6 Cones per Second Challenge

[Vlad Popov]

Is it possible? Anyone's done it?

After reading Korten's article in the 5th issue of Slalom! I've done 20 cones x 5.5 ft on a mellow hill at 3.41 sec. Korten's done it on flat ground, coming down a hill. His record is 3.5 seconds. It's not 6 cones per second.

[Jonathan Harms]

After seeing Korten skate at Morro Bay this year, I have little doubt that his times in the 1980s and 1990s were legitimate. But his math is *just a little* off (or someone at the magazine made a really bad typo). 104 feet in 3.5 seconds (as he writes in the Slalom! mag to which you linked above) isn't 40 mph, it's 20.25 mph. And the 110 mph on the custom luge? Again, I don't doubt that he actually rode a luge behind a car, which is "sick"--but as for the 110 mph? I'd say that's more "sic."

And 6 cones per second? Based on your times, Vlad, it sounds possible. Scary, but possible. Of course, some would say it's kind of a "jock" thing to do--not that there's anything wrong with that--and not many people would likely attempt it, but I think it's interesting to consider, just like the land speed record is. Vlad's already coming close. Who else could do 6 cps? Dong? Luca? Mollica? Or will it be some young buck like Aki or Seyffarth?

[Vlad Popov]

Dieter Fleischer corrected this error in the 1991 issue of Slalom! There's a full page article with MPH and KPH calculations.

It might very well be that more people associate “jock” with 0.6 cones per second then with 6 cones per second. The skaters and the crowd alike.

[Vlad Popov]

Ok, 6 cones per second was done. 20 cones at 3.33 seconds. But it's not 6 full turns per second. That would be 3.167sec. Hmm...

[Vlad Popov]

3.28 clean. 3.00 with cones down. 2.85 something will mean 7 cones per second. Not this year. Bummer.
This wigling fun is shit. Or vise versa

[Marcus Seyffarth]

Nice one Vlad! 3.00 with penalty included or just 3.00 through the course. Its super fast either way. Are we still talking 168cm inner?

Also I'd like to say thank you to all who consider me being one of the youngsters, just cause I haven't been slaloming for more than a few years doesn't mean I haven't broken the 30 barrier... And now we are talking years.

[Vlad Popov]

There's a huge difference between 3.1s and 3.2s (with my current set-up). Three twos-fives can be done clean time after time. Three ones can't. Three zero = at least 4-5 hit cones.

I tried Grippins and 60 mm of truck width between the inner lips of the wheels. More roll, more speed, less precision. The wheels feel heavy and poopy-soft (88/92A-92A/92A), but are faster because of the speed they generate on the runin.

94A Cambrias just arrived. Although they don't have as much roll as Grippins, I think they're the wheel for that kind of slalom. Need a steeper hill and bigger balls.

PS. People over 30 shouldn't do slalom.

[Kevin M. Gamble]

PS. People over 30 shouldn't do slalom.

This 49-year-old body is starting to believe you're right. But, the people that manufacture hypodermic needles, cortisteroids, and CT scanners need to eat, too.

[Hans Lucas]

PS. People over 30 shouldn't do slalom.

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

I don't agree; I won a slalom race this year in the Netherlands and beated 10 younger guys and one older (who still got 3rd)!!! (I'm 43)
I think slalom and freestyle both can be done until one is far beyond 40. Gunther Mokulys (3rd WC 2005 freestyle, Yoyo Schulz (also top-5 freestyle WC), and me proofe that. I guess Giammarco Luca is also over 40, because he already competed in the 80's.

Who are you to decide how long one can "do slalom"? Pls return to your tv-couch and let others perform!

[Danny Trinen]

PS. People over 30 shouldn't do slalom.

woah there tiger! i went to my first race in march, and i agree! those old people kicked the crap out of all of us "youngins" its hardly fair.