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The Red Bull Rampage 2025 competitors are onsite in Utah, starting the final countdown to the events
Can't wait! Just reading on Redbull.com - this year the women riders are attempting stuff that's been lairy for the men in the past. The progression is amazing.
I'm one of the outliers on this who wants less slopestyle and more gnar... but i'll be watching it and marvelling at their skills and the things they do... it's a mystery to me how though !
Oh that's handy, MrsMonkey is out tonight (and watching Strictly tomorrow) so I can watch them both liveish!
Yeah, I get the feeling they are trying to get back to the freeride style roots. And Brendan should've been on the podium last year!
I'm one of the outliers on this who wants less slopestyle and more gnar...
I don't think you're an outlier, it does veer closer and closer to just another big slope event the more built it becomes
I agree. Its turned into a slopestyle event with sculpted features. Its no longer about wid natural lines
Rampage has had built features and sculpted jumps since the second event over 20 years ago and people have been complaining that it's not freeride anymore for almost as long.
If it was pure wild freeride runs down the mountain it wouldn't be much of a competition. All of the top riders are capable of riding every route and every run would be the same.
Is the scoring not just a farce? How can there be science to the scores where someone wins by .33/100. Why not just judge them as first, second third etc….they clearly know what scores the next placed person is and seem to just pitch the score, to two decimal places.
I wouldn't have any judging take place until after the first runs are complete. Especially in the mens event where there are 3 times as many competitors. Someone always gets an inexplicably high score leaving no head room for genuinely better runs.
I really don’t understand why the women have to do it mid week, they need the same weekend exposure as the men
The women’s winning run just came up on my social media.
Don’t get me wrong their talent is amazing. I almost prefer the women’s runs as they have more natural flow to them, but why bother with a dig crew , just given them a JCB and big roller thing to pull behind it
Its a manicured track carved out of the side of a hill
It appears all mtb these days is heading in direction of very man made tracks. Maybe it’s I’m just getting old and boring, but to me mtb was about getting out in nature and riding natural stuff
Friday was reserved as a weather day in case the forecast for Saturday was bad, which it is, so they switched to Friday to avoid the high winds. Nothing to do with exposure.
People who say Rampage is manicured should be forced to go there and ride it.
That surface might look smooth through a zoom lens from a mile away and broadcast through the internet. It's rough AF in real life. It's soft, loose and unpredictable. The reason they build landings is so that people don't die.
Friday was reserved as a weather day in case the forecast for Saturday was bad, which it is, so they switched to Friday to avoid the high winds. Nothing to do with exposure.
The women’s was supposed to be on Thursday
This is so ridiculously entertaining! Had everything this year. I know people are going to whing about the mountain being too sculpted, but man, some of these runs are crazy. Adolf getting his arse out was fun too! 🤪
yeah but the scoring... all on 2nd run? cant redbull sort pants out?
I really don’t understand why the women have to do it mid week, they need the same weekend exposure as the men
Because they won’t run them Saturday and Sunday due to weather risks, nor will they fund staying for another week so the ladies get Thursday.
The sponsors are interested in the images for the socials and adverts. Buy a ford truck and you too can huck a cliff as a tough guy
Came for the bum quips. Disappointed in you all.
Anyone else think Godziak's bike looks too cumbersome to be flipping it like he does?? Isted using 26" wheels makes more sense.
Spoken like a true spectator, ikr
That Silva crash looks really bad, he was nowhere near landing that double flip… Couldn’t believe Godziek got up from his to be fair! It’s a hard watch sometimes
Thankfully missed the Silva crash. Probably turning it off now... Hopefully some positive news will come through shortly.
Just said he’s awake and talking
Now they just need to shut the stupid women up who keeps screaming 😱
They’very just said Silva is conscious and talking, it was definitely the worst crash I've seen at Rampage
That looked worse than Silva's crash, hopefully he didn't fall too far
That was someone scrambling to hold on for their life.
It’s getting a bit stupid. 2 people in one event with near death crashes.
No people really around either
When does a bike race become a snuff movie?
Hopefully not today, but this is an event that will almost certainly lead to life changing injuries.
Yep I’d have more respect for Red Bull if they called it now
A good 30k viewers have already switched off
Time to reassess the event.
There's extreme sport and there's prurient, gonzo voyeurism. It is too close to the latter now.
That's not to say there is no way this kind of event can be done and it can still be a spectacle. But that level of attrition and risk is too high for me.
