ok, so i'm watching rampage webcast now. brendog just went. he was the 2nd rider to drop in today and the first one to make it down without crashing (only godziek went before...gnarly). brendan had a flawless, epic run off the rock, hit the canyon gap, did a flip. the announcers mention the judge have a tough problem that they have to "leave room" for scoring. brendan gets a 67.66.
i had this article about "how to win rampage or at least get better than 9th" written last week. i never published b/c it felt too whiny and dumb. i do, however, want to put this protest on record before anyone else drops in...i had this written in the article and i still stand by it. sucks. brendan's score is way better than a 67 considering low to mid 90's generally win the event.
edit so i can be very clear about how i feel - i love spangler, kyle, vink and the judges. if anyone is qualified to decide which of these diverse and impossible runs is the gnarliest, it's this group of incredible humans, diggers and riders. they know their shit. more than any of us by a landslide. it's the FORMAT that's the problem, not their opinion
--------------------
- There's no way around the fact that someone has to go down the mountain first. Additionally and unfortunately, Rampage is a judged event, subject to the imperfect nature of humans. Judges are notorious, in any sport, for being conservative at the beginning of an event. They have to be. If they genuinely think the first run of the entire day is the winning run and score it 100, they set themselves up for failure because run 2 could be just a bit better and so on. It's the problem of the system, and if you're an early competitor, this problem can't be ignored. We have two solutions for the first handful of riders down (not just the first)
Early Riders Take It Easy
1. Do anything you can to delay your start - pretend you have a mechanical or stick your finger down your throat to barf at the top of the hill - it's a freeride event and everyone is pretty darn nice at a freeride event because they're all friends. There's no UCI to DSQ your ass and you may get lucky enough to be put to the end of the start list boosting your chances by at least 3 places in the results sheet should you nail your run.
2. If you're of higher ethical and moral character than sticking your finger down your throat to puke at the start, then just forget about your first run. Throw it out the window. Don't even be nervous because you have no chance. You can't win. You probably can't even podium (we're too lazy to check the history on that). Do something funny for the camera at the start, cruise the ridge, stop for autographs and selfies, wave to the helicopter; this is your chance to get some social media exposure and air time that will make the Red Bull highlight reel that hits the major news networks. As an early rider, your stock run, no matter how earth-shattering, even if you nail it, will net you, at best, a score of 87. You'll be completely forgotten until your next run, because the big guns are still ahead and that's just how it works.
ok, so i'm watching rampage webcast now. brendog just went. he was the 2nd rider to drop in today and the first one to make it...
ok, so i'm watching rampage webcast now. brendog just went. he was the 2nd rider to drop in today and the first one to make it down without crashing (only godziek went before...gnarly). brendan had a flawless, epic run off the rock, hit the canyon gap, did a flip. the announcers mention the judge have a tough problem that they have to "leave room" for scoring. brendan gets a 67.66.
i had this article about "how to win rampage or at least get better than 9th" written last week. i never published b/c it felt too whiny and dumb. i do, however, want to put this protest on record before anyone else drops in...i had this written in the article and i still stand by it. sucks. brendan's score is way better than a 67 considering low to mid 90's generally win the event.
edit so i can be very clear about how i feel - i love spangler, kyle, vink and the judges. if anyone is qualified to decide which of these diverse and impossible runs is the gnarliest, it's this group of incredible humans, diggers and riders. they know their shit. more than any of us by a landslide. it's the FORMAT that's the problem, not their opinion
--------------------
- There's no way around the fact that someone has to go down the mountain first. Additionally and unfortunately, Rampage is a judged event, subject to the imperfect nature of humans. Judges are notorious, in any sport, for being conservative at the beginning of an event. They have to be. If they genuinely think the first run of the entire day is the winning run and score it 100, they set themselves up for failure because run 2 could be just a bit better and so on. It's the problem of the system, and if you're an early competitor, this problem can't be ignored. We have two solutions for the first handful of riders down (not just the first)
Early Riders Take It Easy
1. Do anything you can to delay your start - pretend you have a mechanical or stick your finger down your throat to barf at the top of the hill - it's a freeride event and everyone is pretty darn nice at a freeride event because they're all friends. There's no UCI to DSQ your ass and you may get lucky enough to be put to the end of the start list boosting your chances by at least 3 places in the results sheet should you nail your run.
