WORLD’S BEST FREERIDERS CONVERGE NEAR ZION NATIONAL PARK FOR 16TH EDITION OF RED BULL RAMPAGE
The event is scheduled for this Friday, October 21st, in Virgin, Utah
Red Bull Press Release
The rules are pretty simple – ride down a mountain to the bottom of it, in one piece, in as spectacular a way as possible. The mountain doesn’t have a natural route down, so athletes have to transverse it and jump across sections to find a way down. The athletes have to determine a line down the mountain that best suits their style. You may see athletes perform tricks on their lines or simply show off technical riding skills on their way down. Here is all you need to know:
– The course is effectively made by the riders. The designated start and finish lines are marked out by organizers, and the competitors have four days and the use of two shovel-wielders each – but no power tools – to create a stunning and challenging course in between the two points.
– The riders can choose their own different lines down the mountain. When arriving at the Red Bull Rampage site before the event begins, the athletes will scope out the mountain for a route down. Nothing is manicured for them, however, on what’s a rugged mountainside with many imperfections. So the athletes spend just under a week leading up to the event digging and shaping lines/jumps on the mountain to make their ride down as smooth as possible.
– From its inception in 2001, Red Bull Rampage has always been about pushing the boundaries of what is possible on two wheels. Over two decades on in 2022, that premise has not changed, with this year’s annual mountain bike spectacular set for Friday, October 21 in Virgin, Utah.
– This year’s event is open to just 18 riders from all around the world, all of whom have to be invited to qualify or take part in the competition. Each rider gets two runs each using whatever tricks they see fit and they are judged by a panel of their peers with the highest score winning.
– The 2022 venue is located just outside of Virgin at the site of the 2008-2013 competition zone, which last saw riders on course nearly a decade ago. Four events were held at that location – 2008, 2010, 2012, and 2013 – and some of Rampage’s most iconic moments have gone down there.
– Last year saw Canadian Brandon Semenuk carve out a piece of Rampage history when he became the first four-time champion and he returns for a tilt at title number five up against three-time winner Kurt Sorge, double American champion Kyle Strait and big slopestyle rival Brett Rheeder.
– The first event back in 2001 – set up off the back of the rise in freeriding – was won by another Canadian and freeride pioneer, Wade Simmons.
– Strait still holds the record as the youngest-ever winner, all the way back in 2004 as a 17-year-old. He even competed in the inaugural event in 2001 when he was 14, and he became Rampage’s first multiple winner in 2013. Two of this year’s riders, Spaniard Andreu Lacondeguy and American Cam Zink, are also previous winners.
– Athletes who finished in the top 10 of the previous year’s event are pre-qualified and get automatic invites while the rest of the roster are wildcards who are chosen by a committee of former Rampage competitors, pro athletes, judges, and industry experts.
– The full 2022 line-up is Brett Rheeder (CAN), Ethan Nell (USA), Cam Zink (USA), Tom van Steenburgen (CAN), Szymon Godziek (POL), Dylan Stark (USA), William Robert (FRA), Reed Boggs (USA), Jaxson Riddle (USA), Thomas Genon (BEL), DJ Brandt (USA), Kurt Sorge (CAN), Kyle Strait (USA), Alex Volokhov (CAN), Brandon Semenuk (CAN), Andreu Lacondeguy (SPA, Carson Storch (USA) and Tyler McCaul (USA).
You can watch Red Bull Rampage live on Red Bull TV HERE.
Learn why MTB Freestyle legend Gee Atherton calls Red Bull Rampage ‘Terrifying’ HERE
Discover more Red Bull Rampage content HERE.
