[2003] Kaunertal, July 19-20, 2003 - Results

[Jani Soderhall]

Pierre Samray reported these preliminary results from the downhill competition in Kaunertal where slalom was present for the first time:

22 people entered from Switzerland, Germany, Australia, South Africa, USA, England and France.

The top four were:

1. Chris Chaput (USA) 11"76
2. Raffael Schaffner (CH) 12"01
3. Martin Siegrist (CH) 12"24
4. Pierre Samray (F) 12"73

[Michael Stride]

From reports I goy from two British downhillers present the slalom was a farce. The cones were really widely spaced. And the real comp was cancelled with qualifying times being taken as race times. Another case of changing rules after the start of the event. As the two Brits had bothered to take cones, proper slalom boards and had practiced 6fts each night they left deflated and dissapointed. Had they known that the comp would be cancelled they would have concentrated their efforts more on the "qualifying" which they took to be mere practice. Evidently the racers didnt want to do proper slalom. Although I am sure the "winners" were able to make any course.

[Pierre Samray]

Michael, this slalom was just to live up the night in Kaunertal. Last year I put some come at night on the road and some downhiller come to have fun and I think Gerhart Lanz the organizer thought it was a good idea so he wants to do it officialy this year. But Chris Art who do the slalom has no time to organize a true race as you think. It wasn't a farce,just a good moment for people who want to have fun with cones. Most of the riders present are downhiller and not specialist of slalom, that why the slalom was wide (as a giant). If we have a 6 feet slalom it was not 22 racers on the start but may be 5 or 6. It would be a pity!

[Michael Stride]

Unfortuantely slalom was listed as an event. The two Brits practiced hard beforehand having bought special slalom boards. Sure its fun...but these guys left with the impression that the comp was a joke. And having been practicing tighter slalom they also left with the impression that the organisers were unwilling to have a proper slalom, leaving it to longboard style courses only. The dificulty level was set to suit the non slalom orientated equipment of the riders.
If your going to advertise slalom then so be it, dont make it longboard slalom once the comp is on, and dont cancel the event before the end.

[Michael Stride]

Grrrrr...
sorry I'm getting to be even more of a whinger than ever.
just that these euro slalom stories crop up all the time.
Last year Martin Drayton entered an event in France. He was patently the fastest through qualifying...then on the final run he hit a cone.
He was told the cone penalty was 2 seconds...(it had been one tenth all day)

The French racers were so embarrassed by this they gave him a consolation prize.

When I entered a race in Les Deux Alpes, which was held very Sunday all summer i was in the final four ( I was way faster than any other rider, it was dual head to head).

The final four were called and I wasnt in the list. I was told "your board is too short".

The fact that Martin drayton had one for six weeks in a row, then took a break while Paul Price won the next two weeks. The locals were relieved to be told that Paul was going home and that Martin wasnt entering on the last race of the Summer. of course I pitched up and was going to walk away with the trophy....a fix? Sore losers? You decide!

[Pierre Samray]

The race you tell in France where Martin Drewton lost because of hiting cone was in Serre Chevalier.

Martin didn't win qualification I did it, he was second. Then after He lost in semi final against Swiss Yvon Labarthe (that I beat in final) because some body on the side shout: Martin!!! and he stops racing thinking of a problem with the start not because of hitting cone.
I understand what you mean when you say the two english guy come for the slalom in Kaunertal, but Kaunertal is the bigest downhill race of the world :219 racers!)
Slalom is annouced as a true race, the mistake in may be here I agree with you.
Chris Art know the rules and I don't see any problems on the slalom except there is no finals. The slalom was not so wide. I see nowhere announsing that Kaunertal would be a tight (or very tight english slalom) I was sure that it would be adapted to the majority of racers.

[Martin Siegrist]

Hello
I do not understand the problems that you have. Why do you guys always complain about cone distances of competitions where YOU did not show up. Please! People complained about the cone distances in Munich. I was there and everybody had a good time. I was at Hotheels aswell. I really like downhill racing and i hope all the other 218 riders at Hotheels love it also. The slalomrace was big fun. But there was not enough time to finish the race. Who cares? For those who don't know the best thing: Chris Chaput won the slalomrace on a AIRFLOW Skateboard on 3DM AVALONS. It was the downhill world championship!!!!!! I almost never do a slalomtraining. And if I would do a slalomtraining it would be GS only. What's your problem with GS? I love it. Old guys may be fast at thight slalom because they are experienced. There should have been a GS in Grüningen, but there was no GS. Let your cones at home, try to have fun and go freeriding!

[Pierre Samray]

I think we have the same problem in all country. Old riders always want very tight slalom as the old good time. The new comers coming from longboard have a different vision of modern slalom, they see that as a carving practice. I'm betwin the two class. Old rider (skateboarding since 77 and longboard since 97) where is my way. Don't want to take part in this discussion. But see the future of our sport. What be sure is that I never take board under 36 inches, reason why I can't enter in the pro special slalom in Grueningen as Martin Siegrist, Chris Art , Armand Sauzins and a lot of very good other riders.What be sure too is that Luca Giammarco never says anything about the cones spaces, just race and win!
I will try to satisfy all riders in Antibes with three different slaloms.