Anything is possible in the rocky desert of Utah: luck and bad luck, joy and pain, the winner's podium and intensive care. And then there's the wind and weather, which make the competition a nail-biter for the freeride athletes. The rules are the same as before: 18 of the world's best freeriders are allowed to show off their skills on two runs. Whoever chooses the most fluid line into the valley and dares to perform the most stylish tricks will take the freeride crown. A jury of Rampage veterans will judge the runs and award points.
As the top 8 from the previous year are automatically allowed to start the following year, there are few places left for new riders. This year's newcomers are Luke Whitlock, a Utah local, and Tom Isted from England, who made headlines with his monster flips at Darkfest. Unfortunately, there are no Germans this year either - the only German at the Rampage was Guido Tschugg (2004, 2008). The Austrian Clemens Kaudela will be competing for the second time.
Whether Clemens will actually take part in the final is still up in the air. C-Dog" fell during training and had to be transported to hospital by helicopter. Apparently he is okay, but wants to have a check-up to be on the safe side. However, this has certainly knocked his morale and he is missing training time, which further weakens his "go for it" attitude. But we are keeping our fingers crossed for Clemens and hope "that he will be back!"
Interview: Clemens "C-Dog" Caudela
Before his crash, we conducted an interview with him about his start at Rampage 2024, his opinion on the first women's start there and his top 3.
We don't have to tremble! - Clemens Caudela
BIKE: Congratulations, you're taking part in the Rampage again this year.
Clemens Kaudela: Oh yes, last year it didn't go as I had imagined, so I'm very happy to be invited back.
Red Bull has announced the rider list. Four-time winner Brandon Semenuk is back. Semenuk seemed to have withdrawn from the competition.
I was also very surprised. Perhaps he missed the excitement of the competition.
Will the drivers now have to miss out on a podium finish?
(Laughs) Not necessarily. Anything is possible at the Rampage. You have to get your run down first. That also applies to a four-time Rampage champion. The past has shown that even Semenuk has had problems. I say: We don't have to tremble just because Semenuk has announced his participation.
What do you know about the competition site?
This year we're starting on the 2018/19 Rampage terrain, which may have been the deciding factor for Brandon Semenuk to return, as he knows he won on his 2019 line. So the terrain will be changed. This means we'll have to do without the spectacular canyon gap from last year, for example.
Is that good or bad for you?
Well, it's not as if the riders from back then can take ownership of their lines. Nobody owns the mountain. That's okay for me, because then I don't have to build a complete line. That means I have more time to train.
Women compete in the Rampage for the first time. Where does the Women's Rampage take place?
The women get a completely untouched terrain. I think the motto was to create as little comparability as possible. Otherwise it's easy to say: "Cam Zink jumped off a 360 twelve years ago." So in the first year, the women have a blank canvas that they can design completely themselves.
Your opinion on the women's rampage?
The women have earned their own Rampage. There is absolute equality in everything. Including the prize money, of course. You have to respect that - I think that's good.
Who are your personal favourites among the men?
Tom Van Steenbergen, Brandon Semenuk, Cam Zink. I'd love to see Cam Zink back on the podium, because that would show that you can still be at the front even as you get older. I think he'll be the oldest Rampage rider this year at 38.
Kaudela says: These are the favourites!
1 Tom V. Steenbergen
"Have you seen his X Games edit? Tom can do the most difficult tricks and the Rampage is exactly his format. He came second last year. I can imagine that he's burning for a Rampage win like no other. Tom wants to win this year and there's a good chance he'll do it."
2 Brandon Semenuk
"Semenuk has won the Rampage more times than anyone else. The competition is to his liking. In 2019, he took first place in this year's cross-country - that will make him even stronger mentally. With Semenuk, you can only imagine a podium finish, can't you?"
3 Cam Zinc
"Cam Zink is taking a full risk at the Rampage - the Yank is prepared to do anything. Zink's motto: 'All or Nothing! In other words, either the podium or 10th place - anything is possible. I say that he will finish at the top again. I would be delighted."
The edits of the competitors in preparation for Rampage 2024
Dimitri Lehner
Editor
