Photo by Ian Highlands

Thomas Vanderham hucks big.

Virgin, UT – October 31, 2004 - The Red Bull Rampage is a freeride classic that brings together the world’s top gravity talent for a two-day huck-fest in the mountains of Virgin, Utah. Tricks and treats were on order as riders launched off a variety of cliffs and extreme slopes in an attempt to complete extreme jumps safely. Athletes are judged on control, style, amplitude, fluidity and jump difficulty by a panel of Downhill and Freeride experts.

Kyle Strait won the overall with a near 60 ft. gap jump that even he admitted was a little scary, no Halloween pun intended. Strait’s winning jump combined several whips along with a huge no-hander. In describing the no-hander, where he takes his hands completely off the bars, Strait said (it’s) "the longest I’ve ever had them off for." The 17-year old American has developed into one the most fearless descenders in cycling, scoring America’s only Downhill medal, a bronze, at the 2004 World Championships. Strait rides a complete SRAM drivetrain
including SRAM’s X.9 Trigger shifters and X.0 rear derailleur, chain and cassette.

Gee Atherton is a confident 19-year old Downhiller whose high finish surprised more than a few with a deceptively fast and fluid style. Atherton completed a multiple gap jump on his final run with a second jump clearing 30 feet. Atherton rides SRAM’s X-Generation drivetrain, RockShox Boxxer World Cup fork, and Truvativ cranks and bottom bracket.

The youth movement continued as third place was secured by 19-year old Steve Romaniuk, a relative newcomer to the Red Bull scene, having first competed in 2003. "RomanHuck" rode SRAM X-Generation drivetrain, RockShox Boxxer suspension, Avid Juicy brakes, and
the complete Truvativ kit (see results).

The podium was swept by SRAM athletes, a reflection of the dominance of the X-Generation as the drivetrain of choice for Downhill, Four-cross and Freeride athletes.

Results – Top 3:

1) Kyle Strait (USA) - 85.8 – SRAM X.9 Triggers, X.0 rear derailleur, SRAM PowerChains and PowerGlide cassettes.

2) Gee Atherton (UK) - 83.8 – SRAM X.7 Triggers, X.9 RD, SRAM chains, cassettes, RockShox Boxxer World Cup, and Holzfeller DH Crankset , Giga Pipe Team DH bottom bracket.

3) Steve Romaniuk (CAN) - 79.8 – SRAM X.9 Triggers, X.0 Blackbox Shorty RD, RockShox Boxxer World Cup, Avid Juicy Seven brakes, Truvativ Holzfeller cranks, bar, stem, pedals, Giga Pipe Team DH BB, Box Guide (chainguide), and Team seatpost.