Brendan Fairclough HONEST about Red Bull Rampage 2024 judging (and more)

[@TheRideCompanion]

Full episode video kzbin.info/www/bejne/m4Kld6aXnrp0ask // Full episode audio open.spotify.com/episode/2VKqEobtgYbNxv0kBSKZ9x?si=c7d9b0b4ef8b4475

[@Shwise6505]

You should build a line there next year and put it out as a video part rather than bother with the competition side of it. Do it for freeride and the fans, not a redbull trophy.

[@stevenlaxton3618]

Red bull is becoming less about freeride and more into being the biggest craziest slopestyle event. So I like your idea it’d be cool to see some straight gnarl like he rode this year put out just for the fans

[@cornishcactus]

@@stevenlaxton3618 Do a Guy Martin, turn up early, do your thing, go home before the real event starts.

[@caseyrimdinger3220]

If only you had a dollar for every Robbed comment

[@iDSMB1]

thats the way.

[@garethbodsworth5756]

​@@cornishcactus100% agree

[@GamersNexus]

The real testament to your team's lines is that it seems for 2023 and 2024, all the highlight reels -- including Redbull's -- seem to focus on your runs. As an anecdote, people I know who don't watch bike sports were getting your clips in the mainstream and sending them to me. These are people who've never heard of Rampage and they're seeing your lines. If yours are the ones getting shared as the face of big mountain, and Red Bull markets itself off of the runs and racks up views on your footage, clearly they're done right. They're just not rewarded fairly, IMO. But I'm not a judge. Hopefully it's some reassurance that what you guys do is respected by the viewers and fans of the sport. If you ever need another sponsor to help offset the fact that they won't give you a trophy, even just for your build log videos, I'd be happy to work something out just to support.

[@BurnsRubber]

Very nice of you Steve. I look forward to watching Brendon’s Rampage line every year. I’d in pitch accommodations or gas.

[@pendulum1997]

Not the crossover I expected

[@badwrong6362]

The tech Jesus have spoken!

[@budride7138]

Tech Jesus, here we go!

[@Dannysess]

Did not expect to see you here. lol

[@davehumpleby3440]

Im glad you guys said you are proud of your achievements at Rampage. You bloody well should be. They were colossal. The fans are the ultimate judges, and plenty of us know your run deserved a far higher score. It seems a political element has encroached on the event and the scoring.

[@nathanambler9501]

What this guy said..bloody good show chaps

[@Urbancanopypgm]

They need to introduce a rule where you can only share say 20% of your line with one other rider, so you don’t get a 20 man dig team building one groomed slope style course line that half the field use. Judging should score like a freeride ski comp Line choice - individual lines score higher, use of the land (making a feature of an existing item over just building jumps) amplitude Style speed tricks This years was watching half the field put down very samey lines, groomed jumps allowing double flips etc How Bren scored so low is crazy, how a front flip from TVS didn’t podium?!

[@SubmarinersDive]

Time for Monster to step up!

[@H4UNTED85]

Monster Mountain sounds good

[@ImposterJones]

monster mountain madness, 3M could co-s​ponser@@H4UNTED85

[@philt77]

@@H4UNTED85but not many that will be able to qualify for it. Redbuml hardline is the shi t

[@evilc.reations]

@@philt77 there are so many good riders on Monster wdym

[@evilc.reations]

Do it in Europe, bring the massive Polish, French Spanish, German and UK crowds along. I'd go without a seconds thought.

[@robbaker8390]

They should call it Redbull Ramps next year. But seriously there’s no way redbull can ignore the hand grenades that have gone off in the comments. Every rampage video, even from the other riders has mention of Brendogs line. Read the room.

[@tjpighin]

Yes because brendons entire run had every freature completely groomed. Even the" jordie drop" that he turned into a roller had sand bags halfway down and shovel packed like a sidewalk. That is hypocrisy at its finest.

[@tjpighin]

Call a spade a spade. You either do new venue, no tools no practice no nothing or you keep with the progression the way its going. You can't say one buffed line is more raw than another buffed line and say it's more "rampage" that is just completly obsurd

[@kobemaui9983]

​@tjpighin You have got to be joking right ??

