Fall Farm Series

North American Slalom Races & Results

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William Tway
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Post by William Tway » Sun Sep 15, 2002 8:22 pm

Fall Farm Series Practice.
S-Camber in action on fast TS course set by TK.
<img src=http://www.users.cloud9.net/~wbtway/scamber.jpg>

Concentration
<img src=http://www.users.cloud9.net/~wbtway/ffs1.jpg>
Style
<img src=http://www.users.cloud9.net/~wbtway/ffs2.jpg>
Finesse
<img src=http://www.users.cloud9.net/~wbtway/ffs3.jpg>
Power
<img src=http://www.users.cloud9.net/~wbtway/ffs4.jpg>
Grace
<img src=http://www.users.cloud9.net/~wbtway/ffs5.jpg>





<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: william tway on 2002-12-14 22:47 ]</font>

Vlad Popov
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Post by Vlad Popov » Wed Sep 18, 2002 9:12 pm

Yez! Gut! Die Gross farm, herr vee comm!
:smile:
Happy Vlad.

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Post by John Gilmour » Thu Sep 19, 2002 2:48 pm

I think the Grass series should go southwards as the dates get later to make for more pleasant racing conditions.

Is there any interest for some impromptu racing the weekend of the 27th,28th and 29th of September in the Hamptons? Most racing would happen on Saturday. Troy and myself would be hosts.


I will divulge every racing tactic I know.

I live in a Hamptons share house that can comfortably sleep 25-30 people with enough sheets and towels and blankets for a small army. see Cassworld.com for pictures.

It has a Jaccuzzi and you can skate to one of THE most picturesque beaches in the USA for a little surfing (no beach stickers required for those who want to drive) seriously -Coopers beach is the very next best thing to the Caribbean.

It is just a two block walk to the town of Southampton and the Hampton Jitney drops people off within a $5 cab ride. Jitney info at Hamptonjitney.com see this excerpt.

Hampton Jitney
Eastbound Notes
1. All eastbound trips depart from: 86th between Lex & 3rd; 69th & Lex; 59th & Lex; and 40th between Lex & 3rd. Please confirm specific departure times and location at time of reservation. Always confirm stop location, as they are under review by HJ and the NYC traffic department.

2. Airport connection passengers should phone to confirm their Jitney reservations and take a cab from JFK or LaGuardia to Fresh Meadows, Queens, at the corner of 190th street and the Eastbound Service Road of the L.I.E. (Utopia Parkway exit 25 East), by the Fresh Meadows Cinema. Islip Airport connections at Exit 60 can now be arranged- call for details. Airport connection pick-ups must be reserved by credit card.

3. Passengers may disembark ONLY at selected stops between Manorville and Montauk.

4. Arrival times are ESTIMATES and can vary due to weather and traffic conditions.

5. Senior citizen's and children's discounts are available for all trips on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. May not apply during holiday periods- please ask.

rate is $44 round trip.

Or you may take the train the LIR (Long Island Railroad) from Penn station.

Southampton College is just 2 miles away.

For an idea of how to get here by car take a look at these directions . Note the ferry is a great option and a super pleasent boat ride that gives you a break from driving and I always opt for the ferry. You can take the ferry to orient point and then two other shelter island ferries that are at each end of rt 114 and drive almost no distance from New London Connecticut.

Directions

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Car

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From New York City and other points West of Southampton:
Take I-495 (the Long Island Expressway) East to exit 70, then turn right on Route 111 (follow the signs for Route 27 East/Montauk - Sunrise Highway). Take Route 27 (East) to Southampton College, Exit 7.

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From Upstate New York:
Take the route most convenient to you to get to New York City. Once there, take the Throgs Neck or Whitestone Bridge. Follow the signs for Eastern Long Island, Cross Island Parkway. Take the Cross Island Parkway and follow the signs for Eastern Long Island, I-495. Take I-495 (the Long Island Expressway) East to exit 70, then turn right on Route 111 (follow the signs for Route 27 East/Montauk - Sunrise Highway). Take Route 27 (East) to Southampton College, Exit 7.

