Cycle
Red Bull Rampage is one of the most thrilling and extreme downhill mountain biking events in the world. Held annually in the desert terrain of Southern Utah, the high-stakes competition challenges elite riders to conquer treacherous natural terrain, including massive cliffs, rocky drops, and steep chutes. The riders, handpicked for their exceptional skills and bravery, navigate gravity-defying descents, executing jaw-dropping tricks along the way. The event is invite-0nly and this year the riders will be all men—again.
A woman has never ridden at Rampage and this year will be no exception. On Wednesday, September 13, Red Bull announced the 18-man roster for the 2023 competition, which is set to take place on Friday, October 13. Outside Online reports that many found the lack of women participants as a disappointment. Alex Showerman, a Vermont-based mountain biker who has helped with course construction and content production for Rampage, was quoted in a recent Outside Online article sharing her thoughts on the all-male roster at the Utah competition this year:
“Red Bull is all about pushing boundaries, and I don’t think anything more boundary-pushing could happen at Rampage than the first woman dropping in. It’s a no-brainer that women need to be there, and that’s what is going to grow the sport of freeride.”
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Outside Online reports that Rampage co-founder Todd Barber told the publication in 2018 that, while women aren’t prohibited from competing, there simply hasn’t been a woman who can ride the Rampage terrain the way the men can. However many others disagree, believing that the time has come to make Rampage more inclusive toward women. Professional snowboarder Kimmy Fasani commented on a social media post about Red Bull Rampage’s all-male roster again this year, writing:
“Let the women ride @redbullbike !!! Give the women opportunities to show up instead of setting limits for what you ‘think women can and can’t do’- Opportunities create progression!”
Fasani’s sentiments are shared by many. The argument is that the more inclusive an event like Rampage is, the more growth not only the event experiences but the entire discipline of downhill mountain biking. This goes for any sport or activity. As more women are seen doing extreme things, even more women become inspired to push themselves beyond their boundaries and compete in spaces they wouldn’t usually consider. Progression is inherent in extreme sports. The more that people of different backgrounds enter into a sport and push the limits of what’s possible, the more the sport itself is pushed toward growth; and so the progression continues.
