ISSA - International Slalom Skateboarding Association

On Sept 22 the Latvians wrote in the calendar:

Latvia Skateboard federation would like to organize

European Slalom Championship
Sigulda and Jurmala, Latvia
July 1 - 2
Gigant, special and parallel

www.skateboardinfo.lv

Questions:

1. Gints etc. is still accurate?
2. Does someone argue against this?
3. May I post it as sure into the calendar?
4. Are there other candidates?


< Ed note: I changed this post to what is now the correct date. Changed on Feb 09, 2006 /Jani >

Yes, European Championchips in Latvia !!!

The place to be !!! Girl's, night life, lovely people, very nice location, perfect organisation, a lot of spectators !!!

What i know:

The Swiss are coming
The Swedes are coming
The French are coming

and hopefully all the other's too !!!

If it's possible, take some more day's off from work and stay longer than 3 or 4 day's there ! There is a beautiful beach and a beautiful City with a big history !!! Don't forget the night life !! If you have some questions ask Pelle Plast, the night life guru of Riga !!

/J-Rad

Are we?

rmn

Team Indiana for shure...

and we from Grueningen as well.

Why Jurmala and not Paris or even Antibes?

rmn

whatever happened to our friends in stockholm by the way?

Paris didn't ask for the European Champs.

Antibes had the European Champs in 2003 and they are candidating for the Worlds in 2006. Gints was asking before months to held the Euros in Riga.

It's the 3rd competition in a row and they did every year a good job.

If there are no others candidates, than we haven't to discuss. Or should we ?

Is there any one else who want to held the European Championschips ?

Grueningen not
Stockholm not
Antibes not
Paris not
Brixlegg ?
Hannover ?
UK ?


/J-Rad

UK isn´t even in Europe, J.

(I know I will be dead within 3 hours from now on, but I couldn´t resist)

I´d just like to hear a confirmation from Latvia........

I don´t know if I am legit to decide this, but if Latvia says ok, and there is no veto until Nov 15, 2005 I think the European Championships should be in Latvia.

Any other arguments/takers/haters?

Donald's been annoucing the Worlds since months too!
So, plain as day, he's the one who deserves the Worlds, doesn't he?

rmn

Careful Chris. The UK mongo pushers association are already in team kit and practising a storm dance:



When Britain crawls from its astonishing proximity to the States and heads back across the Atlantic to the grey European seas; then, and only then, might we consider hosting a Championships.

Until that time, Latvia gets the vote.

It plays more fairly than Germany.


***SCHMACKKKKKKK!!!!!!!***

Hallo Chris,

I had a call with Uldis. The Latvian's need some more time to get their things together. They are not sure now what they can make, but they will inform us in about 1-2 months.

He told me if others (Brixlegg, Antibes, Paris or even Stockholm) wants to held the European Championchips, than they should do it.

They will inform the comunity for sure what will happen in Jurmala/Riga.


What ever will happen, it's a must to race one time in Jurmala !

/J-Rad

Ok I think it is the best to wait until Latvia has confirmed. Until then it is open for anybody to take the Euros on a first come basis if the community agrees. Someone against this regulation?

i'm all for it chris,my vote goes to hannover,how about that one?

I think that Riga/Jurmala and Hannover are equally good candidates.
Both races will be fine quality races and I personally want to attend both (along with Antibes and Brixlegg).

Gints told me after this years race that he was a bit reluctant about 2006 as he would have to spend more time both with his family and work and that he might have a bit less time putting together an event. Then he posted positively a couple of months later which was a good sign. What he is looking for is a bit more help from other guys to share some of the responsibilities. I think that's what they're trying to sort out.
Riga would be my favourite for the Euros 2006. We know the organization will be good. So only the weather could put this event into difficulty, but that's the same for every location in Europe, except Antibes.

Hannover would be a great place too for the Euros. But Germany has already had the Euros (Cologne) so it would be good to circulate it. With it's easy to reach location from all over Europe it may attract more participants than Riga/Jurmala. I think the only drawback to the event in Hannover is that it'll be so early and so close to the Paris event (if Paris ends up being late May, Hannover will be early June).

The calendar is one of the most important decision factors for high level races and it has been little discussed in this topic and the one about the worlds. It's a clear advantage to have them later in the season and the single reason why we will not ask for a Worlds or Euros in Paris as long as the event is in the spring.

/Jani

In 2007 it would be great to have a Main status event in the UK. It's not something we can just sit and decide, but it would be nice if someone would like to do it.

And how about the new countries: Belgium, Holland, Spain, Italy?
That would be really cool. Not for the Euros, but at least for prime/main events?

