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I wasn't expecting Isted to win, as his top section wasn't quite as gnarly as some - but I thought he might slot in around 3rd or 4th.
The riding generally felt fresher and gnarlier this year though. Great coverage too.
I was really impressed with most riders' risk management as well. Not quote sure what happened to Emil as normally rides so precisely, but the two horror crashes were from riders who were really pushing it.
Emil's update on his Facebook page:
I didn't post that twice!
Anyway, also a great pic of Silva smiling. I thought he'd have a neck brace on or something, but no, just a big grin.
I saw that Silva had posted something about injuring his lower back, so while that sucks, it could have been a lot worse.
I believe Paul Basagoitia crashed at Rampage, broke T12 which compressed his spinal cord. It took him a long time to get back out on a bike again.
Hopefully Silva will be as lucky.
I'm a wheels on the ground kinda guy, so clearly don't understand the psyche of these guys. Tom van Steenbergen almost killed himself at Rampage in 2021, and was coming back for more this year. I haven't watched it since that crash, but have seen the coverage of training and finals crashes and helicopters this last few days. It seems there are more and more crashes and i just don't get a kick out of watching that. The brave, smiling (through gritted teeth?) faces from hospital beds on Insta.... hmmmm. I hope Silva is OK, but they aren't sharing much detail. Emil Johannsen passing that off as just a hip dislocation - just a bit of surgery to tidy up the hip socket - maybe that's the fentanyl high.
You do realise these athletes live for the level of danger they operate at? As much as some of us spectate to see the best on the planet do what they do, they do it because that's how they are made. They need the mental and physical challenges throwing themselves off a cliff on a bike involves. I get it if people don't want to watch because its dangerous, but calling for it to be stopped or changed is completely wrong in my opinion.
You do realise these athletes live for the level of danger they operate at? As much as some of us spectate to see the best on the planet do what they do, they do it because that's how they are made. They need the mental and physical challenges throwing themselves off a cliff on a bike involves. I get it if people don't want to watch because its dangerous, but calling for it to be stopped or changed is completely wrong in my opinion.
I get what you're saying. However, the 'competition' element of it adds another factor.
Take Gee Atherton's The Knife Edge, for example. Definitely comparable to a lot of what we were seeing at Rampage in terms of exposure (obviously, given the result). So that supports the argument these guys are going to do these things no matter what, just for the challenge.
However, Gee was able to pick the time he dropped in. He didn't have a countdown clock telling him he had to do it now or he was done.
In Adolf Silva's case, he was dropping in with his trousers literally falling down. Because that was the time he had to go.
Maybe the event needs to be a rider focused rather than a spectator focused if we're expecting these guys to be going beyond what they are capable of just to be in with a chance of winning.
Take Gee Atherton's The Knife Edge, for example. Definitely comparable to a lot of what we were seeing at Rampage in terms of exposure (obviously, given the result). So that supports the argument these guys are going to do these things no matter what, just for the challenge.
But, and a contrary view, do you think they are pushing the boundaries to make “content”. To stand out in a crowded social media space. Would Gee have done that line had it not been able to be filmed? Look at Brendan Faircloughs tree house drop, or ride over his house. I just can’t believe he would have done that if it wasn’t the sole intention to make content for clicks. What the motivation have been otherwise to go to all that effort.?
But, and a contrary view, do you think they are pushing the boundaries to make “content”.
I think that just comes back to the 'because it's there' argument which predates social media by over half a century.
I think if people have the time and resources to do stuff just to see if it's possible then they are going to do it. I think that instinct exists in everyone but manifests itself in different ways.
I guess social media gives you the resources to focus on pushing limits, but there are still people working full time jobs who were competing at Rampage.
I think it's a complicated question but the answer is neither, 'It should be stopped' or 'They are going to do it anyway so let them'. If people want to push themselves they are going to do it. However, when other people are using them to make money (while not taking any risks themselves) that adds another factor and you really have to look at the morality of it.