[@tjpighin]

@@kobemaui9983 facts suck don't they. Don't take my word for it. Look it up yourself. There are clips showing it on yt. The only part that is not buffed is that little flat section before thw jordie roller I believe. Not Raw like yall are saying. You cant say his build team worked their asses off and say its the most "raw" rampage style run in the same sentence. That is the definition of oxymoron. Reality is a virtue

[@kobemaui9983]

​@tjpighin I disagree, I watched hours and hours of build content a large chunk of the hill was so watered and packed it might as well have been hot mixed ... Rampage at least was a Free Ride event but hey looks like Free Ride is dead.

[@jl-xs6ud]

Good to hear Brendog and Olly's take on the whole thing, if the judging is what people are saying it is I won't be watching Rampage again. Hardline is about the only R.B. event I can be bothered with these days.

[@0harris0]

what about Cerro Abajo? 😢

[@jl-xs6ud]

@@0harris0 I haven't watched it yet just down to being busy. I do enjoy the urban downhill stuff. Worth a look???

[@gasmaske1232]

@@jl-xs6ud it is worth a look. Especially because you see less known riders from South America as well as familiar faces from the downhill world cup.

[@mikeagar5845]

One thing look forward to seeing on run up to rampage is all your vlogs your all the people's champ 🏆 🏆 🏆

[@TheRideCompanion]

BIG UP

[@darrenbutterworth807]

Those emojis look like three tiny cups to me!!! 😜🤣

[@SimonBauer7]

yeah there is politics involved, not saying you had to win, but your score makes no sense. the fact that the judges couldnt explain the score speaks volumes about this. rampage also is turning into a slopestyle competition tbh. which most people online dont like, and the people there dont like aswell.

[@elhior23]

Turning into? It is a slopestyle event.

[@KonnyP]

@@elhior23 it was one the moment semenuk did a tailwhip in 2021

[@pc750-V4]

​@@elhior23 yep I agree, and he takes a different approach which is no doubt why he's never won it (unfortunately)

[@JZStudiosonline]

I've definitely noticed as a casual viewer that the lines are just being retread over and over. Kind of lame seeing all the same backflips on all the same jumps from almost every rider.

[@Madarch78]

The fact judges came up....says to me there is too much politics....redbull obviously have a narrative they want...it was obvious in both judging and commentating.

[@SMK-tw3wu]

Who pays the judges and the commentators?

[@iDSMB1]

@@SMK-tw3wu money

[@alpmtb]

Not being a North American who win's / podium's the event has some political weight in the decision making process, Andrea L won in 2014 🤔

[@benjocalrision]

It's interesting that towards the end of that chat I heard "everyone's idea of Rampage is different". That's because it has an identity crisis. If the event doesn't know what it is, people will make it what they want. It's so far away from what it used to be.

[@elhior23]

It is a slopestyle event now. That is what they want.

[@Rab_Cee]

Its was always a competition with extreme runs, thers nothing extreme about a perfectly smooth built slope style track. Redbull clearly want it to be bar spins n backflips like every other point scoring bike event. Definitely finished watchin any of this shit. Better off just watching brendons channel n ignore the competition

[@broxy55]

Scrap the points. Put the rider's name on the board where the run belongs, and shuffle things along as the day goes on. 'above him, below him'.

[@andresdavila4500]

You actually summed it up perfectly! ‘At the end it comes down to everyones take on what rampage is’ without a guideline the event is and isn’t anything and everything at the same time. Your line was insane and it deserved more!!

[@ScottSmuin-du4ef]

100% there were issues with the judging, Brendog should have scored higher, and Rampage needs to sort out its identity issue. BUT there were so many sick runs this year! All this complaining in the comments about the judging just takes away from the fact that so many riders had truly epic runs. Tom's run was sick, Godziek's run was sick, Semanuk's run was sick. Silva's run was sick, Tyler's run was sick, etc. Yeah, the judging could have been better, but damn the riding was good.

