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Rampage
Practice 2004 |
The world of freeride has changed yet again. Last year's Rampage was more impressive than the year before and while the riding had improved, the growth was along predictable lines. This year it's more like a paradigm shift. Rob Warner is here covering the event for MBUK and I asked him what he thought of the riders competing in the even; "I think they're fucking mad, completely mad. I've never seen anything like it." I too was gobsmacked the first time I laid eyes on the madness that is the Red Bull Rampage but it's amazing what you can get your brain around once you've seen enough of it. And yet I too was surprised to see some of the lines that have emerged on last year's finals course which will be this year's qualifying venue. In the words of Josh Bender "amplitude and line difficulty are going to be stepped up this year because people have been here before and there's been a lot of building and because it's the last Rampage I think it'll go off with a bang."
That's certainly Bender's modus operandi and he's built a kicker to step-down that he intends to go upside down on. In fact he plans a pair of back flips for his second run. The last two years he hasn't survived the until the second run unbent but I would love to see this to be the year of Bender.
Guido Tschugg making this look easy. The take off is in front of the EMT wearing pink in the far right of the shot and the landing is in the bottom left of the frame.
Much of the credit for the insanity this year goes to Bender who's been digging for weeks. He's responsible for the line you see below but riders haven't been boosting it the way he foresees it; his version is burlier by several notches. In fact nobody was riding either manifestation for a long time. There was much chin rubbing and speculation before Cam Zink finally took three hard pedal strokes and pressed play. He had too much speed and landed well down the tranny before crashing, unharmed, into some shrubbery. That was all it took though and once the cherry was popped riders stepped up one by one. Next was Cam's buddy Kyle Strait who nailed it perfectly as did Guido Tschugg from Germany who looks very strong indeed. The older guys took their time though and Kyle had nailed it thrice, the second effort a beautiful table, before Cedric finally lined it up.
| He never fails to amaze and the first time he landed like a crab leg in melted butter - and rode away smiling. Before that Robbie Bourdon cased it and got bucked hard onto his belly. He was slow to his feet and medical personnel were having a look at his right arm. I didn't see him ride for the rest of the day but he's a tough SOB so don't count him out yet. Michal Marosi was another practice day victim and he left the venue with a well-wrapped wrist. Mike Kinrade has a new bike sponsor after being a loyal Norco team member for the last few years. He's now on Devinci with clothing and components coming from Race Face. He's loving the bike and the freedom this arrangement brings him. This is Mike's fourth Rampage - something very few riders can attest to |
 Mike
Kinrade is smiling now. |
The weather is cool and it has been wet but in some ways that's turning out to be a good thing. The normally dry and dusty earth is moldable like fine clay and the building possibilities are now endless. A berm that couldn't have been built at all last year can be sculpted in 20 minutes and their are features all over the mountain that have allowed the riders' creativity to flourish.
Snow on the peaks in Zion National Park. The weather has already been a big factor.
Unfortunately the weather is supposed to get worse on Sunday and there is talk that the final placings from qualifying might be the last word. Hopefully it won't come to that because the new finals area looks exciting indeed. Unfortunately snow is in the forecast and I feat that tomorrow will be all she wrote. My experience with events has lead me to believe that once organizers plan for an escape route it is usually taken.
Robbie Bourdon warming up. He's a questionable start for tomorrow.
Thankfully some changes have been made to the judging this year. Darren Butler, who competed in the first Rampage in 2001 has been asked to judge and Darren Berrecloth who is on the injured list will also be marking ballots. There is talk that the judging format will change as well so that the each judge will be responsible for only one category like line choice or amplitude. Chris Lawrence is returning as a judge as is Jim Conway, the perennial head judge. Last year was such a cock up that I would have been happy to see all of them gone. Randy Spangler unfortunately wasn't invited back as a rider so he too will be in a judges chair as will Marla Streb.
Who else could pull this off? Cedric remains a favourite after qualifying but the young guns are charging hard.
Richard Gasperotti has been added to the rider list after two very disappointing Rampage campaigns. Hopefully this year he'll show the world he's worthy of the Virgin terrain. Wade Simmons and Thomas Vanderham both hit the big line below and looked really strong. Richie Schley had a rather angry crash towards the end of the day. Dave Watson rode a variation of Andrew Shandro's line from last year and got into some trouble but managed to reel it in. I didn't seen Glyn O' Brien all day and Steve Peat, who was scheduled to appear, has decided to stay home and nurse a sore wrist.
Gee Atherton has built some very strong lines and also looks like a force to be reckoned with.
Don't be surprised to see Kyle Strait on the podium. He laid this one very, very flat. Yes - this move is huge.
Predict all you want - the Red Bull Rampage will once again be a surprise. A mind blowing, intense, fantastically dramatic surprise.
Giddy-up. I'll be back as soon as I can with qualifying (which may be final) results.
For more information on the event check out RedBullRampage.com
