Bicycle Retailer had this glimmer of hope for all those associated with bicycles.
OSAKA, Japan (BRAIN)—Sales in Shimano’s bicycle segment soared almost 20 percent during the first three quarters of the year as the world economy showed signs of recovery, according to nine-month earnings figures released by the company on Wednesday.
Sales rose 19.7 percent to 123 billion yen ($1.47 billion) during the first nine months of the year compared with the same time period last year and operating income increased 79.4 percent to 23.9 billion yen ($287 million).
“As a result of robust retail sales in the U.S. and Europe since the spring of 2010, worldwide distribution inventories of bicycles were at almost normal levels except in certain markets. In these circumstances, manufacturers of finished bicycles shifted to new models smoothly,” the company said in its earnings report.
Products introduced in the second quarter, primarily Shimano’s new 105 road group and Deore XT and SLX mountain bike components, continued to enjoy brisk sales in the third quarter, the company said.
Shimano Cycling Numbers Up Over Last Year
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Downhillnews is happy to announce its collaboration with Banshee Bikes. The Legend MKII is Banshee's flagship downhill race frame. We very badly wanted to test it and after talking with Jay and Rob for a little bit they agreed to hook us up with a killer deal so Downhillnews could use the Banshee Legend MKII as our official test mule. We were pumped on their offer and have been eagerly awaiting its arrival. It has been hanging in the garage for a while now and just last week we got the new Cane Creek Angleset headset to build it up with. The bike is already super slack with a 63.8degree headangle so when it came to installing the headset we opted to use the .5 degree cup installed to slacken the bike. So now our Banshee Legend has a 63.3 headangle.
Banshee Legend MKII Is Downhillnews New Test Mule
Banshee Legend MKII Is Downhillnews New Test Mule
Lapierre Signs Cameron Cole
Kiwi World Cup downhill rider Cameron Cole will be onboard a Lapierre in 2011 alongside fellow New Zealander Sam Blenkinsop.
Overcoming a season-ending broken wrist in 2010, Cameron Cole (22), of Christchurch, New Zealand, has banked his top-10 consistency of 2010 by signing with the Lapierre International team for his 2011 World Cup and World Championship campaigns.
In 2010 Cole posted three top-10 World Cup finishes with the Maxxis-Rocky Mountain team – including two podiums – and finished the season at eighth in the UCI rankings. His success did not go unnoticed with French team Lapierre jumping at the chance to take him on board.
“Talking to Laurent [Delorme, Cole's new team manager] right from the start, it seems everything is perfect,” Cole explains. “The support includes anything from a shifter cable to toilet paper. I want to be able to just forget about all those things and to just focus on riding my bike.”
Along with the new team Cole will have to get his head around a new bike. “It is a bit of a different design – it’s super light and wants to pedal over bumps super well,” he offers.
“I think Lapierre are really onto it with their bikes and design and if I have the opportunity along with the other riders, Nico and Sam, to help them keep developing them then it’s a pretty cool opportunity for me,” he smiles.
Cole, who was crowned Junior World Downhill Champion in 2006, has had a long relationship with Maxxis, beginning with Norba competition and growing with the brand into the European-based World Cup series. “I’ve grown with it and my results have improved every year and I feel like next year I can be at the top of the game,” Cole shares.
Cam Cole On Lapierre For 2011
Overcoming a season-ending broken wrist in 2010, Cameron Cole (22), of Christchurch, New Zealand, has banked his top-10 consistency of 2010 by signing with the Lapierre International team for his 2011 World Cup and World Championship campaigns.
In 2010 Cole posted three top-10 World Cup finishes with the Maxxis-Rocky Mountain team – including two podiums – and finished the season at eighth in the UCI rankings. His success did not go unnoticed with French team Lapierre jumping at the chance to take him on board.
“Talking to Laurent [Delorme, Cole's new team manager] right from the start, it seems everything is perfect,” Cole explains. “The support includes anything from a shifter cable to toilet paper. I want to be able to just forget about all those things and to just focus on riding my bike.”