On the other hand it's fantastic that there are now ways to earn decent money from doing these crazy things. Remember those old videos of Josh Bender being found out in the desert throwing himself off cliffs, just to see what he could do? It's only on film because his mates went and found him with their cameras. MY impression of Brendog is that he just loves trying stuff, building stuff to test himself. That he can make money from a youtube channel is just a bonus.
Nice quote on FB the other day from Gee saying what a fantastic event he think Rampage is and how he never did it for the rankings, even though he won it twice.
Nice quote on FB the other day from Gee saying what a fantastic event he think Rampage is and how he never did it for the rankings, even though he won it twice.
From a rb athlete who runs hardline that won’t exist without rb. I don’t think he counts as anything other than rb marketing department
"Gee never won rampage"
Oh ok, that's the important bit of what I was saying. Apologies.
"From a rb athlete who runs hardline that won’t exist without rb. I don’t think he counts as anything other than rb marketing department "
Dickish thing to say imo.
I'd guess the older riders have spent their entire careers expanding their comfort zone. They know their boundaries. They're highly experienced at pushing themselves beyond their comfort zone. They might not be training at Rampage year round, but they will be training for it. People who keep their wheels on the ground probably won't ever understand it. The younger less experienced Rampage riders, maybe have less aversion to risk, making them perhaps more vulnerable to exploitation by the event.
I think the Ride Companion podcast has Brendog talking about that treehouse drop he built.
Didn’t The Ride Companion also have Brengog and Olli talking about how a few years ago at Rampage the other riders had to basically talk Silva out of hitting or flipping a massive kicker that he’d built then? I could be wrong and it might have been another rider though.
It seems pretty obvious to me. On this trajectory, someone will die in the next few years and, when that happens, the format will be changed. At that point, everyone will question why it needed a fatality to initiate reform.
That’s a sensible extrapolation. And it seems incredible that having two huge incidents, one potentially (but hopefully not) resulting in a life altering injury, that is possibly still not enough for the organisers to alter the format to reduce the risk. Do RedBull ever make statements on event accidents or does they just send hopes and prayers to the injured rider?
But Gee did have a biiiiiggggg training crash at Rampage......2 years after the Knife Edge crash
https://singletrackmag.com/2023/10/gee-atherton-airlifted-after-massive-rampage-crash/
I suspect that the attrition rate at Rampage is much greater than Hardline.
Hardline nixed their canyon gap feature because they were too worried about consequences. Rampage seems happy to lose 5 of their 12 female competitors and 3 of the men during one event.
That stat is scary, but appreciate these guys are wired different.
RedBull ever make statements on event accidents or does they just send hopes and prayers to the injured rider?
I think everyone just smiles from their hospital bed, and everyone watches all the crashes that Redbull post on their insta (though not the ones that hospitalize anyone)
Pink Bike reports also seem to say that was nasty, but wow those guys are hard as nails and they'll shrug it off.
It seems pretty obvious to me. On this trajectory, someone will die in the next few years and, when that happens, the format will be changed. At that point, everyone will question why it needed a fatality to initiate reform.
That’s a sensible extrapolation. And it seems incredible that having two huge incidents, one potentially (but hopefully not) resulting in a life altering injury, that is possibly still not enough for the organisers to alter the format to reduce the risk. Do RedBull ever make statements on event accidents or does they just send hopes and prayers to the injured rider?
Its all about the marketing and knowing that 99% who see the images will say that’s cool and not know how many went to hospital to get them
I do wish a mtb journalist actually found out the truth about what rb do or don’t do for riders who are hospitalised, requires rehab or longer term injuries that prevent them from working
Its as if everyone is scared of upsetting rb by finding out the truth
Why change it? All riders know the risks and would still try to progress the sport regardless. The isle of man tt course doesn't have speed limits because riders die doing it. Its extreme freeride . As for insurance, most riders , both mtb and bmx cant afford it but do it anyway.
When I was younger I would quite happily throw myself off cliffs or go down couloirs with exposure that would kill you if it went wrong. I wouldn’t do it now but loved it then
It’s a difficult one. Back in the day you didn’t get any sponsorship , you did it because you loved it
I have no doubt these guys and girls love it, but pushing your limits in your own time compared to someone else’s agenda is very different
Why change it? All riders know the risks and would still try to progress the sport regardless. The isle of man tt course doesn't have speed limits because riders die doing it. Its extreme freeride . As for insurance, most riders , both mtb and bmx cant afford it but do it anyway.