/Jani

It's 11 years ago that Switzlerand had the European Championships (or a kind of)...

rmn

Yes, 11 years ago in Swiss was really good championship, I participated there.
Latvia organized European championship in 1995 and we would like to organize European slalom championship after 11 years.
In Europe only in 10 countries slalom is developed. 8 countries + USA and Canada participate this year in Sweden.
I will make as much effort as I can that slalomers from Lithuania, Russia, Ukraine - East European countries will participate in Latvia.

It is important for me to popularize slalom between young skaters. Not only work with some leaders - Lienite, Janis Kuzmins, Salvis Skarainis. The good starts of Latvian slalomers in World cups in Europe so far did not give much implementation for Latvia slalom future.
I think translation of the races in TV could increase interest for slalom among young people. Unfortunately right now we are not so popular as we wanted to be.

Despite the limited time that Uldis (speaker and referee) can devote in organization race, all our team is ready to work for European championship 2006.
We are flexible, if World championship will be held in July 21/23 Brixlegg Austria, we could organize European championship one week earlier – July 1, 2.

Dear all, I will be there for sure. My grandfather was born in Riga so I'm eager to go there and enjoy skating!
Just make a nice schedule and at least me (as italian/german) I will be there.
Stefano

Hi Gints,

is this a definite go or not?
Let us know. The date you mentioned is not yet taken in the calendar so it would be possible.

So now this is just my personal opinion: Is it good to have the Euros and the Worlds on following weekends? For me it would be hard to attend both because being away from home two consecutive weekends really throws you back in stuff you have to do and may be harsh for the family. This is just my personal situation. Just to think about it.

Let us know if it is a go and it will be in the calendar.

The UK would love to offer a main.
Brands Hatch is the obvious location with its reputation for great slope, good surface and uninterrupted area.

The two hurdles we have to overcome are:

Firstly: Securing a date with the track organisers where we can use the facility at minimal cost (typical hire rate runs into many thousands of pounds). Clingfilm has communication with the Brands guys which is why we could secure the location at short notice last year. More difficult for most UK skaters is getting in touch with Chris Linford.

Secondly: Insurance for the event. This is not so much a problem for a single occasion provided the dates of the event can be guaranteed.

Outlaw events in the UK are good for local racing, however most authorities would close an event down first and then enquire as to organisational rights etc. It would be done for 'our own safety and that of the general public.'

Ideally we would like to sort out Brands for a series of one day events next year, however we also don't want to tread on any ties that already link the track to the UKSSA, so in effect we are in Clingfilm's hands on this one.

***Chris, if you see this posting then do please get in touch***
Even if it is only for an Annual General Ale Meeting!

Until we can sort this out, the European mainland gets our support.

Latvia is ready for EC 2006. We have a great place for tight and straight ( the same as last year), and we have a new one great place for giant . You can trust my . The dates are 1-2 july.
We have a big expirience to organize god competitions and we know what and how need to do that. I promise great place, organization and competition.

Claude,

Bryan and I have decided to go on a European Race Trek next summer, we're going to leave in late june so we will not be able to organize the July 4th Freedom Race. Sorry.

No Problem Karl, Have Fun! You'll LUV it! We will add a day to our event and either add a Gnarly GS or SGS. If we can't get one of the Mountain roads we may just have to settle for a Parl Slalom event.

Ramón Königshausen wrote:Are we?

rmn

Am I??? Really???

I am not. And I give a damn.

Sorry Chris, but I am really wondering about how the decision for Riga as ESC 2006 was taken. Guys, while you are still discussing about the statuses for Antibes or BRX you quickly decide about the European Championships.
How this?
I mean, if Antibes might not get the status wanted, maybe Pierre would like to go for the ESC, too. And what about Hanover, for example? All in all I don't get You guys with all this status- and title-decisions and the discussions around it. The more I read about it the more I come to the conclusion that I should give a damn about it.

For different reasons I will reduce my participation in contests next year. I will try to concentrate on events which seem to be the most promising or which made a proof this year (my first in this circuit) as there are:

Paris
Brixlegg
Antibes

and Hannover (if it will happen)
and any local contest that comes in my way

Steve,

the decision for Latvia came about just like Cologne two years ago and just like Morro claimed the Worlds title for consecutive years. They just did it. We don´t have a commitee that decides it. We just don´t. We don´t have a committee.
We just have this calendar.
I update it and I ask people for clear statements what they want to do.
Latvia said they want to hold the Euros. Germany had it. Sweden had it.
Why not Latvia?
What is wrong? Don´t tell me conflicting dates with Cananda, this has been said and I fully agree with J-Rad. We just cannot fit the whole world into a tight schedule.

It's very easy !

There is only one candidate for the European Championships.

Pierre had already the European Championships in 2003.

Only the Latvians were interested in the Euro's for 2006.