Along with the new team Cole will have to get his head around a new bike. “It is a bit of a different design – it’s super light and wants to pedal over bumps super well,” he offers.
“I think Lapierre are really onto it with their bikes and design and if I have the opportunity along with the other riders, Nico and Sam, to help them keep developing them then it’s a pretty cool opportunity for me,” he smiles.
Cole, who was crowned Junior World Downhill Champion in 2006, has had a long relationship with Maxxis, beginning with Norba competition and growing with the brand into the European-based World Cup series. “I’ve grown with it and my results have improved every year and I feel like next year I can be at the top of the game,” Cole shares.
Cam Cole On Lapierre For 2011
Monday, October 25, 2010
Vail Resorts Acquires Northstar
PR Newswire reports the sale of Northstar-At-Tahoe to Vail resorts.
Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: MTN) today announced that it has closed on the acquisition of Northstar-at-Tahoe™ Resort in North Lake Tahoe, Calif., one of the premier mountain resort destinations inNorth America. Vail Resorts acquired the stock of the companies that operate Northstar-at-Tahoe from Booth Creek Resort Properties LLC and other sellers for total consideration of $63 million. The operations of Northstar-at-Tahoe are conducted on land owned by CNL Lifestyle Properties, Inc. which will be leased to Vail Resorts under a long-term agreement. Vail Resorts now operates two mountain resorts in the Lake Tahoe region, also operating Heavenly Mountain Resort in South Lake Tahoe. The Sierra-at-Tahoe resort is not part of the acquisition and will continue to be operated by Booth Creek.
"We are thrilled by the opportunity to bring Northstar-at-Tahoe into our family of world-class mountain resorts. With substantial and diverse ski terrain, a completely renovated and modern base village and outstanding guest service, Northstar-at-Tahoe has been one of the fastest growing mountain resorts over the past few years," said Rob Katz, chairman and chief executive officer of Vail Resorts. "We believe guests of Heavenly and Northstar will greatly appreciate the flexibility to enjoy both the north and south shores of Lake Tahoe as we introduce pass and lift tickets products that offer access to both resorts starting with this coming 2010-2011 ski season."
Northstar At Tahoe Sold
Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: MTN) today announced that it has closed on the acquisition of Northstar-at-Tahoe™ Resort in North Lake Tahoe, Calif., one of the premier mountain resort destinations inNorth America. Vail Resorts acquired the stock of the companies that operate Northstar-at-Tahoe from Booth Creek Resort Properties LLC and other sellers for total consideration of $63 million. The operations of Northstar-at-Tahoe are conducted on land owned by CNL Lifestyle Properties, Inc. which will be leased to Vail Resorts under a long-term agreement. Vail Resorts now operates two mountain resorts in the Lake Tahoe region, also operating Heavenly Mountain Resort in South Lake Tahoe. The Sierra-at-Tahoe resort is not part of the acquisition and will continue to be operated by Booth Creek.
"We are thrilled by the opportunity to bring Northstar-at-Tahoe into our family of world-class mountain resorts. With substantial and diverse ski terrain, a completely renovated and modern base village and outstanding guest service, Northstar-at-Tahoe has been one of the fastest growing mountain resorts over the past few years," said Rob Katz, chairman and chief executive officer of Vail Resorts. "We believe guests of Heavenly and Northstar will greatly appreciate the flexibility to enjoy both the north and south shores of Lake Tahoe as we introduce pass and lift tickets products that offer access to both resorts starting with this coming 2010-2011 ski season."
