Brandon Semenuk King of Rampage

All Canuck Podium

Words by Cam McRae.

Rob Warner was watching the massive lines developing and being attempted in practice and he was quite clear each of the riders on the hill side was completely mad. ""What the fuck is wrong with everyone?" was how he expressed what the rest of us were all thinking.

Brandon Semenuk has won the return of the Red Bull Rampage. The Evolution rather. The site itself has evolved and the sport - driven by younger riders - has moved even further.


"Brandon Semenuk is the undisputed king of Red Bull Rampage - the world champion of big mountain riding. A future legend in the world of freeride mountain biking." (said in best Brad Ewan voice)

Semenuk, a 17-year old Whistler B.C. local, won with a combination of solid big mountain lines and well placed tricks. He rode smooth and clean and went big without making much noise about it. As soon as he finished his second run I said to myself "that's the winning run." Shortly after I heard another journo say exactly the same thing.


  Brandon Semenuk becomes only the 5th rider to win Rampage. Kurt Sorge was second and Thomas Vanderham finally made it to the Rampage podium finishing 3rd.

Kurt Sorge launched the 59 foot gap and threw in a nicely styled whip and rode one of a very few clean runs in the first round.

Many of us had written off Thomas Vanderham after his lack lustre performance in qualifying. Thomas flipped a switch over night and put together a very solid first run and a second run that was looking better - before it was cut short with a crash. Thomas was the very last qualifier - tying for 14th place. There was a $5000 prize for the best trick thrown during the competition and Thomas will be taking that home as well - for his suicide no-hander over the 59 foot gap.


The complete finals results. Gee Atherton went down hard in practice and dislocated his shoulder - otherwise he was looking like a very good contender for the podium.

There were some naysayers who said this wouldn't be Rampage - that having built structures - particularly some made of wood - would compromise the integrity of this competition. I think Kurt Sorge said it best; "Rampage is the best comp in the world."

We'll get back to you as soon as we can with more results, photos, video and play by play.

Until then - duke it out here...