ISSA - International Slalom Skateboarding Association

Marty, the town not only bought us beer last year - they delivered it to our campsite!

I like Red Bull, don't get me wrong, but...

Where does the tap go in?

Brian

Brian Beihl wrote:Where does the tap go in?

Brian

At the front, just underneath....where you lie with your mouth open...

Cheers!

Ron Barbagallo wrote:Marty, the town not only bought us beer last year - they delivered it to our campsite!

...with a Police escort even!

Good Morning:

Would you guys be willing to help spread the word?

I'm trying to get calendar listings and postings into other disciplines of skating and even snow slalom, in hopes of bringing them in as spectators if nothing else. If you would be willing to make some posts on local forums you use or in other sites you use, that would be a help to us.

Here are the sites where I've already posted, or have already sent requests:
ISSA New England & Canada
NCDSA
Silverfish
Juice
ConcreteDisciples

Seb & Mig have posted to a couple Canadian sites already. Thanks!

Rick Floyd - You posted last year to Bomberonline. Would you do that again? Thx.


Below is the copy I've been sending. Feel free to modify the copy, but don't make any promises I can't keep, like "all you can eat steak & lobster buffet," or "winner gets a tricked out gold Mercedes."

Thanks for the help!

Brian Beihl


Subject: Antrim Can/Am Slalom Championships Sept. 19, 20 & 21, 2008

Good Morning:

The Race for the Old Gold Jug is going downhill; in fact, we're going downhill fast!

This year's race in Antrim, New Hampshire USA adds a 100 cone tight slalom on Friday afternoon to make our event a three-day event. The race now includes the TS, the main event Hybrid on Saturday, and the Giant Slalom on Sunday. We're anticipating a "main" status by the ISSA Sanctioning board, and have changed the name of the event to the Antrim CAN/AM Slalom Championships in honor of the fantastic participation of Canadian racers. Details are below.

Antrim CAN/AM Slalom Championships (formerly the Race for the Old Gold Jug)
September 19-21, 2008, Antrim, New Hampshire USA
part of Antrim Home & Harvest Festival

One of the premier events on the East Coast -- As of March 10, 51 racers from the US & Canada had already signed up, most of them repeat racers because they had such a great time! Parade (racers included in it), fireworks, BBQ, festival, music and more. Bring the family.

Closed course for Friday's 100 cone Tight Slalom, the Saturday main event 50 cone Hybrid, and the Sunday Giant Slalom. See details on the hill and the event at our points of contact:

Official Website:
http://www.skateboardslalom.com

Registration at NCDSA:
http://www.ncdsa.com/contest_registr...tID=351#signup

Chat about the race at:
http://www.slalomskateboarder.com/phpBB ... php?t=5875

Thanks for the support!

Brian Beihl
Antrim Chamber of Commerce

Done...

http://www.bomberonline.com/VBulletin/s ... post189071

-R

ISSA awards MAIN status to Antrim race.

OK, guys & gals, you need to bring your "A" game to Antrim this year! It's gonna be great!

Thanks for all your support. We promise to provide a great weekend for you!

Brian Beihl
Antrim Chamber of Commerce

Done! and Done!

http://montrealsessions.forumactif.com/ ... .htm#52411

http://skateordie.forumactif.com/evenem ... .htm#19158

It's gonna be a great weeek-end!!

Can't wait...

I just entered on NCDSA for the race. I would LOVE to be there, but it all depends on whether my Green card comes through in time. If it goes to schedule from the stage we are at (only took us 5 years to get to this point!), we should be Stateside by the fall...we'll see!
I would really like to have a proper crack at the Guinness record and get a respectable time. When I set it, it was drizzling rain and as soon as I had done a clean 'Banker' run, they left so I didn't get a chance to go flat out.
Plus, a 100 cone TS sounds wicked! See you at Antrim, looking forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones.

Martin.

Hi, All;

The owner of the Maplehurst Inn just let me know that she's offering a special deal to racers who would like something other than camping this September.

Juliette Ermitano said tonight that if you can get four racers together per room, she'll do $30 per person per night including breakfast. FYI, the rooms are large and nicely decorated -- definitely NOT a fleabag hotel! Rather, it's a really nice New England Inn.

Juliette recently opened the tavern as well, which is really nice place for a beer in front of the fireplace. I'll make a special request to have Guinness on tap. 603-588-8000 for reservations, and please make sure you tell them that you are a skateboard racer for the Antrim Can/Am Slalom Championships.