Northstar At Tahoe Sold
Saturday, October 23, 2010
2011 Intense M9
Adjustable travel 8.5"/9"/9.5" (make adjustments on our new ‘travel adjustment module’ located on the new lower link)
Adjustable geometry
Adjustable progression/shock curve
Refined geometry from past M-series bikes
New G3 replaceable/adjustable/fully enclosed dropout (not pictured)
150mmx12mm rear axle only
Full 1.5" headtube with upper pinch bolt system
Adjustable head angle via canecreek angleset (includes .5°, 1.0° and 1.5°). Simple adjustment with our new pinch bolt head tube
83mm BB shell
ISCG 05 integrated into BB shell
New flushset grease fittings at main pivots
9.5"x3" FOX RC4 shock damper spec
Completely redesigned upper and lower linkages
Completely redesigned tubing spec and frame architecture
2 year project of engineering and race development
World Cup, National and World Championship winning VPP suspension platform
Handmade at our southern California factory
Comes standard with Cane Creek AngleSet and all 3 degree of cup adjustments (0°, +/-.5, +/-1.0°)
Adjustable wheelbase via G3 dropout
Adjustable shock progression
Adjustable wheel trave (8.5", 9", 9.5")
Comes standard w/ Cane Creek Double Barrel shock$2999 Or downgrade to FOX RC4 for $2950
2011 Intense M9
Friday, October 22, 2010
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Raw Trailer
This is the trailer for my first full lenght movie called " RAW ". It is about downhill races, dirt, pumptrack, people and many more... in the beginning of 2011 you will see the whole one all over the world :-)
music : Bondage Faries - Zeta reticule
filmed & editing : Philipp Brüschke
camera : Sony NX5 (720/50p)
I´m still looking for some sponsors so who wants to see his company name in this epic edit :-) send me a message info@pb-production.de
RAW TRAILER
music : Bondage Faries - Zeta reticule
filmed & editing : Philipp Brüschke
camera : Sony NX5 (720/50p)
I´m still looking for some sponsors so who wants to see his company name in this epic edit :-) send me a message info@pb-production.de
RAW TRAILER
Friday, October 15, 2010
Danny MaCaskill "Way Back Home" Trailer
After 12 years of riding bikes, working in bike shops and making the odd trials video to show his mates, 2009 saw the whole world discover Danny MacAskill. His five and half minute video clip, which features Danny pulling off jaw-dropping moves on the streets of Edinburgh, became a YouTube sensation and led to a slew of appearances and interviews broadcast worldwide. Now, with Red Bull as his sponsor, the stage is set for Danny to push the envelope of street trials as far as it will go. Full film coming soon...
Way Back Home Trailer
Way Back Home Trailer
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
2011 Interbike Staying In Las Vegas
In response to feedback to its announcement three weeks ago that it was moving the show to August in Anaheim for 2011, Interbike today announced the 2011 edition of the show will stay in Las Vegas and will be held September 12-16.
“The announcement that we were moving the show dates and location elicited a very real response that surveys and discussions alone couldn’t accomplish,” said Andy Tompkins, Interbike show director. “Due to the overwhelmingly positive response to this year’s show and the countless conversations we’ve personally had with exhibitors and retailers regarding the future dates and location of Interbike, we are reversing our earlier decision to move the 2011 show to Anaheim in August. We are hearing loud and clear that, at this time, the industry prefers September dates and the convenience of Las Vegas.”
The indoor portion of the show will be held September 14-16 at the Sands Convention Center, with the OutDoor Demo being held in Bootleg Canyon September 12-13. The 2012 show also will be held at the Sands in Las Vegas September 19-21 with the Demo September 17-18.
2011 Interbike Venue Change
“The announcement that we were moving the show dates and location elicited a very real response that surveys and discussions alone couldn’t accomplish,” said Andy Tompkins, Interbike show director. “Due to the overwhelmingly positive response to this year’s show and the countless conversations we’ve personally had with exhibitors and retailers regarding the future dates and location of Interbike, we are reversing our earlier decision to move the 2011 show to Anaheim in August. We are hearing loud and clear that, at this time, the industry prefers September dates and the convenience of Las Vegas.”
The indoor portion of the show will be held September 14-16 at the Sands Convention Center, with the OutDoor Demo being held in Bootleg Canyon September 12-13. The 2012 show also will be held at the Sands in Las Vegas September 19-21 with the Demo September 17-18.
