The rules of the world's most spectacular mountain bike event are simple: descend the mountain in the most spectacular way possible, and make it to the bottom in one piece.
Red Bull Rampage is a thrilling mountain bike freeride experience where the world's best athletes launch themselves off the steep cliffs of Utah's arid rock faces. There are two main goals: firstly, to win the competition by impressing the judges with incredible stunts; and secondly, to walk away unscathed. And that's why Rampage is growing exponentially year after year: it started in 2001, and with the 2024 edition being the 18th in history, the competition is constantly evolving and the tricks are getting more and more spectacular.
A panel of judges evaluates riders based on the difficulty of their line, their tricks and aerials, the smoothness and control of their riding, their unique style, and their creativity. The relentless pressure drives riders to seek out increasingly exhilarating downhill runs.
A jaw-dropping environment fraught with risk
Each year, the Red Bull Rampage is held in the Utah desert, USA, close to Virgin. There, towering cliffs emerge from the arid landscape, creating a warm, sandy, orange atmosphere. The terrain is perfect for extreme freeride stunts, with riders tackling steep, vertical drops, often exceeding 45 degrees, and making jumps over 10-20 metres, with spectacular flights over canyons, ravines, and crevices.
The loose, rocky, and gravelly terrain makes for an unpredictable surface, adding an extra layer of difficulty and forcing riders constantly to adapt and react to changing conditions.
Blaze your own trail
It's not over. Unlike traditional races, there are no set courses: riders must choose their own lines down the mountainside, and to impress the judges, they must tackle increasingly steep descents, inventing spectacular acrobatic moves.
This task is complicated by the regulations; here are the guidelines:
• Riders are responsible for carving their own line of descent;
• They can be assisted by a team of two people;
• They can create or modify the course features, including ramps, drops, jumps, and landings;
• They must work within the natural terrain without damaging the environment;
• They can only use hand tools and sandbags to reinforce certain sections, and no motorised equipment is allowed;
• Each team must complete construction within a set time limit.
The proof is in the pudding
It's clear: Red Bull Rampage is an extreme, dangerous competition that pushes the boundaries of the sport and tests riders' skills, mental strength, and physical abilities, showcasing the incredible things that can be done on a mountain bike. Their abilities defy imagination; the only way to truly grasp their skill level is to watch them in action.
Their mind-blowing descents leave you yearning to know more about them, to understand the people behind the helmets. You wonder if even they, as they hurl themselves down those Utah peaks, experience the same heart-pounding fear as we do watching.
We have the opportunity to speak with Brendan Fairclough, a former successful Mountain Bike World Cup Downhill athlete. Today he's focused on video projects and freeride competitions to fuel his adrenaline-pumping social media content. His biggest project to date is the documentary series 'Deathgrip 1' and 'Deathgrip 2', coming soon to Netflix.
Brendan, freeriding allows you to express your creativity. Do you find it more exciting than downhill?
It's been a lot of fun switching from World Cup downhill to freeride. They're very different things. The experience I've gained from racing is a huge advantage when it comes to going downhill. World Cup racers have honed their bike handling skills to the highest level, and I'm lucky to be able to apply that expertise to freeriding”.
Watching your videos, your tricks are so mind-blowing because they're incredibly difficult, risky, and imaginative. First question, and a playful one at that: where do you even come up with these ideas? Second question: how do you prepare them?
“I wouldn't say I'm the best at tricks, but I did pick up a few towards the end of my racing career. I find them all pretty difficult and complex, but I'm giving it my all. To prepare, I mainly watch what other riders are doing. I'm good at learning from the best. I study their tricks in videos and try to emulate them”.
Besides being a great rider and always striving for the top spot, Brendan is also very humble. Brendan excels at long jumps and navigating complex tracks. To appreciate his skills, you just need to watch one of his videos, like this one, where he literally flies over a canyon.
How do you go about defining your line at Rampage? Do you find the right line first, and then come up with special moves?
“First, you have to find the line, the right path down the mountain. You analyse the key features of the course, try to connect them, and then figure out what you can do. Only once you've clearly identified the sections and lines do you connect them all and start thinking about tricks”.
Can you walk us through how you prepare your line? There are challenges, sometimes you find the terrain too restrictive to build the ramps you want, for example.
“In the lead-up to the race, athletes must carefully allocate their time and resources to prepare the course. The real challenge is juggling your time and figuring out how to get everything done within the allotted timeframe. The hardest part is making sure you can complete the entire line, including the ramps, within the time limit”.
As viewers, we can't help but ask: how does he pull off such a difficult trick with such ease? It certainly seems that way, because when you do your tricks, you look so natural, as if you were just casually riding down the street. Does it really come that naturally to you?
To be honest, I'm always pretty laid-back. I might feel a bit stressed or anxious before a competition, but once I put on my helmet and mask, I relax, I'm ready to go, and all the tension disappears during the race”.
Your onboard footage is amazing for the stunts you pull, but the sound is also really impactful because we can hear how excited you are, sometimes we can even hear you shouting. Can you describe what you feel when you're about to attempt a difficult trick? What goes through your mind as you're flying through the air, for instance when you're leaping across a 20-metre canyon?
I'm not tense or anything, just really focused. My mind is completely focused on the task at hand. I'm visualising my line, the trick, and the perfect landing. I might let out a few yells, but it's just the adrenaline talking. I'm glad I landed the trick and let out that yell”.
Considering you frequently encounter challenging and risky scenarios, what can you share about risk?
“I leave nothing to chance. I analyse all the possible scenarios and only do what I believe I can handle. I weigh everything up and take everything into account. I think long and hard and consider all the possible scenarios, trying to eliminate as many risks as I can. For example, when I'm setting up my line, I try to clear away any loose rocks and make everything as safe as possible. It's true, you often see impressive moves, but the risks are always calculated. There's nothing reckless about it”.
Here's a technical question. Bicycles, suspensions, and tyres experience forces well beyond normal levels. What are your thoughts on this?
“There's no mountain bike in the world designed to withstand the stresses of a Rampage run. I ride a downhill mountain bike, and my training for this event is no different from what I'd do for a World Cup. My mechanic is here, double-checking everything: tire pressure, suspension setup, and all. We're ready to roll. I trust the components, so there's no need for any extra precautions”.
A technical note
Brendan's bike is equipped with Pirelli 'Scorpion DH T' and "Scorpion DH M" tyres - a 29-inch in the front and a 27.5-inch in the rear. These downhill tyres feature a super-soft compound and a reinforced casing for maximum performance on descents. The chosen tread pattern is the 'T', which stands for ‘traction', perfect for the Rampage's signature sandy and rocky surfaces. While the M pattern stands for ‘Mixed terrains', and is more suited to the Rampage's typical sandy and rocky surfaces.
Incredible Brendan! To see his incredible tricks and get a behind-the-scenes look at his extreme lifestyle, we recommend following him on Instagram (@brendog1).