[@nickt471]

Here’s the thing right. With your videos from the 3 of you for 2 weeks before. If you could get stats from the anmount of people that watched the event because of them. I bet you got heck of a lot of people to tune in. I wasn’t really interested in watching people double flip. I want to see people ride the un rideable. And there’s only 1 team doing that from top to bottom I recon

[@TheRideCompanion]

Word

[@benfulford3943]

To be fair, I've only watched it live the last couple of years cos of Brendogs videos!

[@nickt471]

@@benfulford3943 me too. I appreciate what the slopestyle riders are doing. But I don’t think it’s rampage. Who am I to say tho I couldn’t ride any of it. Mcgazzas flip probably got me into watching it live. That was insane!

[@dvs620]

You summed up Rampage perfectly. I've had people say I couldn't ride it. Well, no shit. But it's saying something when my local XC trail has more rocks and rougher trails than most of these lines. It's not about who can do the most flips, it's about watching guys ride something that shouldn't be ridden. If I wanted to see flips off big jumps on perfectly groomed tracks, I'd watch Darkfest or the Nines.

[@AndreasHuber-hi2re]

Yes, the media value and reach for RB thanks to all these great build and dig videos must be absolutely insane.

[@Peter-nu8st]

You should not return to rampage. Its too much disrespect.

[@stegut2375]

Brendan's rejection of the Red Bull drink was an epic moment (besides the food reviews by the Deakinator)

[@jmo2752]

It was - but I imagine he'll now only score in the 50's if he goes back next year ;o)

[@klash9684]

great honesty there. they did all they could and more. plus, it was telling that they said half the riders cleaned their runs first practice day which means they weren't pushing the limits of freeride. but again, is rampage freeride or slopestyle now?

[@andershanson2918]

Personally, I think its way cooler to watch Bren do gnarly lines, and it adds so much to the actual 'freeride' component of rampage that now appears to be hanging on by a thread. They are essentially saying you need to be a Slopestyle rider to win now. All respect to your efforts, the judges may not see it, but the fans sure do!

[@geoffsimons3475]

I just watched the full episode and Bren and Olly did a great job of trying to look at it from other peoples perspectives and find the good in a very weird result. I absolutely agree with their point about riders like Kade, Kaos, Brage, and other gnarley riders not being likely to go to Rampage in the future. I’ll miss the vlogs next year 😢. I hope Deaks continues with the food reviews now he’s back home 😂

[@blueflamingo6307]

We are all totally gutted the way Rampage all turned out!! All the effort, build up and line/ramp building was exactly what we all want to see!!!! Anyone can find a big drop to build a kicker and flip or whip ! Rampage and how its judged has gone in one direction and we all loose out because of it! Its clear now that comps like Hardline are where we see the true essence of the sport showcasing both Ladies and Men's elite athletes. Will follow where ever Brendan, Olly and the crew wherever they decide to compete and ride, love the content, community is amazing as always.

[@alanmartinezrodriguez884]

Just like him, I don't think Brendog shouldve won Rampage neither last year nor this year. But, his places are simply not a reflection of how good his performances were. Imo, he shouldve placed top 5 this year. For me the winner was either Semenuk or Godziek. Third place for Steenbergen and either Brendog or Silva next.

[@RigmodsModding]

At the end of the run someone tried to hand bren a redbull, the optics of him turning it down felt purposeful

[@danh925]

When you’re sponsored by the opposition, its kind of expected. 😂

[@kevinfromdevon]

​@@danh925not only that but a real athlete won't drink that garbage anyway. Monster energy makes cans with plain water in for their athletes

[@_Jake.From.Statefarm_]

What's even funnier is that he still has his goggles on and was trying to compose his emotions.. He turned it down full kit haha.

[@stevenagel6096]

I think the judges need to make it clear what the judging criteria are. And I don't think side by side replays should be allowed.

[@Primarch_Vulkan]

3:30 i actually disagree with you here there is a right or wrong. It dosen't matter if you can do a double backflip down a silky smooth run-in over a 50ft gap. Rampage is a freeride competiton not a slope style competition and some how the judges forgot about that part.

