Yes, we’ve a wait until the spectacle of the riding itself, but there are eight days of digging ahead of us before the first women will compete at Red Bull Rampage. The eight women competing at next week’s first women’s Red Bull Rampage have been shown the mountainside they’ll be riding – a fresh site adjacent to where the men will be digging. They’ve also drawn their competition numbers, so we know who will be dropping in first off the start platform. Now, they’ve got to dig and carve their lines into the rock and dirt, trying to build in features that will play to their strengths, getting them from top to bottom with maximum technicality, air time, control and tricks – but all in one piece.
We’ve had a good look at their social media feeds and chatted to a few, and here’s what we’ve gleaned so far – in running order.
1. Robin Goomes (NZL)
Somehow it was the number one plate that got left to last when drawing numbers. It seemed like no one else wanted the pressure of being number one, but Robin seemed chilled at the news that she got it. Robin has been out in the desert for a week or so already, acclimatising to the terrain. She’s got Martha Gill on hand as content creator, and it looks like it’s been a blast so far. Though perhaps getting a flat tyre riding Kong – one of the most technical public trails out there – at sunset wasn’t part of the plan. She does have the greatest Rampage paint job we’ve clocked yet: Barbie themed. Genius.
2.Casey Brown (CAN)
Young gun Robin will be followed down the hill by women’s freeride OG Casey Brown. It was all the way back in 2018 that the first rumours that Casey might ride Rampage surfaced, but it’s taken until now to make it happen. She’s been adding to her trick list since her Red Bull Formation run above, but can she pull them in the steeps of Virgin, Utah?
3. Vinny Armstrong (NZL)
Vinny is probably one of the favourites to win, and her stylish riding will certainly be a win for us all to watch. Jai Motherwell, Kieran Watkins and Sam Armstrong make up her dig team. Jai is hoping to be a Red Bull Rampage rider in the future, the other two… seem to be too busy riding their bikes to post on social media. Understated, rather like Vinny?
4. Georgia Astle (CAN)
Dropping in fourth, it’s Georgia Astle who only made it in as an alternate, so she’s had a bit less time to get ready than some, though having driven down from Whistler she’s at least able to bring her own tools for the job. She’s also been down in the area for nearly a week, riding with lots of the other competitors. For her crew, she’s picked Evan Wall – they raced on the Devinci Enduro team together, Jacob Tooke and Jarrod Anderson. Hailey Elise is on media, and ‘hype queen’ duties. Georgia will be looking for some natural techy drops and a big step down to stitch into her line.
5. Vero Sandler (UK)
Vero has Sam Hodgson Lucy Vaneesteren Oscar Powell, and Kuli… we think. It looks like quite the party, and with so many people all hanging out in the desert it’s been tricky to tell. We did clock the crew illustrating Vero’s bike on one Instagram story, so we look forward to seeing the outcome there. It’ll be interesting to see what creative spin Vero puts on her line down the mountain.
7. Chelsea Kimball (USA)
Despite only making it in as an alternate, Chelsea might be Queen of the Utah desert, and she’s got a super strong support squad on her side too. With so much experience riding and just existing in the area (note, there’s something of a heatwave, digging is going to be hard work), Chelsea has a lot in her favour. Diggers Ryan Radriguez and Aric Duncan may have as much time digging and riding this terrain as anyone else on the planet, and they’re joined by CJ Selig, who also used to live and ride in the area. Despite all her experience, Chelsea says ‘it all scares the crap out of me’. No wonder – if she can get time to build the lip and landing, she’s planning to take in a 40ft canyon gap. UPDATE: Ryan crashed a couple of nights ago and injured himself so can’t dig! So Wil White has stepped in, bringing with him the experience of five Rampage appearances. Not bad for a substitute!
8. Camila Nogueira (ARG)
Cami has plenty of time in the desert to her name, plus she’s house sharing for Rampage with Chelsea and crew (which includes digger Ryan, who is Cami’s Propain team mate). There’s surely a lot of benefit to having that experience with logistics as back up. Follow Catape.Films for content, plus diggers Finley Kirsch, Nate Spitz and Oscar Tobo.
6. Vaea Verbeeck (CAN)
Vaea has Kirsten Van Horne, Aiden Parrish, and Jim Munro as her formidable dig team. Jim you may well know as a trail builder from Dyfi Bike Park, and builder of Hardline… and that canyon gap crash before the ramp got pulled at this year’s Hardline Wales. Aiden Parrish you will likely see at a future edition of Red Bull Rampage – he’s only 19 and has grown up throwing ridiculous shapes in the desert. Kirsten has already been to Formation as a digger – she’s another rider we could well see at a future edition of Rampage.
Hannah is hopping on a flight out there next week to catch the last couple of women’s dig days, plus both competitions. Keep checking back for more coverage.
Tune in to watch the live women’s competition on Red Bull TV on 10th October.
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