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From New England:
Take Route I-95 South to the Throgs Neck Bridge. Keep right on the bridge. Follow the signs for Eastern Long Island, Cross Island Parkway. Take the Cross Island Parkway and follow the signs for Eastern Long Island, I-495. Take I-495 (the Long Island Expressway) East to exit 70, then turn right on Route 111 (follow the signs for Route 27 East/Montauk - Sunrise Highway). Take Route 27 (East) to Southampton College, Exit 7.

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From New England via a Ferry:
Ferry Service is available from New London, CT, to Orient Point, Long Island, or from Bridgeport, CT, to Port Jefferson, Long Island. For information, call the Cross Sound Ferry (New London) at (860) 443 5281 or the Bridgeport and Port Jefferson Steamboat Co. at (203) 367 3043.
From the Cross Sound Ferry dock, turn left on Sound Avenue (Route 48). Follow this road to the intersection with County Route 105. This is a pleasant drive (around a half hour or so) through the vineyards of Eastern Long Island's North Fork. Turn left on Route 105. Follow it to the traffic light at the intersection with Route 24 (Flanders Road). Turn left on Route 24 and follow it to Route 27 East/Montauk. Take Route 27 (East) to Southampton College, Exit 7. The entire drive will take about an hour.

From Port Jefferson take Route 112 North to I-495 (the Long Island Expressway). Take 495 East to exit 70, then turn right on Route 111 (follow the signs for Route 27 East/Montauk - Sunrise Highway). Take Route 27 (East) to Southampton College, Exit 7. The drive will take a little under an hour.


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Train
The Long Island Railroad (South Shore Line) stops in Southampton. The campus is a short taxi ride from the station. Call the LIRR for the current schedule: (718) 217 5477 or (516) 822 5477.

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Plane

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Kennedy Airport
The airport is on Long Island, about two hours from Southampton College. The least expensive car service from the airport is provided by the Long Island Airport Limousine Service (L.I.A.L.S.). On arrival at the airport, find the L.I.A.L.S. courtesy phone in the baggage claim area and ask for pick-up instructions (vans leave the airport every hour). In case you need it, the L.I.A.L.S. telephone number is 516 234 8400, or 718 656 7000.

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La Guardia Airport
The airport is on Long Island, about one and one-half hours from Southampton College. The least expensive car service from the airport is provided by the Long Island Airport Limousine Service (L.I.A.L.S.). On arrival at the airport, find the L.I.A.L.S. courtesy phone in the baggage claim area and ask for pick-up instructions (vans leave the airport every hour). In case you need it, the L.I.A.L.S. telephone number is 516 234 8400, or 718 656 7000.

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MacArthur Airport
The airport is on Long Island about an hour from Southampton College, and is served by the Long Island Airport Limousine Service (L.I.A.L.S.). On arrival at the airport, call L.I.A.L.S. and ask for a pick-up. The L.I.A.L.S. telephone number is 516 234 8400, or 718 656 7000.

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Newark Airport
The airport is in New Jersey about three hours from Southampton College. Greyhound bus service is available to Long Island: take the bus to Riverhead or to Islip.
There is also an airport shuttle bus to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York City. The bus terminal is close to Penn Station, from where you can take the Long Island Railroad (South shore line) to the Southampton College stop. Call the LIRR for the current schedule: (718) 217-5477 or (516) 822-5477.

*********
The train stop is at the end of my block a short skate or 5 minute walk.

OR you could stay at home and miss out on the cheapest funnest weekend in the Hamptons you could ever have.

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Post by ur13 » Thu Sep 19, 2002 11:44 pm

John, I'll be there...race or no race!

Guys (anyone reading this) Troy and JG have the best spot in the east to skate. Gilmour sets courses to optimize the speed of the hill....if you are within a few hours drive of here YOU GOTTA COME!!!!

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: chris stepanek on 2002-09-19 19:00 ]</font>

Noah Heinle
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Post by Noah Heinle » Thu Sep 19, 2002 11:46 pm

Damn, John, you sure do give a lot of info on transportation to your swanky spot. You didn't even post that much on the Boston race!

Seriously, Saturday, Sept. 28th is realistic. Lets focus on one day when most people can make it and we'll (I'll) look forward to your coaching. Name the day (not 3) and they will come...