2011 Interbike Venue Change
2010 Canfield Jedi Review
Canfield is a small company based out of Utah. It is run by Lance and Chris Canfield who will actually answer the phone when you call. It all began in the late nineties when both brothers realized they could build bikes. They began the search for the "holy grail" of mountain bike suspension. What they discovered was that a "Parallel Link" system worked very well in downhill applications. So they began building bikes using this system and have been tweaking it for about a decade.
Over the years bike geometry has become more refined while shocks and forks are now much more adjustable. This demands fine tuning of any linkage system. After tweaking the suspension around it became apparent that using an idler pulley to put the chainline on the same level as the high pivot would benefit the bikes by minimizing or eliminating chain stretch. The reason is that minimizing chain stretch is a good thing because it eliminates pedal kick.
"Canfield Brothers Suspension has been developed from the minds of two brothers, Lance and Chris, over the last 10 years. Focusing on a parallel link suspension systems, the brothers have been prototyping and producing the leading edge of this suspension system.
We intended to make a Rearward Arc wheel path Downhill frame with zero chain stretch, braking that squats or leans back for you and has an efficient pedal feel. The Formula One Jedi is the culmination of 10 years of development and prototyping. We started with a 12″ frame the Big Fat Fatty Fat, then the 10″ Fatty Fat, then the 9″ Formula One, and now the 7.75″ Formula One Jedi. The Canfield Brothers suspension feels so smooth because of our virtual pivot moving high to low and the efficient pedaling feel that allows you to pedal through bumps. Our braking is neutral and even leans back and gets low for cornering and steep riding.
"This Bike is Magic. Period. We spent 9 years perfecting the suspension and geometry. Don’t be fooled into thinking that this feels like anything else you have ever ridden. Nothing out there feels even close. The amount of rearward travel added to the flawless braking and tight chain stays makes this bike rip.
Fastest Bike in the world and still pushing it. Nothing maintains speed better because you don’t slow down when hitting bumps. Nothing brakes better because the rearward wheel path causes the frame to SQUAT or lean back under braking. It corners sharp with a chainstay length that is .25” to .3” shorter throughout travel than an average DH frame. Stiff rear-end with long lasting 20mm Sealed Max bearings. All of this with no pedal kick or chain stretch.
So Smooth. So Fast. So Confidence Inspiring.
This bike will change your life forever!!!"
Canfield Jedi Test
Over the years bike geometry has become more refined while shocks and forks are now much more adjustable. This demands fine tuning of any linkage system. After tweaking the suspension around it became apparent that using an idler pulley to put the chainline on the same level as the high pivot would benefit the bikes by minimizing or eliminating chain stretch. The reason is that minimizing chain stretch is a good thing because it eliminates pedal kick.
"Canfield Brothers Suspension has been developed from the minds of two brothers, Lance and Chris, over the last 10 years. Focusing on a parallel link suspension systems, the brothers have been prototyping and producing the leading edge of this suspension system.
We intended to make a Rearward Arc wheel path Downhill frame with zero chain stretch, braking that squats or leans back for you and has an efficient pedal feel. The Formula One Jedi is the culmination of 10 years of development and prototyping. We started with a 12″ frame the Big Fat Fatty Fat, then the 10″ Fatty Fat, then the 9″ Formula One, and now the 7.75″ Formula One Jedi. The Canfield Brothers suspension feels so smooth because of our virtual pivot moving high to low and the efficient pedaling feel that allows you to pedal through bumps. Our braking is neutral and even leans back and gets low for cornering and steep riding.
"This Bike is Magic. Period. We spent 9 years perfecting the suspension and geometry. Don’t be fooled into thinking that this feels like anything else you have ever ridden. Nothing out there feels even close. The amount of rearward travel added to the flawless braking and tight chain stays makes this bike rip.
