Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
- Two mountain bikers were airlifted after crashes at Red Bull Rampage.
- Adolf Silva under-rotated a double backflip crashing into dirt; Emil Johansson dislocated a hip.
- Spectators noted risks in biking; safety gear like helmets can mitigate injuries.
SALT LAKE CITY – A Spanish mountain bike rider is in the hospital following a huge crash at the Red Bull Rampage event in Virgin, Washington County, on Sunday.
Freeride style mountain biker Adolf Silva had to be airlifted after he under-rotated a step-down double backflip off a cliff and crashed head-on into the dirt.
It was Silva's second ride of the day, and he had nearly completed his run. There were audible gasps from the crowd as Silva hit the ground and rolled to a stop. Livestream host Selema Masekela commented that they had heard that Silva may try a double backflip on the feature.
"We did not see him practice that at all this week because of the stakes," Masekela said.
Host Tyler McCaul was up close and saw the whole thing.
"So many things have to go right … the speed, the pull, the rotation, the air awareness … up to this moment prior his ride was going so good," McCaul said.
Bluffdale residents Jeramie Halverson and his son, Greyson — both avid mountain bikers — were at the event and described what it was like watching it unfold.
"It was pretty gnarly. Worst crash I've ever seen," said 18-year-old Greyson Halverson, who competes on USU Eastern's mountain biking team.
"As a spectator, you like to see them hitting these big tricks or jumps, and you hate to see when they crash," said Jeramie Halverson, former Riverton High School mountain biking coach.
The competition was paused immediately as medics rushed in, and Silva was airlifted from the area.
Red Bull Rampage later confirmed he was alert and talking to loved ones as he was transported to the hospital.
Later that day, another top rider, Emil Johansson from Sweden, also crashed and had to be flown out due to a dislocated hip.
The Halversons noted that while they still love watching these kinds of competitions, it serves as a reminder that any level of mountain biking carries a risk — and safety gear like helmets can make a big difference.
"There is risk with any type of biking — mountain biking, even road biking there's risk. So you just have to take that into account and assess that risk," Jeramie Halverson said. "Helmets really help mitigate that risk a lot."