Random example - rugby scrums. Back in the 70s and 80s it was all dark arts and nastiness on a one to one level. By the 90s and pseudo professionalism and full professionalism you've got front rows of a size and musculature previously unheard of basically running at each other pushed by five other man mountains just to engage a scrum. It became a test of sheer courage/recklessness much of the time. The answer was pretty obvious with the pre-engage so it can become something of a contest of technique and strength again.
I'm not sure how this would apply to Rampage other than in the concept. But watching a guy scrambling with his fingertips not to die (or worse) is not sport.
I hope that all the riders injured make full recoveries.
I can’t decide if it’s time to change or not.
The only 2 sports I can think of that have similar risk or IoM TT and wing suiting.
Neither of them are watched live on TV (could be wrong)
However still to date Ramage has a zero death rate so that’s ok 🤷♂️
The IoM TT is interesting in the way the deaths and grief are handled on any coverage. They are usually acknowledged at the end of any programme with a caption and a photo or two, IME. It's almost as though they are saying "this was our friend, our sorrow, it is not something to be made a spectacle of".
In my post above, I said death or worse. I've no doubt that, for this level of athlete in particular, there are worse things than death. It doesn't need me to spell out what they might be.
Some of the riding yesterday was absolutely incredible. Unfortunately it felt a little overshadowed by the scale of things that went wrong. At least there were medics with Silva within seconds. What would have happened had Johansson been more seriously injured? There's just no way to rush aid to any point on the mountain. Just have to hope for fast and full recoveries for those involved.
Are Red Bull still not covering competitors medical bills? Or have they got better at that?
The video of Silva should be watched. Uncomfortabke viewing, but RedBull Rampage is a giant advert and dont want a bad look.
Personally I dont want to bother with anything RedBull pumps out anymore for a fizzy drinks company who dont give a shit about thier zero hour employees.
"Dy'in aint much of a living, boy"
The video of Silva should be watched. Uncomfortabke viewing, but RedBull Rampage is a giant advert and dont want a bad look.
Personally I dont want to bother with anything RedBull pumps out anymore for a fizzy drinks company who dont give a shit about thier zero hour employees.
"Dy'in aint much of a living, boy"
The riders would do this event whether sponsored by RedBull or Toys'R'Us.... They want to ride this stuff and a couple of riders commented how they've been riding this terrain since they were small.
Time to reassess the event.
It feels increasingly irrelevant as it reaches its quarter century next year.
It was an event that was created when 'hucking' was the cool thing to do and in the early days it genuinely felt like the riders were just out riding the hills and chosing their own lines ... in a truly extreme manner.
Whilst the extreme is definitely still a factor and the skill levels (and straight out madness) remain super high, to me it's a style of riding that's had its day in an event that's over sanitised*. The trails are so prepared that it's lost the feeling of spontaneous lines so is now just the top end of a slopestyle event ... and who really cares about that these days?
I get that the danger is part of the spectacle but if you are regularly helicoptering competitors to hospital then maybe its gone too far. Maybe its two run format? It just encourages absolutely batshit moves in the second run. Apparently Silva hadn't even attempted a double back flip in training?
Not sure how you would make an event which is essentially "ride the most stupid line you can down a mountain, while flipping upside down" safer without destroying the spectacle.
I'm also not remotely qualified to comment. The little jump at the finish line would probably do me in.
It's hard to argue though that the riding was absolutely next level... It was just utterly bonkers the chutes, the speeds, the jumps/drops and then to throw in the tricks too... Who wants it... Yeah, heck it's a hell of a watch.
I'd prefer people not to get hurt of course, but the nature of the beast is that riders will push the next level, then the next, the next and finally it goes pop.
But the OOOOOHHHHs ARGGGHHHHs and WOAHs from the sofa last night shows just how epic a thing it is to watch.
The scoring system, well that's a complete mystery.
It's an extreme sport and all the riders know the risks. They'd be out there doing this stuff regardless of it being a sponsored event.
I do hope all the injured riders make a full recovery.
I stopped paying attention to the scoring years ago. The People's Choice is usually a better indication.
Tomas Lemoine was the winner for me.
Watched it last night and the two crashes were horrendous to watch. What I’m now struggling to grasp is that the commentators do have the habit of saying that a persons line is “high consequence”. It’s said quite a bit during the broadcast so does that mean it is a risk worth taking. Should they be getting excited about the significant risk element, when something as common as a mechanical/puncture could lead to those consequences?? As in, if they get this wrong, or get blown off line by wind, then it’s a bad situation. The two crashes are somewhat different in that the backflip crash was on a relatively innocuous feature. It’s the fact he attempted the double that led to disaster. Emil’s line was exposed, and he bounced off line. Catch nets could have reduced that risk. But would installing them reduce the “consequences” jeopardy and water down the event?
