Rampage Riders Battle Over Limited Land for Lines 31

​Red Bull Rampage is a unique event. Invited athletes are both the architects and activators of their own routes between the start and finish gates. Riders scope the line they want to ride and build it into reality with the help of their four-person dig team, and then hope it scores high on game day. Naturally, lines occasionally cross paths, and with the huge amount of effort the crews are putting in, it can get territorial on the mountain.


Riders broke ground on the 10th edition of Rampage in Virgin, Utah, on Friday, and it quickly became apparent that those who had not built during the 2014 debut of this venue were going to face some issues finding untouched land they could set their shovels to. Rookies and even veteran competitors new to this venue (after missing 2014 due to injury) are having a hard time finding a place to make their mark.

Credit:

​Red Bull
Related:
Red Bull Rampage
Graham Agassiz
Andreu Lacondeguy
Darren Berrecloth
31 comments

View replies to: Rampage Riders Battle Over Limited Land for Lines

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Big Bird
7 years ago
YES! The voice of reason. We are not they. We're not building. We're not hucking. We are here, sitting at home, 'cept that dastardly Butterman who seems to be everywhere that's fun, watching mystery happen. Let's take sides later, in the aftermath.
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Pininator
7 years ago
I can't help but find it ironic that one of THE legends of freeride has to scratch and claw (pun not intended) to build a line. How many of the riders in the field were influenced by him? I'm sure more there were than not.

I totally understand being protective of key features, but everything else should be fair game, IMHO. Of course, I couldn't ride any of this to save the universe - this is for the riders to debate.
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SaddleRags
7 years ago
Last year's contestants already have a huge advantage on the newbies. They don't have to get oriented to the new site and the lines they built suit their own style, plus they've ridden it a bunch already.

Rules should be something like anyone can ride an existing line (no altering it) or they can go create their own to suit their preference. Most of the big features are shared by all anyway.
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T-Dawg
7 years ago
This is just Standard -NO DIG - NO RIDE policy. Don't know why every body is surprised by it.
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sspomer
7 years ago
it's not as clear as normal trails policy when it's a big event inviting riders to a limited space though. since smutok, spangler and crew built the canyon gap, are they the only ones allowed to ride it? no b/c they built it for the event. i'm curious to see if judging is impacted by this. 2 riders do the exact same line w/ exact same tricks, scores should be really tight. the judges probably know who built the line, so does the builder get scored higher? if so, that defeats the whole purpose of the event, really.

i know there's no easy solution. i'm a territorial dick when it comes to trail stuff i built in the past and i'd be bummed out if someone outscored me on a line i spent weeks on while they just poached. it's a tough call. since it's an invited, commercial event, trails rules can't apply IMO...should be gentlemen's rules.
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Scott_Townes
7 years ago
The chances of someone poaching an entire line doing the same thing seems pretty low given there are still going to be a lot of line options. They seem to get creative when there is tight space but yeah the trail building etiquette seems to be intertwined into it. Its a legendary event with huge risk but can make big careers so the tensions can run high among some but I doubt not many would hold a grudge after the fact unless it was a really big dick move.
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DrewB
7 years ago
Agreed with @sspomer - there is limited space to build, and I've judged similar competition formats once upon a time in the big mountain freeskiing realm... My thoughts:
If you built it, you should know every inch of it better than someone 'poaching' it, thus you have no excuse not to ride it better and score better.
If a few people ride the same exact line, the one who rode it better should score better, this is a judged competition. Of course there are politics involved, but this is the basis of a judged event. If you can't handle it, go race where the clock doesn't politic, discriminate, or lie.
Overall, with limited space this is a ridiculous pissing contest. If I was one of these guys getting yelled at for 'poaching', I'd want to ride it out of spite and say "ok here's the deal, I'm going to ride it with your permission or not, so I can either bring my crew to help dig, or I'll sit back and watch you dig, save my efforts, and still ride it."

