First place finisher Andreu Lacondeguy of Spain thrills the crowd at Red Bull Rampage,Virgin, Utah, Sept. 29, 2014 | All licensed images are printed with the express permission of Red Bull Media House North America, Inc., Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Author’s note: All licensed images were obtained at the event and are printed with the express permission of Red Bull Media House North America, Inc.
VIRGIN – It was three times a bridesmaid finally a bride for Spaniard, Andreu Lacondeguy who, after finishing in fourth place, just off the podium, for three years in a row, finally took the top spot at the Red Bull Rampage freeride mountain bike competition held over the weekend in Virgin.
It was a weekend that saw severe thunderstorms in the area causing evacuations and event delays, but in the end the Southern Utah sun shone bright on the rugged terrain that played host to some of the world’s best mountain bikers.
Monday’s finals showcased the top 20 riders who had either prequalified previous to the event or who had participated in Sunday’s qualifying rounds. Each rider, along with a team of builders, designed his own line down the course that featured large drops, huge gaps – the canyon gap was a 72-foot chasm – and ramps enabling them to thrill the crowd and hopefully impress the judges.
Spectators from across the country and around the globe made the trip that included a 4-mile hike or bike ride to the event location all in hopes of catching a glimpse of their favorite riders barreling down the unforgiving cliffs on the outskirts of Zion National Park.
Collin Cunningham of Orlando, Florida has watched every Rampage on live stream from home, he said, until this year when he came with his father to see it in person.
Cunningham picked a few of his favorite riders; namely, Kyle Strait and Cameron Zink, both from the U.S., and this year’s winner, Andreu Lacondeguy, from Spain.
The course took its fair share of victims as many of the riders laid it all out on the line to try and move up in the ranks.
Kelly McGarry of New Zealand came up short on his second run as he attempted to flip the canyon gap and tacoed his rear tire.
“I made my first run good and I was happy about that,” McGarry said, “but then I tried to step it up in my second run and flip the canyon gap but I kind of just came up a bit short, little bit of a head wind, little bit of a misjudgment.”
McGarry walked away from the crash and ended up finishing in 12th place.
McGarry wasn’t the only rider to come up short in Monday’s finals with one rider being transported off the course by medical personnel.
But though the mountain took its toll on some, it was all smiles for Lacondeguy who finally broke the fourth place curse and ended up on top of the podium.
“I am super happy … I was stressing for a week now and it’s good that it ended up this way,” Lacondeguy said. “I am super pumped, this was the main goal this year and it happened.”
Lacondeguy was joined on the podium by Cameron Zink in second and Canadian Brandon Semenuk in third. Zink also took home the prize for best trick – a 360 off a 50-foot cliff – and Semenuk won the People’s Choice Award which was voted on by fans who tuned into the live stream of the competition.
The event was also a highlight of the Southern Utah area with riders singing its praises for the friendliness of the people and the great riding terrain.
“I love Utah,” Lacondeguy said, “it’s the best place to ride bikes.”
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First place finisher Andreu Lacondeguy of Spain thrills the crowd at Red Bull Rampage, Virgin, Utah, Sept. 29, 2014 | All licensed images are printed with the express permission of Red Bull Media House North America, Inc., Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
First place finisher Andreu Lacondeguy of Spain thrills the crowd at Red Bull Rampage,Virgin, Utah, Sept. 29, 2014 | All licensed images are printed with the express permission of Red Bull Media House North America, Inc., Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
First place finisher Andreu Lacondeguy of Spain thrills the crowd at Red Bull Rampage,Virgin, Utah, Sept. 29, 2014 | All licensed images are printed with the express permission of Red Bull Media House North America, Inc., Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
First place finisher Andreu Lacondeguy of Spain thrills the crowd at Red Bull Rampage,Virgin, Utah, Sept. 29, 2014 | All licensed images are printed with the express permission of Red Bull Media House North America, Inc., Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Fourth place finisher Kyle Strait supermans off a jump at Red Bull Rampage, Virgin, Utah, Sept. 29, 2014 | All licensed images are printed with the express permission of Red Bull Media House North America, Inc., Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Riders take to the rugged course in Southern Utah to compete in the Red Bull Rampage, Virgin, Utah, Sept. 29, 2014 | All licensed images are printed with the express permission of Red Bull Media House North America, Inc., Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
A bike belonging to rider Kelly McGarry of New Zealand gets mangled after a missed backflip on a 72-foot canyon gap at Red Bull Rampage, Virgin, Utah, Sept. 29, 2014 | All licensed images are printed with the express permission of Red Bull Media House North America, Inc., Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Rider Kelly McGarry of New Zealand walks away after coming up short on a backflip over a 72-foot canyon gap on the course of the Red Bull Rampage, Virgin, Utah, Sept. 29, 2014 | All licensed images are printed with the express permission of Red Bull Media House North America, Inc., Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
