Red Bull Rampage is probably the most prestigious freeride mountain biking competition. The event is held annually in Utah, right around the corner from our surf pool at Southern Shores. Since its debut in 2001, the event has become one of the world’s most iconic and challenging mountain biking competitions.
The 2024 Red Bull Rampage made history with both the men’s and women’s competitions showcasing incredible performances. In the women’s debut, Robin Goomes claimed victory with a stunning run. She scored 85 points and impressed the judges with two massive backflips, earning her the Utah Sports Commission Best Trick Award. In the men’s event, Canadian rider Brandon Semenuk delivered a legendary run. With a tail whip, flip whip, and a score of 92.73 he secured his fifth Red Bull Rampage title. Check out more highlights of the event here.
RAMPAGE ATHLETES AND TEAMS AT THE UNIT SURF POOL
One week before the big event, we brought together all the Rampage athletes and their teams for a day at our 16-meter floating wave pool Southern Shores in Utah. This gathering was made possible by our friend Todd Barber, the founder of H5Events, the production company behind Red Bull Rampage, for the second year in a row.
We had the chance to talk with a few riders about their love for mountain biking and the parallels they see between riding waves and navigating mountain trails.
One rider shared, “There are so many things I love about mountain biking. It’s hard to pick one, but I think it’s the places it takes me and the people I meet along the way .” Another athlete reflected on the deeper connections between surfing and mountain biking: “For me, it’s about being out in the elements, whether it’s mountains or water. You’re riding, expressing yourself in your own way, and just having fun.”
Check out the highlight video, to get more impressions of the day.
Throughout the day, the athletes noted again, that surfing a unitstandingwave offers a safe environment to test limits. It allows experimentation without the high risk of injury typical in mountain biking. The controlled environment enabled riders to make quick visible progress with each run, building confidence and refining skills.
For the riders, both mountain biking and surfing serve as platforms for personal expression, resilience, and a connection with natural elements.
PROGRESS AT THE LOCATION
In addition to seeing these world-class athletes enjoying our wave, it was also a rewarding experience for the owners of Southern Shores to host this event. It was impressive to observe the progress made at the location. There are many additional houses constructed since our last visit, further enhancing the site’s development.
It was an amazing opportunity to bring these world-class athletes together catch some waves, and enjoy a day of surfing before the competition. We’re grateful to Todd and his team for making this happen again.