Thanks!

Brian Beihl
Antrim Chamber of Commerce

Wow, i'm not too good on camping so a nice room is excellent news to me, thanks a lot Brian, count me in.

Some important news, Skybus the discount air carrier that services Portsmouth NH went out of business on Friday. Anyone who was planning on using them to come to Antrim (myself included) needs to find new travel arrangements.

I've got room in the back of my pickup - nonstop, but no meals served...Burlington to Antrim direct. Quebecois welcome.

If I go to UVM next year Rick I'll take you up on the offer.

What's with this favoritism for Quebecers, EH! I mean I know Pierre is a nice guy and all but ......................................

Claude Regnier wrote:What's with this favoritism for Quebecers, EH! I mean I know Pierre is a nice guy and all but ......................................

I dunno Claude, i guess we are just better looking! lol!

Hey Claude sorry i should be nicer to you, especially after last nite's Sen's game...

Hairly better looking but I'll give it to you. The only good things about the Sens this year is that I can now cheer from my heart and hope Montreal goes all the way.

I think everyone needs to e-mail Richy to get him out here. I've mentioned it a few times.

While on the subgect of this contest. We need to inform Sydia he can register as many times as he want but he can only race once. Hmm, maybe that's why Rick prefers you guys

Hey,

It was just brought to my attention that I put my phone in instead of the Maplehurst Inn's Sorry.

Maplehurst Inn 603-588-8000

You could book it with me, but I'd take your money and put you in the shed.

Brian

===============================

Hi, All;

The owner of the Maplehurst Inn just let me know that she's offering a special deal to racers who would like something other than camping this September.

Juliette Ermitano said tonight that if you can get four racers together per room, she'll do $30 per person per night including breakfast. FYI, the rooms are large and nicely decorated -- definitely NOT a fleabag hotel! Rather, it's a really nice New England Inn.

Juliette recently opened the tavern as well, which is really nice place for a beer in front of the fireplace. I'll make a special request to have Guinness on tap. 603-588-8000 for reservations, and please make sure you tell them that you are a skateboard racer for the Antrim Can/Am Slalom Championships.

Thanks!

Brian Beihl
Antrim Chamber of Commerce
_________________
Antrim Chamber of Commerce
Antrim, NH 03440-0513
www.AntrimCC.com

Claude Regnier wrote:Hairly better looking but I'll give it to you. The only good things about the Sens this year is that I can now cheer from my heart and hope Montreal goes all the way.

I think everyone needs to e-mail Richy to get him out here. I've mentioned it a few times.

While on the subgect of this contest. We need to inform Sydia he can register as many times as he want but he can only race once. Hmm, maybe that's why Rick prefers you guys

Exactly - Sydia (what little I know of him) is EXACTLY the element of society I don't want in the back of my truck...his bearings are SO noisy!

Montreal won't make it out of the first round.

Nick Chamberlain wrote:If I go to UVM next year Rick I'll take you up on the offer.

Nick - Schwippert is in school at UVM starting this fall...come on up! Do I hear a "Green Mountain Racing" team meeting being called??

Rick Floyd wrote:Nick - Schwippert is in school at UVM starting this fall...come on up! Do I hear a "Green Mountain Racing" team meeting being called??

Cool! You guys could make it up here to "train" with us on some weekends and for the outlaw races.

Sounds good...but I disavow any responsibility for college students I may bring across the border.

Posted earlier from Brian Beihl
Antrim Chamber of Commerce

The owner of the Maplehurst Inn just let me know that she's offering a special deal to racers who would like something other than camping this September.

Juliette Ermitano said tonight that if you can get four racers together per room, she'll do $30 per person per night including breakfast. FYI, the rooms are large and nicely decorated -- definitely NOT a fleabag hotel! Rather, it's a really nice New England Inn.

Juliette recently opened the tavern as well, which is really nice place for a beer in front of the fireplace. I'll make a special request to have Guinness on tap. 603-588-8000 for reservations, and please make sure you tell them that you are a skateboard racer for the Antrim Can/Am Slalom Championships.
Thanks!

I just called today & booked a room. We will be given this rate ONLY if the entire Inn is booked by us! There are different sized rooms & each room sleeps from 2 to ??? people. You choose a room & they will tell you how many people the room will sleep.....
We only get the $30.00 rate if all rooms are booked with the appropriate # of people per room..... according to their guide lines. I booked room #12. (the little one!)