Fastest Bike in the world and still pushing it. Nothing maintains speed better because you don’t slow down when hitting bumps. Nothing brakes better because the rearward wheel path causes the frame to SQUAT or lean back under braking. It corners sharp with a chainstay length that is .25” to .3” shorter throughout travel than an average DH frame. Stiff rear-end with long lasting 20mm Sealed Max bearings. All of this with no pedal kick or chain stretch.
So Smooth. So Fast. So Confidence Inspiring.
This bike will change your life forever!!!"
Canfield Jedi Test
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
This Is Who We Are Trailer
Bicycle riding has become a big part of our lives. There have been numerous of occasions when we thought of throwing it all away and never getting back on. However, it fills the core of our existence and thus we will be at it until it won't be possible to continue.
The story behind it:
We have all seen Mountain Biking and bicycling in general evolve throughout the last two decades. The industry has given birth to many biking movies, which amazed us all. However this has reached to the point, where we want to show ourselves to the world.
It has started as a small project 2 years ago, which it is still today, since we don't have any fancy equipment nor the big blockbuster movie budget at our disposal nor the sponsors, that we wish we had. A couple of friends and myself decided to make a Mountain Biking film.
Do not expect a Life Cycles or Roam or NWD or any other film.
THIS IS WHO WE ARE
Thank you goes to:
- our families
- our friends
- all those who have helped us along the way
Hope you will all enjoy this teaser and will be waiting to see the film!
This Is Who We Are Movie Trailer
The story behind it:
We have all seen Mountain Biking and bicycling in general evolve throughout the last two decades. The industry has given birth to many biking movies, which amazed us all. However this has reached to the point, where we want to show ourselves to the world.
It has started as a small project 2 years ago, which it is still today, since we don't have any fancy equipment nor the big blockbuster movie budget at our disposal nor the sponsors, that we wish we had. A couple of friends and myself decided to make a Mountain Biking film.
Do not expect a Life Cycles or Roam or NWD or any other film.
THIS IS WHO WE ARE
Thank you goes to:
- our families
- our friends
- all those who have helped us along the way
Hope you will all enjoy this teaser and will be waiting to see the film!
This Is Who We Are Movie Trailer
Action Heroes Trailer
A film by Lukas Tielke
Droppin`March 2010
Featuring the riding of:
felix rosendahl, jonas berndt, patrick schweika, sascha dietzel, julian puczkus, tobi wrobel, niki leitner, marius hoppensack, amir kabbani, hendrik tafel, patrick rasche, boris beyer, stefan peters, robin specht, carlo dieckmann, mike plümacher, ludwig jäger
thinkbig-production.com
Action Heroes Movie Trailer
Droppin`March 2010
Featuring the riding of:
felix rosendahl, jonas berndt, patrick schweika, sascha dietzel, julian puczkus, tobi wrobel, niki leitner, marius hoppensack, amir kabbani, hendrik tafel, patrick rasche, boris beyer, stefan peters, robin specht, carlo dieckmann, mike plümacher, ludwig jäger
thinkbig-production.com
Action Heroes Movie Trailer
Monday, October 4, 2010
2010 Red Bull Rampage
"Today’s Red Bull Rampage Final was filled with burly crashes, amazing runs and a back-and-forth battle with Mother Nature that threatened to shut the event down altogether. Through all the drama and uncertainty, Cameron Zink managed to land one of the biggest moves in freeriding history to take both the top spot on the podium and the best trick honors.
The weather was perfect this morning at the Red Bull Rampage venue, but a check of the radar showed some sketchy conditions set to hit in early afternoon, so the pressure was on to get every rider down the course at least once.
Tyler McCaul was first out of the #1 gate, and he set the tone early with a hard-charging style, burning through the upper ridge before dropping the triple, throwing a no-hander and airing over the step-up boulder. Alex Prochazka was close behind with the same upper ridge line to the triple, but with the hard left turn after the massive step-down that he used in Qualifying. He then attempted a drop off the other boulder, blowing up on the landing.
