natural line and a couple of massive jumps. This evening, he attempted his 47-foot vertical drop for the first time and came up short. We now have confirmation from Red Bull that he has had to withdraw from the event. From what we could see, it looked like he had a shoulder injury after crashing off of his massive drop. Darren Berrecloth posted a video of the crash here and Brett Tippie posted the video from a different angle here. We will update once we get more details and our thoughts are with the friendly Norweigian this evening.

Brage Vestavik Crash

by jamessmurthwaite
Views: 69,299    Faves: 13    Comments: 4


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147 Comments
  • 303 1
 Breaking news: this year’s Rampage scoring format has been changed to “last man standing.”
  • 11 3
 "well these two are the only ones NOT injured"
  • 22 17
 How about make downward casing pads mandatory for drops over 40ft. So no one has to end their career and drops can keep getting bigger as the sport keeps progressing. Win-win.
  • 8 0
 @FreerideWarrior: I don't think even hockey pads will do much when dropping off a 40 foot drop.
  • 3 44
flag yoobee (Oct 15, 2021 at 2:35) (Below Threshold)
 or: Fifteen little indians... Confused
  • 9 0
 @FreerideWarrior: dude your dropping 45 feet. On a technical drop like this without forward momentum a case pad won’t do a thing except buck you to the bottom.
  • 23 14
 @FreerideWarrior: bring in machines to build the lines and ban flips and spins while we are at it #safteyfirst
  • 3 3
 @bulletbassman: He's thinking of a "downward" pad having the SAME landing angle like the jump (in fact a reward extension to fill the gap).
  • 4 2
 @ratherberidin has being sarcastic, don't downvote him people.
  • 1 1
 @yoobee: what’s the difference between that and a bigger landing?
  • 4 0
 @FreerideWarrior: At least in practice, so that they can more safely find the right speed
  • 1 4
 @Boxmtb: Way easier to build!
  • 4 1
 @FreerideWarrior: I understand the intent of your comment and support the desire to make this event safer, but how would a case pad help? You don't get hurt from the case; you get hurt from the bounce and subsequent pile driver into the ground. Before we convert every landing at Rampage into a resi ramp with side bumper pads we should probably just cancel the event.

You can try to mitigate risk and make things safer but you can't convert an inherently dangerous activity into a safe one.
  • 11 0
 @plyawn: Imagine this just for practice:

www.pinkbike.com/photo/21485193
  • 1 0
 @plyawn: Needs to be a long casing pad. But yeah its a lot of building. Maybe it could be removed and use it in practice like 'jansibar' said. Progression needs tools. People love those in Loosefest. Mixed weather conditions make it hard to judge speed in Rampage and things get extra dangerous.
  • 2 0
 @plyawn: I think he means just extending the landing up a ways from the knuckle, at a slightly less steep angle than the landing. I could conceivably see Brage riding out of it if it had that. Not certainly, but he would have had a chance. They don't build landings with a case guard probably because there's only so much time they have for the build. Perhaps a neutral crew of builders could help any/all the teams to make such case guards on drops that could benefit from them. Huge bummer for Brage, and all the injured riders.
  • 3 1
 @ratherberidin: no way. This is freeride. Not slopestyle bro. They live for this. Its disappointing to see a wreck. But it wouldn't be rampage with machines in there
  • 13 0
 @yoobee: But don't forget to tell the riders if you remove it after practice
  • 2 0
 @xxinsert-name-herexx: Sumo Suit mandatory!!
  • 162 0
 Brage might not be able to ride tomorrow because the FAA need to investigate his crash.
  • 41 3
 BLM investigating if the state of Utah is still ok after that impact.
  • 9 1
 @pensamtb: Rumours say in SLC a short 4.0 earthquake was detected...
  • 2 0
 best comment! I guess the EASA would soon arrive to investigate too
  • 5 0
 @yoobee: There are reports of the mole-people fleeing their underground layers for fear of a cave-in!
  • 128 8
 Where’s all the “Rampage is too polished” keyboard warriors at now?
  • 35 1
 Rampage is still too…HOLY SH!T DID YOU SEE BRAGE’S CRASH?!?
  • 29 11
 you *can* crash on a pumptrack too
  • 31 39
flag MegaStoke (Oct 14, 2021 at 22:42) (Below Threshold)
 @f00bar: Rampage is basically a pump track on red dirt
  • 16 4
 Didn't crash because it was or wasn't too polished he simply came up short.
  • 45 0
 fingers slipped off the keyboards, too polished
  • 61 0
 I don't think it's too polished, as there is only one polish contender in the mix.
  • 11 0
 If it wasn't so "polished" then they couldn't go as big. Like reducing down force on F1 cars to reduce corner speed and the consequences when it goes wrong.

