Was the judging at Red Bull Rampage fair?

Brian attempts to keep his foot out of his mouth. [View this email in your browser]( Judgement Day Was the judging at Red Bull Rampage 2023 fair? Can the event be improved in the face of growing discontent? Brian Park weighs in. — There are so many ways to put my foot in my mouth here, so read on if you're into that kind of thing. 18 riders with unique styles being judged riding their own unique lines is a recipe for controversy, and in 2023 the 'so-and-so got robbed' chatter is [louder than ever](. Specifically, many fans believe that Brendan Fairclough and Bienvenido Aguado Alba were both massively underscored—with some viewers adamant that they should have been first and second on the podium rather than fourth and eighth respectively. Now that the dust has settled on [this year's event]( and our heart-rates have returned to normal, I want to take another look at topic. I understand viewers’ frustrations. Brendan and Bienve's runs were awesome. Fairclough's was raw, terrifying, and creative, while Bienve's was flowy, with huge tricks and massive emotion. Both of them were entertaining and memorable, and while that may not win on merit, Rampage risks its identity if the general public can’t understand the results. There's a huge opportunity for the event to inform and explain to make sure the viewers get it. It's so important for the event to have context and transparency for both viewers and athletes. That said, judging Rampage is an unwinnable job. I would never do it. You'll never make everyone happy, and I genuinely believe—maybe naively—that everyone involved is doing their best. The old adage that you have to have walked the whole course in person to judge it is repeated ad nauseam, but it's also the truth. Even being on site below the middle road (which is the highest spectators are allowed) doesn’t give enough perspective; the top of the course is where all the steep/tech points come from, so it’s critical to understand how all those lines stack up. It’s also worth acknowledging that there are scoring realities that are clear to every competitor ahead of time: drops are scored higher than jumps; you probably can’t win Rampage in 2023 without doing a commitment trick (flip or spin) off a flat drop; and every line needs proper steep and tech. If your line cruises up top, or you don't do any commitment tricks, you can do well but there's a limit to how high you can score. For the record (this is where my foot starts getting inserted into my mouth), I don’t fully agree with the judged ranking this year. My personal top 8 was Zink, Van Steenbergen, Fairclough(+1), Storch (-1), Turk, Johansson(+1), Alba (+1), Strait (-2). That said, I don't have any issue with the [final results]( and think they're more than defensible. I will say I’m frustrated with some of the scoring complaints from viewers. Brendan and Bienve did two of my favourite runs this year, and I can see arguments for either Bienve or Brendog being scored higher than they were. But I find it a bit strange that some people are calling for them to be 1st and 2nd on the podium. You can't have it both ways. If you recalibrate to prioritise tricks and flow, Bienve goes up the scoresheet and Brendan goes down. If you recalibrate to prioritise creative lines and raw tech, Brendan goes up and Bienve goes down. If they were scored first and second, it would have been wildly unfair to the other competitors based on consistent judging criteria. [Burning Question: What Did the Riders & Industry Insiders Think of the Judging at Red Bull Rampage 2023?]( Cam Zink sends the largest flip drop in history. Photo by Ale di Lullo. Now that my metatarsals are firmly lodged in my throat, I’d rather look at constructive ideas for the future. Here’s some ways I think the event could improve (with the ever-present caveat that it's easy to have ideas and hard to make them happen): - Pre-score the lines. It'd be great if every rider knew what their line earns without any tricks before they drop. The judges have already deliberated on that throughout the week, so they might as well share. The commentators could also have these numbers and be able to talk about them during the broadcast. This would help viewers understand, for example during Bienve’s run, that his top section was comparatively mellow, and set the stage for him to exceed scoring expectations when he crushed the bottom half of his run and be excited about his score rather than disappointed. It would also allow the riders to be more calculating about what they want to achieve. I have a lot of sympathy for riders that thought they had a top line, finish a successful run, and then get a mid-level score (Lacondeguy). - Hold back scores during first runs to calibrate all the scores. This would allow judges to rewatch the runs and get it right the first time. While I am largely fine with this year’s rankings, the scores raise some eyebrows, not great. Then there can be a big reveal during the broadcast as scores are announced, and drama ramps up for second runs. Second runs would be scored live, with a baselines of the riders’ first runs. - Don’t run the first half of the broadcast live. Running everyone in quick succession for first runs seems to me like it would solve a lot of logistical problems. It would help let more riders drop in ideal weather windows, and still give the broadcast flexibility in terms of the necessary ads, promotion, etc... Then the broadcast can catch up to live through the second runs, similar to a World Cup. - De-prioritize minor crashes. I’d love to encourage completed runs even when riders dab or wash out. Obviously I don’t want anyone sending after taking a hit to the head, but in the spirit of raw, big mountain freeride, I don’t care if someone puts a foot down as they’re dropping into a doom chasm. - Add the women’s category. I know this isn’t directly about judging, but I think it's important to put out there wherever we can. With my suggestions above, the broadcast can fit in additional contestants without cutting anyone (I’m also fine cutting some of the bottom men to bring in some of the top ladies). My final thought is that so much of the "controversy" risks minimising the riders', judges', and organisers' efforts—and that's a shame. What I’m trying to say is, sorry in advance for my semi-informed take. The event was absolutely incredible this year, and we’re lucky to have witnessed this level of riding. — Alicia Leggett asked a host of riders and industry insiders what they thought. Cam Zink, Derek Westerlund, Wade Simmons, and more have all got a lot more insight than I do, so go [check that out here](. Video: 8 Enduro Field Test Bikes Hucked to Flat Driveside and non-driveside slow-mo shots for your viewing pleasure. [Read more]( Burning Question: What Did the Riders & Industry Insiders Think of the Judging at Red Bull Rampage 2023? Derek Westerlund, Cam Zink, Wade Simmons, and more share their takes on this year's event. [Read more]( First Look: 2024 Santa Cruz V10 & Suspension Chat with 'The Human Dyno' Version 8.0 of the race-proven V10 gets revised geometry and suspension kinematics, along with slightly less rear travel. [Read more]( First Ride: 2024 Canyon Lux Trail With revised sizing, kinematic, and categorization, the Lux feels a bit more at home in its skin. 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