Red Bull Rampage
RED BULL RAMPAGE RETURNS!
October 2-5, 2008 near Virgin, Utah
"They're going to bring slopestyle riding and big mountain riding together, and it's going to turn into the sickest contest ever." --Robbie Bourdon, 3rd place Red Bull Rampage 2001
Red Bull Rampage, the premier freeride mountain biking competition, held annually from 2001 to 2004, is blasting back onto the scene in 2008, bigger and badder than ever before. From October 2-5, Red Bull Rampage: The Evolution will draw the greatest riders in the world to a new venue just outside Virgin, Utah, offering the most challenging terrain mountain bike competition has ever seen.
On a dangerous network of ridges near Zion National Park, riders will have free reign to navigate their descent between a designated starting area and a finish line more than 1,000 vertical feet below. Thursday and Friday are open practice days for the athletes, allowing them to scout their lines, size up the thirty-plus foot gaps and cliff drops, and practice their tricks. On Saturday, each of the 28 invited riders will take two runs; their best single-run scores will determine the top 14 who will advance to Sunday's final. The 14 finalists will run two more descents on Sunday, with their best score determining the overall winner. In addition, the Utah Sports Commission will also present a Red Bull Rampage Best Trick award on Sunday.
Competitors will be judged on style, amplitude, fluidity, and difficulty of line, and with a $25,000 prize purse up for grabs, playing it conservative is not a strategy option. Will past champs like Cedric Gracia (France) or Kyle Strait (USA) stand on the podium again, or will a dark horse emerge with new tricks or a gutsy line down the mountain that makes everyone re-think what is possible on a mountain bike? Regardless of who emerges on top, Red Bull Rampage: The Evolution will once again expand the frontiers of the sport.
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Check out the history of Red Bull Rampage here.
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SCHEDULE
Thursday, October 2nd:
Athlete practice and course work day. Competitors will be able to walk, ride and shape sections of the course in preparation for qualifiers on Saturday.
10am - Noon: Course inspection
Noon - 5pm: Athlete practice
Friday, October 3rd:
Athlete practice and course work day. Competitors will be able to walk, ride and shape sections of the course in preparation for qualifiers on Saturday.
10am - Noon: Course inspection
Noon - 5pm: Athlete practice
8pm - 10pm: Red Bull Rampage Retrospective movie screening. Virgin Town Park, Virgin, Utah (Free and open to the public)
Saturday, October 4th:
All competitors will be given two judged runs, and the top 14 best scores from the two runs will move on to Sunday for the finals.
10am - 1pm: Qualifiers, Run 1
2:30pm - 4pm: Qualifiers, Run 2
Sunday, October 5th:
The 14 qualifiers will all be given two runs and the winner will be crowned from the best overall run scored.
9:30am - 11:30am: Athlete practice
1pm - 2:30pm: Finals, Run 1
3:30pm - 5:30pm: Finals, Run 2
Awards to immediately follow the competition at the event site.
LOCATION
**SPECTATOR ADVISORY**
Red Bull Rampage features the world's greatest riders tackling the most intense terrain any contest has offered - no novices here. The same applies for spectators; this event is not for casual observers. The new Red Bull Rampage venue was chosen for its ability to challenge the riders and push their limits, so it is remote, hot, dangerous, and unforgiving.
Should you choose to attend, free parking is located at the intersection of Highway 9 and Camino Del Rio St. (approximately one mile east of downtown Virgin, UT).
Transportation from the parking lot to the venue will NOT be provided.
From the lot, it is four miles to the contest venue over uneven desert terrain that you will either have to hike or pedal (No motor vehicles will be allowed at the contest site - no motorcycles, ATVs, etc). If you ride it, you'll need to check your bike at the on-site bike valet once you reach the contest venue - no exceptions. Spectators will be required to stay within designated viewing areas at the base of the course near the finish line - no exceptions. No pets will be allowed, and non-adult spectators are not recommended. If this sounds harsh, that's because it is; this isn't a mountain resort, this is the desert. All on-site rules and requirements are necessary to ensure everyone's safety and enjoyment.
If you decide to attend, pack plenty of water, snacks, sunscreen, extra layers of clothing, basic first-aid gear, and a flashlight/headlamp. In other words, treat it like an unsupported weekend ride with your buddies. Just think ahead, be smart, and come prepared.
NOTE: On Saturday and Sunday, Sol Foods from Springdale will be at the event site selling sandwiches and cold drinks. Mount Olympus will also have a water truck on-site from Thursday through Sunday to refill your water bottles at no charge.
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INDUSTRY REPS
A limited number of industry credentials will be available, but they must be requested prior to the event. If you work in the mountain bike industry and need to attend in order to support your rider on-site, please contact Todd Barber at H5 Events, Inc.