[@lecolintube]

I’ve really loved watching your trip (but especially hearing your heart 🧡) through it all: the build up to Rampage (literal and other prep), watching your runs (all on your channels) and now your debrief 🧡🕊️ I’m gutted that at your level, they don’t want to automatically invite you back. (Could that be a door opening to something new?) I think, who you are has totally won over so many people 🧡🕊️ I wonder too if the judges need a more structured way of scoring, to help anyone competing know what they’re after it might put everyone on a level playing field. The thing that blew me away was hearing one of your best mates Ollie saying “Brendon is actually really afraid of heights, he hides it well, but he’s actually afraid of heights”. 🤯 The intimacy, vulnerability and honesty here make you guys so much bigger champions than any podium! Praying for more to come 🧡🕊️

[@beardedvikingmtber]

It’s an extreme slope style event now not a free ride event

[@tjpighin]

I hate to tell you, but that is what freeride is. You can only ride something so steep till it turns into a drop and you can only do a drop so big until the landing has to be shaped. If you want to pigeon hole the sport so that there is no way to progress and make it so a top 10 competitor has the chance of winning first then ban all tricks including flips, no handers and everything. Seems pretty lame to me. I wanna see the premier freeride event to continue to progress. I vote completly new raw venue. All tricks are rewarded as that is what separates the men from the people identifying as men and no sand bags, no tools, no land modification and no practice. Just send it and see what people come up with. Then the term "more raw" is taken out of the equation.

[@NextLevelRiding]

good chats! One "off the top of my head" suggestion..... any chance rampage could be run without any tools? Literally just pick a line down the hill, no alterations, no jump builds, no tools aloud. Just raw free ride. This would get rid of the variables and would put everyone on the same playing field.

[@nickmaclachlan5178]

If judges come to you with apologies (even if they were from last year's event) then you know there's a problem.........

[@ADI121195]

I feel the event should be live over 2 days of riding give everyone the best chance of getting down the hill in good weather gaps etc and the judges should score the event after all the riders have finished riding giving them a fair chance to go over all the runs overall rather than scoring as they go

[@jlc6290]

It's awesome to hear you guys give your thoughts, and I know how long drives are kinda stimulating that way. But can you guys do something....anything for audio...that road noise is brutal haha.

[@timunerman3808]

You should definitely be a dig crew for a women's rider next year!!! That would be epic to watch and anyone would be so lucky to have the mighty brendog team onboard !

[@joel6376]

I was surprised they weren't all female dig teams.

[@mfcat2009]

Love the way Brendog calls it "our run" & "our result", proper team acknowledgement!

[@Steven-zl7md]

Well done guys you killed it out there. Wicked line, ridden amazingly. Rampage had been turning in to a slopestyle event over the years. I think a lot of people (including me) still want it to be a more raw event. More like how it all started off. Maybe they should have a slopestyle podium and a original spirit of Rampage podium.

[@benediktbagger]

You guys did amazing but result mess up unfortunately happens - been there at a smaller scale and it always sucks. What helped me is to get actually involved in event organization and judging to shape the culture into the self envisioned direction. Keep it up! 🙌🏽💯

[@gedontv2532]

Bren’s riding a different competition to most of the other riders. It’s like comparing apples and oranges… conspiracy incoming, maybe you didn’t have the right helmet 😅

[@Fantic156]

Drank the wrong Monster ....

[@benfulford3943]

He should have taken that red bull!

[@danielwillits2173]

Glad to hear you’ve got a balanced and circumspect view of what happened. I feel like as a comp it’s just flawed now. Your comments about most riders hitting top to bottoms on day one of practice and only using the perfect landings nailed it for me. Hold your heads high!

[@TheRideCompanion]

I appreciate that!

[@philipB31]

The last True Freerider - absolute respect!

[@petethehappychef]

Well said lads! It was polite, genuine and honest. Keep shredding, we're all here for you x

[@Hiefi97]

We as mountainbikers see how hard Brendogs line was. But Rampage in it self is mostly there for marketig reasons. It will show up on nearly every social media feed world wide. Not only in our mtb bubble. A non Mtb person is much more impressed by a big trick, or a big jump/drop, than by a steep an techy line, like yours. Thats the reason the event develops in the direction it is going i would say. In my opinion you and some other real freeriders like Brage, Clemens etc. should start your own event. Only triple crown bikes, judging by the other riders etc.