2. If you're of higher ethical and moral character than sticking your finger down your throat to puke at the start, then just forget about your first run. Throw it out the window. Don't even be nervous because you have no chance. You can't win. You probably can't even podium (we're too lazy to check the history on that). Do something funny for the camera at the start, cruise the ridge, stop for autographs and selfies, wave to the helicopter; this is your chance to get some social media exposure and air time that will make the Red Bull highlight reel that hits the major news networks. As an early rider, your stock run, no matter how earth-shattering, even if you nail it, will net you, at best, a score of 87. You'll be completely forgotten until your next run, because the big guns are still ahead and that's just how it works.
110% his run was bonkers and oozed creativity, gnar, risk and style.
Thanks for posting this spomer (and Brendog put it in his Insta story between run 1/2). I'm so pissed off about this... great Rampage overall but Brendog had by far the most unique line and was the most FREERIDE which is what they are claiming the event is, back tot he roots... the rock drop, GNARLY chute, canyon gap etc.
Did he deserve to win? No, but that score should have easily been high 70's. You could tell by his reaction he was shocked by it.
Glad Rheeder won but they are still overweighting jumps and features with massive highway wide dirt take-offs/landings.
It is an almighty task of the judges to nail it every time on the spot. Every year they open themselves up for criticism, dispite making efforts to rectify any previous injustice. I do however feel Brendog was the unlucky victim this year, largely to do with format, although the McGazza award for him and his team was some consolation and very justified.
Would a fair and reasonable solution be to keep the first run scores hidden, until all riders drop, so as to gauge the overall standard and level of riding, and then pitch everyone accordingly.
The second runs however could still be scored live, judging whether riders have improved or not on their first runs.
I understand that this would have a detrimental effect on overall spectator excitement. However, on the whole, the second runs are where the excitement from the scoring builds.
The first runs are inherently exciting just getting to whiteness the creative madness of each rider and team in full, after avidly refreshing Instagram, vital and PB all week for build updates and riders first hits.
If this point has already been made, ignor me.
Rampage kicks ass.
I hope there is a jokes Deakinator Edit to follow.
"...the announcers mention the judges have a tough problem that they have to "leave room" for scoring..."
That pretty much explains why Rampage and Crankworx (the freeride portion) aren't as exciting to watch as DH or even XC where the riders decide where they place, not "judges" who "have to leave room" for scoring.
Just finished watching, hard to see a racer ever winning this considering the tricks guys toss.
Sal is an awful guy to have on this event. Talking about Agassiz's heart rate sitting at 160 before he dropped in as just something normal is just stupid. Who died and made this guy one of the youtube fitness models?
Cam is amazing, get him on the wc with Warner if Claudio is not going to do it. Even as a sideline guy, he gets it.
Stone cold true is: The undercurrent of Rampage judging is really about who is gonna make the best ESPN highlight reel -or go viral on Instagram/YouTube/ Facebook. No matter what they claim- It is not about who has the most creative line, technical skill , or is fastest....... it is about what is the biggest potential marketing showpiece. And that comes from landing Big Drops and Crazy Dangerous Tricks. Always has been - always will be.
For the first runs- I have to assume the judges “calibrate” their impressions & initial scores based on what happen the year before. And If they ain’t at least doing that........then they need more judging school lessons
I totally agree judged sports are dumb, coming from a “racer” first. However this is not a race there is no time (it’s the easiest way to define a winner imo) and an event like rampage is hard to quantify by numbers, so why do it? To me there is one winner and everyone else. A podium is not appropriate the score should not be known outside of the judges box, they could then do it however they felt kept them accurate. To me Rampage should only have the one winner without a podium the riders must vote anonymously after compleation not allowing for themselves to be selected. Maybe, maybe an award for scariest moment ridden out.
was very surprised that Andreu didn't score higher given how he twice linked difficult moves in quick succession. Seems he could trick every darn obstacle and still not win.
