PREVIEW

Brandon Semenuk has made history by claiming a record-breaking fifth victory at the Red Bull Rampage, the premier freeride mountain bike event, held in Utah’s red rock desert on Sunday (13October2024).

The Canadian rider delivered a thrilling performance, cementing his status as the only five-time champion.

He beat the 17 riders who descended the cliffs of southwest Utah, with some of the most daring and progressive riding yet seen.

Following the ground-breaking women’s event, won by New Zealand’s Robin Goomes, the men’s contest kept spectators gripped with its intense drama.

Semenuk’s victory came in dramatic fashion after an early setback. His first run, which began with a highly technical Tailwhip into a double drop, looked poised for a podium finish before he crashed while attempting a Flip Whip.

After a two-and-a-half-hour delay due to high winds, Semenuk was one of only two riders to return for a second attempt. Seizing the right weather conditions, he nailed both the Tailwhip and Flip Whip, earning a 92.73 score and taking home his fifth Red Bull Rampage title.

"I’m just stoked to build a cool line, hang out with my friends and get down to the bottom," said Semenuk, 33. "It was an exciting event to watch. Some of the riding is on such a crazy level. I have good people around me and I’m happy to get down the hill."

Poland’s Szymon Godziek led the event until Semenuk’s late charge and finished second with a score of 91.66, after a run that included a stunning Backflip on the largest drop of the venue.

Godziek impressed throughout the week, including a practice session where he sent a massive 95ft drop. His daring performance, featuring a Front Flip, Backflip, 360, and Double Backflip, secured him the silver medal.

American Tyler McCaul took third place with a 90.66 score, showcasing a bold reinvention of his previous line, which included a spine-tingling 74ft canyon gap jump.

Beyond the podium, Britain’s Brendan Fairclough won the Samsung Galaxy Trailblazer Award for his creative line, while Spain’s Bienvenido Aguado Alba earned the BFGoodrich Tires Toughness Award for riding in the finals despite a crash the previous day.

Ethan Nell received the McGazza Spirit Award, while the DECKED Digger Award went to Semenuk’s team for their dedicated work. Canada’s Tom Van Steenbergen won the Utah Sports Commission Best Trick Award for a massive Front Flip.