Gee Atherton established a big lead with his first run, firing through the upper ridge line and taking an original hard-right-to-drop line, taking the step-down and becoming the only rider to successfully pull the huge gap into the quarter at the bottom of the course (sequence below). Gee was creative, fast and stylish, setting the bar pretty damn high early in the game, a mark no one could top with their first runs.
Andreu Lacondeguy switched his line from Qualifying to charge from the #2 gate to the Oakley Icon Sender, following it with a massive backflip over the 45-foot double just after it. He added another flip up the step-up and a no-hander into the bottom section of the course.
Thomas Vanderham was the first to hit the 62-foot canyon gap in the Final, landing a little nose-heavy but surviving; unfortunately, he got hung up on a bush later in his run. In fact, several riders seemed to drift slightly off their lines only to be taken out by a bush, leading announcers Brad Ewen and Cam McCaul to preach about the pitfalls of a gnarly bush (in your line, of course).
When Cam Zink’s name was called, all the other riders scrambled to get a view of the Icon Sender, knowing that he was planning to go for a 360 off of it. Cam called it out early in the week, and it simply didn’t seem possible. Throwing a rotation 30 feet out and 40 feet down into a steep, somewhat sketchy landing was just about the ballsiest move to go for on the course, but Cam was completely determined. He tore through his line on the top ridge and went for the three with no hesitation, spinning what looked like a perfect rotation. He was so close, but got just a hair sideways and went down, ringing his bell a bit in the process. We were left wondering if he’d be able to take another crack at it, and honestly, no one would have blamed him if he hadn’t.
Kyle Strait was next up, and he floated a perfect no-hander off the Icon Sender, followed by a superman seatgrab over the 45-footer. Geoff Gulevich turned in a solid run, flipping the 45-footer after styling the Icon Sender and blasting through his upper ridge line. Robbie Bourdon pulled a good score with a unique line starting with a big drop out of the gate, and Kurt Sorge landed a clean shot across the canyon gap.
After a quick break, the riders headed back up to their gates to lay down their second runs. Gee got everything he wanted out of his line on his first run, so he opted to sit out; he was in first with Lacondeguy in second and Gulevich in third.
After five runs from gate #1, the gate #2 riders came down off the top ridge under threatening skies and hefty wind gusts, and the event went on hold to wait for better conditions. For well over an hour, the outlook rapidly changed as intermittent dark clouds passed over the venue, bringing light rain and heavy winds interspersed with windows of sunshine. The riders eventually remounted, with the rest of the event squeezed into the brighter spots of the afternoon.
Lacondeguy went for it on his second run, throwing a no-handed flip over the 45-footer only to nose-case the landing. Vanderham improved his score with a perfect no-hander over the canyon gap (sequence above), which set up Zink’s return to the gate.
Although the weather delays wreaked havoc with the riders waiting to take their runs, they actually helped Zink clear his head a bit from the effects of his first-run crash. Amazingly, he went for the 360 again, sticking the landing and driving to the finish to overtake the lead. It was a history-making moment, and the crowd on hand went crazy.
The remaining riders were unable to unseat Zink, and it eventually came down to the final competitor, Darren Berrecloth (pictured below). Claw was attempting the line he was unable to complete in 2008, an original run with multiple drops and a wallride, packed with nimble direction changes in the top section. He blew a pedal high up on the line and almost went down in flames, somehow holding it together to hit all of his other moves. He 360d a drop at the end, achieving his goal and earning a podium spot in the process.
Zink not only pulled off the win and the best trick award at Red Bull Rampage, he also wrapped up the 2010 FMB overall title – not a bad weekend, and a great way to end one of his best seasons.
“Being the Red Bull Rampage champion is a dream,” Zink said after the event. "I won Crankworx twice and that’s something on its own, but this is one of the first real mountain biking contests ever. To win it is the most amazing thing in the world. In all honesty, I’d rather win Red Bull Rampage than any other event.”
