2010 Rampage Play by Play II

In 2008 there was a prescribed break between rounds at Rampage so athletes, fans and media could get out of the sun, get some nourishment, and get some insight into lines for the second round.  This year Todd Barber attempted to get the athletes to the top right after their first run because the weather forecast was sketchy – but that was as successful as herding cats – or maybe freeriders.

The finals format for 2010 involved three ridges – identified as 1,2 and 3 going right to left as you look up the course.  Because the ridges were run in order there should have been plenty of time to get athletes fueled up and back to their starts to keep things flowing – but getting these riders to stick to a schedule doesn’t always work.

Last year ridge 1 was in play only for the quailifer while ridge 3 was saved for the finals.  This year the qualifier was the same but ridge one was also an option for the finals. North is actually to the left in this orientation and Gooseberry Mesa is to the right. I have indicated the three starting gates used for Rampage this year. Number 1 was only used for qualis while 2 was used for both and 3 was only for the finals. The judges positioned themself where the number 4 is and 5 is my guess at where the finish arch was.

After round one Gee Atherton was clearly in the driver’s seat.  As the wind picked up between rounds it seemed unlikely that anyone would come close to the 82.4 points that had him leading by a solid 3.4 points.  Fortunately these tough SOBs rarely balk at a chance to ride hard so I knew they’d be at the plate and swinging unless a hurricane rolled in.

  After spending some time watching Rampage moves like Tyler McCaul’s no hander off a huge stepdown start to seem ordinary.  I realize this is not ordinary but seeing amazing riding coming at you constantly makes it appear less amazing. 

I opted to stay up top, despite being out of food and water, fooled by Todd’s scheduling idea.  After a long lull Tyler McCaul and his ridge one compatriots were ready to twist their gravity throttles once more.  T Mac continued to slay it (with Slayer playing no less) but he opted for a different line lower down.  He boosted a drop that claimed his brother in qualifying in 2008, suicided off the lower plateau and then got on the pedals heading for Romo’s wallride using the approach Gee had buttered earlier.  Tyler couldn’t rein in the landing and a broken wrist was the result.

 TMac came pretty close to landing this – but in the end he crashed breaking his wrist.

Alex Pro went at his second run hard in spite of the gusting wind.  He looked as smooth and fast as anyone on the top ridge and he boosted like he was there to create mayhem.  He opted to roll in to his final move and secure a score for his second run rather than risk another crash. After Pro the wind really started to blow.  Greg Watts and Jamie Goldman failed to unseat any of the top 10 riders and the gusts picked up as the clouds rolled in.

  Alex Pro on the throttle.

Chris Van Dine was a fan favourite and he wasn’t about to let them down.  He charged the top ridge and then pointed it fearlessly towards his massive stepdown.  A gust caught him and he disengaged from his bike from a long way up.  He stayed down for some time but eventually dragged himself to his feet.  Including 2008 the score is stepdown 3, CVD 1.

  Chris Van Dine before the space walk.

  CVD during his spacewalk. Photo ~ Malcolm McLaws

  Waiting on the weather.

And then we had the weather delay.  Ironically some of the best weather of the day was during the delay – but it was unstable all around us impossible to predict.  After sitting on our hands for close to two hours the heli was sent up again and eventually Cedric Gracia dropped in. It was still a little gusty but Cedric improved his score with some nice style off the Oakley Sender, a one hander on the step up and a massive suicide off the Red Bull kicker.  Despite bumping up over two points his placing remained the same.

  Todd Barber (seated) talks to the riders about the options for those who hadn’t done their second run.

  The riders head to the top once the decision to resume has been made.

Andreu was one of the riders arguing against continuing in the afternoon so I was surprised to see him up at the top.  He rolled the dice on a backflip no-hander and went down hard ending his first Rampage.  After Andreu, who dealt with gusting winds, there was another delay.  By the time Vanderham was ready to roll the conditions were better than they had been all day – and Thomas took advantage with a nice suicide of the canyon gap.

  Thomas Vanderham takes advantage of perfect weather conditions after the second delay.

  Cam Zink pulling the largest 360 ever?  We’ll have to call Guiness.

And then it was time for Zink.  Despite bonking his noggin I figured Zink would roll the dice once more and he didn’t disappoint.  He landed his three just about perfectly but then failed to trick the step up.  He was talking about a superman but he said that the jump was a little too lippy for it.  After that he pulled a sick whip but that was about it.  His focus on one trick reminded me of Andreu’s win at Crankworx with a double backflip and little else.  

  A nice hip after his three – but enough for a winning run?

Geoff Gulevich was talking about a suicide off the Icon sender but opted for a one-hander instead.  In the end he scored 0.20 few points for his second run while winning the non-existent consitency award.