[@johnpflager9661]

Did any of the judges come up and look at your line? The way you all shared this year via your channel really provided so much insight into the difficulty of your line. It offered a vantage that I feel is missed from the broadcast. I think it would help if the judges stood over some of those features like the chute/rock to grasp . One comment that someone made was that you made it look to easy. There is an unfortunate truth to that which is crazy because you have to be smooth. If they saw your initial step up and how much it scared you maybe they'd feel different? I certainly did, as your run was so much different leading up than race day.

[@bakedvikings]

I think judging should be an "amp" meter for the live audience and live viewers get to cast votes for each rider as the ride finishes (3 min vote timer for online viewers after run is finished) combine both scores to equal rider score. Amp. + Online vote out of 5 stars (50%). (50%) Total score

[@g.wilsondh8407]

I think most of us don't care the smallest bit for the judges score, the ranking table or any of that s#*t... And I think, honestly, your sponsors will probably feel the same We just want to watch sick lines ridden with style, pro riders pushing their own skills to the max, and cool videos showing the huge effort that you guys put into it. And all of the above was a huge win if you ask me. Also, the views and the "fame" you guys made this last two weeks will pay you more than a 3rd place... Anyway, LOVE YOU GUYS KEEP SENDING IT!

[@MrOitoyboy]

The boo’ing said it all

[@jeremygansler503]

They should take a look at Freeride World Tour judging. It’s broken down into 5 categories and the scores for each category are displayed on screen after each run, accounting for the overall score. They do a great job of blending speed, amplitude, aggressiveness, and style fairly and are rarely disputed.

[@trevoredensor7114]

I don't think there's any doubt about it...most people think that you and your team have been sold short over these last two Rampages and you have not gotten the judges appreciation and spirit of the rides you prepare and more so the performances you have given....all power to you and the guys 👍👍👍

[@powderwood69]

They just need to be honest about the way they judged the event to and rename it Cranworx Virgin. The judges sent a strong message when they put Semenuk in 1st above Godzi and T Mac and Brenden in 11th that the original ethos of Rampage is dead.

[@Dieterbe]

Brage is out due to surgery this year. I wonder if he would be interested to have gone this year. I was super excited to see him go last year but also super bummed when he crashed in practice and hurt his shoulder. Hopefully we will see him next year. I also miss Andreu Lacondeguy. He always did super cool runs but I don't remember him ever grabbing the win

[@FreekaPista]

To applogize for the scoring last year, commend you for bringing a massive line to the event this year that no other rider would think of touching, and then go on to mug you off with another horrendous score is pure disrespect. They couldn't own up to their actuons when they were speaking in person, and abused their power when hidden in their tower.

[@sullenpuffin]

You were amazing guys, loved the content. I think the apology for last year is pretty hollow given they then scored you the way they did. They’re upsetting a lot of fans now with the inconsistency, hopefully they get their act together.

[@jonnyjones3885]

Been waiting for this all week. 😬

[@Npoolclubtv]

We love you and appreciate you Bren 🥰🥰🥰🥰

[@Ganiscol]

Before the score came in I expected it to be in the mid '80s and I still think thats what the line and execution should have gotten. Because I wasn't being naive, I did not expect a winning score - the event has moved to 'slope style tricks or bust', so there was no chance for that. But when you're the crew who had the only truly unique line without parking lot sized landings for a couple of "insane amplitude" tricks in an event that was actually born out of unique, difficult and as natural as possible lines, you gotta get a little goodwill for that in the score even in 2024. But there was not only none of that, it felt like the opposite was true. And then we hear stuff like "he makes it look too easy, but its not actually easy" or "maybe the canyon backflip didn't get the judge's approval because he done it before" and you realize there is probably no point for Bren in coming back next year (by application, no less) - and likewise many others too. Wasn't it Storch who said he wont do a second run because there's no point given how things are being judged? That was right on the live broadcast nose for RB. Its a shame for riders and viewers.

[@boskabiker]

Brendan, Olly and Ben are the peoples heros, hands down. He doesnt need a bit of metal round his neck supplied by an event that has lost its way. Keep up the good work and carrying on 'doing you'.