Worryingly, the updates on both of them are not forthcoming. I hope they both come out of this unscathed.
Just to add, I don’t think it’s sufficient to say that the riders would be doing this stuff regardless. They may have been, but that’s entirely their call. Surely RedBull have a duty of care to minimise the risk to participants in their promoted event?
I could use an air rifle unsafely at home, but I’d expected risk to be managed at an event using an air rifle..for example.
The riders would do this event whether sponsored by RedBull or Toys'R'Us.... They want to ride this stuff and a couple of riders commented how they've been riding this terrain since they were small.
And you know this how???
They may be familiar with the terrain but add in random judging and an unfathomable point scoring/prize money temptation is a whole different scenario and could easily lead to riders going outside their comfort zone.
Look their Instagram feeds and YouTube channels.
Many of these riders even build their own compounds to push their own limits and the limits of the sport.
Sponsorship and prize money obviously help, but I guarantee if you ask any Rampage rider if they'd be doing it without the financial incentives they'd say yes.
No-one is taking these risks specifically for a fizzy drinks company.
Progression can be painful sometimes.
I'd be amazed if there wasn't some sort of recalibration of Rampage after yesterdays crashes, and there seem to have been a high number of injuries in practice leading up to the event, but there's no denying that the women's event saw a huge progression and the men are so tight at the top that something special is needed to win.
Last year, Van Steenbergen threw out the wildest front flip and got away with it. This year, Silva tried to one up and failed. Had he landed the double, would the voices then rant that he shouldn't have taken the risk?
Big wave surfing is probably at a similar level where competitors are one wobble away from a catastrophic moment, but keep pushing the boundaries anyway. The crashes are a hard watch but all part of extreme sport, that's what makes it extreme.
Maybe RB should delay the broadcast by 5 minutes to allow cut aways if something goes badly wrong, but I agree that the riders want to be part of the moment.
Oh, and sod the judges. Make it a jam format that the riders vote for each other. Maybe put it on the Fest series.
I'm not into freeride really - I watch rampage every year but much prefer a race
In the last year or so I can remember stand alone freeride videos from Brage and Gee which seemed to have much higher risk and honestly, gave a worse/less incredible final run. Getting everyone together on one hillside with a defined timeline may have its own downsides but I personally prefer the contest format even if the judging set up is ridiculous, which I wouldn't mind so much if there wasn't $100k + a ford raptor on the line for the "winner"
The commentary was also woeful. I get there are some dead spots between riders even without a medical hold, but even when riders are mid run or on the instant replay it was at least 50% non sensical shouting over each other, and 40% awkward pauses. I hope nobody who's ever said a bad word about Rik claims to like this.
Also - some new lingo, "money" it seems is good, but not to be confused with "cash roll" which is a trick. "greased" seems to mean doing something smoothly, or possibly replaces the classic "steeze". Still completely in the dark about "six seven".
Worryingly, the updates on both of them are not forthcoming. I hope they both come out of this unscathed.
Emil Johansson posted on his Instagram story reel saying he was in the hospital, felt OK and would update again when he knew more, had a pic he'd obviously taken himself while hanging below the helicopter that lifted him off the hill
Look their Instagram feeds and YouTube channels.
Isn’t that sort of the point though, they ride this stuff normally but does it get a mention or exposure and “likes”. When you have a big media brand like RedBull behind it, with all the media support, does it then become all about (rider) exposure and profile? Pushing it to grab the limelight? If it wasn’t RedBull and a much lower profile event on the same hill with no media or prize money, would they do it and be happy to push the envelope of risk?
Look their Instagram feeds and YouTube channels.
Isn’t that sort of the point though, they ride this stuff normally but does it get a mention or exposure and “likes”. When you have a big media brand like RedBull behind it, with all the media support, does it then become all about (rider) exposure and profile? Pushing it to grab the limelight? If it wasn’t RedBull and a much lower profile event on the same hill with no media or prize money, would they do it and be happy to push the envelope of risk?
The freeride/freestyle aspect of mountain biking is what interests me the most. I've watched every Rampage event and countless interviews with the riders involved. The risk/reward is a huge part of why they do it and everyone knows the risks, so yes I fully believe they would be happy to push the envelope regardless. Of course they want to show off their skills too but people have been doing crazy stuff long before social media a big showcase events.
I also snowboard and used to bmx and skateboard and it's the same for the athletes at the extreme end of those sports. The sponsorship and prize money is just a happy consequence of what they do. It's a means to get the free equipment and expenses do what they'd want to do anyway. Some people are just built differently and want to push the limits of what's possible in their chosen activity. Their mindset is completely different to you or I.