Vlad Popov
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Post by Vlad Popov » Mon Sep 23, 2002 8:09 am

Hamptons, New Canaan, Athens...is Paris next? I’m in for Hamptons. How do I get there?:)

John Gilmour
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Post by John Gilmour » Wed Sep 25, 2002 7:47 am

The 28th seems to be a good date but we should watch the weather forecasts. I won't be around on Sunday unfortunately but of course the hill is there for everyone. There are lots of premarked courses as well.

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Post by John Gilmour » Sat Sep 28, 2002 7:10 pm

Rain and high winds kills it for Saturday.

William Tway
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Post by William Tway » Mon Oct 07, 2002 7:52 pm

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: William Tway on 2002-12-14 22:50 ]</font>

Vlad Popov
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Post by Vlad Popov » Mon Oct 07, 2002 8:51 pm

Jani-wonna-be Tway kicks donkey on a kick-donkey S Camber. This board is the feces! I tried one, I like one, I can't afford one, but I'm going to buy it anyway :smile:

Ok, a couple of words about the NJ tight slalom race. I posted this on NCDSA today. I am sorry if it causes any misunderstanding, because parts of the post shouldn’t be really taken out of the context (read other posts there first).
I hand-built several ½ inch Baltic Birch plywood slalom boards with different wheel bases for tight slalom racing. These boards perform really well under jerky (twitchy) powerfull pumps and heel stomping Euro-style.
Apologize again for cut and paste, I had my reasons.

Begin post:
Brian, appreciate putting on an all-american TS race!
With the exception of the British and 3-years-in-a-row –ISSA-#1-Ranked Slalomer in the world (This is not to change anything but to correct myself: “World’s best ranked slalom racer, based upon the results of the last three years” (Slalom #21)) Anatoly Matsukevich of Russia, who used to set 3 ft courses “just for the fun of it” (telephone interview, June 2002), 5.5 ft is considered overly tight by the European standards. 1.7 m, or 5.577 ft was, is and will be the standard straight slalom. Never raced in Europe, but did talk to quite a few Euro skaters. 48-cone 5.5 ft is ALL-American slalom that is run by Americans on a steepish grade hill in the Washington DC area at least twice a week. We also run 6 ft on the same hill for older people with hemorrhoid problems. Don’t Eurotrash American Slalom!
The surface was perfect, some pitch and tail wind. All my boards were drilled for a 16.5 and 17-inch inner-hole-to-inner-hole wheelbase. 16.5-inch one should have been used only with a ramp. 17-inch wheelbase was the best for this course since there was no ramp. (Why?)
S-Camber board is a kick-donkey piece of wood. MUST. HAVE. ONE. However, it really shines only in tight/ish offsets, none of which was to be found in the race. Zero-flex solid wood is the best choice for a tight straight course. If you think otherwise, explain it to me like to a 30-year old with 3 college degrees (3 more are in the making). Use e-mail. Please.
Trackers RT-X and S with a 90 mm shaved axle did a great job. Front is wedged with a standard Trucker wedge bringing pivot/-board angle to 85 degrees. The back is wedged with a standard urethane (11degrees?) wedge giving it a 40-degree pivot-board angle. Back steering is very limited giving a TREMENDOUS amount of traction not provided by any offset rear trucks I tried. Both trucks have 1/4 inch risers in addition to the wedges. Shaved Trucker Stimulator bushings used for both top and bottom. Front is Soft/Soft. Rear - Soft/Medium, or Medium/Medium. Turner Cambrias are the goodest, no news here. However!!!! I shaved off 0.1 sec on the board I made for Ilva, that was fit with 106 mm RT-X and S, was 63/100 of an inch wider, had softer 82 A Cambrias in the back, and ABEC 11 Stingers 88A in the front. So narrow board with narrow trucks wasn’t the fastest. It’s a myth!
Happy to see so many people get hooked on slalom. Sold 3 slalom boards to young kick-flippers. They (well, their parents) are going to be ordering Cambrias and Tracker trucks soon, hopefully contaminating their friends with the Slalom! virus. Skate parks are the best place to go to show, teach and promote this sport. I shell do it when I grow up to be faster and be backed up by a good-quality, team-racer-friendly AFORDABLE-skateboard company.
About the video I shoot. The best footage is of those people who made the course for the first time in their lives. I will combine the footage of this race with DA Farm’s, DC and other racing/jamming sessions and put it on a video CD for a FREE distribution. It is better done later then sooner, as editing several tapes requires time and video cards and software that I don’t yet have. I hope to have it done in the winter months.
Speaking of winter. It is fast approaching. He who believes there is a positive correlation between hardbooting and slalom performance is WRONG!!! There is not just a correlation, there is a DIRECT relationship. For a good off-season slalom practice I recommend Donek alpine snowboards. If you snowboard, I suggest 186 cm CMC model (My favorite!) or 175 cm VLAD model (stiffer, racier) found on the Donek’s website. If you are just starting, 163 or 171 cm Freecarve models would be a good start. PSR is the guy to see/contact if/when you need a lesson.