If you look on the Post's, you will see that all the organizer's were on ss.com in the last time. No one of them asked for the Euro's in 2006, only Pierre in his last massage, But he already had the Euro's in 2003.

Latvia now run's the competition for the third time.
The organisation and the location was the best for 2005.

A lot of spectators, no timing or any other problems.

They organised in 1995 the last European Championchips in Latvia.

That's how it was decided.

/J-Rad

Steve,

The Euro Championships is held EVERY year in Europe.
For the Worlds it's the first time EVER and at most we can expect to receive it every second year. That means it's worth discussion about it.

I think it's good to rotate events such as the European Championships, so I think new countries and towns should have an advantage. I did not consider Antibes as a candidate, but now Pierre has proposed it. My vote still goes to Riga/Jurmala. Antibes will still be a good event being the last important race of the season in Europe.

/Jani

Riga was the funnest and best contest in 2005 by far.
I will go Euro or no Euro status.

However, I do think they deserve it, being the only ones having focus on it from the beginning. Ask anyone who was in Riga last summer. Why does everyone support Riga?

oLsOn wil be there...

PK

Peter Klang wrote: oLsOn wil be there...

PK

Is Olsen a Swedish newcomer???

JP: The King of kings... wearing a broken leg!

Would it not be feasible or make sense to have a Championship Slalom curcuit like the ASP World Tour for surfing? If several events draw equally qualified racers, then why not use a cumulative point system for three or four slalom events?

If one wins in Paris or Antibes or Paris and Antibes but not in Latvia, then the title held by the Latvian winner is really arbitrary (just using this year's discussion as example).

brad wrote:Would it not be feasible or make sense to have a Championship Slalom curcuit like the ASP World Tour for surfing?

The tradition we have is to let the European Championships to be a single weekend event, just like the World Championships. If you're not there you can't win.

The series that you propose though is a good idea. It could be done on a European or World level. Making it on a world level could work out, but people are not so likely to go to more than one event overseas (whichever direction) and after all we have the world ranking to cover a World ranking.

Making a European Cup series however does make sense. It wouldn't require much organization so it's possible. All the events are already there, we just have to choose which ones to include and set up a points system for the series. Good idea, but there still some work to be done. Anyone interested?

/Jani

RIGA RIGA RIGA!!!!!!!! i be there!!! The most wonderfule place (latvia) in the world!!! and lovly people can´t wait to get there

Hey!

I'm about to book my hotel and boat/flight cause I won't miss this for the world! One question though, Jani (or someone else that is admin) can you change so that the date for this topic is the same as the one in the event calendar so that I know what date to book.

I'm pretty sure july 1:st as it says in the eventcalendar is correct but I don't wanna buy a ticket the wrong weekend...

Thanks!

I'll double check those dates first.

/Jani

EC in Latvia will be on first and secend of july.

i appreciate the decision for latvia. by the way. thank you that some of you guys think about hannover as a candidate for the esc 2006.
last year we organized our first race ever and this year the esc 2006? no thank you. first we will show all of you that we can do it better than in 2005. after that we will see.

this year we had the big problem that paris want to have the first weekend in june, because it´s the pentecost weekend. i think next year they don´t have that problem. pentecost weekend then is on the last weekend in may.
for our area we need to use the first weekend in june.
that´s the only possibility for the expo 2000 area in hannover.

anyway, let´s see what we do this year. good luck for latvia.

I'll be there!

How about the schedule? Is it set up yet?

rmn

How about checking the website first

http://www.skateboardinfo.lv/

Last I checked there was only a latvian version on that I couldn't make out any facts....now it works. thx....

rmn

Ramon,

www.skateboardinfo.lv you can get english version by clicking on the eglish flag!
The sistem work for all the people, not only for swedish guys.

GG

Thx, I already knew...a few months ago it looked different. Now everything's okay, thx again! I hope to get a cheap flight but at the moment it doesn't look like

rmn

Bryan and I just bought our tickets from Hahn to Rigga, June 29th to July 4th. You guys don't mind if a couple Americans crash the Euros do you?

Karl,

you can register for the comp on www.skateboardinfo.lv

J-Rad

Ramon what do you have to pay? I checked today for some flights and I have to pay about 85€ in total. I don´t know if I get holiday but I check and then I will maybe come too!!!

Well you live in the EU and you can book at Ryanair or so... there aren't any cheap airlines that fly from Switzerland to Latvia. I don't know how to get there for less than CHF 500.-

rmn

Ramón Königshausen wrote:How about the schedule? Is it set up yet?

rmn

Do you have any idea as to when the competition will end (what time...) on Sunday?

There's a flight that leaves from Riga airport (ryanair) at 18h00... Would it be possible to get that flight?