Here is the link so you can pick a room before you call.

http://www.nh-inn.com/room/innrooms.html

I was hoping to be back in the US before the Antrim race, but a request for further information from the US Visa centre will delay the arrival of our Green Cards by probably another month on top of my early September estimate. I haven't given up hope completely, but racing in Antrim seems pretty unrealistic right now...I am gutted.
I was really looking forward to finally getting to ride with Mig and his crew, experiencing the legendary hospitality of the Town and its charismatic Mayor, plus riding with Rick Floyd fellow Gecko user.
I was also wanting to have a proper crack at doing a decent time for the GWR course. I had my first attempt at it since setting it, last week, this time two runs off a short run-in before rain hit. I had already done 11.22 secs in the dry prior to the wet weather time, and this time, finally on my own gecko model, registered 10.81 sec.
If there is any way I can get out for this race...I will.

Take care,

Martin.

What is the name(s) of the local newspapers or the links to the newspapers websites...please. (Antrim)

Hi, Antrim Racers:

Thanks again for registering for the Antrim Can/Am Slalom Championships September 19-21, 2008. Some of you have been registered since February, so it's now time to find out who's actually coming to our beautiful corner of New England to skate!

This email will deal strictly with who's coming. Another email will come later this week with details on housing at Camp Chenoa, the regional Girl Scout camp here in Antrim, and another email dealing with transportation here.

IF YOU ARE ***NOT*** COMING
If you are NOT COMING, we need you to please delete yourself from the NCDSA registration by August 1. Then please send me an email to oldgoldjug@antrimcc.com to let me know you've done that. We have a lot of registrants and we know that circumstances change -- like cheap airlines going belly-up -- but we really need to know that you'll be here. Really.
NCDSA Registration link: http://www.ncdsa.com/contest_registrati ... testID=351

T-SHIRTS FOR PREPAID REGISTRANTS BY AUGUST 15
For everyone who is coming, we need your prepayments as soon as possible. One of the complications from the no-shows last year meant that we overbought the shirts and the church overbought the food, etc, etc. So the next thing we need you to do is to PLEASE prepay your $50.00 registration so can get you a shirt. Prepaid registrations also get preference for cabins at the camp. This is refundable up to September 10, but please try not to bail that late.

Registration PayPal link: http://www.antrimcc.com/skateboard/ in the lower right corner where it says Racer Registration Prepayment via PayPal or Credit Card.

If you want to send a paper check, that's good too. Please make it out to the "Antrim Chamber of Commerce" with a note for "racer registration," and mail it to Antrim Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 474, Antrim, NH 03440-0474. Making the check out to the "Brian R. Beihl Costa Rica Fund" is OK with me, but my fellow Chamber members might not think so.

WHAT DO I GET FOR MY PREPAID REGISTRATION?
o My undying gratitude
o Rustic cabin housing at the Camp Chenoa
o A t-shirt
o Friday night dinner
o Saturday full breakfast
(Saturday lunch available from vendors on the hill)
o Saturday BBQ dinner (chicken is $3.00 extra and you have to be down there by 6 p.m.)
o Skater party featuring dark Irish malt beverage
o Sunday continental breakfast
(Sunday lunch on your own)
o We're working on group transport to and from the Manchester airport (not a done deal yet)

Remember that on August 16, we send out my 7,8 & 9 year old Cub Scouts to your house to shake you down. Believe me, that's scary.

Great! Thanks again for coming back to Antrim. And to the many first timers, we welcome you to Antrim!


Brian Beihl
Race Organizer
Antrim Chamber of Commerce

Hi, Martin:

quote="Martin Drayton"]I was hoping to be back in the US before the Antrim race, but a request for further information from the US Visa centre will delay the arrival of our Green Cards [/quote]

Bummer. It's the US government is doing it's best to keep the radical skateboard element out of the country.

I don't have any influence, but if you want me to attest that you're coming to race, I'll gladly do that!

Brian

So Brian, when is the race in Costa Rica?

GARY GLASSER wrote:What is the name(s) of the local newspapers or the links to the newspapers websites...please. (Antrim)

Hi, Gary:

We have several papers we send to around here:

Local
Monadnock Ledger Transcript (semi-weekly)
Keene Sentinel (daily) (Ran race pix on front page two years in a row) [url=http://www.sentinelsource.com/
The Villager (weekly) Good support from them, but no website of value)

Regional
The Union Leader (daily) http://www.unionleader.com
The Concord Monitor (daily) http://www.concordmonitor.com
The Nashua Telegraph (daily) http://www.nashuatelegraph.com
(has reporter, Andrew Wolfe, who is a new slalom racer and has supported the race)

Hope that helps!