Ones again, thank you Brian for believing and DOING. Thanks to:
The racers who showed up, DC guys for cheering me and training with me, Turner wheels (I still want 90A 45-50 mm wide Avolons and 94A Cambrias), Tracker Trucks (low-quality low-priced greatest slalom trucks I found so far), Tway for hospitality, TK for jamming and letting me try Peter’s new trucks, Ilva for keeping a company, Warstiner beer for being zoo GUUT!, and Adam for letting young minds express themselves in a polite manner on this site.
If I can’t make it to MB I’ll see you at the WV race.
Yours.

End Post.


<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Vlad Popov on 2002-11-05 12:11 ]</font>

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Post by Matthew Wilson » Mon Oct 07, 2002 9:45 pm

So, is the Oct 27th race still a go?? Will exact location be communicated? I wanna go and give some lucky shmo an easy first round win!!
slalom is good

Vlad Popov
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Post by Vlad Popov » Tue Oct 08, 2002 12:31 am

Good stuff Dr. Tway! You make us all look like Jani (wonna-be-s) :smile:
Don't tell Vasocreta about the secret Oct 27th Farm get-together. We already have enough competition as it is. Unless you add another couple of beer cases. Then, there will be no competition and everyone will have some :smile:

And thanks for the video, Tway. I did a shot capture for my "racer image" photo on this forum before I submit the real deal.

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Post by Henry Julier » Sun Oct 13, 2002 10:43 pm

Hi guys!

I think I'll be able to make ALL of the Farm races!!! I'm not looking to win (duh) but I really want to test out my new ICK stick. I'l about to call my mom and check to make sure I can come... but as far as I know I have no commitments on the dates. So maybe I'll see you there...

Henry
Ickboy

William Tway
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Post by William Tway » Wed Oct 30, 2002 12:24 am

Ok race fans, this weekend is a go. We plan to race a 55 cone (single lane) TS burner. Starting time is approx. 10am and we will meet at the Tway farm then head over to Michigan Rd to race. $5 entry fee, winner takes all. As many runs as you want in 2 hours. The course is technical as there is not much slope. Euro stylee. Those who are in shape will do the best. All the beer drinkers (me included) better go fast early 'cause we aint gonna last long. See you Sunday.

Tway

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Post by John Gilmour » Thu Oct 31, 2002 4:46 am

Sounds like a blast- I'll go!

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Post by William Tway » Mon Nov 04, 2002 4:15 pm

Beautiful day of racing in Connecticut yesterday. First off NYC GRASS would like to welcome Dr. Dan to our chapter. Despite being on call yesterday, he showed up and raced. Who won yesterday....everyone who showed up.

TS results

JG 18.878
Noah 19.072
UR13 19.542
Tway 20.030
Parsons 20.252
Dr. DAn 29.484

Hybrid

JG 13.787 (36"PocketPistol+strong tail-wind)
Noah 13.899
UR13 15.064
Parsons 15.646
Tway 16.047
Wes E. 16.323
Ilva 18.448
Dr. Dan 18.658

**Wind was a major factor...not too mention everyone was pretty hung from the Red-Bull party.

Thanks to all who showed up!!! Let's do it again soon.

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Post by Vlad Popov » Mon Nov 04, 2002 5:19 pm

Noah makes me worry. How in the world did he get so close to Saint John?
I demand an explanation!

And what is up with the NY Red Bull Banked Slalom Event? Was is more of skating banks then slaloming or something? Why there were so many mere mortals who finished before His Highness?

