GIANT SLALOM

Lars Ljungstrom · Post by **Lars Ljungstrom** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 1:46 pm

I would appreciate all information about Giant Slalom like rules, types of tracks, cone setups, types of boards, trucks and wheels. Are only slalom skateboards used for GS or are there also longboards that are suitable?

Thanks in advance

Wesley Tucker · Post by **Wesley Tucker** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 3:32 pm

Lars,

That's a tough one. Mostly, slalomers consider giant slalom to be like pornography: you know it when you see it.

Any time you open up a course with more than 8-foot spacings, you start getting discussion about heading into giant slalom territory. So, to answer your question there are no hard and fast rules about what is and is not giant slalom. We are working on devising such regulations within the ISSA, but it's an ongoing process.

As far as a longboard is concerned, that's another endless discussion: what is a longboard? Slalomers will tell you a longboard is anything over 34" (86 cm.) Ed Economy, though, won't even talk to you about longboards until you get up to 50" or more (127 cm.) Many slalomers are starting to ride longer wheelbases and boards and right now giant slalom is being set for board in the 33-36" range with 22" or more of wheelbase.

As I've said, it's hard to say what Giant Slalom and giant slalom equipment might be. I can tell you one thing, though, and that is what Giant Slalom is NOT: You do not wiggle 3 or 4 cones a second in Giant Slalom. By its very name Giant Slalom should be open, fast, rhythmic, carving and intense. If you set a course on a big hill that matches those criteria, there's an excellent chance you're riding Giant Slalom.

Lars Ljungstrom · Post by **Lars Ljungstrom** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 5:21 pm

Thanks for your reply Wesley! It was a confirmation of what i thought and that is in a way relieving - I am not completely lost

I have a quiver of longboards ranging from 34 to 57 ft and slalom cones. I am encouraging slalom with longboards. I think it's funny that GS boards are just up to 36" according to what you say. That's what most people seem to regard as the shortest length for a longboard. Just checked Gravity on the web - their GS board is 32"!! That's not very "giant" to me. Do you know if there is any longboard slalom going on in some more or less organized form on the globe?

Thanks again for your reply - I liked the way you described things

Wesley Tucker · Post by **Wesley Tucker** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 5:27 pm

Lars Ljungstrom wrote:Do you know if there is any longboard slalom going on in some more or less organized form on the globe?

Well, so far to date "longboard slalom" has pretty much been the slalomers get out their longboards at the end of the day and set a course to ride. As far as I know there's only been ONE "real" longboard slalom contest and that was the Folly Beach race back in 2002. I'm sure there's been other events, but having a race specifically for longboards and boarders just hasn't happened . . . yet.

I will tell you this, though: if you hold it they will come. Slalom skateboarding is pretty much a grass roots, club-type sport. We're making this us as we go along. If you know of a good hill, set a good course and announce the wheelbase will be such-and-such for a minimum, you will get longboards to ride your course.

Lars Ljungstrom · Post by **Lars Ljungstrom** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 9:29 pm

Thanks again, Wes! I really appreciate your input! I've been doing exactly what you say - putting up cones for longboarders to ride between for some years, just for fun. I have read about longboard slalom, even rules etc some years ago, but they have dissapeared from the web. Might have been in conjunction with the Folly Beach race you mentioned. There's gonna be a slalom Word Cup competition in my hometown in June www.slalomskaters.com. I think it's the first time G.S. will be included in Sweden. I will check it out, might even participate and then see if I will adapt to G.S. or if I can try to make G.S. adapt to me and all my fellow longboarders. With the loose definitions it doesn't seen impossible.

Just to keep the conversation going - or rather a question that I forgot, if you can bear with me for another round: What about Super G? What kind of tracks and what kind of boards?

Btw, where are you from, Wes - is it a secret

Curious George

Wesley Tucker · Post by **Wesley Tucker** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 10:03 pm

Lars Ljungstrom wrote:Btw, where are you from, Wes - is it a secret Curious George

No secret. I live near the coast in South Carolina in the Southeast United States. i was one half of the team that put on the Folly Beach race way back then.

Jani Soderhall · Post by **Jani Soderhall** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 11:59 am

Lars,

Welcome. It's really cool to hear of longboarders in Gothenburg that don't seem to have any contact with the slalomers in Gothenburg. Maybe you've discovered now that there are some really strong guys there. I'm thinking about Henrik Wadsten, Mikael Hadestrand (and his sons Viktor och Viking) and others!

I hope you'll like the giant courses that will be set for the World Cup race. You should definitely try to meet up before and agree upon a suitable course for all!

Hälsningar från en svensk i Paris!

/Jani

Lars Ljungstrom · Post by **Lars Ljungstrom** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 2:01 am

Thanks for the welcome! I have checked your site and magazines etc many times and have been thinking about starting slaloming but have decidied that lonboarding is my thing. I think I watched you a couple of years ago in Slottskogen when you slalom guys were running a race on flatland in Slottsskogen in Gothenburg. That was the first and only time I have watched TS in real life. I was the only longboarder watching... Anyway I am really impressed by all you have achieved - respect!

It's really funny that the slalomers and us longboarders obviouslyhave been skating in Slottskogen in Gothenburg regularly but never acually met. When I heard about them I tried to get in contact with them and managed last year. I thought it would be really cool if we could coordinate our sessions. I and a couple of longboarders have just managed to check their sessions once or twice. I have posted info about their sessions on the forum we use (longboard.se) and tried to join them but they are a small gang and call each other and don't seem to meet really regularly. I have introduced myself and given them my name etc and I am on Emriks mailing-list anyway. I am not sure if they are interested in cooperating with us. I have opened the door anyway. Last week I asked a guy who used to know Hadestrand in the old days to call him and ask about the GS part so we longboarders know what it will be like. I will definitely see to it that we get in contact before the event. Thanks for your reply, hope to meet you - maybe in Gothenburg

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