RESULTS & REPLAY: $100,000 Awarded - Red Bull Rampage Men's Competition 2024 14

Maybe we were caught up in the moment leading up to contest day, or maybe we have selective memory, but judging criteria and controversy were not at the front of our mind during the lead up to this year's Rampage. The lines being cut into the hallowed mountain sides of Virgin, Utah seemed bigger and gnarlier than ever, and the level of riding on display from day one of training was so high that you could feel new ground being broken with every Instagram update. Did the event live up to the hype? It sure did. Do we think a few of the scores need to be explained further? You bet.

Before we get bogged down in a debate around who was the best bicycle rider of the day, let's talk about winning. Adolf Silva with a pinned top-to-bottom run that featured a massive backflip on the Price is Right drop and a rowdy double backflip at the end of his run? Winning! Bienve bouncing back from his gnarly crash in practice to line up in the start gate? Winning, even if he crashed again and had to call it a day. Tom van Steenbergen launching a massive front flip on the Price is Right? Winning! T-MAC connecting the dots on the biggest drop at this venue before taking on his drop from 2019 with equal success? Definitely winning! Szymon Godziek finally linking up his top-to-bottom run and grabbing the highest score after run 1? Winning, figuratively and literally.

First rider drops at around 2:16:00 in the replay video (there was a 2-hour wind delay)

Brendan Fairclough having added an incredible amount of natural gnar to his old line, completing a gut-wrenching drop that was first scouted by Jordie Lunn (RIP), and adding a step-up lip to The Rock? A huge win in our books, and surely worthy of a long-awaited podium spot for Team GB? Not to be, once again. The judges had him in 9th spot after run 1, and that well and truly felt like a slap in the face of freeride. We're not judges, but when an overwhelming majority of online viewers get so vocal about something, you have to consider the possibility that the judging has gone spectacularly wrong. Even the onsite spectators booed when the score dropped, we can't remember the last time that happened if it ever did.

We can split hairs all day to debate the order that all the flips and spins should be placed in once the dust settles. Was Sorge's run better than Silva's? We're not too invested in that decision. T-MAC vs. TVS? Not too bothered, either way. Those were all fantastic runs, executed at the highest level and we can absolutely live with not agreeing with every single decimal point decision that the judges make (they are professionals, after all). But when the judges dropped that 76 for Brendog they sent a pretty clear message: "meh, that's not what we want." When you contrast that with the overwhelming public outpouring of support for Brendog's run, you have to feel like there's a reality disconnect here somewhere. 

We're not taking anything away from the other competitors, but devaluing the natural aspects of a run to this point really popped the balloon this time. Brendog made it look easy because of how much skill he has, and we're thankful we got to see him stomp such a fun and progressive line, but we would have been happier to see the judges reward him as well. Ultimately we're perhaps being silly, counting points when people are launching off building-sized cliffs in the desert for our enjoyment, but we live a world that wants to quantify things and you always love to read a positive review of your favorite gear, right?

Healing vibes to Cam Zink who was the last rider to drop into the first run. He took a nasty crash and was airlifted to hospital. On the show, they reported that he is in the hospital in stable condition and doing well. The specifics of his injuries were not relayed.

Another fine Rampage tradition is watching the wind come up to disrupt the day. True to form, the windsocks got horizontal just as the riders were deciding whether or not they wanted to take a second run. 6 riders threw their hat in the ring, and the waiting game began. 5pm local time was the target, and fingers were now crossed on both sides of mother nature's weather coin flip for the day. Some wanted another shot to move up the rankings, others were hoping the results would stand. Time, as always, would tell.

5pm rolled around with winds clocking in at a consistent 8mph with stronger gusts as the six riders gathered at the top for a final decision on whether to continue. The riders said, "let's go," and each was given an 8-minute window in which to drop in. Thomas Genon lined up first and sat in the gate for 7:50, waiting on a signal from his dig crew that the wind was good. That signal came and Tommy G dropped in with an exceptional run featuring technical chutes, front flips, big 360 and backflips, kicking off the evening session with great fanfare. Tommy stacked up an 85.83 and landed in 5th.

Tom Isted smartly tapped out as the wind around his massive canyon gap was not calm enough for a rerun. Semenuk stepped up to the plate for potential redemption. After a long wait, Semenuk made the drop and GREASED his line with all the technical moves attempted earlier in the day. He stomped the oppo tailwhip lillypad drop and nailed the flipwhip drop that took him out in run one. He concluded with an opposite 360 over the finish double and the judges had some work to do as they compared Semenuk's run with Godziek's. In the end, the judges rewarded the technical slopestyle merits and Semenuk went into 1st place with a 92.73. Godziek was obviously deflated upon hearing the news as he sat in the tent at the bottom, having opted out of his 2nd run hours before.

Luke Whitlock contemplated a run as the wind was back up and his family anxiously waited in the finish corral. His time ran out and he decided to play it safe without a second run. Well done today, Luke! Talus Turk and Adolf Silva also declined their 2nd runs due to the wind, and although we were hungry for more entertainment we salute these decisions as the wind variable adds an entirely unnecessary layer of risk to an already dangerous activity.

The first and last man down the mountain, Brandon Semenuk, earned his 5th Red Bull Rampage victory and $100,000 in the process. During his post-event interview, he almost seemed apologetic about his position figuring there will probably be controversy around the judges' score. Regardless, Semenuk did Semenuk things and we were all amazed.

Congrats to the winners, to the competitors, and to the spectators. Freeride MTB is a collective movement and our Super Bowl never disappoints. The numbers get the final say in who walks home with the trophies and the cheques, but everybody wins at this game. Healing vibes to the injured!

2024 Red Bull Rampage Results - Men