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Post by Noah Heinle » Mon Nov 04, 2002 6:51 pm

Vlad, the RedBull race was great. I was one of the few that opted out based on my complete lack of experience in that relm. (wuss) But I'm certainly gonna learn to ride that stuff soon as it looked like pure fun. I'll be lookin' for some coaching from the DC guys at Vans on the 16th....join me in the bunny bowl and we'll figure it out soon enough. Props to JG who was definitely the ONLY guy winging the banks on a Bottle Rocket with Seismic front and TTC in back. His tallent was obvious.

As for the farm 'race' on Sunday....it was more of a session with a timer. I got a lucky gust at my back. It was a great time. Tway, when is the next one and where?

Vlad Popov
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Post by Vlad Popov » Mon Nov 04, 2002 7:08 pm

Musta been two major gusts, Noah. That is one major gust too much to be a coincidence.
Dalv is sponsoring Nov 16 event, I have to show up. There is also going to be 7 ft flatland “tight slalom”. Although Dave Riordon, the organizer, assured me the cones distance is going to be chosen on the basis of 85-100 percentile “makability”.
I’m also looking forward to trying banked slalom (BS).

John, please share your impressions and the reasons behind choosing a regular slalom deck/setup to run BS.

Vlad.

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Post by William Tway » Mon Nov 04, 2002 8:43 pm

I also want to thank JG for taking time to give pointers to everyone and also for running the timer so I could take a few Hybrid runs. My fastest time was my only run on the Pocket Pistol. I will be busting up all my piggy banks real soon so I can get one.

Vlad/Noah, You guys are gonna get hooked on BS at the Vans Vintage event. I hope I am there to witness it.

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Post by Troy Smart » Tue Nov 05, 2002 12:10 am

Where and when is the Nov. 16th race? And is it going to be flatland TS only or will there be a hill?
Sorry I missed Sunday at Tways. I slipped a disk in my neck and could'nt do it.

As far as the NYC Red Bull event goes, I would say that the top 20 finishers would fall into the "skate god" catagory. There were some seriously rippin skaters there.
Truly "kick donkey" skatin goin on.
I have a hell of a lot of respect for Steve Olsen and many others after seeing just how good they are.
I, however, got my donkey kicked.
Que Sera.
That course was just about the most fun I've had on a skateboard.

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Post by Vlad Popov » Tue Nov 05, 2002 1:45 am

Here, I stole some intellectual property from http://www.ncdsa.com:

Nov 16th Potomac Mills VANS Virginia USA (the TS cone distances have been changed to 6-6.5 ft), so there is a chance they will go down even more soon :smile:

Begin.

-> Vintage & Longboard Items Displayed: 10am-11pm
Collectors Will Register with Surfrider Foundation Volunteers & Display Their Collection Indoors but Outside the Park Along the Fence. (Registered Collectors Skate Free All Day!).

-> Longboarders & Vintage Skaters: 10am-11pm
Skateboarders riding longboard skateboards or vintage skateboards will skate at a discounted rate of $5.00 per session.

-> Modified Banked Slalom Race: 7pm-9pm
Any type of board can be used. Contestants will register with Surfrider Foundation Volunteers by donating $5.00 to Surfrider. The contestant will then pay for a discounted sessions ($5.00 for 7-9pm).

-> Flatland Slalom Race: 10am-4pm.
Any slalom board can be used. Cone penalty & DQ to be announced. Cone spacing will be 6’ to 6.5’ on a straight line. The entry fee is free but you have to show a current receipt from a Vans Session to race. Format will be best of three declared runs. In other words, practice as much as you want but to get a time you must declare each run prior to running it. Strategy will play a part of this race.

End.

No hills inside the skate pavilion, so naturally, no races on the hill. Real men don’t need no hillz, coz real men can pump!

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Post by John Gilmour » Tue Nov 05, 2002 3:12 am

The Red Bull Urbanwaves event was a lot of fun. Years ago I was a subcontractor for Blizzard- the ski company where I named a few snowboard lines (Lizzard, Bond, Empire)and did a few of the graphics. I think the companies have since been spun off. But I did meet Regis Jeffries there who now works for Red Bull. (Somehow Regis and I always seem to cross paths at SIA and various events)

I called Regis and asked him about getting Red Bull to sponsor the Boston July 4 2002 race and he hooked me up with the Boston Red Bull guy. We talked about doing a NYC event for Red Bull and I suggested Central Park. Regis was also interested in the idea of Boardercross (as we have both been in the Snowboard Industry). Boardercross has a lot of potential for Banner placement.