No it's not as huge but it's less likely to be career ending if something doesn't go right.
  • 4 0
 They all got shinners trying to crank flip
  • 3 0
 @MegaStoke: That's why I took my daughter to the pumptrack instead of Rampage, to save the washer machine.
  • 27 9
 But the thing is: Brage and the other guys doing those crazy gnarly old school freeride drops would still lose to the tail whips and bar spins that Semenuk will end up doing on a somewhat safer, more polished line.

I don't think it's a coincidence that most of the guys who have gotten hurt are "raw" freeriders, not slopestyle riders. They're trying to go bigger and do more impressive freeride lines because they have to push to their absolute limites to compete with a flip whip in scoring.

And I'm not hating on Semenuk. I'm a huge fan. I'm hating on the way the scoring works and has played out in the past.

Don't hate the player, hate the game.
  • 1 5
flag Mntneer (Oct 15, 2021 at 5:06) (Below Threshold)
 The same “it’s a slope style course in the desert people” are shitting their pants and sliding down the ridge lines as they carry their bikes when the get into the steeps
  • 4 0
 @shreddingpeas: same with Carson. These guys don't "crash" on straight airs the way the rest of us do; they come up short or go deep but their technique is flawless.
  • 53 4
 Freeride..... Slopestyle..... whatever!!
These guys a taking HUGE risks just to entertain us.

Seems disrespectful when people label it "Slopestyle" to all the participants.
  • 15 15
 They're taking huge risks, but why are under the impression it's just for the sake of your entertainment?
  • 23 5
 @sonuvagun: No, Redbull and all the riders' sponsors are definitely doing it for the spirit of freeride and it has nothing to do with using entertainment to sell stuff.
  • 8 1
 @PhillipJ: why not both?
  • 28 1
 Semenuk shows up with a single crown and everybody thinks it’s “too slopestyle”. Maybe the dude is just that good? Or the tech is better now? Hill looks about the same as it’s always been…
  • 8 0
 @ldhbaker: His single crown has 1cm less travel than dh forks. It's not really gonna make or break your day Big Grin
  • 7 1
 @kanioni: Yet it is not only about travel between single and dual crown forks. It actually can break your day in a way.
  • 5 0
 @pioterski: unlikely. My bet is your body breaks before a new long travel single crown does.
  • 1 0
 People being disrespectful in the comments section? Seems unlikely....
  • 2 0
 @ldhbaker: try got no clue... These are hipster "I ride bike cause it's cool" or corona bikers. Check out Robbie Bourdon back in the days. All of he were riding single crowns...

