Red Bull Rampage 2024: A new era begins - everything you need to know about the riders

Originally, the Rampage 2024 was supposed to take place in a completely new, untouched terrain, where the riders would have had to create completely new lines. The organisers around Rampage inventor Todd Barber abandoned this idea. Instead, the competition will be held on the terrain where Brett Rheeder (2018) and Brandon Semenuk (2019) won. Untouched terrain will be allocated to the eight women. We spoke to Austrian Clemens Kaudela about the super competition. Clemens is competing for the second time this year.

FREERIDE: Congratulations Clemens, you're taking part in the Rampage again this year. Last year, you seemed to have the best prerequisites for a top placing. You caused quite a stir in the final with a monster jump, which unfortunately caused you to be knocked out when you landed after falling 18 metres. But new year, new luck.

Clemens KaudelaOh yes, last year it didn't go as I had imagined, so I'm very happy to be invited back.

Red Bull has just announced the rider lists. Surprise: 4-time winner Brandon Semenuk is back. Everyone thought Semenuk had withdrawn from the competition.

I was also very surprised. Perhaps he missed the excitement of the competition.

Will the other drivers now have to miss out on a podium finish?

(Laughs!) Not necessarily. Anything is possible at the Rampage. As I had to learn for myself: you have to get your run down first. That also applies to a Rampage champion, and the past has shown that even Semenuk has had problems. We don't have to tremble just because Semenuk has announced his participation.

What do you know about the competition site?

This year we are starting on the same terrain as the 2018/19 Rampage, so the terrain will be changed. This means, for example, that we will have to do without the spectacular canyon gap from last year.

There was once talk of using completely new land where nothing has been built yet. The idea seems to have been rejected. What a pity.

Yes, the 2018/19 terrain has already been worked on and there are already many lines there. Perhaps that was the deciding factor for Brandon Semenuk to take part again, as he knows that he won on his line from 2019. The terrain in Utah is pretty timeless as there is no vegetation. So it can't get overgrown and erosion from rain is negligible. In other words: not much changes there. The lines from back then are still rideable and just need a bit of shaping. If there was already a landing hill somewhere, it can quickly be made fit again.

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.

A new era begins. For the first time, women start in their own category at the Rampage. A women's Rampage! After the Red Bull Formation women's events in Utah, this is only a logical consequence, as they showed that they have the terrain under control. Where will the women start?

The women get a completely untouched terrain.

Wow, I would have thought the other way round. Let the men start in a new terrain and give the women a terrain that is already somewhat prepared.

I think the motto was: as little comparability as possible. Otherwise it's easy to say: "Cam Zink jumped off a 360 12 years ago." So in the first year, the women have a blank canvas that they can design completely themselves. I could imagine that this was the reason for the decision and that there were also logistical reasons behind it. After all, the women's area is directly adjacent to the men's area.

Your opinion on the women's rampage?

That is the natural progression. A few years ago, this would have been considered impossible. Now the women have proven what they can do at other events such as Darkfest or Red Bull Hardline. They have earned their women's rampage. There is absolute equality in everything. Even in the prize money. You have to respect that. I personally think that's good.

Will you be back with the Ruso Brothers as a digger team?

No, they have their own projects. But I have a good team again, including Justin Novella from the Trails crew. The Trails crew built the really tough stunts at Darkfest in South Africa. So I'm very well positioned there.

Emil Johansson will also be competing again, he won the BEST STYLE award last year. I can imagine that he will give it his all. Who are your personal favourites?

Oh, predictions are always very difficult at the Rampage. I think Brendan Fairclough will show a lot after his 4th place. Tom Isted will be exciting. He's a Rampage newcomer, but he can do everything and has the right mindset. Cam Zink is also uncompromising at the Rampage and ready for anything. Zink is taking a full risk, meaning either a podium or 10th place - anything is possible. The locals are also incredibly strong, such as Talus Turk and newcomer Luke Whitlock. These guys are highly motivated and know the terrain like no-one else. So it will be really interesting to see whether the young guns can take the butter off the veterans' bread. It won't be easy, because guys like Semenuk are hard to beat when they're on a good run. Luck plays a huge role at the Rampage. For my taste, there should have been more young riders on the starting list.

If you had to bet money, who would you bet on - your top 3?

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 rider this year at 38. I know you've seen the three dudes on the podium before, but they are my hot favourites.

Who would you have liked to see on the starting list?

Hayden Zablotny. An incredibly talented rider from Canada, who has been involved in the build several times. The alternative rider list also surprised me a little. That Jaxson Riddle is on there, for example. He's known more for his style than for taking risks. But it's precisely with his style and his unusual motocross tricks that he has enriched the Rampage in recent years. A good indication: he was featured in many photos, even though he didn't get that many points with his run.

Rider selection at the Rampage has always been rather opaque. It can be assumed that it is the organiser Todd Barber in direct consultation with his competition judges.

Yes, that is to be assumed. I would love to know exactly how the selection process works. I'd love to be a fly on the wall when the committee sits round the table and hear what they say about each driver (laughs).

Women at the Rampage

1 - Camila Nogueira (ARG)

Age: 30 | Hometown: Aspen, CO

Cami was born in the south of Argentina and later moved to Aspen. Mountain biking has been her passion since childhood - and now it's also her profession! The Propain rider comes from the Patagonian Andes, lives in Colorado and is known for her go-for-it attitude. Steep terrain is her thing, Camila has won the big mountain slopestyle "Proving Grounds" twice and took part in the "Tour de Gnar" - the best prerequisites for a Rampage podium finish.