I do think the likes of RedBull should take care of any medical expenses if anyone gets injured at one of their events though. Maybe they do?
Look their Instagram feeds and YouTube channels.
Isn’t that sort of the point though, they ride this stuff normally but does it get a mention or exposure and “likes”. When you have a big media brand like RedBull behind it, with all the media support, does it then become all about (rider) exposure and profile? Pushing it to grab the limelight? If it wasn’t RedBull and a much lower profile event on the same hill with no media or prize money, would they do it and be happy to push the envelope of risk?
well that's a pointless question as they don't just do these things for no reason, they're pro-athletes or aspiring pros, so they're doing it for making money, it's their job. Whilst they enjoy it and would do it, they still do it to make a living. So with no prize money or event they may not push the same limits, however they would still ride the same stuff day in day out.
do think the likes of RedBull should take care of any medical expenses if anyone gets injured at one of their events though. Maybe they do?
It would be good to know how this works. There is lots of speculation around but no facts. Perhaps a mtb journalist could investigate
just do these things for no reason, they're pro-athletes or aspiring pros, so they're doing it for making money, it's their job. Whilst they enjoy it and would do it, they still do it to make a living. So with no prize money or event they may not push the same limits, however they would still ride the same stuff day in day out.
That’s contrary to what you said above, that they’d ride it even without gain and regardless of who sponsored it. So they do it for money, so the motivation is to push it. I don’t believe that double backflip would have attempted had there not been cameras filming, media exposure and prize money at stake. If he was just dossing around on the hill with a couple of mates.
Look their Instagram feeds and YouTube channels.
Isn’t that sort of the point though, they ride this stuff normally but does it get a mention or exposure and “likes”. When you have a big media brand like RedBull behind it, with all the media support, does it then become all about (rider) exposure and profile? Pushing it to grab the limelight? If it wasn’t RedBull and a much lower profile event on the same hill with no media or prize money, would they do it and be happy to much the envelope of risk?
just do these things for no reason, they're pro-athletes or aspiring pros, so they're doing it for making money, it's their job. Whilst they enjoy it and would do it, they still do it to make a living. So with no prize money or event they may not push the same limits, however they would still ride the same stuff day in day out.
That’s contrary to what you said above, that they’d ride it even without gain and regardless of who sponsored it. So they do it for money, so the motivation is to push it. I don’t believe that double backflip would have attempted had there not been cameras filming, media exposure and prize money at stake. If he was just dossing around on the hill with a couple of mates.
Look their Instagram feeds and YouTube channels.
Isn’t that sort of the point though, they ride this stuff normally but does it get a mention or exposure and “likes”. When you have a big media brand like RedBull behind it, with all the media support, does it then become all about (rider) exposure and profile? Pushing it to grab the limelight? If it wasn’t RedBull and a much lower profile event on the same hill with no media or prize money, would they do it and be happy to much the envelope of risk?
Well no, that wasn't exactly it, but i don't see how we're going to find a middle ground here, so i'll bow out.
I think the whole thing is a recipe for disaster. one event per year, limited chances to make a living leads to riders taking insane risks they probably wouldn't do usually. Feels like the organisers are taking advantage of people trying to eek out living a dream.
They don't practice this all the time. Don't know if there would be enough support for several rounds across a few venues to help take the pressure off. Could look at the snowboard/ski big mountain comps for inspiration
I also find Cam Maccaul increasingly annoying and the whole watching experience is something like NFL. Boring.
Just caught up. Had to stop watching after Silva's crash, but only cos my partner was getting bored waiting and listening to concerned Americans.
Still think the event was amazing, one of the best Rampage's I've watched. Some phenomenal lines and spins of stuff no-one else in their right mind would ever even ride off. Loved it.
Naysayers, and wrap em in cotton wool declarers should just go watch something else.
just do these things for no reason, they're pro-athletes or aspiring pros, so they're doing it for making money, it's their job. Whilst they enjoy it and would do it, they still do it to make a living. So with no prize money or event they may not push the same limits, however they would still ride the same stuff day in day out.
That’s contrary to what you said above, that they’d ride it even without gain and regardless of who sponsored it. So they do it for money, so the motivation is to push it. I don’t believe that double backflip would have attempted had there not been cameras filming, media exposure and prize money at stake. If he was just dossing around on the hill with a couple of mates.
Look their Instagram feeds and YouTube channels.
Isn’t that sort of the point though, they ride this stuff normally but does it get a mention or exposure and “likes”. When you have a big media brand like RedBull behind it, with all the media support, does it then become all about (rider) exposure and profile? Pushing it to grab the limelight? If it wasn’t RedBull and a much lower profile event on the same hill with no media or prize money, would they do it and be happy to much the envelope of risk?