Another epic Red Bull Rampage event is now in the books, with the world’s best freeriders once again gathered in the world’s premier freeriding venue. Zink’s 360 officially upped the ante, and a new breed of young riders got their first taste of the event they dreamed about while making their way up through the sport. Red Bull Rampage continues to inspire, and will continue to push the frontier of big-mountain freeriding for years to come."
by Kevin McAvoy
2010 Red Bull Rampage Results
1. Cameron Zink (USA) 89.2
2. Gee Atherton (England) 82.4
3. Darren Berrecloth (Canada) 81.2
4. Andreu Lacondeguy (Spain) 79.0
5. Geoff Gulevich (Canada) 77.2
6. Thomas Vanderham (Canada) 76.6
7. Robbie Bourdon (Canada) 76.0
8. Kyle Strait (USA) 75.6
9. Logan Binggeli (USA) 74.8
10. Kurt Sorge (Canada) 73.0
11. Alex Prochazka (Canada) 72.2
12. Tyler McCaul (USA) 71.8
13. Graham Agassiz (Canada) 71.0
14. Cedric Gracia (France) 70.4
15. Greg Watts (USA) 65.6
16. Michal Marosi (Czech Republic) 64.2
17. Jamie Goldman (USA) 63.8
18. Curtis Robinson (Canada) 62.4
(Mike Hopkins, Chris Van Dine and James Doerfling did not complete a full run)
2010 Red Bull Rampage Finals
The weather was perfect this morning at the Red Bull Rampage venue, but a check of the radar showed some sketchy conditions set to hit in early afternoon, so the pressure was on to get every rider down the course at least once.
Tyler McCaul was first out of the #1 gate, and he set the tone early with a hard-charging style, burning through the upper ridge before dropping the triple, throwing a no-hander and airing over the step-up boulder. Alex Prochazka was close behind with the same upper ridge line to the triple, but with the hard left turn after the massive step-down that he used in Qualifying. He then attempted a drop off the other boulder, blowing up on the landing.
Gee Atherton established a big lead with his first run, firing through the upper ridge line and taking an original hard-right-to-drop line, taking the step-down and becoming the only rider to successfully pull the huge gap into the quarter at the bottom of the course (sequence below). Gee was creative, fast and stylish, setting the bar pretty damn high early in the game, a mark no one could top with their first runs.
Andreu Lacondeguy switched his line from Qualifying to charge from the #2 gate to the Oakley Icon Sender, following it with a massive backflip over the 45-foot double just after it. He added another flip up the step-up and a no-hander into the bottom section of the course.
Thomas Vanderham was the first to hit the 62-foot canyon gap in the Final, landing a little nose-heavy but surviving; unfortunately, he got hung up on a bush later in his run. In fact, several riders seemed to drift slightly off their lines only to be taken out by a bush, leading announcers Brad Ewen and Cam McCaul to preach about the pitfalls of a gnarly bush (in your line, of course).
When Cam Zink’s name was called, all the other riders scrambled to get a view of the Icon Sender, knowing that he was planning to go for a 360 off of it. Cam called it out early in the week, and it simply didn’t seem possible. Throwing a rotation 30 feet out and 40 feet down into a steep, somewhat sketchy landing was just about the ballsiest move to go for on the course, but Cam was completely determined. He tore through his line on the top ridge and went for the three with no hesitation, spinning what looked like a perfect rotation. He was so close, but got just a hair sideways and went down, ringing his bell a bit in the process. We were left wondering if he’d be able to take another crack at it, and honestly, no one would have blamed him if he hadn’t.
Kyle Strait was next up, and he floated a perfect no-hander off the Icon Sender, followed by a superman seatgrab over the 45-footer. Geoff Gulevich turned in a solid run, flipping the 45-footer after styling the Icon Sender and blasting through his upper ridge line. Robbie Bourdon pulled a good score with a unique line starting with a big drop out of the gate, and Kurt Sorge landed a clean shot across the canyon gap.