So I said the closest thing to Boardercross was Banked slalom- though I am sure the Boardercross concept is still brewing....

I steered him towards Steve Olson and Red Bull provided the funds to make the dream happen. I spoke with someone at Red Bull and made a very conservative guess as to how much was spent. I was way off. The total $$$ Figure was $180,000.00 for the event and party, permits, scoreboard, labor, ramps etc.

So with the event going off I had to choose between Switzerland and the NYC race. I wanted to go to Switzerland to help the European scene as my going to NYC wouldn't have added much to the event. Interesting to see that Red Bull had Tony Alva attend who certainly helped boost the name recognition.

Red Bull also advertised the event in the Village voice and other periodicals.

According to the course description on the web site there were to be 10 banks (6 foot by 20 foot) and the course was to be 1400 feet long. So I thought that would give me a long time to set up for each banked turn (about 100+ feet for each turn if you include the width of the road) and enable the use of a long wheelbase board. Red Bull also had advertised this as a longboard race.

When I got to the hill the day before I saw the pitch was marginal. It looked to be a pumping race.

But the next day when I got to the course we saw the banks set up very close to one another. The entire course was perhaps only 300 feet long with very little distance to pump between the banks. Perhaps you could get a double pump in between the banks if you were quick- .

I considered not entering as I haven't ridden a skatepark since 1978. But I decided to run it anyway. I didn't bring a park deck...and as I haven't ridden a park deck for even cruising in over 10 years I rode what I was used to- a TS slalom deck.

Now I've ridden a TS slalom deck in a skatepark in the 1970's for running in snake runs and it became apparent very quickly that a slalom board is clearly one of the worst choices for trying to do banks. (the Camber sucks up any force you put into the deck for pumping the transition- and with no kicktail I found myself grinding the rear truck of my slalom deck for the first time. My first transition was a splat. I made the second run, and ever turn was a relearning experience.

But seeing as it was the only deck I felt comfortable running...I ran it. I barely qualified. Speeds were in the 15mph range for most of the competitors. I'm not sure if anyone else qualified on a TS deck and I hope no one was swayed to try it. I got next to last place in the riders that qualified LOL. Next time I might not have such long intervals between my vert practices + - 24 years LOL.

My thoughts on the event are positive. And considering the radius of the banks and the lack of grade and road width "scrunching" the course together made for more flow. People on park decks were able to ride it like a mini ramp- and Chris Chaput was able to use his drop through plank to try and stay low and slalom it.

My thoughts on the version 2.0 of Urbanwaves.

1. They might want to think about using see through Lexan waves with steel- that way as a spectator you would have more vantage points and you could see the guy ride up on the wall. Of course....more $$$.

2. They could reduce the pocket radius so they could be hit at higher speed. Perhaps lengthen the ramps.

3. They could have it on a longer hill with more pitch and have cones placed both on the banks and on the flat transition. I think it would be great to have this as an event where slalomers and park riders would be on equal footing (having both skills would give an advantage).

For a while Snowboard Boardercross did not favor Alpine or Freestyle riders, and I think that was when it was the most interesting as you could see different racing strategies executed on the same course. It also helped to bring together the Vert and racing snowboarders as well as bring more exposure to riders who were good all around riders who might not have otherwise gotten recognized for the thoroughness of their talents.

I wonder if Red Bull would consider sponsoring a series of "Permanent slalom courses" throughout the USA with timers and Red Bull cones? $180,000.00 would go a long way towards growing our sport- and they would receive long term recognition over many years (Most permanent slalom courses run for over 10 years and in some cases longer).

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Post by William Tway » Tue Nov 19, 2002 2:32 pm

Free Sample….
<A HREF="http://www.users.cloud9.net/~wbtway/jg.mpg"> Farm Racers Gone Crazy 2.0</A>
CD-ROM Available soon…only in the raw
Must be 18+ to view
Courtesy of Anthony Buchla

**View in FULL screen mode

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: william tway on 2002-11-19 11:53 ]</font>

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