Photos: Hailey Elise
For the third time in almost as many years, 12 of the top female freeride athletes made their way to Virgin, Utah to for the now renowned Red Bull Formation event. Unlike other freeride events, such as Red Bull Rampage or Crankworx, Formation is built not as a contest with podium finishers but instead creates opportunity for athletes, builders, and crew members to come together and experience some of the biggest lines in a controlled, and highly supportive, environment in order to elevate the group's riding abilities, sharing experience and encouraging each other to push their limits.
The pool of talent is deep and varied, from the incredibly talented veterans like Casey Brown to 16-year-old rookie rider Lucy Van Eesteren just starting out on her freeride journey.
Marzocchi riders Samatha Soriano and Cami Nogueira, plus builder Martha Gill, all made their way out to the desert to hang out with this solid crew of female freeriders to explore, build, and create unique top-to-bottom trails.
Sam Soriano brings the stoke as she puts in the work to earn her turns.
Cami Nogueira put it all on the line and was rewarded with the award for Spiciest Line aboard her Commencal FRS, complete with our Bomber 58 fork and Bomber CR shock.
As this was her second year at the event, she brought everything she'd learned from last year to put into practice as she built her line.
"I wanted to do something that goes with my style. I wanted to have fun but at the same time try to push my limits a bit. The first day that I was there I looked for this line that was like a fall line… I hiked up I check the entrance and it was pretty gnarly haha but I love it. So I decided to try it…
All the event was incredible, but my favorite moment probably was the last day where all the riders accomplished our lines… when I finished my line my hands were shaking from the adrenaline, and the rush was pretty big, I was super stoked for what I had just accomplished.”
Cami's Commencal FRS
