Welcome to RECON, an email that rounds up the week’s MTB news in just 5 minutes.

Before we begin, shoutout to those of you joining us from our giveaway with Greg Minnaar. We’re stoked to have you!

If you haven’t thrown your name in the hat, make sure to get locked in before entries close. The winner of Viris goggles, a shirt signed by the GOAT, and a Fox Speedframe helmet will be announced in next week’s issue.

And if you want to win more free MTB gear from us, you’ll find more prize opportunities at the bottom of this email.

In today’s issue:

• 🐂 Rampage: Brendog impresses, Semenuk claims victory

• 🏆 Hotshot: Asa Vermette Presented with Red Bull Helmet

• 🚲 DIY Bike: Would you ride this impressive homemade rig?

RAMPAGE

🏜 Robbery at Rampage?

At this point, it feels like Brandon Semenuk winning Rampage is like a coffee stain on a white shirt.

It’s just inevitable.

The slopestyle legend and rally driving phenom won his 5th Red Bull Rampage, clutching up on his second run for a score of 92.73 and extending his dominance in the sport’s flagship event.

Rampage faced significant wind delays, which impacted riders throughout the event. Cam Zink was helicoptered out after a brutal crash, leaving him with several broken ribs. Despite it all, Semenuk's flawless second run earned him his historic win, squeaking past Szymon Godziek and his mammoth backflip on the biggest drop.

Podium Results: 

1st. Brandon Semenuk: 92.73
2nd. Szymon Godziek: 91.66
3rd. Tyler McCaul: 90.66

While Rampage is never short of drama, the 2024 event has brought significant controversy compared to years past.

Many fans feel like Brendan “Brendog” Fairclough deserved a higher score than a 76, as he delivered one of the most technically challenging big-mountain runs of the event. While Brendog impressed with his steep ridges and daring drops, he placed 11th, sparking debate over the more slopestyle-focused runs like Brandon Semenuk’s winning performance.

Other riders voiced their frustrations publicly. Best trick winner Tom van Steenbergen who hit an incredible front flip down a 60 ft drop felt “disbelief” at his 4th place score, citing a “0% margin of error”.

While Brendog won the People’s Choice award, fans continue to rally on chat boards and social media comments about the bold line and creativity he brought to the kind of traditional freeride run that Rampage was designed around.

Our Takeaway: As the value of media rights and audiences grow in MTB, it makes sense why Red Bull may be encouraging slopestyle tricks in Rampage runs. Tricks make for better highlight reels, more viral video clips, and are probably more entertaining for casual viewers who may be tuning into Rampage for the first time. But this strategy also risks alienating the event’s core audience of enthusiasts and perhaps more consequentially, the athletes who risk their lives for the craft of freeride. There’s no doubt Red Bull has heard the internet chatter. The question is: will they change the judging strategy for next year or double down?

We’d love to hear from you guys. Was Brendog’s run underappreciated or did Semenuk’s tail whip and flip whip rightfully win the day?

Let us know in the poll below, what should Rampage be about? Write an explanation after submitting and we may feature your comment in next week’s issue. We’d love to hear from both sides!

RACING

⚡️ Asa Vermette Gets His Wings

It’s official: Gen Z is taking over downhill mountain biking.

Greg Minnaar’s retirement was big news not only because the GOAT is leaving the World Cup circuit but also because it signals a changing of the guard.

Milennial riders are aging out of the sport in lieu of young aggressive superstars who grew up on modern bikes.

You could look to hotshots like Jackson Goldstone who have quickly dominated the elite division straight out of the juniors, as well as 20-year-old Kiwi Lachlan Stevens-McNab who missed out on first place by 0.06s at MSA and own the U.S. Open.

Red Bull thinks Asa Vermette will be no different.

The 17-year-old American phenom was recently presented with the industry’s most coveted sponsorship: a Red Bull helmet.

After an explosive first season that saw him win 3 World Cup races, take the Junior World Championship title, and finish 3rd overall despite missing the final round, Asa’s rise is undeniable.

Already a US National Champ in both Downhill and Enduro, this Red Bull partnership sets him up for an epic Junior World Cup season with Neko Mulally's Frameworks team.

The sport has a bright future ahead of it, with young blood ready to battle it out for glory and bring MTB racing into a new era.

Keep an eye out for this young killer!

BIKES

🚲 Build A Bear Bike Workshop

Since we were just on the topic of young trailblazers….

We’d like to introduce you to Pau de Bofarull, a 16-year-old from Barcelona who’s shaking up the MTB scene with his NEAT Enduro V1 prototype.

This high-pivot, four-bar, gearbox-equipped bike was fully designed and built by Pau, using CAD software and a modular construction approach.

His self-made ride features 160mm of travel, adjustable geometry, and a unique linkage design for ultimate customization. With massive online attention, Pau is considering turning his passion project into a commercial endeavor.

The real question is: Would you ride this?

🎥 Banger Of The Week:

Brendog drops Rampage vlog with a cheeky title.

👂 Ear Candy:

Do you really need that big 170mm enduro bike? Listen to top enduro world cup rider Charlie Murray explain why he chooses his mid travel Stumpjumper for the worlds hardest enduro races.

📰 Headlines and Hitters

• UCI confirms important rule changes and what that implies

• How Jackson Goldstone became the boy wonder of MTB

• RECON X Greg Minnaar Giveaway

• The New York Times Covered The Significance Of Women’s Rampage

• 10 Best Apps For MTB

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