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Eastbourne, UK
July 28, 2002
By: Jani Söderhäll - the (once) retired slalomer
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During the summer I had received quite a few emails
from Chris Linford, trying to encourage me to get on
my board again, and maybe even come to the UK to
race this summer.
However reluctant I was, England seemed close enough
for a drive and wouldn't be the same kind of expense
as it would have been to travel to Boston for John
Gilmours July 4th event, which I had had some
serious thoughts about visiting (but not necessarily
to skate).
As a matter of fact I had not touched my slalom
board more than once since 1995. But I had heard
rumours that slalomers were slaloming again and that
other old guys, even pro's from the 70's were making
come backs in the US.
From the UK Chris Linford kept me informed of his
efforts of getting his old friends together for a
series of events in the summer. So, if other retired
slalomers could race, I guess I could do it as well!
With only one single 20 minutes practice session on
my board three weeks before the contest I was
getting ready to attend my first slalom event in 7
years. And, honestly I didn't worry much about not
having taken the time to practice. I was just going
to attend in order to meet old friends.
Arriving at the site I started to recognize some old
faces, from years and year back. Simon Gunning,
former World Record holder in Downhill was
the first one I encountered. Chris had asked him to come along
and at least show his equipment, downhill in
Eastbourne isn't really the most exciting. Luckily Simon was
there, because he quickly came to Chris's assistance
to stage the race, not only fixing the timing
equipment he also took over the results registration
on the computer, while his girl friend Matilda was
in charge of the timing equipment and cone count.
Many thank's!
In the morning we got a few hours of practice on the
spot, during which time the other skaters arrived
and we probably talked more than we skated. It was
incredible to meet all these old friends some of
which I had not seen for more than 15 years!
But now it was time to get serious!
I decided to do one more practice run, but this time
a really good one. I pushed as hard as I could, raced as
hard as I could, only to seriously hurt the tendon
of my pushing foot. Not having warmed up enough and
not in the best of physical conditions this was
simply too much for my foot. I tried a bit of
stretching and some other advice, but nothing would
help. Anyway, I was still determined to race which
was a silly idea, but now that I was determined to
do a come-back, I had to at least give it a try.
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The race was held with two timed qualification runs
which was used to place the racers into a 16 man
bracket.
First off I was going to race Lee Diamant, who in
his qualification runs had taken it really easy and
I thought he was a complete beginner. So, I thought
I could take it really easy and just cruise through
to a victory in this first round. Well, this sure
wasn't the case. At the signal I saw him take off
like a rocket. His well trained legs pushed him into
the course at about twice the speed I had, and I was
trembling. I didn't want to fall out the race this
early. He easily beat me to the finishing line,
although I used all my energy to catch up with him.
Luckily there were two runs, and added times, so I
did my very best in the second run, and just barely
made by him when the times were added up.
Among the late arrivers was Chris Charalambous, one
of the fastest UK slalomers from the early 80's. As
he arrived late, some arrangement was made so that
he could qualify but he early on had to encounter
Chris Linford, and although this was one of the
fiercest battles of the day, Chris C had to step
aside and let Mr contest organizer himself continue
the race.
The Eastbourne sun along the beachfront was heating
us all, hour after hour, to an extent beyond what is
healthy for un-tanned Englishmen and Swedes. Another
layer of sun cream was put on, but the only way to
avoid the sun was to stay in the shade, and only get
out in time for ones run.
In my second round I got to meet Leon Clarke, whom I
had met last time in 1990 or 1991 and wise from my
experience of the previous round I knew that I could
no longer hope for an easy victory. We raced, we
struggled, and I got to continue. Wow. All of a
sudden I was in the top 4!
Paul Price and Simon Levene, both top level racers
made their head-to-head rounds without too much
difficulties and were now meeting Chris Linford and
myself in the semi finals. Paul has been activily
racing this year, sponsored by Fibreflex. Simon has
also been to the US once or twice this year and is
sponsored by Turner. These guys are serious about
slalom!
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In the first round of the semi-finals, Simon got off
to a good start, as always, but I was fighting hard,
and in the first round I finished ahead, only to
find out that the timing equipment had not
functioned correctly. So back to the starting line
again, and push, push, and we were into the race
again. It was so close, so close, but in the end he
took me out with only a few hundreds of a second.
In the second heat of the semi-finals Chris Linford
mastered his board, and the course to a level that
not even world traveller Paul Price with his new
Fibreflex setup and Turner Avalon wheels could do
anything about. Chris had set the course of the day,
but evenso, it was probably no great advantage, as
he didn't get many practice runs in while preparing
the whole thing.
Exhausted after my three runs against Simon Levene,
I was now meeting Paul Price, for a match for third
price. Last time I raced Paul was in 1987 and I
thought I could make it, if I got it all right. But
his recent race experience and solid pumping
technique took him, not only faster, but with less
energy through the course and he took the bronze
medal.
In the final Chris and Simon fought hard, both doing
fairly equal runs, but with Simon at a slight
advantage after the two runs. Simon takes top
honours, Chris is second, Paul third and I'm
fourth.
I found the race extremely encouraging and exciting.
I personally had to fight very hard to make it
through the tournament and it really got me started.
Hmm, maybe I should go to yet another race this
year...
Thank's to Chris Linford for making it all happen.
Thank's to Simon, Matilda, the speaker and Leons
wife and Edwins kids for cone assistance.
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The Eastbourne Euro Flatland
story was written by Jani
Söderhäll, who took his board
out of the closet for a weekend
to race the best UK slalomers
on the sunny Eastbourne
sea front.
Results:
Euro Flatland Open 2002
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Organization:
UK Skateboard Slalom Association:
www.UKSSA.net
Big thanks to Lush Longboards for making the trophies and
t-shirts, Urban for Seismics and Turner for wheels.
Post your own impressions and give us your comments
in this thread:
 Forum:
European Races and Results
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