After a quick break, the riders headed back up to their gates to lay down their second runs. Gee got everything he wanted out of his line on his first run, so he opted to sit out; he was in first with Lacondeguy in second and Gulevich in third.
After five runs from gate #1, the gate #2 riders came down off the top ridge under threatening skies and hefty wind gusts, and the event went on hold to wait for better conditions. For well over an hour, the outlook rapidly changed as intermittent dark clouds passed over the venue, bringing light rain and heavy winds interspersed with windows of sunshine. The riders eventually remounted, with the rest of the event squeezed into the brighter spots of the afternoon.
Lacondeguy went for it on his second run, throwing a no-handed flip over the 45-footer only to nose-case the landing. Vanderham improved his score with a perfect no-hander over the canyon gap (sequence above), which set up Zink’s return to the gate.
Although the weather delays wreaked havoc with the riders waiting to take their runs, they actually helped Zink clear his head a bit from the effects of his first-run crash. Amazingly, he went for the 360 again, sticking the landing and driving to the finish to overtake the lead. It was a history-making moment, and the crowd on hand went crazy.
The remaining riders were unable to unseat Zink, and it eventually came down to the final competitor, Darren Berrecloth (pictured below). Claw was attempting the line he was unable to complete in 2008, an original run with multiple drops and a wallride, packed with nimble direction changes in the top section. He blew a pedal high up on the line and almost went down in flames, somehow holding it together to hit all of his other moves. He 360d a drop at the end, achieving his goal and earning a podium spot in the process.
Zink not only pulled off the win and the best trick award at Red Bull Rampage, he also wrapped up the 2010 FMB overall title – not a bad weekend, and a great way to end one of his best seasons.
“Being the Red Bull Rampage champion is a dream,” Zink said after the event. "I won Crankworx twice and that’s something on its own, but this is one of the first real mountain biking contests ever. To win it is the most amazing thing in the world. In all honesty, I’d rather win Red Bull Rampage than any other event.”
Another epic Red Bull Rampage event is now in the books, with the world’s best freeriders once again gathered in the world’s premier freeriding venue. Zink’s 360 officially upped the ante, and a new breed of young riders got their first taste of the event they dreamed about while making their way up through the sport. Red Bull Rampage continues to inspire, and will continue to push the frontier of big-mountain freeriding for years to come."
by Kevin McAvoy
2010 Red Bull Rampage Results
1. Cameron Zink (USA) 89.2
2. Gee Atherton (England) 82.4
3. Darren Berrecloth (Canada) 81.2
4. Andreu Lacondeguy (Spain) 79.0
5. Geoff Gulevich (Canada) 77.2
6. Thomas Vanderham (Canada) 76.6
7. Robbie Bourdon (Canada) 76.0
8. Kyle Strait (USA) 75.6
9. Logan Binggeli (USA) 74.8
10. Kurt Sorge (Canada) 73.0
11. Alex Prochazka (Canada) 72.2
12. Tyler McCaul (USA) 71.8
13. Graham Agassiz (Canada) 71.0
14. Cedric Gracia (France) 70.4
15. Greg Watts (USA) 65.6
16. Michal Marosi (Czech Republic) 64.2
17. Jamie Goldman (USA) 63.8
18. Curtis Robinson (Canada) 62.4
(Mike Hopkins, Chris Van Dine and James Doerfling did not complete a full run)
2010 Red Bull Rampage Finals
Saturday, October 2, 2010
2010 Red Bull Rampage Announced
Launched in 2001 and held annually through 2004, Red Bull Rampage brought the creative, unrestricted ethos of freeride mountain biking to the contest arena while staying true to the sport's core ideals. Poised on a sandstone ridge in the brutal landscape near Virgin, Utah riders were free to chose whatever line they dared between an established start gate and the finish line 1,500 vertical feet below. Exactly what happened between those two points has become legendary.
2010 Red Bull Rampage
2010 Red Bull Rampage
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)