Rampage Day 1

Red Bull Rampage “The Evolution” continues after a 1 year hiatus and this installment of the seminal freeride event promises to deliver on it’s moniker, as the 2008 course has most certainly evolved into something entirely new.  While those familiar with the venue will find familiar features, the magnitude of the exponential growth in rideable lines is almost boggling.  At times and in places it was as if riders were swarming from all directions, making it tricky to find safe places to create a perch on the already tenuous at best terrain.  Oakley has made it’s presence known in a massive way this year, coughing up a new uber feature that is part mega booter, part Pirates of the Caribbean and two parts really fucking scary.  Kelly McGarry spent a good long while pondering his first crack at it and then proceeded to take the rest of the day off after he boosted a good 5 meters beyond the scheduled landing with a bounce followed in quick succession by a cacophony of horrid thuds and crunches.  Bloody but not broken, it was amazing to see him walk off under his own power on a practice day that saw more than one broken bone.  With several of the biggest names out with injuries the door has been opened to some hot to trot newbs that are proving to be more than up to the task.  Alex “Pro” Prochaska and Tyler McCaul are both riding strong and sending big lines setting up a very interesting qualifying day on Friday.  Gee Atherton is back and if he can stick his line clean promises to be a contender for the overall on Sunday. His line choice is as nasty as they come and everyone watching him piece it together has been slack jawed in awe.

I’m working from the laptop so that means only some quick work in Lightroom, no color correction and no fancy Photoshop watermarks. I’ll try and keep getting out a daily update but tomorrow looks to be a busy day with a free screening of the 2008 Rampage flick at night so there’s a good chance I’ll be kicking back with a cold one and not sitting in the room editing pics. Stay tuned though…much more to come.