Red Bull Rampage Returns for 2008
Santa Monica, CA - August 20, 2008 - Red Bull Rampage, the premier freeride mountain biking competition, held annually from 2001 to 2004, is blasting back onto the scene in 2008, bigger and badder than ever before. From October 2-5, Red Bull Rampage: The Evolution will draw the greatest riders in the world to a new venue just outside Virgin, Utah, offering the most challenging terrain mountain bike competition has ever seen.
Red Bull Ramapage: Gee Atherton
MAKING HISTORY
As the new millennium arrived in 2000, a new breed of riders were pushing the frontiers of mountain biking, veering off the established groomed trails to forge first descents down unchartered mountains, similar to backcountry freeskiers. These riders were tackling steep lines and treacherous cliff drops, filming jaw-dropping video parts, and pushing the limits of the sport. With the birth of Red Bull Rampage in 2001, the event gave these pioneering riders a venue to prove that they were among the most skillful riders on the planet – not to mention some of the craziest. Red Bull Rampage immediately became the event that everyone clamored to be at all year; riders from all mountain bike disciplines hoped for an exclusive invite to the event, and the industry held its collective breath every October to see just how far Red Bull Rampage and the riders would push the sport.
After four inspiring and extremely successful years at the same venue, the long search began for a new, even more challenging piece of terrain. Event organizers scoured the globe from Turkey to China to Mexico and beyond to find the perfect location that could match the sport’s progression.
Ironically, after years of searching, it was only 20 miles from the original Red Bull Rampage site that the most ideal land revealed itself – and called for the return of mountain biking’s biggest event. Red Bull Rampage: The Evolution features all-new terrain with bigger man-made elements, and the possibilities are endless. Robbie Bourdon, who placed third at the 2001 event, knows that the stakes will be raised in 2008.
“They’re going to bring slopestyle riding and big mountain riding together,” he says, “and it’s going to turn into the sickest contest ever.”
RISING TO THE CHALLENGE
On a dangerous network of ridges near Zion National Park, riders will have free reign to navigate their descent between a designated starting area and a finish line more than 1,000 vertical feet below. Thursday and Friday are open practice days for the athletes, allowing them to scout their lines, size up the thirty-plus foot gaps and cliff drops, and practice their tricks. On Saturday, each of the 28 invited riders will take two runs; their best single-run scores will determine the top 14 who will advance to Sunday’s final. The 14 finalists will run two more descents on Sunday, with their best score determining the overall winner. In addition, the Utah Sports Commission will also present a Red Bull Rampage Best Trick award on Sunday.
PUSHING FORWARD
Competitors will be judged on style, amplitude, fluidity, and difficulty of line, and with a $25,000 prize purse up for grabs, playing it conservative is not a strategy option. Will past champs like Cedric Gracia (France) or Kyle Strait (USA) stand on the podium again, or will a dark horse emerge with new tricks or a gutsy line down the mountain that makes everyone re-think what is possible on a mountain bike? Regardless of who emerges on top, Red Bull Rampage: The Evolution will once again expand the frontiers of the sport.
Facebook
MPORA
Newsletter
RSS Feeds
Twitter
anyone know the name of the song from the first video? piano is giving me tingles down my spine.
We have been waiting for this event to come back. I cant wait to watch the best of the best throwdown on the challenging O.G. terrain with a bit of new school flavor. See you there!
Division 26
I heard no spectators this year. Is this true?
That isn’t true. Spectators will be allowed but there are stipulations on parking, getting to the designated area, as well as where they can stand. Details here
So I was exited to see Rampage back, this and the WC are the only MTB events I watch because slopestyle is taking over, and I find that incredibly dull. So what happens? Rampage gets padded up with safety foam and turns into the ugly lovechild of slopestly and big mountain. All I can see this becoming is Crankworks with a few bigger jumps.
What a let down. RIP real freeride. (call me ignorant, I really don’t care, freeride was originally big mountain, but it died down without the big huckers and fearless riders. Slopestyle is just what we have left because they don’t have the gut to hit the big lines. Instead they do big DJ’s on fullys spinning their bike. Bring back the Bender style freeride.)
Provided the judging format for Rampage hasn’t changed, the big lines (”Big Mountain”) will be rewarded hansomly.
Previous Rampages were judged on style, amplitude, fluidity and difficulty of line choice.
The sport of freeriding has evolved and to expect the Rampage to not reflect any of those changes would be dull to spectators and the athletes.
I hope to see the core of the Rampage stays in tact while integrating some new school flavor.
dhpete said: “(Slopestyle is just what we have left because they don’t have the gut to hit the big lines. Instead they do big DJ’s on fullys spinning their bike. Bring back the Bender style freeride.) ”
You are an idiot if you think these new-school slopestylers don’t have the guts to hit the big stuff. Guys were tailwhipping, barspinning and 360′ing the 20′-25′ gap-o-tron at Whistler. That stuff is BIG. Watch as the old-school big-mountain guys get their asses handed to them this year by guys like Cam McCaul, Bearclaw etc… Remember when slopestyler Kyle Strait won this event years ago? On the old course, to boot. Quit being a pussy and realize that these modern riders are not gutless…
Listen - I love all you guys, but dig it. For those about to rock in utah I salute them. This event while not on a big mountain, is about big lines and taking them in a big way. I personally would love it if some of the new school cats pushed themselves to compete in an event like this. Kyle had the guts to drop cliffs before he was even legal to drive, right? So while i’m getting old and remember the Rampage the way it used to be, I’m very excited to see what becomes of the Utah desert after being dormant for 4 years and having most attention on Whislter and Shore riding. Should be some unique influences. Speaking of Whistler, see you guys at Garbo before the season ends!
the videos are brutal and the image to