This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)
History was made as the world’s best freeride athletes conquered the Utah mountains and raised the bar for women’s mountain biking.
History was made on October 10, 2024, at Red Bull Rampage, the premier big-mountain freeride event, as seven of the world’s top women riders dropped in on the famous course in Virgin, Utah, for the first time and pushed the level of progression to new heights. In the end, New Zealand native Robin Goomes came out on top with the biggest and baddest line of the day.
Here is all you need to know:
- The women’s debut Red Bull Rampage contest featured no shortage of mind-bending tricks and harrowing terrain. The coveted prize was ultimately claimed by Robin Goomes with 85 points, wowing the judges with two big Backflips during her run.
- The flips also earned her the Utah Sports Commission Best Trick Award. In addition to her tricks, Goomes stomped her 41-foot drop and cleanly weaved down her top technical chute. Her line was a nod to the gnarly and technical old-school Red Bull Rampage runs, which she felt embodied the spirit of freeride.
- “It hasn’t yet sunk in,” Goomes says reflecting on the win. “It’s been such a process, so I’m trying to take it all in and enjoy it. I’m so stoked for my crew, they’ve gone so hard. If anything, I’ve done it for them, the sport and all the other riders.”
- Winning the Best Trick Award was a surprise bonus for the Kiwi and she was equally excited that all her competitors put on a show.
– Claiming second place was Canadian Georgia Astle, who was originally an alternate and not expecting to compete this year. Astle got the call that she’d made the start list in September and she rose to the occasion. The former racer rode with confidence, demonstrating her precision by stomping her 41-foot marquee drop and flowing through one technical section after another. Her run earned her a score of 79 points.
– Rounding out the podium was the godmother of freeride, Casey Brown, with a score of 77.33. Brown was the first woman to complete a top-to-bottom run in practice and carried that momentum into her final run. Her standout feature was the ‘Laundry Chute’, a highly exposed rock roll drop that Brown considered one of the gnarliest things she’s ever ridden.
– Brown also won the McGazza Spirit Award for her tenacity and contributions to the women’s freeride movement.
– Beyond the top three riders, plenty of moments wowed the crowd. Vaea Verbeeck won the new Samsung Galaxy Trailblazer Award for her progressive and inventive line, while Argentina’s Cami Nogueria won the BFGoodrich Tires Toughness Award for attempting her burly 51-foot drop in practice. Despite not being able to compete in finals, Nogueria remains determined to be back next year and make her mark at the event.
– Lastly, the DECKED Digger Award went to the team of New Zealander Vinny Armstrong.
– “I love my team and everything they built was insane. The run looked aesthetically pleasing, they brought the vibes and I couldn’t have asked for a better crew,” Armstrong said. She was especially thrilled to share the experience with her brother, who was part of her dig team. “He would do anything for me,” she said.
Red Bull Rampage 2024 Women’s results
- Robin Goomes – NZL – 85.00 points
- Georgia Astle – CAN – 79.00
- Casey Brown – CAN – 77.33
- Vaea Verbeeck – CAN – 72.66
- Vero Sandler – NZL – 71.00
- Vinny Armstrong – NZL – 65.00
- Chelsea Kimball – USA – 62.37
– Following today’s inaugural women’s contest it’s only two more days until the men head to the start gate for their finals on Saturday, October 12. You can catch the action live on Red Bull TV.