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Virgin, UT – October 6, 2008 – Brandon Semenuk was in elementary school
when the first Red Bull Rampage was held, but for the legendary mountain
bike event’s triumphant return to Utah, he proved he was no child, grabbing
first place and $10,000. Brandon joined 27 of the world’s best mountain
bike riders who gathered to celebrate the legacy of the sport's most
influential freeride event. Red Bull Rampage, which set the standard for
big mountain competition from 2001 to 2004, re-emerged in 2008 with a new
venue, a radical new course, and a hell of a lot of anticipation. Red Bull
Rampage: The Evolution showcased the unbelievable progression of big
mountain riding. Riders took gutsy, creative lines down the mountain and
stomped huge tricks on the challenging terrain. When the dust settled, the
adrenaline stopped racing, and the sting of sweat subsided, Canada’s
Semenuk emerged as big mountain riding’s next big thing.

WEATHERING THE STORM
The event kicked off with more challenges than just a 60-foot gap jump. A
thunderstorm that passed through Southern Utah on Saturday’s qualifying day
(the first major rain seen in this part of the country in months) caused
the event to be postponed for 24 hours. However, the sun came out and
brought with it improved course conditions, as the rain helped temper the
dust, make the course more tacky and the riders more eager. Twenty-eight of
mountain biking’s best riders were invited to compete in Sunday’s
qualifying round. The field was narrowed in half for the finals, where the
most technical and gutsy lines equaled a hall pass to the next day.

MANIC MONDAY
The finals fulfilled all expectations, from gutsy progression like Thomas
Vanderham’s suicide no-hander over the 60-foot gap - named the Utah Sports
Commission’s Best Trick - to some dramatic crashes, including one that took
out event favorite Gee Atherton in practice just minutes before the
competition began.

On a day where many of the sport’s legends, like previous Red Bull Rampage
winners Kyle Strait and Cedric Gracia, struggled to get a completely clean
line down the mountain, it was the young up-and-comer  Semenuk who proved
that it’s not just experience that puts you at the top of the podium but
also guts. His no-handers, no footed can and a big 360 down a gap
catapulted him to the top of the podium. Semenuk showed that it was a mix
of planning and luck that got him there. After getting doused in
celebratory champagne, he said, “I built a line up on the right ridge that
I thought mixed it up a bit; I felt good and stomped it. I was pretty
worried about the three (360) at the bottom because I never stuck it on a
downhill bike before, but it came together and I’m so stoked.”

The judges agreed with his method, citing his big tricks as well as his
speed and fluidity as the reasons for his win.

SETTING THE STANDARD, SETTING THE STAGE
Born in 2001, Red Bull Rampage provided the only true competition venue for
a new breed of mountain bike rider – those who were charging off
established, groomed trails to forge first descents down unchartered
mountains, similar to backcountry freeskiers. Red Bull Rampage was an
immediate phenomenon.  Riders from all mountain bike disciplines hoped for
an exclusive invite to the event, and the industry held its collective
breath every October to see just how far Red Bull Rampage and the riders
would push the sport.

After four inspiring and extremely successful years at the same venue, the
long search began for a new, even more challenging piece of terrain. Event
organizers scoured the globe from Turkey to China to Mexico and beyond.
Meanwhile, trick-heavy disciplines like slopestyle and dirt jumping were
advancing rapidly, and big mountain riders continued to push their
technical skills. Of course, no competition could bring these elements
together as Red Bull Rampage had, so mountain biking's biggest, most
influential event was destined to return.

The return of Red Bull Rampage itself proved to be an evolution, where big
mountain riding met groomed obstacles and a challenging course. A new
standard has been set, and the young Brandon Semenuk has proven that you
can never predict when the future becomes right now.

(press release)