10 Questions with Robin Goomes

Robin Goomes is a hard-charging New Zealand freeride mountain biker who’s become one of the most exciting riders on the planet. She grew up way out on the Chatham Islands, where getting stuck in and figuring things out for yourself is pretty much standard practice. That rugged, hands-on lifestyle helped shape her love for bikes, speed, and anything that gets the adrenaline going.

Before she went all-in on mountain biking, Goomes spent time in the New Zealand Army and even did a stint in Antarctica — tough gigs that only sharpened her resilience. Once she turned her focus to riding, she didn’t muck around. She quickly carved out a name as one of the most progressive women in freeride.

Robin really burst onto the world stage when she stomped a backflip at Crankworx — a moment that had Kiwis everywhere grinning and saying, “yeah nah, that’s proper mint.”

From there, Robin kept pushing the limits, leading to back-to-back wins at Red Bull Rampage, where she threw down massive tricks and bold, creative lines.

Robin taking a break in between backflips with her Kiwi themed POC collab Coron helmet and ORA goggles.

We were incredibly lucky to catch a moment with Robin — fresh off her massive win at this year’s Red Bull Rampage — and somehow managing to squeeze us into her absolutely packed schedule. To be honest, we’re still a bit stunned Robin made the time for us, and we feel genuinely honoured to have the chance to ask her a few questions.

Let’s rewind a bit. What first pulled you into freeride mountain biking — did you stumble into it one wild ride at a time, or was it always something that you felt was going to be your calling?

I started as a racer, it was the most obvious pathway but I always loved jumping and learning tricks so naturally it made sense to do freeride. I feel like I was lucky with my timing coming into the sport as freeride was becoming more accessible and women were getting invites to major events.

Rampage isn’t your average weekend ride. What goes through your head when you’re standing on the edge of a Utah cliff, about to drop into something most people would call ‘absolutely bonkers’… or just plain unrideable?”

It takes a bit to adjust to the terrain in Utah. I make sure to go out to the dez about a week before Rampage to acclimatize and get used to the terrain and exposure. By the time you finish the dig days you’ve had a lot of time to take in what you have to do and almost desensitise. At the end of the day it’s just biking, you just gotta switch off the fact that it’s on the edge of a cliff.

Goomes has cemented herself as a true pioneer — a rider who’s not just competing at the top level, but shifting the whole sport forward.

Is it tougher to win Rampage the first time or to show up again with everyone expecting you to do something even bigger?

Both years have had their own challenges. Year 2 definitely came with a lot of expectations which can feel heavy.

Are you happy with how your collab with POC ended up, such as the checkerboard pattern and “Every day is a dream” mantra. Does it embody your riding philosophy?

I love the collab! POC killed it! Everyday is a dream and it’s a dream to have this collab with POC.

“Rampage is so gnarly and there’s always huge risk riding there. Having a helmet that I can trust is super important and Coron is it for me.“

Training for Rampage isn’t just about muscles. How do you prep your mind — any routines, rituals, or mental tricks that help you stay focused?

For training I focused on a mix of physical fitness, riding, digging and mindset training. I think waking up every day knowing Rampage is coming is enough to stay focused and keep training.

Every Rampage line has a story. What’s one feature or build that still gives you chills when you think about it — either because it scared you or because you absolutely nailed it?

The princess killer, it’s the first feature on my line which was shared with Casey Brown and Hannah Bergemann. Casey guinnied it and had a hyuugie, we ran out of time to make the changes needed to make safer so Hannah and me had to leave it and find new ways off the top of the mesa.

Crashes are part of the deal. What’s your process for bouncing back — not just physically, but with the confidence to go even bigger next time?

Crashing doesn’t always suck. Sometimes you can have a crash doing something that scares you and if you’re close you can walk away almost unscathed which can be a big confidence boost to keep pushing.

What role does rider confidence play in navigating the challenges of the Red Bull Rampage? Does having a helmet like the Coron Air MIPS help boost your confidence?

Rampage is so gnarly and there’s always huge risk riding there. Having a helmet that I can trust is super important and Coron is it for me. Same with every piece of protection I wear it needs to be comfortable and safe, it’s one less thing to worry about.

You’ve become a hero for so many riders — especially young women. What’s the message you hope your riding sends to the next generation watching you from the sidelines?

I just want to inspire them to do what they love and have fun with it. It’s not that deep, just ride your bike and have fun doing it!

Above photos are credited from the Roots Run Deep story.

And lastly, just for fun — no limits, no sponsors, no logistics. If you could build your dream freeride line anywhere on Earth, where would it be and what kind of madness would it include?

I know you said Earth but what about a big air course on the moon lol

Hmmm…just imagine the number of backflips you could do in zero gravity.