[@benjaminhparkerphotography8791]

Rough go mate! I my opinion Brendog, you had the most “rampage” run, absolute gnarly line down the mountain with a few tricks (what rampage was originally) not a slope style contest. No shade against the other competitors! Everyone that competes in rampage is an insane rider. I think redbull rampage needs to think about what the event actually is at its core. Just my thoughts. ✌️ lads and keep up the sick content

[@robertdubuc4082]

When you give it your all, there is no need for apologies.Top notch lads🎉 much respect.

[@Troytheboy1]

Thank you guys for your honesty and especially for all your hard work and effort so that we get to enjoy watching you at your best. Rampage is so subjective, so open to interpretation, it’s a melting pot of so many riding styles and backgrounds. I’d like to see all riders paid an equal amount in recognition and appreciation for their blood, sweat and tears building their lines but also for risking life and limb to bring this amazing spectacle to the world. Surely Red Bull has enough money sloshing around to properly remunerate the riders without whom this event simply would not exist. Get back next year, people want to see you ride, the opportunity to ride Rampage is surely more valuable to you than a trophy.

[@jmo2752]

fwiw. (and I saw this suggestion on another comment thread) - I think the judges should not confer, and certainly not compare runs side-by-side on video... rather each judge should simply score in the moment, based on how they felt the run 'impressed' them, and just tally up the individual scores to obtain a total. It would also show which judges favour which kind of riding.

[@xGUANdeLUPEx]

Your run was insanity. Cannot wait for my LADSCIENCE tshirt to come!!!

[@warior]

I think Brendan already last year proposed a good solution for the upcoming rampage. That you have a new mountain, same limited numbers of sandbags and diggdays. but no sharing of lines. Everybody build their own free ride line from the top to the bottom. then focus will be the gnarliest line. Also, Redbull could provide with angles of descent and speeds to relay make the viewer understand the complexity of the ride. Last year or two years ago, they even had a 3-D map so you could follow the lines down the mountain, this I think was a action in the right direction but it was lost and replaced by slope style tale whips

[@mikeg2939]

The judges are having to compare freeride with slopestye, it needs to move back more towards freeride. Semanuk's line was pretty much just a slopestyle course.

[@dwee420]

You think that tail whip onto the lily pad slope style??? That move itself was more technical than brendogs whole line

[@sicksends5420]

​@dwee420 other than the Lily pad, Semenuks line was a slopestyle run. His Jumps were as big as Joyride. I can't believe people are not understanding this. Rampage is big mountain riding, freeride, not slopestyle. If the Trophy was fairly given to anyone it would be Tom, or Tmac because they had the two runs with the most risk. But even then it was more slopestyle then freeride

[@eriksports]

People like you who think a tail whip makes something more “technical” than actual big mountain shoots and cliffs and high exposure lines is half of the problem.

[@dwee420]

@@eriksports We, as mtb media consumers have been seeing *chutes and high exposure lines for years. What we have not seen is technical tricks on technical features. Answer me this, do you think brendog could do even do a trick on semunuks lily pad? You must also think semunuk would be incapable of doing brendogs exact line

[@eriksports]

@@dwee420 yes I think brendog could do a trick on the Lilly.

[@jeremygibb9167]

I think they’re going main stream and considering slope style tricks to judge the winners. Your line was raw and that canyon gap was insane. I said as I watched at least top 3 or a 2nd due to the raw roots of rampage style in your run. I don’t blame you for being put off by the results. I think all of us feel the same!

[@STLMTB]

You really have the spirit of Rampage. If you go back and look at historical footage, you represent the true feel of Rampage. Is it impressive to see double backflips or front flips off groomed jumps? Damn right, but that is not rampage. Building a line that uses the natural terrain and is unique to you, it what rampage is all about. I was really pissed at your score and honestly will think twice about supporting RR next year.

[@deividas_kimontas]

It should be easier way of judging! 🤔 Brendog should've won it!

[@McSchwabl]

They should do it like Freeride Skiing, each line gets spotted by the lines beforehand and based on the line there is a maximum point limit. And don’t let the judges talk to each other, just use the average of them

[@johngreason9964]

Rampage. You brought beer to a wine tasting contest and didn't know it. By the vibe, a lot of fans didn't either. What is obvious now is that the event needs separation. But would it be a hardline rather than a rampage? I think that's the confusion with-in Red Bull event planning. It still doesn't excuse the outcome.