Brian Beihl
[/url]

Excellent, thanks Brian.

Greetings, Racers:

We will be contacting our past sponsors, but if there are sponsors who should be sponsoring our race, please pass along this email to them.

All ready a well-attended race supported by the town's fall festival, Antrim's attendance is expected to grow significantly this year with the new Main level of sanctioning. The race has also garnered front page news pictures in both previous years of the race. We're hopeful that the higher sanctioning and additional international competition will finally attract TV this year.

Levels of sponsorship:

Schwag Level: $100 Retail or more of gear to use as B, C & amateur level prizes and your supplied banner on the course. Logo on website.

Silver Level: $200.00 2 of your supplied banners in key locations (grandstand and start) on the course, logo website for one year, logo on poster, logo on T-Shirt. We'll provide a table if you want to sell your wares.

Gold Level: Only two available @$500.00 Your logo on one of two ramps - vinyl lettering -- we'll have it made. Larger logo on T-Shirt, logo website for one year, larger logo on poster. You'll get a table at a key location to sell your wares, and P.A. support to help drive traffic to your table.

Materials deadline for Schwag & Silver Levels by September 1. Gold level commitment by Aug 15, high rez logo or vector art ASAP. Please email your hi-rez and/or web logos to oldgoldjug@antrimcc.com.

Thanks for supporting slalom racing in Antrim!

Brian Beihl
Race Organizer
Antrim Chamber of Commerce
800-793-2075 Work
603-588-3014 Home
603-620-8300 Cell

Brian Beihl wrote:Hi, Martin:

Martin Drayton wrote:I was hoping to be back in the US before the Antrim race, but a request for further information from the US Visa centre will delay the arrival of our Green Cards

Bummer. It's the US government is doing it's best to keep the radical skateboard element out of the country.

I don't have any influence, but if you want me to attest that you're coming to race, I'll gladly do that!

Brian

Thanks Brian,
I really appreciate that! I will keep you posted. meanwhile here is my current best for the 50 cone...
http://www.ukmet.net/pig1.wmv 10.16 secs...

Martin.

We just tested the road, the ramps, and the campground - while teaching a slalom clinic in Antrim this weekend...it's good to go!

Question for attendees: would you rather see arbitrary A-B-C divisions based on qualifying, or Pro/Am/Master/Junior divisions?

For such a big important race - I feel arbitrary divisions could really make the race itself lose some cache.

Option to take the lowest seed in your ISSA division if you double DQ in qualis - or just plain "you're out"?

-RF

Rick,

I believe ranking racers by their qualifying time is far less arbitrary than by self designating. I have checked with the ISSA and it is both permissble and affords everyone, including the pros, the maxium ammount of points.

There is no masters division at the race.

I am also wholly against offering fast racers who go balls to the wall and blow out of the course TWICE, further opportunity to race. Perpetuating this idea means we should all just go as fast as we possibly can in qualifying, and then if we blow out, BFD because we get a third chance. Smells bad to me.

I certainly hope you and I have a different defenition of arbitrary. Otherwise your suggestion that the reputation of this race will be sullied by a capricious or whimsical decision on the part of the organizers is sort of offensive. Brian, Glen, and I have spent considerable time and effort on every issue. NO decision is arbitrary.

We are working with the ISSA to approve all of our decisions. It will be published shortly.

Joe Iacovelli wrote:
I am also wholly against offering fast racers who go balls to the wall and blow out of the course TWICE, further opportunity to race. Perpetuating this idea means we should all just go as fast as we possibly can in qualifying, and then if we blow out, BFD because we get a third chance. Smells bad to me.

Couldn't agree more....I always thought slalom was about going round the cones as fast as possible, I don't like the idea if fast is the bottom line regardless of cone count-thats Downhill isn't it? Clean or as near as dammit is way more impressive and clearly would take more skill.
tactics are an important skill, and you should be placing as high as possible in qualifying to:
a) Ensure an easier route to the Finals
b) Bear in mind in a tough field, where you qualify will be your finish position - blow out twice and you deserve to be last!

Martin.

Guys - thanks for your opinions, seriously.

