Canada had two riders, and two podium spots on Sunday at the 2025 Red Bull Rampage. Hayden Zablotny won the event in his first appearance, a feat last accomplished by Brandon Semenuk. He was joined on the podium by Rampage veteran Tom van Steenbergen.
The day was also marked by two of the scarier crashes in recent Rampage history. Adolf Silva and Emil Johansson both required airlift evacuations after harrowing falls on the steep Utah cliffs.
First Rampage, first win
“I’m just gonna try my best to keep it fun and just have fun with it,” Hayden Zablotny told us before 2025 Red Bull Rampage, his first appearance at the Utah freeride event. “Keep a smile on my face and stick to what I know.”
Zablotny is surely smiling now. The B.C. rider just walked away with a coveted Red Bull Rampage title, and in his first attempt. After two years digging at the event, for Talus Turk and Ethan Nell, Zablotny rode straight onto the podium in 2025.
Well, almost. The 22-year-old crashed on his first of two runs. That put all the pressure on his second, and final run.
“I was trying to stay as calm as possible and keep my nerves under control,” the Rocky Mountain rider said after his winning run.
What’s the Rampage-winning formula? Simple.
“I just wanted to build something that would showcase my building and riding style – and something I’d be stoked on riding as well.”
Zablotny’s win puts him in good company. Not just with the iconic roster of Rampage winners, including a long list of Canadians. He is the first rookie winner since none other than Brandon Semenuk, the legendary rider and most prolific Rampage rider ever.
To claim his first win, Zablotny carved a distinctive line into the Utah cliffs, then added his own style. A technical double drop directly off the platform started the run at 100 per cent. 360 flatspins, a flat drop back flip, opposite 360 flatspin and a big suicide no-hander combined technical difficulty and style into a winning run. The line itself earned Zablotny’s team the Digger Award.
Tom van Steenbergen returns to the Rampage podium
The only other Canadian in the men’s event, Tom van Steenbergen, joined Zablotny on the podium on Sunday. Van Steenbergen also…
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