Rampage This Weekend
Check the 59 ft. Gap
Words by Cam McRae. Photos by David Ferguson and Cam McRae.
What can I say about the Red Bull Rampage that hasn't been said? I'll endeavour to shy away from words like gnarly, rowdy, burly or insane - although each one applies. Let's just say that in the past Rampage has been an extremely challenging and exciting event. This year it may hit the next level.
Cedric Gracia capped off his winning run in 2004 with this nasty, exposed transfer line. This year the event site will be in an entirely new location. Photo ~ Cam McRae
I've only been covering the scene for eight years but sometimes I feel a little jaded. Like Ron Jeremy, it takes a lot to get me out of bed excited. The prospect of the Red Bull Rampage has me waking up with the tent pitched. I was sad to see it go in 2004 and I am very stoked it has returned - 'The Evolution' no less. There is no event I've encountered in sport that comes close to the spectacle of Rampage. 
Somehow Ben Reid escaped this nasty bail unhurt in 2004. Photo ~ David Ferguson.
It's an odd stew but somehow all the elements conspire perfectly. The ingredients need somewhere to mix and simmer and there is no pot quite like the dusty cauldron up the Kolob Resevoir Road near Virgin Utah. The peaks are dramatic and full of vivid colour and contour, and they terrace down just gradually enough so riders can (usually) find a way to negotiate to the bottom. Below each plateau the earth is soft which makes for landings that can be quite forgiving - after some time with shovel and rake. In between the sandy earth are bony spires and knuckles waiting to slam those who go off line. 
Gee Atherton smoothing out his line in 2004. Most riders got their fingers dirty but a select few just poached lines built be other riders. Photo ~ David Ferguson.
The recipe itself, in the past at least, emphasized maximum creativity and indivituality. Step one is rolling out of the Red Bull starting gate and the last step is reaching the bottom. The way you mix everything together in between is up to you - as long as you stay within the course boundaries which fan out broadly from the top of the course.
Add a generous helping of underpaid stuntmen, blessed with equal parts skill, style, creativity and bravado - and seemingly no concern for life and limb - and it's just about done like dinner.
Having Red Bull at the helm makes the operation of the event truly world class. They throw great parties - for the competitors and journalists, but also a dry event for the local community in Virgin - and they always add some excitement in other ways. In 2004 they had these crazy mofos in powered parachutes - parapentes I guess - doing loops and outrageous horizontal manoeuvres - and another dude who jumped out of a plane holding some device that made coloured smoke. I've also seen ultra lights buzzing the crowd and hang gliders. No shortage of nutbars wearing Red Bull helmets. They keep as all well watered and fed to boot.
Red Bull always puts on a great show. Photo ~ Cam McRae
Four years of progression and a slow changing of the guard has only added to the excitement. Maybe calling it off for three years was the best marketing move ever. The rider list as it stands now (it has always changed some in the past) displays 27 names. Thirteen of those have ridden Rampage before while fourteen have not - a perfect balance. I have also heard that Rachel Atherton will be attending and Big Red Ted Tempany mentions 'Rachel's line' in his interview from Litter mag that we've posted below. I'm not sure if that means she'll be competing with the field or perhaps filming part of a movie segment. I'll let you know as soon as I find out.
Greg Minnaar (above) rode to a solid 8th place finish at Rampage in 2003. Steve Peat rode the qualifier in 2002 but opted to watch the Supercross back in Vegas rather than ride the final the next day. Gee Atherton stood on the Rampage podium with a very strong second place finish in 2004. More than a few people thought his run was the winning effort. In the past downhillers could score well at Rampage. This year... only time will tell. Photo ~ Cam McRae.
