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2013 Red Bull Rampage : WAIT

Oct 10, 2013

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THEN IT RAINED

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Apparently, it rains in the desert, as weird as that may sound. Perhaps that’s the reason there are actually plants out here, even though they look past dead. But rain it did, a buttload actually. It sent the builders and their quads and 4x4s into a mad scramble to exit the venue yesterday afternoon. The wind and the lightning and the big fat wet drops ended a long hard day in the dust. Build crews, riders and event organizers awoke the following morning to showers that continued right through until noon.

Which is a bit of a catch-22. Sure, there is a whole lot of work left to be done, especially for athletes still crafting lines for the finals. Losing a day is huge in that regard. At the same time, water will make a very dry and dusty course that much more tacky - hero dirt they call it. In fact, half the work over the past two days has been hoofing gallons of water up to take-offs and landings while clinging to the side of mega burl.

So, in a nutshell, a down day could be a really good day when it comes to the next three days, which look like they’ll be sunny and relatively warm. It also gives beaten and battered athletes, blown from a long season of riding, a chance to heal a little. Because the organizers wisely decided to close the venue (the road alone would have been a rental truck gong show), nature got to play its part in this year’s Red Bull Rampage. The dirt will be sweeter, the riders stronger, and tomorrow it is so on.

Drips.

The scene through the window today as hopeful riders headed to the site.

Ominous clouds kept the digging at bay.

Riders and builders played the waiting game all morning as course opening was delayed twice before finally being cancelled.

Dark clouds lingering for most of the day. As the system rolled through the day, blue skies broke mid afternoon and started to dry the damp soil.

Fox wrench Darren Garrison had some time today to prep the bikes for tomorrow. Stiffer spring rates and some custom tunes are on the menu.

Sean Cruickshanks, aka "the Wizard" putting Yannick Granieri's fork back together complete with new stealth black uppers.

Fox Racing Shox and Cam McCaul talking turkey on bike prep.

Shandro giving the young guns some words of wisdom during the off day. Although everyone wanted to be up building and riding their lines, it was also a good day to reflect on what needed to be done.

Evan Warner giving Cam Zink's Hyper a spruce tune.

It won't take long for the dirt to get back to its old self, but this is the most rain seen in these parts for some time.

Caked, and as the weather improves, soon to be baked.

Norbs packin' the heat.

Ever the sniper, Paul Bass aiming up.

Pappy from Fox gets in some target practice in front of their pits, casually aiming for the SRAM pit from time to time. Return fire was expected.

Diggers used the day to catch up on rest.

Scooters came out in hotel parking lots throughout Virgin to pass the time.

Bikers took over downtown Virgin, Utah.

Rdawg, practicing in the streets of Virgin.

Waiting.

Howey laying down some Island style in the desert.

Spangler. Still sending it after all these years.

Buehler at the old Rampage site.

Brendog.

By the end of the day, the sun was shining.

The clouds were still dark when everyone packed it in for the evening, but we are planning on sunshine.