There is no double or single crown rule in FREERIDE.... NO RULES AS THE NAME SAYS
  • 1 0
 @torbenrider: yeah now that you mention it bourdo did always run single crowns. What a boss.
  • 35 0
 Brutal for everybody. So bummed to see stitch definitely out, he’s been due for a big result the last few years.
  • 44 0
 *Storch. Busch light and auto correct.
  • 10 1
 @nskerb: BLAAC*
  • 12 0
 @stainerdome: a tale as old as time.
  • 11 0
 I don’t remember Rampage being a “Last Man Standing” event in years past.
  • 29 2
 Good thing it’s basically just slopestyle right?
  • 8 5
 The problem is what the scores ends up being for the different lines/features/styles.. but yeah, all is gnarly af, even over manicured lines.. but natural big steep is the essence I guess
  • 5 3
 @Lagr1980: I hope next year it's held at the slate quarry where Gee dropped in
  • 25 1
 man, those were 3 guys I really wanted to see have clean runs on race day. Plus Lacondeguy, who is always my fav in this event. Bummer.
  • 18 1
 I really wish we could opt for synthetic flexible replacement collar bones by now. Such an stupid weak critical bone.
  • 23 0
 Evolution hadn't factored in bicycles. Stupid evolution.
  • 6 0
 Collarbone breaks because it absorbs impact. It breaks to prevent way more important bones from breaking.
  • 14 2
 This may be an unpopular view....

Ive always loved Rampage and have nothing but the highest levels of respect for the riders. That said I have found the last couple of events increasingly uncomfortable to watch as the risk of serious harm has increased. The number of people getting injured in practice this year surely ought to pose a question or two here.

Im sure Im not the only one who wants to hear of another life changing injury or a death but Im starting to feel like its only a matter of time. If the riders are scared (as they say they are) and the viewers are relieved they get down, I just wonder how much of a healthy thing that is.
  • 3 0
 Totally agree, I often get mixed feelings watching those comp. It is a great comp, but is it worth it?
  • 4 0
 I used to love watching wingsuit videos, until I realized that that sport eventually kills everyone who does it. Obviously we're a long way from that, but it does make you think about what you're supporting.
  • 1 0
 Do you not feel that in this Snapchat/Instagram age that these guys either do it in a controlled way with people being there or that they do it fo social media without necessarily the right support?

I don’t know I struggle with this myself.

