Rampage Qualifier 2010

The biggest baddest (please imagine Brad Ewen’s voice saying this) gnarliest freeride competition in the world of freeride mountain biking launched today near Virgin Utah. (/Brad Ewen)  The ‘Evolution’ has continued to evolve and for 2010 the format has changed significantly.  In past years a group of riders was pre-selected to ride and they would all throw down together aiming for a shot in the finals.  Then the finals, for 12 riders or 15 riders depending on the year, were held the next day in a slightly different zone.

  Alex Pro made B.C. and Whistler proud with his fast, bold approach to his first Rampage.  He was one of very few young riders to appear supremely confident on his first run and part of an even smaller group to charge a second run even though he had already made the finals.  Not many riders have the kind of quality digging help Alex enjoyed either.  Gravity Logic honch Tom Prochazka, Alex’s father, has been in the desert digging for him since Interbike. Photo ~ David Ferguson

Last year this caused some huge problems because the weather compressed the schedule.  Riders had little time to train and build in the finals area and a few nasty crashes were the result.  Cam McCaul was forced to focus on the top part of his line so after the canyon gap he was riding blind.  Not surprisingly he missed a tranny and went down hard.  His bell was rung and his memory from earlier in the day had been erased.  Kathy Pruitt, his girlfriend at the time, was livid and she let everyone within earshot know it.

Fast forward to 2010.  Today 21 riders tipped their bikes downward from the Red Bull arches to score one of 10 spots in Sunday’s main event.  Ten of them will be joined by the list of pre-qualified riders shown below.

  Andreu Lacondeguy may be a veteran on the Slopestyle scene but this was his first Rampage. He tipped in to Bourdo’s billy goat line from 2008 and then boosted this hip.  His first run was a safe one but his second shot, including an enormous slow rotating flip, impressed the judges enough to send him to the finals Sunday. Photo ~ David Ferguson

PRE-QUALIFIED TO FINALS – OCTOBER 3RD
Cameron Zink                        USA
Cedric Gracia                        FRA
Darren Berrecloth                CAN
Gee Atherton                        UK
Graham Agassiz                        CAN
Kurt Sorge                        CAN
Kyle Strait                        USA
Michal Marosi                        CZE
Mike Hopkins                        CAN
Robbie Bourdon                        CAN
Thomas Vanderham                CAN

Another change is that although a new zone will be opened for the finals, the starting zones from qualifying will remain open – leaving the riders more possibilities than before and more time to prep their lines.

  Cedric Gracia clowning beneath the Oakley Icon Sender – apparently built on Cedric’s request.  It’s been rebuilt once because he didn’t like it and as of Friday evening Gracia had yet to hit it.  Photo ~ David Ferguson

  Curtis Robinson, a 2009 nsmb.com rider and still one of our favourites, built a line with his Coastal Crew buddies and he slayed it with style.  He tossed in one of his trademark cutties in his second run and his style and flow caught the judges’ attention.  He too will be riding Sunday. Photo ~ David Ferguson.

  Garrett Buehler launched one of the largest drops on the left start of the course but he got caught by a gust of wind coming off the icon sender, causing him to case and crash hard. Photo ~ David Ferguson

  After his crash Garrett was holding a bag of ice against his chest.  He didn’t think anything was broken but his bars were bent downward from the force of his chest strike. He was unable to ride his second run. Photo ~ David Ferguson

  Gully sending the sender.  It measures 40 feet out and 45 down to the top of the tranny – which means many riders were hitting it at 50 x 50.  Geoff had an original line further up (the judges like that) and he sailed a hugely fashionable whip off the RB kicker lower down on the course.  See you in the finals!  Photo ~ David Ferguson

  Looking up on the course from the bottom.  The weather has been hot and dry but there were some rain clouds on the horizon on Friday and the forecast for Sunday is a little troubling.  Hopefully the drought will hold this year. Photo ~ David Ferguson

  James Doerfling was one of very few riders not to straight drop (I won’t say dead sailor) the huge Oakley Sender.  He rode with pace and verve for the rest of his run as well and he’ll be in the finals. Photo ~ David Ferguson

  Jamie Goldman was part of a select group to toss in some tricks.  He x-upped a hip and then did a solid no foot can but almost lost it on landing.  His first run squeaked him into the finals and his second run was uncharacteristically uninspired.  As Cam McCaul said ‘they don’t call him Double Or Nothing for nothing.’ Photo ~ David Ferguson

  Kelly McGarry was one of a handful of riders who guinea-pigged the Icon drop on Thursday but he crashed hard.  He nailed it on his first attempt in qualifying but then crashed hard on this flip attempt.  His bad luck followed him to round two and he overshot this same jump, perhaps, according to Cam McCaul, because he took it at flip speed but decided not to go upside down. Photo ~ David Ferguson

  You can imagine how this crash went – but Kelly McGarry summoned the strength for a second run.  Photo ~ David Ferguson.

  Local boy Logan Binggeli failed to impress on his KHS in 2008 but this year he secured the top qualifying spot with velocity, amplitude and moves like this enormous whip. Photo ~ David Ferguson

  It sounds like Mike Montgomery had almost never been on a DH bike before this year’s Rampage.  He seems to be taking to it okay.  He failed to qualify this year but watch out after he gets more time on large springs.  Photo ~ David Ferguson

  Tyler McCaul’s whip over this rock was one of the moves of the day.  This was Tmac’s first Rampage but he was riding as though he’d inherited all of his brother’s experience.  He qualified 5th.  Photo ~ David Ferguson

  Oops.  This camera crew just about got blown off the cliff by the heli.  There was some crazy equipment on the course including two 3D camera crews and a 5 camera team getting ready for Sunday’s broadcast – which we hope to bring you here on nsmb.  Photo ~ David Ferguson

  Steve Romaniuk’s huge step down to wall ride move was by far the most dramatic moment of the day.  He was literally short by inches which caused him to get bucked.  It will be interesting to see if anyone attempts it on Sunday. Photo ~ David Ferguson

  Here’s another look at Romo’s attempt to give you an idea of the size of the move and of his testicles.  Photo ~ Malcolm McLaws

Qualification Results- Top 10 move on to Final
1.    Logan Binggeli    74.4
2.    Alex Prochazka    72.2
3.    Chris Van Dine    71.0
4.    Geoff Gulevich    70.0
5.    Tyler McCaul    69.6
6.    James Doerfling    69.4
7.    Greg Watts    68.4
8.    Andreu Lacondeguy    65.4
9.    Jamie Goldman    64.0
10. Curtis Robinson    63.6
12. Wil White    60.2
13. Yannick Granieri    59.8
14. Mike Montgomery    59.4
15. Steve Romaniuk    57.8
16. Kyle Norbraten    54.4
17. Andrew Taylor    52.6
18. Kelly McGarry    52.2
19. Ryan Berrecloth    52.0
20. Jordie Lunn    48.8
21. Garett Beuhler    DNF

And in case you missed it – here’s the wicked video from qualis.

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Today is a practice day at the venue and Sunday is the big show.  I have two more galleries, from Malcolm and Kyle McLaws and Long Nguyen, to bring you from yesterday as well – so stay tuned.

The Rampage Finals tomorrow could also decide the FMB World Tour winner – which comes with a $25,000 payout.  

Any predictions for tomorrow?  Lay your money down here…