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Aside from a few mishaps of relatively low consequence, Rampage went down in a much better fashion than years past. After a rough year last year leaving Paul Basagoitia in a horrendous state, and quite a bit of controversy over judging, it was safe to say that most left with a bit of a bad taste in their mouth. This year Red Bull made some serious changes, all of which were well received – they increased safety, took feedback from riders more seriously, increased pay and brought on 2 judges who are well respected by all of the riders – Kyle Jameson and Nico Vink. Both Kyle and Nico have competed in multiple, recent Rampage events. The finals were tense, and per usual wind was a factor…
![Despite being in a bit of rough shape from a couple of huge crashes, Connor MacFarlane turned up at the rider's meeting ready for action.](https://www.mtb-mag.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/IMC0068.jpg)
![Kurt Sorge eyeing up his biggest drop.](https://www.mtb-mag.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/IMC3946.jpg)
![Fans, hungry for action.](https://www.mtb-mag.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/IMC4027.jpg)
![The raddest judges.](https://www.mtb-mag.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/IMC3913.jpg)
![Darren Berrecloth, first on the hill.](https://www.mtb-mag.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/IMC0111.jpg)
![T-Mac and Berrecloth's drop was massive.](https://www.mtb-mag.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/IMC3977.jpg)
![Carson Storch spinning a huge 360 that would win him best trick.](https://www.mtb-mag.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/IMC4183.jpg)
![Tom Vansteenbergen's upper section was gnarly.](https://www.mtb-mag.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/IMC4057.jpg)
![Brandon would charge his extremely technical upper section, blast a huge 360 flatspin on a step up, then pull this flat drop flip to take the highest score.](https://www.mtb-mag.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/IMC0456.jpg)
![James Doerfling and Aggy shared this chute into the heart of the course. It was clearly absurd.](https://www.mtb-mag.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/IMC0204.jpg)
![Aggy with a 360 off of a very difficult drop....](https://www.mtb-mag.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/IMC0364.jpg)
![...Graham lined up a bit too far to the right. This was the moment before it all went wrong.](https://www.mtb-mag.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/IMC0371.jpg)
![A broken pelvis will leave Aggy out for 8-10 weeks, but he won't need surgery. In the grand scheme of how horrendous this crash was, he's lucky.](https://www.mtb-mag.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/IMC4021.jpg)
![Antoine Bizet with a flip on the main ridgeline. A double flip down below would earn him 2nd place.](https://www.mtb-mag.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/IMC0745.jpg)
![Brett Rheeder was charging and looking set for a top 5 but had bobbles in both runs.](https://www.mtb-mag.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/IMC4212.jpg)
![Tommy G looked so good, he charged his upper section and popped two 360's in his run. Solid.](https://www.mtb-mag.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/IMC0877.jpg)
![Norbs, thinking about life on the edge.](https://www.mtb-mag.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/IMC3938.jpg)
![Nice spin out of a cool flowy section from Norbraten.](https://www.mtb-mag.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/IMC4285.jpg)
![PEF was charging all day. He probably rode the top section faster than anyone.](https://www.mtb-mag.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/IMC0890.jpg)
![Kyle Strait would straight air his first run on this big drop, but in run two he threw this massive no hander.](https://www.mtb-mag.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/IMC4237.jpg)
![Cam Zink making sure he has a perfect run in.](https://www.mtb-mag.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/IMC3947.jpg)
![Cam Zink doing the unthinkable. He would over-rotate and crash injuring his thumb and deciding to sit out a second run.](https://www.mtb-mag.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/IMC4094.jpg)
![Andreu Lacondeguy's run was wild, but lacked the huge tricks that he needed for a big result.](https://www.mtb-mag.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/IMC0671.jpg)
![Remy Metaillier would take just one run, like many others.](https://www.mtb-mag.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/IMC0733.jpg)
![Conor MacFarlane - Pure grit.](https://www.mtb-mag.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/IMC3931.jpg)
![Unfortunately Conor would have a massive crash coming up short on this demented gap.](https://www.mtb-mag.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/IMC4137.jpg)
![Antoine Bizet with some wind delays.](https://www.mtb-mag.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/IMC4066.jpg)
![Back to the top for Semenuk, although he would roll the dice and opt out of a second run.](https://www.mtb-mag.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/IMC4159.jpg)
![Kurt Sorge also opted out of a second run due to wind.](https://www.mtb-mag.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/IMC0735.jpg)
![Your top 3 riders. Brandon also won people's choice, Carson would win best trick and Conor MacFarlane would win the Kelly McGarry spirit award.](https://www.mtb-mag.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/IMC1055.jpg)
![Top 10.](https://www.mtb-mag.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/IMC1054.jpg)
![Healing vibes to this tough dude. See you next year Rampage.](https://www.mtb-mag.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/IMC9729.jpg)