Red Bull Rampage 2026 returns to where it all began 25 years ago

The Red Bull Rampage will celebrate its 25th anniversary by literally returning to its roots. The organization has just confirmed that the 2026 edition will take place in the original area of Virgin, Utah, used in the early editions between 2001 and 2004. A historic terrain that will once again host the best freeride riders in the world, but with some important modifications compared to what the pioneers of the discipline experienced.

The Red Bull Rampage 2026 returns to the original stage of 2001

We already knew that the Red Bull Rampage 2026 will take place on October 8 and 10 and that it will be a particularly important edition as it marks 25 years since the event's inception. Now Red Bull has revealed the chosen venue for the celebration.

The organization will recover the area used for the first Rampage in history, held in 2001, which also hosted the editions of 2002, 2003, and 2004. Among freeride fans, it is simply known as the "OG site", the place where the legend of this competition began to be built.

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It was there that Wade Simmons won the first edition in 2001 with a score of 78.4 points. And also where Cam Zink, who will be among the participants in 2026, made his Rampage debut in 2003 before later becoming a two-time winner of the event.

But returning to the original stage does not mean recovering exactly the same course from 25 years ago.

For 2026, a new starting area will be set up approximately one third higher than the one used between 2001 and 2004. This will allow for a drop of about 206.5 meters, the largest of any of the venues used so far by the Red Bull Rampage.

The area designated for the men's and women's competitions will occupy approximately 90 acres, about 364,000 m², providing riders with a huge terrain to search, design, and build their lines.

Thomas Genon, one of the riders who will be at the start, summarizes what it will mean to return to the original stage:

"There is something special about bringing the Red Bull Rampage back to the place where it all started. Fans will recognize the terrain, but they will see it from a completely different perspective. It will be incredible to have the opportunity to compete on the ground where freeride began."

25 years later, freeride is completely different

The return will also allow us to see how much freeride has evolved in a quarter of a century. When Rampage was born in 2001, the essence of the competition was much closer to pure big mountain, with steep slopes, natural lines, and riders looking for the most spectacular way to descend the mountains of the Utah desert.

Over these 25 years, the lines have become increasingly complex, and the huge jumps and tricks have taken on a fundamental role. Participants still have to interpret the terrain and build their own courses, making it particularly interesting to imagine what current riders will be able to create on the same mountains used by the pioneers.

Since that first victory by Wade Simmons, 19 editions of the Rampage have been held, and 11 different riders have managed to win. Therefore, the 2026 edition will be the 20th.

Bienve Aguado will be among the 18 riders of Rampage 2026

The organization had previously confirmed the participants of the Red Bull Rampage 2026, with a significant Spanish presence: Bienvenido Aguado Alba will return to Utah after receiving one of the ten invitations granted by Red Bull.

The men's event will feature 18 participants, including Hayden Zablotny, who will defend the victory achieved in 2025, as well as regular names from the Rampage such as Thomas Genon, Cam Zink, Tom Van Steenbergen, Szymon Godziek, Carson Storch, Reed Boggs, Kade Edwards, and Tom Isted. 

In the women's category, 12 riders will compete, with Robin Goomes as a major reference after winning the last two editions. Hannah Bergemann, second in 2025 by just 0.16 points, will again be among her main rivals. 

The women's competition will kick off the Rampage on Thursday, October 8, while the men's will take place on Saturday, October 10. Both will start at 10:00 local time in Utah, 18:00 Spanish mainland time, and can be followed live through Red Bull TV and the Red Bull Bike channel on YouTube. 

Twenty-five years later, the Rampage thus returns to the mountain where it all began. The terrain will be recognizable, but the bikes, tricks, constructions, and the level of the riders have little in common with those of 2001.