That is, of course, the counter view and of the riders can say no, or rein it in. Devils advocate here, the position at the other end of the extreme is if a rider is badly injured, you simply say, “suck it up, you knew the risks”. Should there be a middle ground, I thinks so. I don’t think it would take too much effort, or too much away from the spectacle, certainly for those exposed areas such as where Emil fell, you know that going to be a line so install catch nets so he only falls 50ft, and not to his death. How you’d control the double backfilp incident, I’m not sure.
I do wish a mtb journalist actually found out the truth about what rb do or don’t do for rid
Suggestion for the next magazine article per the Crowdcube thread! 😀
Serioulsy though, it’s a great idea for an article. Maybe some homegrown talent could be interviewed and see what the entry contract is for Hardline, any disclaimers etc.
Well there we go. Adolf has no sensation from the waist down. I guess it's what we all expected. Feels like some sort of freak show now.
I don't even know what to think now, other than I hope he recovers as much as is humanly possible.
Bloody awful 😞
I know there have been major injuries and near misses in the past, but this feels like a turning point.
A combination of the format of the event, the judging, the pressure to perform, the pressure to show 'amplitude'.
It all feels so cynical. Less MTB competition, more hunger games...
Adolf lands the double flip. Probably wins the event (although with the judging...who knows!). Is lauded. Probably gets a nice new helmet.
Doesn't land the flip, is paralysed. Has to go to the public to find his recovery.
I hope he gets all the support he needs.. the fact that it needs to be crowdfunded though. Red Bull could cover it without it even being a 10th of a percent of their profits...
I hope he gets all the support he needs.. the fact that it needs to be crowdfunded though. Red Bull could cover it without it even being a 10th of a percent of their profits...
And if that’s the case that his rehab/future is going to have to be privately funded then it is disgusting
Red Bull put the event on to make themselves money.
To not even give the athletes and insurance policy in place that would pay out is disgraceful
Im just I’ve watched Matt Jones in the past say that RedBull have always looked after him and paid for his rehab
Ahh Jesus ****ing Christ…..as someone who was completely paralysed from the chest down for months (before 30+hrs of spinal surgery and 4months of daily rehab sorta fixed me) I feel sick, this should be on red bull and their insurance to fund his rehab/recovery fully, to think it needs a crowdfunding campaign is utterly ****ing sick……..
Genuinely feel sick/ill.…….
Im just I’ve watched Matt Jones in the past say that RedBull have always looked after him and paid for his rehab
Matt is a RB rider, whereas Adolf is sponsored by Monster.
Apparently Yeti have donated $10k but as someone on Pinkbike pointed out, that doesn't even cover the cost of one of their bikes.
Mad that red bull aren't covering it. I really didn't enjoy watching it this year. Hoping Adolf gets the support he needs.
Why change it? All riders know the risks and would still try to progress the sport regardless. The isle of man tt course doesn't have speed limits because riders die doing it. Its extreme freeride . As for insurance, most riders , both mtb and bmx cant afford it but do it anyway.
The TT isn't a judged event. Taking risks on the TT course directly impacts your performance. The stopwatch doesn't lie.
Silva could have landed that double flip and won, or come 8th...the judging is absolutely random.
However, the main point is that the format of the event, the drive for 'amplitude', the judging...it all works to make a high risk event even more risky...and there is absolutely no need as most of it doesn't really benefit anyone.
Aaaah, shite. Good luck to the injured lad - I'm still expecting/hoping RB to pay up handsomely but then I'm not a hard-nosed exec. I wonder what a well-organised pressure campaign would look like
Another rider with life changing injuries. No feeling from the chest down. A donation site is already looking for funding which sadly infers that neither the event organisers, sponsors or his own sponsors are stepping up and covering his medical bills. Shame on them all
My guess is that Red Bull will probably help out grudgingly if/when enough bad press starts to hit.
But this is horrendous, if not unexpected news. I really hope he makes the best possible recovery.