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Strait makes history at Rampage

October 17, 2013
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Freeride mountain biker Kyle Strait made history, becoming the first rider to win a career-second Red Bull Rampage, held Oct 13, 2013 in Virgin, Utah. The Rampage serves as the final stop on the Freeride Mountain Bike World Tour.

Strait won the event in 2004 at just 17 years old, and is the only rider to have competed in every Rampage since the event’s inception. Since his first victory, his goal has been to be the first rider to win a second edition.

The American was one of the few riders at the 2013 edition to make it to the bottom with a clean run. An outstanding no-hander off the Oakley Icon sender awed the judges and fans to help him secure victory. Strait finished with a score of 87.50.

 

Fellow competitor and friend to Strait, Cam Zink finished third overall.

 

Throughout the event, winds picked up and began to cause safety concerns. The second run was cancelled due to conditions, and judges awarded results based on first run scores.

 

Strait wasn’t the only rider to stun fans. New Zealander Kelly McGarry not only cleared the canyon gap – a 72″ distance – but did a backflip to add a trick component to the feature. The run was scored at 86.75. The performance also made him the people’s choice in a Red Bull poll after the event.

Zink Pulled a backflip of his own, from the Oakley sender, for a distance of 78″. His score in the event was 84.75.

 

Canadians suffered bad luck at Rampage. Brandon Semenuk, the champion in 2008, never managed to finish a run. His line was among the most technically challenging in the event, but he got hung up early on his run, and never recovered.

Garrett Buhler of Nelson, B.C., finished ninth, the best showing by a Canadian. Geoff Gulevich was the only other Canuck to finish in the top 15.

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