Joe. I was under the impression from listening to you, Glenn and Brian talk on Saturday that this issue was still being discussed, not written in stone. How would I possibly know what you guys discussed previously? All I was doing was trying to get opinions on formats - and giving my opinon on formats along with it. I realize ABC divs is permissible and I'm not thinking about points with this discussion...you still get your points either way. and please don't read too much into "arbitrary"...it is what I meant, but as a description of the ABC format, not your decision making process. I simply feel that racers racing in the division they are currently acquiring ISSA points in is not arbitrary, and that when they do not do so it is. I want to make it clear that I in no way suggested that the race would not be run within the ISSA rules.

ISSA is scoring 4 main divisions (plus M/F if necessary), and I think it helps make it clearer to spectators who is who - but it is not a requirement of course. As far as the "losing cache" comment - probably could have worded it better. Why would I suggest the race is sullied after spending time with the people in the town all weekend? It's just my feeling that as an ISSA "Main" event, that describing the divisions as they are scored helps spectators understand the sport, and that by doing so the race could add a little glitter to an already stellar event.

Antrim would and will be a big event and a great race, even if there is only ONE division. Brian and Dave and the town are some of the best you will find. Again, I only wanted to garner opinions from racers to help in the decision-making process; and didn't realize it was already decided. Sorry to offend anybody, that was not my aim.

I'm not sure why I asked the double DQ question - stoopid. I agree with both you guys on that. My mind musta got messed up in Morro Bay.....naw!

I hate the f-ing internet.

I think declared Pro-Am-Masters is most fair because if you are a pro, you are there to race other pros ect... ect.. when we open qualify you often lose the opportunity to race rivals or move up with in your division. If the top Ams qualify at the bottom of the 16 they will never get to race each other, only qualify against each other.

Karl,

If am Am qulifies with the pro's, wow what an honor! I'd bet you get a lot faster with the experience of racing against the finest in the world. I disagree with your opinion and think it most fair for racers to be grouped by qualifying time.

At some pont though the organizers need to make a decision and take a stand as to classification and rules. Please believe for my part in this, I take every decision very seriously and consult with racers from all over our community.

I apologize if you do not agree with the information that we have not yet fully disclosed and offer you a refund of your entry fee.

Joe

Joe Iacovelli wrote:If an Am qualifies with the pro's, wow what an honor! I'd bet you get a lot faster with the experience of racing against the finest in the world. I disagree with your opinion and think it most fair for racers to be grouped by qualifying time.

X2

This is why the farm is always an "OPEN" race. It gives the AMS a chance to compete with and possibly beat the pros...just like the British 'OPEN' Golf tourney....where Justin Rose nearly won it as an AM several years back. What a HUGE deal that was.

Now I can't wait to try and kick Jason Mitchell's ass on Shady Ln.............Bring it.

Tway

Well..I was going to comment again, but....instead...I think I'll just go out and train some more so I can kick as many of your butts as possible, and if I don't - then I'll go back and train again until I can...no matter what the rules are.

In the meantime, maybe the ISSA and us racers and the race organizers will agree on one system that is easy to understand, has flexible event parameters but consisitent scoring, and is used universally. They've done it in the other four sports I've competed in my whole life - why can't we?

Oooops...did I just comment again...I think I did....D@#$IT!

Riddle me this...

If an AM qualifies to race with the pros (A group) let's say top 16, and is then seeded into the pro head to head, where for examples sake he finishes 16th.

Does he receive points for 16th place?

If yes, are the points he receives for his 16th place "pro" finish greater than the points the 1-15 finishers of the "B" and "C" class and receive?

Or does he receive points for top AM? Even though he didn't actually race and beat any other Ams.

Let's also pretend the "B" and "C" classes also have 16 racers each.

Are "B" and "C" class racers lumped together, and places awarded on a 1-32 basis?
Or are points awarded 1-16 per each class?

I'm not trying to stir anything up, just trying to understand the process. I actually like the ABC system, just not sure how you award points.

Sounds like a question for Korky. On the flip side of the coin. If I decide this year to go "pro" and finish dead last in all races, are my pro points worth more than the top AM?

The pro and am rankings are different lists.

Yeah, I get it karl, but what are the points worth? Isn't it cooler to be the slowest Pro than it is to be the Fastest Am?

Joe Iacovelli wrote:Yeah, I get it karl, but what are the points worth? Isn't it cooler to be the slowest Pro than it is to be the Fastest Am?

That's a question only Bruce Brewington can answer.

I just wanted to add one thing that no matter my personal opinions on any matter regarding formatting; whatever Joe and Brian decide on the matter I respect it and I am sure they have a better idea of how to run this contest because it has been so good in the past two years.