[@lsugimoto8361]

Very, very, very well said and explained. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on the event and judging. I personally thought you had one hell of a run and you deserved a much much higher score. I also feel the other riders tore it up as well. I wouldn't want to be a judge.

[@sageambrosek5206]

I was super stoked to watch the women compete this year. Not just because I'm a woman and a mountain biker but because their riding also seemed more like the old school rampage. Its a shame the conditions were bad on the day they competed but thats nobody's fault, not even the judges. 😜

[@tylerklassen4848]

You did a wonderful job of it. Regardless of what was scored. I hope you see the value in highlighting the diversity in this sport! It is so complex and Rad. Like the line you choose. Good job. Thanks for the epic display.

[@kevb8828]

A lot of really good points here but I think the root cause of why it’s so complicated is due to the blurred lines between this competition being a free ride or slope style event…. If the slope style element was taken out of it and more points where given for creative lines maybe points deduction for if you go over a % of shared lines? Maybe have tricks not so heavily rewarded as well it would be easier for the judges to judge and the fans to understand! Plus this might be controversial but I’d ban single crown forks!!!! And I’d also go further and create another event there!!!! A single crown big slope style event!!!! As I do think it actually should have a place just not together! Maybe RedBull could pick a location there and build a load of jumps and drops and shoots so rides have loads of options and choices etc and just have a big one off slope style event! Call it something like “RedBull Sloperage” lol

[@bloodyhell451]

It's entirely subjective.Organize your own event ! Big events are like civilisations. They wither and die from within.

[@scotlandmyhome7484]

You hit the nail on the head when you said you couldn’t do a tail whip or double back flip & they couldn’t do the lines! Therefore slopestyle has taken over freeride!

[@sicksmiffshady]

Brendog, the peoples champ! Always the best lines!

[@bchearne]

Whatever the outcome, Brendan was my favorite rider for both of the last two Rampages. Not just cool tricks, but also epic lines that felt fresh and innovative. Or maybe they felt old school in the best way? Idk, but loved it all the same

[@liamknight-wd4qg]

Rampage is a great event to watch and everyone undeniably deserves a place in it. But these problems have arisen and continue to get worse because there is too many disciplines within the one event. I agree with Brendan when he says that he couldn’t do a double backflip, as much as some of the other riders couldn’t go down some of the chutes. It almost needs a free ride Rampage and a slopestyle Rampage, to make it fairer across the board.

[@jtkyber]

What do you think about the judges having like 8-10 criteria, judging each of those things separately, combining them for the full score, and making all of the criteria public so the riders can build there lines according to them? For example: ~Brendan~ * Steepness: 9/10 * Rawness & looseness: 9/10 * Amplitude: 7/10 * Creativity: 10/10 * Tricks: 6/10 * Exposure: 9.5/10 * Execution: 9.5/10 * Speed: 8/10 ~Semenuk~ * Steepness: 6/10 * Rawness & looseness: 2/10 * Amplitude: 7/10 * Creativity: 6/10 * Tricks: 10/10 * Exposure: 4/10 * Execution: 9.5/10 * Speed: 10/10 My Scores: * Brendan: 68/80 = 85.0/100 * Semenuk: 54.5/80 = 68.1/100 I think these scores better reflect what Rampage is supposed to be about. It's not supposed a slopestyle contest or anything close to it imo

[@mathiagerner1002]

I will remember Tom's huge frontflip for a long time, and Godziek's double backflip. But I remember almost your *entire* line, not just a single trick or feature. Rampage to me (danish woman) have started to feel very American, it's about going big.

[@AaronA_Aaronson0]

VinnyT is the man. Would love to see some freeride shenanigans with Brendog, Kaos, Kade, Brage and VinnyT

[@hamishmchamish]

Add in Remy and (provided he doesn't go to daft) Gee and now we're talking

[@energ8t]

I’m not a fan of people saying Semenuk’s run was simply “slopestyle”, because it was a freaking gnarly lilly pad drop he did. That said, Brendog should’ve had a way higher score. Now who placed where at the top is something I don’t care about that much, just proper and fair scores.

