Tom van Steenbergen was one of the most exciting and hyped riders coming into Red Bull Rampage 2014. After a disappointing result in 2013 and a shoulder injury earlier this year, Trek’s 19-year-old Dutch native, who now resides in Canada, was hungry to show the world his true capabilities on a mountain bike.
After landing this world record frontflip while filming for Anthill Films early this summer, he showed up to Rampage 2014 with the intention of doing the same over the massive 72-foot canyon gap.
It wasn’t really calculated. I just kinda went for it not knowing the exact speed and rotation, which was pretty scary.
Unfortunately, Steenbergen’s frontflip attempt on the huge gap came up just one foot short, and he took a hard fall. Although he walked away with his head held high, it was visibly one of the roughest falls taken in Rampage finals.
“I knew it wasn’t going to work as soon as my back tire hit the ground. It was just a bit earlier than I expected,” said Steenbergen. “It wasn’t really calculated. I just kinda went for it not knowing the exact speed and rotation, which was pretty scary.”