RESULTS and REPLAY: Red Bull Rampage 2023 26

The morning of Rampage is always filled with mixed emotions for us. Excited because one of the biggest events of the year is finally here, a bit melancholic because it will all soon be over. Super pumped to watch the best in the world throw down, super stressed about someone maybe getting badly hurt. Stoked to see the sun out and the weather calm, anxious about the wind kicking up for second runs. Looking forward to yelling at the screen when our favorite riders stomp their lines, already getting worked up about Brendog getting robbed by the judges again.

Except for the wind, the event delivered all of the above.

WATCH THE EVENT REPLAY

Since most of you reading this will probably have watched the show as it happened, we're not going to give you a play-by-play of the action. But we have to say a few words on one of the most iconic performances we have ever seen at Rampage, maybe even the best run of all time - we're talking about today's winner, Cam Zink, of course. After casing the set-up jump for his massive mid-course step-down (the ex-Oakley Sender) in the first run, Cam was left with no other option than to lay it all on the line for his 2nd attempt. And when it comes to Cam, you know what it means to lay it all on the line. We've seen him do it so many times before, sometimes with great success, sometimes less so. Today, it felt like all the best bits of his many previous heroics were put together in one single, internet-keyboard-warrior-defying performance that left absolutely no doubt as to who the winner was going to be. His 95 was well above any other score and rightfully so - even the judges were celebrating his enormous backflip before the run was over. This was truly the culmination of so many years of dedication to going big, congrats Cam!

Cam's ride-or-die, Kyle Strait, also had a few things to show his doubters, setting the bar pretty high now for any other aspiring "washed-up" freeriders out there. To see him stomp a backflip followed by his trademark sui no-hander on the same massive step-down that cemented Zink's legacy moments before was really incredible, especially after a first run that looked a bit tense and lacking for any tricks. We cannot begin to imagine the mental fortitude it took to get to this point after Kyle broke his back on the very same line last year.

Other notables? Of course, there were plenty! Szymon Godziek was surely on track to challenge for the podium when he took a very scary crash, early reports indicate that he is "doing well" which is a relief after seeing him hit the ground that hard. Clemens Kaudela couldn't hold on to his huge double into the canyon gap (after stomping it in practice!), also taking a huge slam in the process. He got up and walked it off under his own steam, which was equally satisfying to see. Bienve FRONT-FLIPPED the canyon gap not once but twice (after bursting out in tears after his first run stating "he was done"). TVS and Carson Storch went big and laid down clean runs to claim 2nd and 3rd on the day, respectively. Once they knew their positions were safe, they opted for a party lap down the course instead of trying to go for the win with their second runs, both riders feeling like they had already put down what they came here to do.

This leaves us with the final storyline of the day, one that we have sadly become accustomed to: Brendan Fairclough choosing an absolutely unique line, loaded with exposure and risk, riding it with style, commitment, and control, throwing in tricks on features many other riders would simply not consider attempting to either build or ride, and going home with 4th place. He clearly felt he had done everything he could possibly do in his first run as he opted not to have another go even after being pushed off the podium. Are we upset that he didn't win? No. Should he have gotten 2nd place? ABSOLUTELY.

What do you think?

2023 Red Bull Rampage Results