You know what a real champion would do?? Be a cool calm professional & gentleman; happily let anyone ride it / help if they can, and then go out and throw down the best run without bitching about 'poaching.' Arrive on the top step of the podium with all the riders happy for you, no questions about politics or lines, just knowing you won the day.
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Bigburd
7 years ago
The problem is you are also scored on line choice , if you have a unique and high scoring line why would you share ? But at the same time you don't wanna be a complete arse ...
Redbull are gonna have to REALLY think about the rampage after this one regarding some kind of rule system regarding pre-existing lines or find a new hill , I'm guessing the ruling would be easier
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judgerider68
7 years ago
i also agree with nate.. riders who did well the previous year SHOULD have to build a NEW line,..makes it more of a challenge..AND lets see how OTHER riders ride those lines that were built by those riders that previous year.. its getting rediculous.. TIME FOR A NEW SITE !!!!!!!
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judgerider68
7 years ago
claw should be allowed to ride whatever the fuck he wants !!!!!!! HE IS A TRUE AMBASSADOR OF THE SPORT FOR FUCKS SAKE !!!!!!!
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Bigburd
7 years ago
Everyone baggin on Aggy but Andreau is also not letting people use his lines by the sound of it too , just being said and portrayed in a different light.
I can see why people don't want their lines used , especially if it's a high scoring one, they put the effort in and had the imagination to see the line to begin with. but at the same time space is obviously very limited ...
And the site is in a national park isn't it ? So it's not like they can just use another hill and dig the shit out of it. Saying that though it didn't stop Aggy from riding Iceland's national parks...
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chyu
7 years ago
Rheedee better don't take all the sandbags. Nicholi needs some for his cork7/cashrolls.
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scarface
7 years ago
World Cup DH: may the best rider win (the clock is your only judge)
FMB tour: may the best rider win (the judge is your only judge)
FEST Series: may the best bro win (the bro is your only judge)
Rampage: may the biggest aggro loudmouth win?

something is wrong with this picture
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Scrub
7 years ago
How about this, everyone works on lines to the finish area. Weather you cross or use existing lines it doesn't matter, just get it done so they are rideable and complete. Lines are numbered and put into a hat. Now have a random drawing for line selection with options to trade once all riders have a line. Some crews will have built insane lines that only a few will hit so they will hope to do some trading if they don't get the lucky draw. Others will have to deal with what they have and make the best of it. It's a gamble but it could work.
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chyu
7 years ago
Their rule is if you plan to use or cross someone's line. You either help to build or you pay a toll for it.
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sino428
7 years ago
Big mountain riders are among some of the toughest and most badass dudes in the world......

Until they start building rampage lines and they turn into a bunch of 12 year old girls. Someone should get Aggy some syrup for his bitchcakes.
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kidwoo
7 years ago
Here's a fun one. Redbull event with videos put out by redbull. Maybe none of this is actually as portrayed and they just want to make a redbull guy seem like the voice of reason in the face of those dirty underhanded monster guys. Because your future diabetes has a choice, and that choice should be redbull.
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FastNate
7 years ago
I understand that you spent time on the line last year, but it's a new year... you gonna make two adjustments to last years line and still win? Do you deserve to win riding basically the same line after the last? What makes rampage unique is that the riders create their own line before the event, maybe that needs to change. The FMB and Red Bull seem to be sucking the money out of this event and leaving the riders to squabble like baby birds all wanting food from their mother. What made this event great, is making the event shit. Taking the fun out of what makes this sport great - community.
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Dude!
7 years ago
I thought our sport was above this. Riders should be understanding and help new and injured riders. You should be able win on riding, not hogging prime real estate. I was always a big Graham A. fan, he lost one today. He was always seemed like a down to earth, fun loving rider - his winning race record - isn't his appeal. The Claw just says the right things - true ambassador of the sport.

There should be a rule that last year's line is open for this year. The work last year was last year, not this year. This is how the track will evolve.
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csermonet
7 years ago
the claw should just show aggy the same respect he showed him and poach that sucker. sounds like aggy is running around kicking people off his line like a spoiled brat, i hope he gets poached
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Big Bird
7 years ago
Some of these Lost Boys should band together to make one sweet line for all the newcomers to share and shred. I also really like the "Keep it Natural." line. Kinda like the ultimate FEST Line that should happen... If the World is just.
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T-Dawg
7 years ago
Someone could make some money renting out parts of their line. Either that or somebody is gonna steal Wil's line again :/
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Big Bird
7 years ago
Now Will's line is a lot easier to get to. I hope that he makes that money and doesn't get screwed. I wonder what energy drink money can buy, line wise?
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fordx4
7 years ago
It's getting serious , pro sports eat or be eaten, money and careers are on the line!
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scarface
7 years ago
Yeah they put some hours into those things, but with limited space, you can't expect to own the mountain. pretty shitty attitudes there. berrecloth is like the godfather of all this shit, he wants to use part of your line you freakin say "of course dude, enjoy!". WTF. give a guy a break. it's bad enough having to risk your life but to also have to beg someone for permission like COME ON.
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Jester777
7 years ago
actually Wade Simmons is the godfather of this sport, together with richie schley, tippie and the "froriders"...the claw is a main ambassador and huge respects to him...but hardly the godfather
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sspomer
7 years ago
claw is the 360-massive-drops godfather. and it's pretty easy to say that if wade was an invited rider, no one would have a problem with wade riding their line.
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