Did you mean to quote and respond to me a second time?
I already replied...
https://singletrackmag.com/forum/postid/13647568/
Don’t get me wrong their talent is amazing. I almost prefer the women’s runs as they have more natural flow to them, but why bother with a dig crew , just given them a JCB and big roller thing to pull behind it
Its a manicured track carved out of the side of a hill
It appears all mtb these days is heading in direction of very man made tracks. Maybe it’s I’m just getting old and boring, but to me mtb was about getting out in nature and riding natural stuff
I don’t think it would be possible to get the equipment up the hill. I’m sure you know, no paths are actually natural and they were probably a lot smoother than they are today when they were first made.
totally agree with the women’s runs I feel the same about the World Cup dh. It’s possible to make out the riding technique rather than see the racers passing in a blur of speed.
Sponsorship and prize money obviously help, but I guarantee if you ask any Rampage rider if they'd be doing it without the financial incentives they'd say yes.
I feel that part of the issue for people is that red bull make more money out of rampage and take none of the physical risks.
fortunately I was away from the telly during Adolf’s second run, I would not have wanted to see the accident.
Did you mean to quote and respond to me a second time?
I already replied...
No, I’ve got an iPhone mini and bad eyes! Apologies.
Re Red Bull covering medical expenses - I saw a Matt Jones vid recently where he said that they support their own riders really well with this and cover all medical expenses (I guess there’s an element of ‘he would say that wouldn’t he’), but it’s probably different if you’re not a red bull sponsored rider, but in a red bull event? I imagine that would be down to individual sponsorship arrangements…
Re Red Bull covering medical expenses - I saw a Matt Jones vid recently where he said that they support their own riders really well with this and cover all medical expenses (I guess there’s an element of ‘he would say that wouldn’t he’), but it’s probably different if you’re not a red bull sponsored rider, but in a red bull event? I imagine that would be down to individual sponsorship arrangements…
Fair enough. It would be interesting to know how far that extends. What if they have a life changing injury? Sure covering the medical cost of surgery but what about home adaptations, long term support etc.
It does feel to me that the riders take huge risks for the sponsors profits
Re Red Bull covering medical expenses - I saw a Matt Jones vid recently where he said that they support their own riders really well with this and cover all medical expenses (I guess there’s an element of ‘he would say that wouldn’t he’), but it’s probably different if you’re not a red bull sponsored rider, but in a red bull event? I imagine that would be down to individual sponsorship arrangements…
Fair enough. It would be interesting to know how far that extends. What if they have a life changing injury? Sure covering the medical cost of surgery but what about home adaptations, long term support etc.
It does feel to me that the riders take huge risks for the sponsors profits
you think uci or whoop would cover costs if say Matt walker put himself in a wheelchair at a WCDH? No chance
That Silva crash looks really bad, he was nowhere near landing that double flip… Couldn’t believe Godziek got up from his to be fair! It’s a hard watch sometimes
Hope he's ok.
Emil's crash wasn't great either. Mad props to the guy who legged it over to catch him, which it seems like he did. He was able to grab Emil and stop him from slipping further.
There is a thing called Insurance so it wouldn’t be funding the costs, just the (likely extremely expensive) premium. For a one off event like this, I’d be surprised if there wasn’t some sort of policy either taken by RedBull, or offered to the riders, or the riders organise this themselves.
To go into something like this with no financial provision plan if things go wrong seems bonkers. But we’ve all seen the use of GoFund me etc when people do take risks with insurance, or lack of it, so maybe they just don’t have it or the risk is too great to even get cover.
Re Red Bull covering medical expenses - I saw a Matt Jones vid recently where he said that they support their own riders really well with this and cover all medical expenses (I guess there’s an element of ‘he would say that wouldn’t he’), but it’s probably different if you’re not a red bull sponsored rider, but in a red bull event? I imagine that would be down to individual sponsorship arrangements…
It does feel to me that the riders take huge risks for the sponsors profits
At least in Rampage they get something out of it. If you're at the Olympics, you get absolutely nothing. Yet Coke et al pay loads for sponsoring it.
Injuries aside, that was an amazing spectacle and the best Rampage for some years IMO.
The judging feels increasingly irrelevant though. I've no idea who should have won, but Isted got robbed.
Everything I wanted to say has been said, but this
but Isted got robbed
One. Hundred. Percent. The judging is an absolute farce. He had big exposure, tricks, big technical moves, and was given an utterly shit score.
Kirschenmann was great to watch as well, felt like I was watching NWD on VHS.