2 - Casey Brown (CAN)

Age: 33 | Hometown: Revelstoke, BC, Canada

Since the age of 17, Casey Brown has been pursuing the goal of taking part in the Red Bull Rampage. As a Kiwi/Canadian, Casey has been a passionate biker for a long time. Casey is a multi-talented rider. She rides World Cup DH, EWS, Fest Series, Proving Grounds. She almost ended up in the Canadian freeski team, but opted for freeride MTB. The multiple Queen of Crankworx and Whip-Off winner now lives in Revelstoke, B.C. and is the most recognisable face in women's freeriding.

3 - Hannah Bergemann (USA)

Age: 27 | Hometown: Bellingham, WA, USA

Hannah grew up in Hood River, Oregon, and spent her younger years playing outdoor sports. This is where she discovered her passion for freeride mountain biking. The Red Bull rider pushes women's freeriding the hardest. Together with Casey Brown, Hannah was the driving force behind the introduction of a women's classification at the Rampage. At the Red Bull Hardline in Tasmania, she showed that she has all the skills to win the first women's Rampage.

4 - Jess Blewitt (NZL)

Age: 22 | Hometown: Queenstown, New Zealand

Originally from Mount Manganui on the North Island of New Zealand, Jess was invited to the Red Bull formation where she discovered her love of freeriding. The intrepid yet shy blonde made a name for herself when she became the first woman, aged just 20, to compete in the Red Bull Hardline. She dared to do the fat bone-crushing drop that even Brage Vestavik had failed to do. Jess comes from a wealthy family and rides for Cube Downhill in the World Cup.

5 - Robin Goomes (NZL)

Age: 27 | Hometown: Rotorura, New Zealand

Robin comes from New Zealand and grew up on an island in the Pacific, rode a lot of motocross and served in the army for five years after school. She discovered freeriding in Rotorua, jumped her first backflip in competition and was the first woman to complete the first top-to-bottom run at Darkfest 2023. Robin is considered the unofficial boss of female slopestylers.

6 - Vaea Verbeeck (CAN)

Age: 33 | Hometown: Duncan, BC, Canada

Skiing, snowboarding, gymnastics - Vaea did nothing else, then she got on her bike and developed a taste for competitions. The Rocky Mountain rider became multiple Queen of Crankworx. Today she lives on Vancouver Island and rides downhill. Her will to win will drive her to peak performance at the Rampage. Vaea has competed in the Downhill World Cup for 10 years, now she wants to become the Queen of Freeriding.

7 - Vero Sandler (UK)

Age: 31 | Hometown: North Wales, Great Britain

Vero is originally from New Zealand and grew up with DH World Cup races. She switched to freeriding in 2015. She wants to drive the women's freeride scene forward. World Cup Downhill, Darkfest, X-Games Real - Vero is known for steez & style. The Santa Cruz rider discovered her love for stunts and jumps in the bike parks. Her wealth of experience and steel nerves will help Vero to achieve a good Rampage placing.

8 - Vinny Armstrong (NZL)

Age: 25 | Hometown: Queenstown, New Zealand

Vinny has been mountain biking since she was 4 years old. Whether she's working on a big air freeride event or a film project, her style speaks for itself. Vinny is the queen of style - everyone agrees. No one looks better on a bike than the New Zealander. Check out her Edit Shimmer! When it's winter on her island, the Forbidden rider travels to the Canadian summer and lives a gybsy lifestyle. Vinny isn't afraid of big jumps - that makes her a favourite

2024 Red Bull Rampage Pre-Qualified Athletes

These eight riders are automatically seeded based on their ranking from last year.

• Cam Zink (USA)
• Tom Van Steenbergen (CAN)
• Carson Storch (USA)
• Brendan Fairclough (GBR)
• Talus Turk (USA)
• Kyle Strait (USA)
• Emil Johansson (SWE)
• Bienvenido Aguado Alba (ESP)

2024 Red Bull Rampage Wildcard Athletes

These riders are also invited because they have distinguished themselves in previous competitions (e.g. at Darkfest), have proven their skills in video edits or because their name is Brandon Semenuk.

• Adolf Silva (ESP)
• Brandon Semenuk (CAN)
• Clemens Kaudela (AUT)
• Kurt Sorge (CAN)
• Luke Whitlock (USA)
• Reed Boggs (USA)
• Szymon Godziek (POL)
• Thomas Genon (BEL)
• Tom Isted (GBR)
• Tyler McCaul (USA)

2024 Red Bull Rampage Alternates

If one of the seeded riders is injured or withdraws from the competition, the alternative riders will take their place.

• Ethan Nell (USA)
• DJ Brandt (USA)
• Jaxson Riddle (USA)
• Hayden Zablotny (CAN)
• Dylan Stark (USA)

The winners of the Rampage 2001 to 2023

These riders have won 17 competitions so far.

2001 Wade Simmons (CAN)
2002 Tyler Klassen (CAN)
2003 Cedric Gracia (FRA)
2004 Kyle Strait (USA)
suspended due to excessive risk
2008 Brandon Semenuk (CAN)
2010 Cam Zink (USA)
2012 Kurt Sorge (CAN)
2013 Kyle Strait (USA)
2014 Andreu Lacondeguy (ESP)
2015 Kurt Sorge (CAN)
2016 Brandon Semenuk (CAN)
2017 Kurt Sorge (CAN)
2018 Brett Rheeder (CAN)
2019 Brandon Semenuk (CAN)
2020 Cancelled due to Corona
2021 Brandon Semenuk (CAN)
2022 Brett Rheeder (CAN)
2023 Cam Zink(USA)