Rampage Riders Explain Line Selection Strategy
While Red Bull Rampage is known among mountain bike fans for exposed, scary lines and giant gap jumps, the week before the event is all about creative vision and the hard work it takes to realize that vision. Unlike most events, the course is not pre-determined; athletes are given a mountainous zone packed with perilous terrain – how they get from the top to the bottom is entirely up to them.
For 2014, Rampage competitors arrived in Virgin, Utah, to a fresh canvas, and the result has been a burst of concept and creativity. Each rider and his dig crew interpret the mountain differently, and then they fight to make it happen. How they select their line and build it is as important as how they ride it.
“My favorite thing about Rampage is that you show up here and the canvas is completely raw,” says San Diego’s Wil White in the video above. “You get to incorporate your own line into the hill, so you get to bring out your own individual style.”
With this year’s course being steeper than ever, the quarters are close and many competitors are challenged to dig deep into their skillset in order to claim their own line.
“In hindsight we probably should have come here earlier,” says the UK’s Brendan Fairclough, who arrived on site two days behind most of the other riders. “We wanted to find a main thing to do but it seems everyone got here before us.”
Once a line is selected, athletes put their dig crews to work trying to make the impossible happen. But since it’s Red Bull Rampage, what might seem impossible to some can be accessible to others – and vice-versa.
“It’s pretty insane to look around and see what other people think they can ride,” says 2008 Rampage champion Brandon Semenuk. “[It’s] typical Rampage; some people are just going for it. Maybe they think what I’m doing is crazy but it just works in their head, whatever their line is. It’s all about what you’re experienced with.”
Watch the best mountain bike freeriders in the world during the webcast of the finals on Sunday, September 28 starting at 1:00 p.m. MT on the official Red Bull Rampage site and on Red Bull TV.
For 2014, Rampage competitors arrived in Virgin, Utah, to a fresh canvas, and the result has been a burst of concept and creativity. Each rider and his dig crew interpret the mountain differently, and then they fight to make it happen. How they select their line and build it is as important as how they ride it.
“My favorite thing about Rampage is that you show up here and the canvas is completely raw,” says San Diego’s Wil White in the video above. “You get to incorporate your own line into the hill, so you get to bring out your own individual style.”
With this year’s course being steeper than ever, the quarters are close and many competitors are challenged to dig deep into their skillset in order to claim their own line.
“In hindsight we probably should have come here earlier,” says the UK’s Brendan Fairclough, who arrived on site two days behind most of the other riders. “We wanted to find a main thing to do but it seems everyone got here before us.”
Once a line is selected, athletes put their dig crews to work trying to make the impossible happen. But since it’s Red Bull Rampage, what might seem impossible to some can be accessible to others – and vice-versa.
“It’s pretty insane to look around and see what other people think they can ride,” says 2008 Rampage champion Brandon Semenuk. “[It’s] typical Rampage; some people are just going for it. Maybe they think what I’m doing is crazy but it just works in their head, whatever their line is. It’s all about what you’re experienced with.”
Watch the best mountain bike freeriders in the world during the webcast of the finals on Sunday, September 28 starting at 1:00 p.m. MT on the official Red Bull Rampage site and on Red Bull TV.
Credit:
Red Bull
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