A bike belonging to rider Kelly McGarry of New Zealand gets mangled after a missed backflip on a 72-foot canyon gap at Red Bull Rampage, Virgin, Utah, Sept. 29, 2014 | All licensed images are printed with the express permission of Red Bull Media House North America, Inc., Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Riders take to the rugged course in Southern Utah to compete in the Red Bull Rampage,Virgin, Utah, Sept. 29, 2014 | All licensed images are printed with the express permission of Red Bull Media House North America, Inc., Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
A rider is injured after attempting to backflip the 72-foot canyon gap on the course of the Red Bull Rampage mountain bike competition, Virgin, Utah, Sept. 29, 2014 | All licensed images are printed with the express permission of Red Bull Media House North America, Inc., Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Riders take to the rugged course in Southern Utah to compete in the Red Bull Rampage,Virgin, Utah, Sept. 29, 2014 | All licensed images are printed with the express permission of Red Bull Media House North America, Inc., Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Riders take to the rugged course in Southern Utah to compete in the Red Bull Rampage,Virgin, Utah, Sept. 29, 2014 | All licensed images are printed with the express permission of Red Bull Media House North America, Inc., Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Riders take to the rugged course in Southern Utah to compete in the Red Bull Rampage,Virgin, Utah, Sept. 29, 2014 | All licensed images are printed with the express permission of Red Bull Media House North America, Inc., Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Riders take to the rugged course in Southern Utah to compete in the Red Bull Rampage,Virgin, Utah, Sept. 29, 2014 | All licensed images are printed with the express permission of Red Bull Media House North America, Inc., Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Riders take to the rugged course in Southern Utah to compete in the Red Bull Rampage,Virgin, Utah, Sept. 29, 2014 | All licensed images are printed with the express permission of Red Bull Media House North America, Inc., Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Spectators hiked and biked four miles in to the event site to cheer on 20 riders in the finals of Red Bull Rampage, Virgin, Utah, Sept. 29, 2014 | All licensed images are printed with the express permission of Red Bull Media House North America, Inc., Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Riders take to the rugged course in Southern Utah to compete in the Red Bull Rampage,Virgin, Utah, Sept. 29, 2014 | All licensed images are printed with the express permission of Red Bull Media House North America, Inc., Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Riders take to the rugged course in Southern Utah to compete in the Red Bull Rampage,Virgin, Utah, Sept. 29, 2014 | All licensed images are printed with the express permission of Red Bull Media House North America, Inc., Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Spectators hiked and biked four miles in to the event site to cheer on 20 riders in the finals of Red Bull Rampage, Virgin, Utah, Sept. 29, 2014 | All licensed images are printed with the express permission of Red Bull Media House North America, Inc., Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
A view of the rugged terrain that made up the course for competitors at the Red Bull Rampage, Virgin, Utah, Sept. 29, 2014 | All licensed images are printed with the express permission of Red Bull Media House North America, Inc., Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Visitors to the Red Bull Rampage mountain bike competition camp on the side of the road, Virgin, Utah, Sept. 29, 2014 | All licensed images are printed with the express permission of Red Bull Media House North America, Inc., Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Second place finisher Cameron Zink kisses his little one while on the podium at the Red Bull Rampage mountain bike competition, Virgin, Utah, Sept. 29, 2014 | All licensed images are printed with the express permission of Red Bull Media House North America, Inc., Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Third place finisher and fan favorite Brandon Semenuk steps onto the podium at Red Rull Rampage, Virgin, Utah, Sept. 29, 2014 | All licensed images are printed with the express permission of Red Bull Media House North America, Inc., Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Fourth place finisher Kyle Strait ends up just off the podium at Red Bull Rampage, Virgin, Utah, Sept. 29, 2014 | All licensed images are printed with the express permission of Red Bull Media House North America, Inc., Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
First place finisher, Andreu Lacondeguy from Spain goofs off in the holding area at Red Bull Rampage, Virgin, Utah, Sept. 29, 2014 | All licensed images are printed with the express permission of Red Bull Media House North America, Inc., Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
First place finisher, Andreu Lacondeguy from Spain smiles in the holding area as he waits for the final riders to finish their runs at Red Bull Rampage, Virgin, Utah, Sept. 29, 2014 | All licensed images are printed with the express permission of Red Bull Media House North America, Inc., Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Great photos and story, Hollie.