Much of the progression has come from the younger generation - and they will be well represented. What remains to be seen is how the judges will react to the distinct styles. There will likely be those aiming to trick as much as possible - maybe on smaller features - and others trying for speed and flow while a third category will be bidding on the nastiest, largest, most exposed lines. I've heard the judges will be an all-Canadian line up of Joe Schwartz, Wade Simmons, Andrew Shandro and Dave Watson. All have lots of experience with the event but they come from a similar mold. They also each have allegiances that will undoubtedly play on their minds. I have no doubt of their integrity but none of us can help but be influenced when evaluating people we know well. I'm sure they will do a great job though and I do not envy their task. Rampage is extremely difficult to evaluate. 
It would be tough to find a more dramatic and beautiful location for Rampage. In fact - after scouring the globe - Red Bull will tell you there is only one place Rampage can be held. Photo ~ Cam McRae.
A bunch of the usual suspects are already in Virgin scoping lines and doing a little practice. There has been a lot of speculation that the appearance of ramps (see below) will affect the integrity of the event. After all, the theory goes, Rampage was all about scoping and building your own lines. The other speculation was that ramps mean new schoolers will have the upper hand.
Brandon Semenuk scoping this 59 foot (measured to case pad - according to Tyler Morland) gapper at the new Rampage finals site. Photo ~ Tyler Morland - courtesy Blackboxlabs.net
I had a short chat with Tyler Morland this afternoon and he assured me that was not the case. "Every line has a bit of everything; chutes, billy goat lines, gaps, drops. It's all there." Most experienced riders like Vanderham, Gracia, Kinrade, Bourdon and Romaniuk can handle ramps and gaps. The real question is whether Brandon Semenuk - for example - can handle a 25 foot drop into loose earth. My money's on him figuring it out but we'll never know until we see it unfold.
Nobody has repeated a Rampage victory. In 2001 Wade took what some felt was a controversial victory over Greg Smith. I missed the first Rampage but I made it to the other three. Tyler Klassen's victory in 2002 didn't surprise anyone. He stomped large brash lines that nobody else managed to master. 2003 was Cedric Gracia's year. As always he was just having fun. It was no shock to see him ride fast and smooth but his flip in the final - when that still raised eyebrows in the 26" world - surprised everyone. In 2004 the competition was fierce. The younger riders were now seasoned pros and strong performances by Gee Atherton, Thomas Vanderham and Steve Romaniuk forced Kyle Strait to step it up, and a clicked suicide no-hander off the Bender-built 70-foot step down clinched his victory. I can't vouch for 2001 but in '02, '03 and 04 there was never any shortage of excitement or drama. 2004 was the worst year for injury with Cedric Gracia busting up his spleen in practice and Lance Canfield lacerating his femoral artery. Tyler Klassen broke his foot in 2004 as well.
The Podium in 2003. Cedric Gracia, no stranger to the champagne bottle, took the title. Andrew Shandro, on the left rode to a strong second place finish while Glyn O'Brien from Northern Ireland took third. Photo ~ Cam McRae
I had a chat with Super T yesterday actually, wondering why he wasn't planning to attend. It turns out he's weighed the risks and decided he can't afford to get hurt at this point in his life. With the absence of support he's endured over the last couple of years I can't blame him for being disheartened. I'm also a little surprised he wasn't asked to judge - being one of only four previous champions - and one of two not competing. Why not just fly him in as a former event winner? It would be great if one of his former sponsors stepped up to get him there to spectate at the very least - after his career throwing down for them. 
Tyler Klassen stomped this to take the victory in 2002 - but in 2004 (pictured here) he slipped a pedal and broke his foot. Photo ~ David Ferguson.
I leave on Thursday afternoon, travelling with David Ferguson and Dan Barham. We fly back into Vegas and then north-east, cutting briefly into Arizona and then to Springdale Utah where we'll be staying. I hope to be able to scrape some info together for you when we arrive but barring that you'll get daily reports - with amazing photos - from Friday to Sunday.
We'll also be embedding videos as soon as we get our hands on them so you'll be able to catch the action and do a little judging of your own.
Have a look at this interview with course architect Big Red Ted Tempany. Thanks to Litter mag!
Anything to say about this year's event - Cam's article or who your favourites are? Wade into our Rampage thread and let 'er rip here or talk about the rider list in this thread.