These riders though look for stuff like this and the competition at least sets it up that this place is the biggest they’ll go as it is THE show of the year.
  • 1 0
 It's actually nothing else than going to a circus and watching the artist Quatro flipping without a net... Scared. But wordy feel it
  • 11 2
 Just an observation:
Landings seem to have been a lot looser and more forgiving (and therefore also more difficult to land on) in the early days of rampage. Someone even said that the red dirt naturally provides about 2 inches of additional cushioning.
In comparison, modern landings look like they're built to be a lot harder on impact. Which is necessary for huge drops, but that also might make landings less forgiving during a crash.
Plus, riders seem to be wearing far less body protection than back in the day when everyone looked like hockey players.
Might these two factors contribute to more severe injuries? Thoughts?
Anyway, heal up, guys, and stay healthy to the rest!
  • 4 0
 Body armour only helps with cuts and bruises from my experience, which are the last of these guys concerns, they don't help with preventing broken bones, the hard and smooth landings means they can get hurt more, but also so they can land in the first place without cartwheeling down the hill
  • 2 0
 The fact that it rained made it easier to sculpt the dirt, but will also have an effect on hardness. If there had been no rain it would have been a different ballpark regardless of what human intervention might have produced.
  • 6 0
 @ctd07: You are probably right for drops and jumps, but from my experience, they prevent a lot of broken bones when riding DH, if you fall on your back or shoulder in a rock garden, armor will dissipate the impact force to a larger area, preveting broken bones.
  • 6 0
 Nobody would have attempted something like Storch‘s drop in the early days of - not because guys like Bender wouldn’t have been crazy enough to try it, but because nobody tried to build a 30 foot high landing where there wasn‘t anything before - and then check if they got the angle right by dropping in.
  • 1 0
 @ctd07: Yeah, I agree with you on sculpted landings making landing properly easier. But good body armor can definitely prevent broken bones. Of course there's a treshold where a bone must give, body armor or not, but we also wouldn't be wearing helmets if they wouldn't work. And if you look at the data, helmets prevent many skull fractures or worse.
  • 10 0
 Hope all these guys are ok. Those were some really heavy crashes. Gutted to see four of the dudes I was rooting for the most get beat up this week.
  • 13 0
 Zink is tough as nails. Hope Brage ends up ok too.. saw on IG that his drop would have been the tallest one ever on a mtb at 47 feet?!
  • 4 0
 @mtshakira: I thought the Oakley Icon Sender was bigger back in 2013 but that also wasn't a dirt to dirt jump. Brage is an absolute beast and hope he is okay. No disrespect or shame if he sits out tomorrow. That drop is mental
  • 2 0
 @davidflu: I honestly don’t know for sure if it’s true, I just saw it in the comments on Berrecloth’s IG (linked in the PB article)
  • 1 1
 @mtshakira: biggest technical drop I believe. Some of the more step downish type drops have been closer to 80 feet.
  • 1 0
 @mtshakira: I think TVS drop that he backflipped in 18/19 was 69’ from lip to knuckle.
  • 11 0
 Brage got robed. In a hospital robe. Probably. Such a disappointment, I was really looking forward to seeing him ride.
  • 7 1
 I remember when half the field of riders wasn't taken out during practice. Is it really progression of the sport at this point or a my balls are bigger than yours competition? Perhaps ridiculously huge groomed out lips and landings aren't the way to go to have an entire field of "selected" riders actually make to the final day while reducing the seriousness of rider injuries.
  • 10 1
 Damn. Now I won't get that fork!! Try harder next time you 3! !Sarcasm!
  • 7 1
 Can we talk about the timing of that still shot of brage’s case? Got the fork compressed completely to flat, right foot blown off, bottom bracket cased on the lip, what a shot.
  • 7 0
 And a tshirt for protection...
  • 11 3
 Ouch... Van der Poel would've fit right in here
  • 7 0
 I really hope Brage pulls through but that was a big hit to the shoulder. He fell a long way down that landing
  • 7 0
 Damn! Brage gets the Bender Award! Bonus points because he didn't actually land it! (With all respect to them both)
  • 3 2
 Not so good with the math here, but if these guys can measure the dimensions of the drop, isn’t there a formula they can use to tell them how fast they need to be going at the lip to land it where they want? Seems just like a guessing game at this point. Physics minded folks, let’s hear it.
  • 11 0
 Hypothetically yes, but who rides with a speedometer on their bars at rampage? Also, hard to factor in the super variable wind in Utah.
  • 16 0