Case in point: Ethan Nell's run.
..I thought the event was great. Awesome riders and the venue was sick but every year the judging gets hits.
Why couldn‘t there be an option and let the fans/ spectators be the judges, I mean they are the closest to the riders and probably see the steepness/gnar of the whole run.
It is freeride anyways so keep it simple...on these events stats never interested anyone.
It must be hard judging it but the fans are sometimes the reason these events are rad,why not incorporate them in the judging.
Just my two cents..congrats to Brett and all the riders
Score should have been higher like mid 70’s but look at the overall it doesn’t make a difference whether he finishes 6 or 9 or 10th as long as you are in the top 10. Thé rock drop was badass but in the end didn’t look as big and exposed as I thought. Sponsors have enough material to keep them happy. Glad he got the mcGarry award.
Maybe this is the solution: hook up ten mountain bikers to heart rate and breathing monitors, and make them watch each run. Whichever participant creates the greatest variability in heart rate and breathing, in standard deviations for the specific individual, while landing a top-to-bottom run wins.
It’s data driven, can be adjusted for favorite-rider bias after we get enough data, and captures the reason we love to watch.
My heart rate and breathing pattern were going haywire watching the more raw parts of Brendan’s run and the top of Jordie’s. On the other hand, I didn’t feel myself physically responding to the tricks until they were massive or were on a difficult-to-trick features: Lacondeguy’s consecutive hits, Lunn’s 720, Nell’s flat drop flip up top, and a few of Rheeder’s tricks.
We all know scoring ramps up as the contest progresses through the day. So why not delay showing the results until the end of ALL the first runs, and then ALL of the second runs. This way the judges can normalize and balance the scores as homogeneous units. They could even just show results once... at the end. If riders feel like they can do better with a second run, let them, but all scores come out in one big suspenseful moment at the end.
In my opinion, Brendog did the best line and run in the rampage this year. Reminded me how Gee Atherton did his run on 2010: fast, using everything with a downhill racer style. Brendog built an amazing line, using The Rock as a tool. Amazing. Was completely amazing. I think was the only unique freeride run. The rest was basically Fest Series in Utah: big tricks. I completely respect Godziek’s 360 and T Van Steenbergen’s flip on that gap. They are the mens, but I think the Rampage is losing the meaning of freeride. Rheeder run was slopestyle for me, not freeride. I would like to see The Claw and Cam McCaul in the judges one day. They have competed in Rampage to many years and they really know the meaning of build a line, and RUN IT. I thought because this year was a new venue with no wood structures should brings the begining of rampage back.. but no..
Another and impossible solution is, the riders do their runs and then the judges watch the repetitions and decides. I think that is the more equal scoring solution for all the riders.. BUT, it will take more time and the competition is going to be imposible to finish in time. Or simple, the riders do their runs, and the next day will now the results. Riders have their pride on what they built for weeks, and that should be take carefully.
i had this article about "how to win rampage or at least get better than 9th" written last week. i never published b/c it felt too whiny and dumb. i do, however, want to put this protest on record before anyone else drops in...i had this written in the article and i still stand by it. sucks. brendan's score is way better than a 67 considering low to mid 90's generally win the event.
