Rampage Qualis are Done
15 Riders Move On
Words by Cam McRae. Photos by David Ferguson.
Date: 2008-10-06
The planned qualifier was to be two runs - one on Saturday morning and another in the afternoon. The rains came Saturday instead so Sunday morning was a chance for the riders to get aquainted with the newly sodden terrain and get their lines dialled again. The afternoon was a one-run qualifier - a first for the Red Bull Rampage. That meant the riders had to carefully gauge their exposure to risk: too safe and you won't qualify, too burly and you won't qualify because you'll crash. The level of riding has gotten so high that there's no room for a bobble or a cased tranny.
At the pre-race riders' meeting each competitor was asked to declare his starting gate. First the riders in the left gate all went in sequence and then the riders in the right gate all went in sequence.
Another format difference had to do with line choice. Rather than allow the riders to keep their start gate to themselves - riders could choose to start on the left or right ridge - Rampage organizer Todd Barber had the riders declare their start at the rider meeting. We watched all the ridge two (the left or centre ridge) drop in first and then we watched all the ridge three riders (the right ridge). This made things really convenient for those of us trying to record the event in some way - but I'm not sure I'm keen on the effect it has for the audience. 
Gee Atherton sailed this drop farther than anyone else - huge and fast.
We have an early start tomorrow - and a technical problem has slowed us down tonight - so I'll be brief. Fifteen riders are moving on to tomorrow's finals. There will be two runs so we should see some more fireworks. I haven't spent much time on the finals side but photographer Colin Meagher was impressed by the size and substance of the moves the riders were working on after the qualis wrapped this afternoon.
Cam McCaul had the highest score of the day.
I have never been to an event as difficult to judge as this one. Five points separate the ten riders from 7th to to 16th place. There was also less line diversity than previous years it seems - and many of those who took risks and were creative crashed - so many riders were being judged on very similar runs.
Guido Tschugg had one of the sickest runs of the day - but did not make the finals because he was penalized for a fall at the bottom on a small feature. His comment on the his score was "that's why I do racing."
All in all I think the judges did a pretty solid job - but I think there are some choices worth mulling over a little later.
Click this image to get a look at the line Bourdo is launching into. One of the most insane moves of the day for sure.
Today was a spectacular display of skill, savvy and plain old balls. The ramps and built features didn't detract in any way and probaby made the contest even better. I need to think that one over - and re-evaluate after the finals.
Kinrade was another rider who just missed the finals - and it's pretty easy to argue that he should have been in there.
Below you'll find the results from today. Because of a tie for 14th the top fifteen riders advance.
Chris Van Dine was looking solid until a massive bail on the huge stepdown that Gee and Guido Tschugg successfully landed Apparently wind was a factor in his crash.
Top 15* advance
Name Score
1. Cam McCaul 83.0
2. Brandon Semenuk 82.3
3. Gee Atherton 79.0.
4. Darren Berrecloth 78.0
5. Kyle Strait 75.3
6. Michal Marosi 74.7
7. Dan Atherton 74.3
8. Cedric Gracia 71.7
9. Paul Basagoitia 71.3.
10. Robbie Bourdon 71.3.
11. Cameron Zink 71.3
12. Kurt Sorge 70.7.
13. Graham Aggasiz 70.0.
14. Mike Hopkins 69.7.
15. Thomas Vanderham 69.7
16. Mike Kindrade 69.3
17. Guido Tschugg 68.7
18. Geoff Gulevich 68.3.
19. Alex Prochazka 66.3.
20. Logan Binggeli 64.7.
21. Kenny Smith 63.7.
22. James Doerfling 58.0
23. Kelly McGarry 55.3.
24. Garett Buehler 48.7
25. Andrew Taylor 39.2
26. Trond Hansen DNF.
27. Matt Hunter DNF.
28. Chris Van Dine DNF
*Due to tie for 14th place, 15 riders advance to finals
Gee Talks about his bike.
Cam McCaul Interviewed by Rob Warner
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