[@obsidian....]

You should have been in the top 5. The rest is opinion. But when they give you a 76, they are basically telling you there's no chance for a good result. . It's like spitting in your face.

[@_Jake.From.Statefarm_]

Was a pleasure to watch from the bluffs. Even if the judges screwed up the scoring, the spectators in person and on TV knew and scored you properly.

[@arthurbax3477]

Wild that the judge said, film an edit... You just released death grip 2! 😂

[@TheRideCompanion]

NOVEMBER 22ND ON ITUNES FOLKS!! 😂

[@LaurentiusTriarius]

Brendog is such a gentleman.

[@terrybull4604]

Redbull should put out a grading scale. Jackson Riddle didnt do well a couple years ago because he did a more slopestyle run and not a freeride, this year was the opposite. The grading is completely ambiguous.

[@michaeljames8534]

Applying some lad science to the great rampage debate, well covered boys 👊👊👍

[@BluPheesh]

Time to get Monster on board to do their own event that looks at lines as well as tricks fairly. Get all those others you were talking about and do your own one.

[@silverfox7131]

You guys built and rode a true rampage line. Everyone else seemed to be riding a slope style competition!!! 😢 You guys deserved a podium🥇

[@srant]

Best line outside of the battleship... score should have started at an 85 and gone from there... those kind of "built from scratch" lines that are pushing the limits need to be judged on their own merit not against a slope style line built from a previous years work... clearly apples and oranges

[@Chops00]

It’s pretty clear that the judges rewarded trick difficulty and amplitude. Your run wasn’t close in those aspects. Tho it was a really sick line. If the judges didn’t make that clear in rider meetings, I think that was their biggest mistake.

[@jameslittle8140]

You are both such magnanimous and polite gentleman. A real credit to the sport and two of the best ambassadors. So good to see this kind of response, rather than a bitch and moan. However… the entire world agrees that you WON that Bren. Your line was what we all watched the damn thing for. And you came through for us all big time! If you’re not going back then we won’t be watching next year. Keep up the great work guys. And thank you x

[@dhrracer]

It sounds like the riders or at least not all of them are made aware of the judging criteria. It also sounds like the judges may not know what the criteria is either. Or at least are under some form of non-disclosure agreement that prevents sharing. If the judges cannot explain how/evaluate the application of points will always lead to questions and disputes.

[@deepdiver49]

Seems judging needs to be done by certain criteria. For example. Difficulty of course attempted. 50% Tricks completed. 20% Number of tricks. 20% Number of riders using the same line.10% Then the riders and builders know where they stand.

[@calebisallgood]

I feel as though the only way there won't be insane backlash at the end of another rampage would be having the riders themselves placing each other's runs. At the end of the day, finals day, they're the ones up there risking their lives and seeing all the other lines that are being thrown down on.

[@crt269]

Maybe there are two seperate events. Rampage gnar and Rampage Crankworx. Rampage Gnar is modeled on Brendog and the other is self explanatory.

[@jase6709]

If I was ever to compete I think I'd only enter timed events. Judging for Rampage is just subjective and will never be truly fair.

[@davidcoomber4050]

The only way to standardise the judging would be you all ride down the same line , but then it comes down to the judges interpretation of artistic and technical skills and that’s an opinion at the need of the day

[@954blademan]

Another fantastic vid guys. Loved the whole rampage thing apart from the end. Thinking a little on what you say about the apology bit and could it be possible that red bull are dictating to the gudges......sounds that way to me

[@peterpizzutelli2953]

Why don’t they have everyone take their run (make it one run only), then have the judges deliberate for an hour. They have all the footage. Also just do top 3. Points are meaningless; end up being relative to the previous athlete. Points based sports are always tough.

[@MrSleepmusic]

There seems to be too much ambiguity in the event for judging. You can't compare a terrifying chute to a double backflip, they don't require the same skill. Either judge these events like slopestyle or judge on true difficulty of line. Flash is always going to win out against the GoPro effect lol. BrendDog you are a legend!