edit so i can be very clear about how i feel - i love spangler, kyle, vink and the judges. if anyone is qualified to decide which of these diverse and impossible runs is the gnarliest, it's this group of incredible humans, diggers and riders. they know their shit. more than any of us by a landslide. it's the FORMAT that's the problem, not their opinion
--------------------
- There's no way around the fact that someone has to go down the mountain first. Additionally and unfortunately, Rampage is a judged event, subject to the imperfect nature of humans. Judges are notorious, in any sport, for being conservative at the beginning of an event. They have to be. If they genuinely think the first run of the entire day is the winning run and score it 100, they set themselves up for failure because run 2 could be just a bit better and so on. It's the problem of the system, and if you're an early competitor, this problem can't be ignored. We have two solutions for the first handful of riders down (not just the first)
Early Riders Take It Easy
1. Do anything you can to delay your start - pretend you have a mechanical or stick your finger down your throat to barf at the top of the hill - it's a freeride event and everyone is pretty darn nice at a freeride event because they're all friends. There's no UCI to DSQ your ass and you may get lucky enough to be put to the end of the start list boosting your chances by at least 3 places in the results sheet should you nail your run.
2. If you're of higher ethical and moral character than sticking your finger down your throat to puke at the start, then just forget about your first run. Throw it out the window. Don't even be nervous because you have no chance. You can't win. You probably can't even podium (we're too lazy to check the history on that). Do something funny for the camera at the start, cruise the ridge, stop for autographs and selfies, wave to the helicopter; this is your chance to get some social media exposure and air time that will make the Red Bull highlight reel that hits the major news networks. As an early rider, your stock run, no matter how earth-shattering, even if you nail it, will net you, at best, a score of 87. You'll be completely forgotten until your next run, because the big guns are still ahead and that's just how it works.
Did he deserve to win? No, but that score should have easily been high 70's. You could tell by his reaction he was shocked by it.
Glad Rheeder won but they are still overweighting jumps and features with massive highway wide dirt take-offs/landings.
Would a fair and reasonable solution be to keep the first run scores hidden, until all riders drop, so as to gauge the overall standard and level of riding, and then pitch everyone accordingly.
The second runs however could still be scored live, judging whether riders have improved or not on their first runs.
I understand that this would have a detrimental effect on overall spectator excitement. However, on the whole, the second runs are where the excitement from the scoring builds.
The first runs are inherently exciting just getting to whiteness the creative madness of each rider and team in full, after avidly refreshing Instagram, vital and PB all week for build updates and riders first hits.
If this point has already been made, ignor me.
Rampage kicks ass.
I hope there is a jokes Deakinator Edit to follow.
That pretty much explains why Rampage and Crankworx (the freeride portion) aren't as exciting to watch as DH or even XC where the riders decide where they place, not "judges" who "have to leave room" for scoring.
Sal is an awful guy to have on this event. Talking about Agassiz's heart rate sitting at 160 before he dropped in as just something normal is just stupid. Who died and made this guy one of the youtube fitness models?
Cam is amazing, get him on the wc with Warner if Claudio is not going to do it. Even as a sideline guy, he gets it.
For the first runs- I have to assume the judges “calibrate” their impressions & initial scores based on what happen the year before. And If they ain’t at least doing that........then they need more judging school lessons
Case in point: Ethan Nell's run.
Why couldn‘t there be an option and let the fans/ spectators be the judges, I mean they are the closest to the riders and probably see the steepness/gnar of the whole run.
It is freeride anyways so keep it simple...on these events stats never interested anyone.
It must be hard judging it but the fans are sometimes the reason these events are rad,why not incorporate them in the judging.
Just my two cents..congrats to Brett and all the riders
It’s data driven, can be adjusted for favorite-rider bias after we get enough data, and captures the reason we love to watch.
My heart rate and breathing pattern were going haywire watching the more raw parts of Brendan’s run and the top of Jordie’s. On the other hand, I didn’t feel myself physically responding to the tricks until they were massive or were on a difficult-to-trick features: Lacondeguy’s consecutive hits, Lunn’s 720, Nell’s flat drop flip up top, and a few of Rheeder’s tricks.
Another and impossible solution is, the riders do their runs and then the judges watch the repetitions and decides. I think that is the more equal scoring solution for all the riders.. BUT, it will take more time and the competition is going to be imposible to finish in time. Or simple, the riders do their runs, and the next day will now the results. Riders have their pride on what they built for weeks, and that should be take carefully.
Just my opinion
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