 Yes it could but body movement like popping or smashing on the lip makes a huge difference especially in that long of a free fall and the rider has to judge that on his own
  • 2 0
 I think riddle overshoot off that roof shows there isnt a lot of margin for error either way. Not that id like to come up short, but 47ft + an overshoot = a very bad day at the office.
  • 1 0
 I’d guess too many variables and not enough time to keep track of your speed beyond just feel. Brutal.
  • 11 0
 Assuming roughly a 45 degree angle landing, a 47 foot drop height, and that he missed the landing by less than 1 tire length, my math says that he missed the speed by roughly 0.5 mph. If you had a speedometer and you realized that you were going a tiny bit too slow, you wouldn’t even have time to take a quick pedal before you took off.
  • 2 11
flag HMRobot45 (Oct 15, 2021 at 0:46) (Below Threshold)
 Honestly, from the side view vids that Vestvik drop looks ... lets very optimistic. I mean everything looks stupid at rampage, but here i see height, distance, no clean take-off. That seems like kinda asking for it
  • 3 1
 @mtshakira: easy fix. Just mount the windometer next to the speedometer.
  • 4 0
 Is it coincidence that this article is accompanied by an advertisement for 'Flight Attendant'?
  • 4 0
 Congratulations to this year's lone remaining participant and winner: Brandon Semenuk.
  • 1 0
 Really sad Vestavik wont be riding but im honestly truly excited to see Riddle,Boogs,Tupin and all the "younger,newer" riders
hit their Lines,fingers crossed there are no more crashes for the next Hours.Dangerous yes but i think freeriding and dangerous are synonyma;-)No one is forced to compete,everybody does it on a free will...
  • 1 0
 Super bummed for these guys. I know nothing about the internal operations of this event, but I sure as hell hope these guys are getting guaranteed money and medical coverage for risking their lives. I’m assuming they’re not which is BS.
  • 5 2
 2 of my 3 picks already out before practice is done. I'm definitely not winning the Zeb lol
  • 1 0
 I'm feeling you man.
  • 2 0
 @rockstar02: @mhoshal Right? I picked Semenuk, Lecondeguy, Storch. Guess if I wanna upgrade from Lyrik to Zeb, I'm gonna have to just shell out the dough.
  • 1 0
 Dear Brage, although you kindly offered me your back wheel after today, if its OK with you, I think I'll pass. PS Hope you are holding up and best of luck to you and everyone taking part!!
  • 3 0
 Does RedBull pay for insurance and/or medical bills?
  • 2 0
 @iwanaga_damon has a good video of vestaviks crash on his story right now too.
  • 1 0
 His drop almost doesn’t look possible with that take off coupled with how far out he needs to go.
  • 3 0
 Such a bummer for everyone to have Brage out! Good thing he's still young.
  • 3 0
 Should have left the practice ramps up.
  • 1 0
 So....... Who is taking up the spots?
C'mon, I need to know!
I was so stoked to see Brage's first rampage, he is such a gnarly mf.
  • 3 0
 So sad for the Biking Viking and Storch. Heal up guys!
  • 2 0
 Give Brage a RedBull helmet. Or a Monster helmet. That dude is so good for the sport!
  • 3 1
 Squid Game Rampage, the one who survive takes the win
  • 2 0
 Heavy shit. Props to all you guys out there going big.
  • 1 1
 I blame my greed in wanting to own a Zeb That I don’t yet have a bike for. Sorry storch , lacondeguy but let’s hope this breaks the jinx on my other guy.
  • 1 0
 damn. better to come up halfway short than go too long, tho. heal quick, fellas!
  • 2 0
 All the guys I wanted to see dropping like crazy
  • 2 1
 Too hard impacts on those high jumps. Is the second part of the Squid Game series starting? They have no respect for life.
  • 2 0
 Josh Bender he was crazy, but he wasn't stupid. He fell into the soft.
  • 1 0
 Breaking news:
Everything now has to be rollable.
Bring in the trainer ramps.
  • 1 0
 I hope that Tom Van and Kyle Strait will be lucky
  • 2 0
 ugh. get well Brage
  • 2 0
 Nooooooooo!
  • 1 0
 Nooooooo( this is so brutal
  • 1 3
 Some massive slams there trying new, massive drops. Heal up everyone. This is what happens when rampage goes from big to massive and people go to really step it up. Brage was going for the amplitude points for sure!
  • 2 0
 Nooooo!
  • 1 1
 G'dammit! That's two of my 3 riders who were going to win me a Zeb... Its all on you now Semenuk!
  • 1 0
 Scary to watch. Hope everybody heals quickly.
  • 4 2
 Squid game
  • 3 3
 So they're hangin their back wheels up on manicured landings? Build a landing to make it safe....Ok kaaae
  • 1 1
 Red Bul needs to invite more rider as the start list gets shorter and shorter day after day...
  • 1 0
 Sure B-rage will be back to hurt the mountain! Happy Rampage to all!
  • 1 0
 Goddamnit! First 2020, now this?!
  • 1 0
 too bad for Storch. A 29er would have rolled right over that
  • 1 0
 At this rate Semenuk just needs to stay healthy.
  • 1 0
 Broken assets
  • 1 0
 Faaaaaark
  • 1 0
 Hoooooly fook.
  • 1 0
 Heal up boiz
  • 1 0
 Shitty
  • 1 0
 Bender says "Jaws..."
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