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ST. GEORGE — The 2017 Red Bull Rampage saw Canadian Kurt Sorge taking home the top spot for his third time. St. George resident Ethan Nell made his presence known with a third place finish at his Rampage debut.
The field of 18 riders from around the world took to the desert terrain just outside of Virgin, Utah on Friday for the 12th Edition of the Red Bull Rampage. With near perfect weather conditions — sunny skies and slight breezes — competition moved quickly.
Sorge put down the top score on his first of two runs with a 92.66 score. No one else was able to top that. With that, Sorge became the first Red Bull Rampage athlete to ever win the event three time.
St. George resident Ethan Nell, 20, ended up near the bottom of the scoring after his first run, earning a solid 77.00 score. Overcoming the rookie jitters, he laid down a scorching second run, earning a 90.00 and a third-place finish. Nevada native Cameron Zink posted a 90.33, placing him in second between Sorge and Nell.
Last years champ, Canadian Brandon Semenuk, had an uncharacteristic crash on his first run, leaving him near the bottom after the first round. He was able to put together a solid second run to earn him fourth place.
The People's Choice Award $#8212; voted on by fans online — was a awarded to France's Antoine Bizet. After a phenomenal first run, featuring a double backflip at the bottom of his run, judges awarded Bizet an 81.66. That score elicited a roar of boos from the hundreds of fans on site. Bizet finished the day in 12th place.
St. George rider and Rampage veteran Logan Binggelli had a clean first run and opted to forgo his second run, leaving him with a 16th-place finish. Reed Boggs of Hurricane, Utah was slated to ride Friday, but an injury in practice on Thursday kept him from competing.
You can watch a replay of the Rampage on RedBull.tv. NBC will also be airing a highlight program on Sunday, December 24.
Red Bull Rampage 2017 Final Results
1. Kurt Sorge (CAN) – 92.66
2. Cameron Zink (USA) – 90.33
3. Ethan Nell (USA) – 90.00
4. Brandon Semenuk (CAN) – 89.66
5. Brett Rheeder (CAN) – 89.33
6. Thomas Genon (BEL) – 89.00
7. Carson Storch (USA) – 87.66
8. Kyle Strait (USA) – 87.33
9. Tyler McCaul (USA) – 87.00
10. Tom Van Steenbergen (CAN) – 84.33
11. Andreu Lacondeguy (SPN) – 83.00
12. Antoine Bizet (FRA) – 81.66
13. Darren Berrecloth (CAN) – 81.00
14. Vincent Tupin (FRA) – 78.00
15. Pierre Edouard Ferry (FRA) – 76.33
16. Logan Binggeli (USA) – 69.66
17. Bas Van Steenbergen (CAN) – 68.66
18. Ryan Howard (USA) – 67.66
