Since the inaugural Rampage event, now 21 years ago, 15 different events and nine different riders have earmarked their place in the history books. Come 2022, Brett Rheeder took note of last years single crown winning run and topped it with his second win in Utah.
16 of the world’s best freeriders brought their A-game to the Utah desert as they looked to once again push the boundaries of the sport.
Watch the podium-scoring runs from Red Bull Rampage 2022, featuring Brandon Semenuk, Szymon Godziek and Brett Rheeder. And then read on!
Having won the event in 2018 and finished as runner-up in 2019, Rheeder was determined to return to the top of the podium and delivered a remarkable run. After nailing his massive entry drop, Rheeder aced a flip can on a burly 48ft drop to tail whip only seconds later. The Canadian then kept the tricks coming, combining complex tricks and steep technical riding to earn a score of 90.66 and secure a second Rampage title.
I was pretty unsure what was going to happen this year. I had a lot of changes I went through as a person, and I didn’t know if I’d ever get back to this level of riding. So, I didn’t come out to win, to be honest. I just wanted to make sure whatever I did was for me.”
Brett Rheeder
Szymon Godziek linked together a nuts run with no shortage of awe-inspiring moves. The Polish freerider opted to ride Kelly McGarry’s infamous canyon gap, throwing in several manuals and some big tricks – including a flat drop 360 and a backflip over a 75ft gap. Pumping the air in celebration at the end of his ride, Godziek was awarded a score of 86.33, enough to secure second place and his first-ever podium finish at Rampage.
I wasn’t sure if I should do the 360 in the first run or the second run. It was a last-call decision, and it was super scary. It was by far the scariest thing of my life. It worked out but it was super heavy.”
Szymon Godziek
While this POV from Szymon isn’t his finals run, it was the first top to bottom from the event and damn, it’s a long way down with more than a few lines and hits to remember…
Rounding off the podium was four-time champion Brandon Semenuk, with the Canadian flying in from Rally America after only a day sighting the venue. His ninja drop in fro the starting platform was nothing short of insane….. Somehow holding it together down the steep AF line, he followed up with a signature tail whip on the flat drop. He finished his run with a 360 flat spin nac to secure a final score of 84 that earned him third place, while the caveman air at the start of his run saw him walk away with the Best Trick award.
The line shouted out at me. I wasn’t the only athlete who looked at it, but I decided to keep going because I thought it could work. It was such a cool feature and hard to pass up on because it was a unique opportunity with how they built the start platform, and you might not have that opportunity again. So despite being gnarly, it was worth the risk in my mind.”
Brandon Semenuk
Semenuk was among the many riders who wanted to drop in for a second run, eager to improve his score. However, the wind had other plans as it refused to let up, meaning there was no window to ride and the podium places were cemented.
Beyond the top three riders there were plenty of moments that wowed the crowd. Jaxson Riddle once again claimed the Michelin Style Award for his run chock full of late 90’s moto-inspired tricks all while decked out in epic Travis Pastrana inspired gear and bike, while freeride legend Cam Zink won the BFGoodrich Toughness Award for his perseverance and grit, his slam in practice was mental. Tom Van Steenbergen rightfully earned the McGazza Spirit Award after his incredible return from a life-changing crash.
You can watch the full replay from Red Bull Rampage here: www.redbull.com/rampage
