Robin Goomes was among the first female competitors at the Red Bull Rampage and claimed the inaugural women's title. Photo / Paul Foley
Robin Goomes was among the first female competitors at the Red Bull Rampage and claimed the inaugural women's title. Photo / Paul Foley
Robin Goomes doesn’t shy away from a challenge, highlighted by titling her entry submission to free-ride one of mountain biking’s biggest events, “Who’s going to keep the house clean?”
It was the Kiwi’s response to online backlash following the announcement that, for the first time, women would be included in the 2024 Red Bull Rampage.
And after that sharp clap back at stereotypes suggesting women didn’t belong in adventure sports, Goomes delivered on her bike to claim the inaugural title on the mountainous terrain of Utah, US.
“It hasn’t yet sunk in,” Goomes said after her win. “It’s been such a process, so I’m trying to take it all in and enjoy it. I’m so stoked for my crew, they’ve gone so hard. If anything, I’ve done it for them, the sport, and all the other riders.”
The 28-year-old raised in the Chatham Islands wowed the judges with two big backflips, accruing 85 points while also earning the Utah Sports Commission Best Trick Award.
It was the first time in its 23-year history the Red Bull Rampage hosted a women’s roster of eight athletes, which included another Kiwi wāhine in 26-year-old Vinny Armstrong, placing sixth with 65 points.
The mountain biking event asks athletes to descend mountainsides and ridges while impressing a judging panel by executing tricks and carving a line down the mountain. Goomes told the Herald her involvement in the event provided an opportunity to challenge a stigma.
“It’s been a long time coming,” said Goomes. “If you’re not given the opportunity, then no one else can see it, and therefore it’s not like no one’s really taking steps towards getting somewhere that’s not achievable. But now that [women] are going to go there and do it ... it’s achievable and it’s possible.”
Robin Goomes admitted to feeling scared before the Red Bull Rampage and says nerves are something she will always wrestle with. Photo / Paul Foley
Goomes said being dig fit and efficient was required to stand out at the event, as during the eight-day build-in she and her team had to dig the path she rode down.
“To me, it’s the pinnacle of free-ride mountain biking. It’s a natural big mountain, gnarly terrain [and] the goal is you go out there and you scope your own line. You have to build it yourself and then you’ve just gotta find your way down.”
Goomes revealed she had never competed at an event of this scale.
“I’ve done jumps and fixed things up that are already existing but are just trail maintenance. But this is the first time that I’ll build from a completely blank canvas.”
Goomes was first discovered at the 2021 Future Ground event by Mons Royale, where her talent quickly caught the attention of the mountain biking community. Since then, she has been a rising star on the Crankworx circuit, amassing several wins.
She admitted to feeling scared before the Rampage event, acknowledging her nerves were something she would always wrestle with. After all, there’s no easy way to hurl yourself and your bike down natural mountains, but it’s the fear that drives her to excel in the sport.
“It’s a crazy misconception where people believe extreme sports athletes don’t feel fear, but we do feel fear. You have to learn to use it as a tool to get what you want done. You just have to stare into it, but it’s definitely there [and] I’m always terrified.”
Goomes said she coped with it by reminding herself of her why.
“Otherwise, you’d just be scared and wouldn’t do it. Normally having a reason for doing something is enough to overcome it. You just try to switch that part of your brain off and focus on what you know you can do.
“If you overcome something you’re scared of, it’s really rewarding.”
Bonnie Jansen is a multimedia journalist in the NZME sports team. She’s a football commentator and co-host of the Football Feverpodcast and was part of the Te Rito cadetship scheme before becoming a fulltime journalist.
