Located in southwest Utah, Zion National Park features some of the nation’s most picturesque scenery, the most famous of which is the park’s signature red mountains. Sprawling across the desert-like landscape, these mountains appear barren, with seemingly little redeeming quality. But for one week out of the year, one particular mountain is vibrant, full of life and home to one of the biggest, most aggressive freeride mountain biking events the world has ever seen – Red Bull Rampage.
Part of the Red Bull Signature Series, an ongoing group of events aimed at pushing the limits, Rampage is a progressive competition that’s part speed, part big air and completely insane. The world’s best daredevils – ahem, mountain bikers – must mold the terrain into their own unique line, one that will guide them from the top to the bottom, popping off tricks along the way. It’s one of Red Bull’s older events, dating back to 2001, though it’s certainly morphed into the sport’s premier event.
This year’s iteration, the 11th edition of Rampage, proved to be bigger and more badass than in the past, as Red Bull made several tweaks to the event, adding more height and trimming the athlete list, all while offering some of the most ground breaking broadcast coverage in all of professional sports. The product of those tweaks was an immersive fan experience and some of the most competitive freeride mountain biking ever at Rampage.
It was an incredible sight to observe and while the footage is amazing, nothing compares to standing on the course and looking straight down – unfathomable.
But to truly understand, you have to see how it came together.
FROM HILLS TO MOUNTAINS
Graham Agassiz rides his line at Red Bull Rampage in Virgin, UT, USA on 14 October, 2016. // John Gibson/Red Bull Content Pool
The origin of Rampage can really be traced back to one man, a man who put freeride mountain biking on the map, and his name is Josh Bender.
Now a judge for the event, Bender had a “ride first, ask questions later” kind of mentality, barreling down Zion’s mountains with little more than hockey shoulder pads and a tiny 12-inch bike. But he was an innovator, building some of the key course elements. And he had an unmistakable talent for landing massive tricks – and maybe breaking a bone or two.
If Bender is credited with Rampage’s start, it’s Darren Berrecloth that made it what it is today. The man known as “Bearclaw” is one of the few riders responsible for bringing a BMX flavor to mountain biking – implementing tricks from the discipline into his jumps. In 2002, Berrecloth was invited to ride in Utah and eventually wound up taking home third place in the second annual event.
Although he’s never won Rampage, he’s definitely helped make the event bigger. Now, many in the sport admit there’s two eras when looking at professional mountain biking – pre-Bearclaw and post-Bearclaw.
He’s certainly the man partly responsible for making it as jaw-dropping insane as it is today.
FROM THE CAMERA TO THE SCREEN
To broadcast Rampage was no small feat, with many challenges presenting themselves.
The mountain, which was approximately four miles from the closest paved road, was only accessible either by hiking, by mountain biking or by an off-road vehicle, making it difficult to lug and set up equipment. We aren’t talking about a couple of cameras and some speakers. There was a pile of professional cameras, GoPros and more equipment needed to be spread throughout the course to get the perfect angle – and of course, there was a helicopter flying over head to get the view from the sky.
The entire event was streamed live on Red Bull TV, so that riders throughout the world could tune into the action as it was happening – but it required even more direction and attention.
Set up a few hundred feet from the course was an air conditioned trailer – and another for the computer equipment – that housed the control board, allowing the folks at Red Bull to monitor each camera in the search of the perfect shot. It was a small village that required weeks of planning out, one that really had little time for testing until practice, though nothing compares to the real deal of shooting the event.
Aside from Red Bull TV, it will also have a wealth of footage downloaded onto YouTube in the coming weeks, giving fans almost every perspective imaginable, though it’s the point of view that’s truly incredible. Video was also shot for NBC, as Rampage will air on the network Saturday, Nov. 12, providing mountain biking with national exposure, to allow for continual growth and evolution.
To take Rampage and make it easily accessible to fans in an area that offers very little cell phone reception and water cannot be understated. T o put into perspective, one worker compared it to a Sunday Night Football broadcast, in that it’s just as elaborate a setup but with half the manpower.
CREATING THE COURSE
Each of the 21 riders – half of last year’s amount, which provided more unique lines – were responsible for choosing their line and ensuring it met their specification.
Kyle Norbraten rides during Red Bull Rampage in Virgin, UT, USA on 14 October, 2016. // Christian Pondella/Red Bull Content Pool
Riders had several helpers who would dig up, pat down and water specific areas of the course allowing for maximum effectiveness. From an outsider’s perspective, it seemed like the teams were almost a family, but there was never any bickering from one team to another, instead, the athletes’ helpers were working with one another – something that was rarely seen in years past according to several of Rampage’s veteran onlookers.
When standing high atop the mountain, it was clear where last year’s course was – a quick walk away, in fact some of the audience sat in the location of last year’s finish line. Once Red Bull was through with the course for the week it wouldn’t touch it, but rather, leave it in its current state. Of course, they would clean up any trash in the area, but that was it. But what about the sandbags, you ask? Well, the sandbags were biodegradable, so in a few years, you wouldn’t even be able to tell they were there.
Preparing the course for the finals was no easy task. Armed with shovels, rope and pickaxes, it was the job of six men – all of whom had extensive knowledge building bike parks or previous Rampage courses – educated in the finer safety points by before moving excessive amounts of dirt.
Thomas Genon rides during Red Bull Rampage in Virgin, UT, USA on 13 October, 2016. // Christian Pondella/Red Bull Content Pool
New this year was the inclusion of running water to the top of the course. While it rained early in the process, water was still required to pack in the dirt. And with 200 feet of hose, not too many nooks and crannies were dry during the sculpting progress. Water was available for building in the past, but never like this year.
Of course, Polaris Razrs and other four-wheel off-road vehicles were essential to the process.
Want to know who took home first this year at Rampage, well you’ll just have to tune in to NBC on Nov. 12 at 2:00 p.m. EST or check out some of the highlights on Red Bull TV.
Ed Miller is a contributor for CraveOnline Sports. You can follow him on Twitter @PhillyEdMiller or “like” CraveOnline Sports on Facebook.
Photos: Red Bull Content Pool