  Kyle Strait doing a great impression of his Rampage win in 2004.

Kyle Strait was looking like a possible podium finisher when he pulled a clicked suicide off the Icon but then he crumpled badly while attempting a superman on the step up.  Apparently Cam Zink was right.

Graham Aggassiz again laid out the hip move to drop in off the ridge and then pointed it toward the canyon.  He overshot but muscled the landing and kept his run clean. Kurt Sorge’s whip last year over the canyon gap was one of the big moves of the comp.  This year, to my eyes at least, it didn’t seem like he got the bike where he wanted it.  He put in a complete run which was important after a disappointing first bid.  Logan Bingelli was charging once again in his second run but he sketched out the landing of his backflip.  He finished his run for the crowd who showed their appreciation.

  Robbie Bourdon’s flat spin attempt started out looking very pretty. Photo ~ Malcolm McLaws

A group of riders were debating the odds off Robbie Bourdon landing his flat spin off the huge Red Bull feature near the end of the course.  These amateur bookies gave him anywhere from 3 in 10 odds to 0 in 10.  The move was huge and landing it on a hip trannie made it even more difficult.  I’m sure Bourdo knew the odds weren’t great either but he tends to spit in danger’s face and he tossed the move without hesitation.  He looked nice and flat in the air but he didn’t come close to making the landing.  Fortunately there’s little that seems to penetrate his armour and he appeared unscathed.

  Taking a page out of Steve Smith’s World Champ’s scrapbook, the Claw just about loses his shit.

  Ummm – where is your leg Darren?

Darren Berrecloth was the rider pushing hardest for the restart after the weather delay – and he made the most of it with a run that almost ended in disaster – but came out clean in the end.  The Claw tossed a leg out up top to keep it upright and he struggled to stay on line lower down.  He finished with his patented 360 drop.  He finally got what he wanted out of his line after four attempts.

  Shit safely back together – Berrecloth gets back into the groove.

  Right now Mike Hopkins is realizing things aren’t going as they should.

Mike Hopkins gave everyone a scare by ejecting before landing on the canyon gap.  His bike slammed into the back of the transition snapping the forks and he landed on his feet and rolled.  He immediately got up and started to walk it off very quickly – looking like he was in a lot of discomfort.  His feet were beaten up but, judging by his appearance at the after party, not broken.

  Curtis Robinson took a big bite out of Rampage.  Unfortunately the Utah desert bit back.

Curtis Robinson was the final rider and he too failed to cross under the bottom Red Bull arch.  He landed the massive double drop a little off line and like many Rampagers before him, was felled by a spiny desert bush.

  What is this the Olympics?  It would be great to see a larger podium after what every rider in the competition went through.  How about five or maybe even ten?  Left to right, Gee Atherton, Cam Zink and Darren Berrecloth enjoy the glow.

It felt like a very long day after 40 odd runs and two weather delays and everyone seemed a little relieved to be heading off the mountain.  There weren’t many surprises once all the scores were announced and the podium was selected.  

The only Rampage I have missed is the very first one – and I have to say that this one ranks up there with the best.  The judging was solid  (with a few minor exceptions) the riding was out of this world and the format allowed the riders enough preparation time to kill it in the finals.  Congrats to Red Bull, Todd Barber and H5 events, Paddy Kaye and his build crew (who did a fabulous job) and to all the crew and riders.  Rampage is a huge event and it takes a massive effort to make it roll without a hitch.

	Rider	Rnd. 1	Rnd. 2	Overall
1	Cameron Zink	00.0	89.2	89.2
2	Gee Atherton	82.4	0.00	82.4
3	Darren Berrecloth	61.6	81.2	81.2
4	Andreu Lacondeguy	79.0	0.00	79.0
5	Geoff Gulevich	77.2	77.0	77.2
6	Thomas Vanderham	56.4	76.6	76.6
7	Robbie Bourdon	76.0	55.6	76.0
8	Kyle Strait	75.6	0.00	75.6
9	Logan Binggeli	74.8	58.0	74.8
10	Kurt Sorge	66.0	73.0	73.0
11	Alex Prochazka	57.2	72.2	72.2
12	Tyler McCaul	71.8	56.2	71.8
13	Graham Agassiz	56.2	71.0	71.0
14	Cedric Gracia	68.8	70.4	70.4
15	Greg Watts	54.6	65.6	65.6
16	Michal Marosi	64.2	52.0	64.2
17	Jamie Goldman	63.8	56.6	63.8
18	Curtis Robinson	62.4	0.00	62.4
19	Mike Hopkins	00.0	0.00	DNF
20	Chris Van Dine	0.00	0.00	DNF
21	James Doerfling	0.00	0.00	DNF

About done with Rampage?  Looking forward to 2012?  Any comments on the results?  Send ’em this way…