Caterpillar Inc. and Wheeler Machinery Co. spotlighted Cat machines, their operators and the work behind world-class performance from Oct. 8-10, 2026, at Red Bull Rampage, a big mountain freeride mountain bike competition in Virgin, Utah.
As an event sponsor, Caterpillar showcased Cat Compact, a new retail customer experience designed to better serve small contractors, owner-operators and growing businesses.
Through dedicated locations and connected digital experiences, according to Caterpillar, the Cat Compact experience provides a simpler, more approachable way to access Cat machines, rental solutions, service and support. Cat Compact locations are paired with Cat Rentals and supported by local Cat dealers.
Red Bull Rampage is freeride mountain biking's most distinctive test of skill, precision and control in the world, held in the rugged terrain of southwest Utah. For the last 25 years, the best riders in the world have dropped into the mountains of Utah, creating a legacy of progression in freeride history and human achievement.
But before a rider or dig team arrives on site, there is work to do.
Through its sponsorship of Red Bull Rampage, Caterpillar highlighted the preparation, equipment and people involved in complex projects and events. Cat machines help prepare production areas and build the infrastructure needed to bring a world-renowned freeride competition to life.
Caterpillar's collaboration with Red Bull is designed to reach customers where they already spend their time and demonstrate what Cat machines and operators can accomplish in environments that demand problem-solving and performance.
“The Cat Compact experience was designed to connect with a different type of customer, which means we have to approach marketing to them differently,” said Ashley-Brooke Winger, senior marketing consultant for Caterpillar. “Customers are forming opinions long before they enter the buying process, shaped by the people, experiences and communities they connect with. Our relationship with Red Bull gives us an opportunity to show up in those moments and let people experience Cat Compact for themselves.”
For these customers, equipment is only one part of the equation. Keeping jobs moving also requires access to service, parts, attachments, rental options and people who can help determine the right solution for the work at hand. Through participating Cat dealers, the Cat Compact experience brings together dedicated service, financing, and new, used and rental solutions in one connected experience designed around the needs of smaller equipment buyers.
At Red Bull Rampage, Caterpillar used the Cat Compact experience to focus attention on the work behind the competition, including the people, equipment and processes involved in site preparation.
As part of Caterpillar's Red Bull Rampage presence, local Cat dealer Wheeler Machinery took the experience beyond the competition itself.
Wheeler Machinery sponsored and hosted the Heavy Iron Rodeo on Oc. 9, a day between the women's and men's competitions.
The Heavy Iron Rodeo was an invite-only experience at a private, off-site venue that put athletes, creators and industry guests in the operator's seat, testing the same skills Red Bull Rampage demands: control, precision and confidence.
Participants ran the machines through an obstacle course with several competition stations going at once and prizes on the line. Wheeler equipment experts and Cat Compact representatives were on standby to assist and educate along the way.
For more information, visit cat.com/catcompact or wheelercat.com.
