Future World Championships locations

[Ramón Königshausen]

I'm looking for a "competable" spot in Switzerland. There must be one...all those mountains here...

rmn

[Gary Fluitt]

I'm happy to compete on flat ground for a discipline such as a Cyber Slalom to prove my ability is this discipline (heck I even beat Stroble at this last year...). I don't think this should be the majority of the events however. As a single event that would be great. But keep the main events, or at least the Super-G, GS, & Slalom, on the hills - where they belong. And I agree that the overall champion should compete in the full spectrum of events from Super G through Cyber or Flatland tight. But there is a spectrum of events here. The Morro Bay Worlds had the best spectrum of events that I've ever seen in Slalom. Super-G on a long hill with a kilometer of gates, Hybrid slalom (Euro GS?) for 300 meters on a medium steep hill, TS on a slight hill for 200 meters, and Cyber on super flat ground (indoor even). These were all varying grades of hills from the Super G hill to flat ground and the overall winner, Jason Mitchell placed in the top 10 of every event. No doubt this was a huge hassle for Jack Smith to set up and tear down four different sites in three different towns, but that's what a World Championship race is, it's a major headache for the organizer and not one that just anyone should sign up to host. I'm not suggesting that Antibes is an inappropriate location. I would love to race there. But I can guarantee that it will be a major disappointment to come to a World Championships mostly held in a parking lot.
Thanks for whoever posted those pictures from Antibes. I think the Garoupe hill is a perfect place for a GS and a Slalom. TS could be in the car park if necessary, and Super G on the Downhill course. If so, I'm ready to book flights for 2006, as will half the American slalom scene I'll wager.
I'm passionate about this because I really DO want to see the Worlds move around to different continents. We can assure this happening if we get the just the right collection of events and locations. It's never to early to plan this, and Pierre, please enlist my help.

[Ramón Königshausen]

I think a complete champion can be fast on a flat or steep slalom anyway. So a worldchampion must be the best on the diffferent sort of slalom.

rmn

[Chris Eggers]

Hey Donald not quite true...........I almost backed off from Avila´s hill.......very steep in my opinion, plus I was not prepared for it.

Now this is my personal opinion: I like slalom on all slopes except uphill, too exhausting.

It should not be too steep because Stride´s weight advantage will get too big (Paris was almost, almost too steep, I was only hundredths faster than him against the usual minute), Grueningen is just right, you have the slope AND you have to pump. That is skatebaording slalom.

[Pierre Samray]

Hello all!

Interesting discussion. And as usual everybody is right on few points.

I think a complete champion can be fast on a flat or steep slalom anyway. So a world champion must be the best on the diffferent sort of slalom.

In Antibes this year and next year we'll keep the famous "Garoupe hill"
héhéhé! I see some racers last year tighted their wheels very strong to go less fast!
It's a funny hill, with an incredible view on the sea and long enough to put different slalom.

But we keep the Salice parking for the tight and the nation's slalom. A lot of public can see the race and we can finish the evening with a barbecue party and swim in the mediterannée. Beachs are only 30 meters from the races


Donald! we'll clean the arrival area for you to stop before the bushes

[Vincent Berruchon]

Pierre,
I was not able to make it to Antibes, but I have heard that 2 of the 3 events were held on flat ground, in a car parking area. Is this correct? I feel that the Worlds events must be held on hills, and the bigger the better. Even tight slalom must be on a hill. Cyberslalom is the one exception, but this is not a world championship level discipline I think.
thanks,
Gary

Perhaps not the best post to talk about that but:
I think that one of the reasons why two races were held on a flat ground at Antibes 2004, was that the year before some people complain that the hill was too steep
other reasons: - the tight race was in fact a kind of CyberSlalom that have to be on flat spot - the flat spot was really just near of the beach but also in the city, one of the greatest place to attract "Grand public" on a skateboard race (one of the top places of the French Riviera)

For sure, "La Garoupe", the 2004 GS spot, was steep enough to impress racers not used to slalom on real hills.
I can't find the official website now but here's a few pictures:
Images at Wistiti.fr, part 1
Images at Wistiti.fr, part 2



Like you I was not really attracted by flat races, but these one were really challenging
and I've finished more than once in the bushes at the end of the car park too
And now I think that flat race could (and probably should) be part of a big slalom events (definitively needs hills too of course)

But don't worry - 2005 as 2006 will probably be differents
Pierre and the "Antibes Longskate" association can find in Antibes and around a lot of nice spots for slalom (and speed downhill too, if you like that don't forget your speedboard next time you will be in the area )

<Ed note: Links made into shortcuts to make sure the line breaks work out ok. /Jani >

[Donald Campbell]

you're right about antibes.
i made it into the bushes more than once,thanks to the sand being at the end of the course.
it's nice to try to footbrake and find out out that there's sand under your shoes which prolongs the braking.awesome experience hahahahahaha

idon't care if flat or steep just bring it on.

also,on a side note,that was just a genaral question,chris asked.

he's well known in germany for his shredder attitude and he won't back off from anything steep.

[Michael Stride]

As someone who enjoys tight slalom, partly because I can thrash the lederhosen off Mr Eggers at it, I dont mind if its on a hill or flat. On the flat, if your good, you'll come out faster than you went in. (A bit like french kissing Mr Eggers I'd imagine....not that I want to imagine it.....)

How about tight on a hill, UPWARDS. Watching Luca do the course at Paris Trocadero the wrong way porves to me that a hill int essential, even at world level for tight slalom. Its all in the pump. One reason why the Brits are so good at tight is because the practise spots were all flat, not through lack of looking, and this translates well to all tight races, whether on a slope or not.

So, all in all, I dont care whether its flat of steep. what annoys me is when people dont set a proper fast tight on a hill because they think it will be too difficult or fast.

The Antibes flat course was fast enough for most people, ask those who had to footbarke hard at the end. Thats one of the joys of slalom, generating your own speed.

[Gary Fluitt]

Chris,
There are a couple of reasons why slalom racing at the World Championship competitive level should be on a hill.

1. Hills are faster the parking lots
2. It takes more skill to pump at speed then it does to pump flat ground
3. It's more exciting for spectators
4. Hills offer pitch, grade, crown, all these things a racer has to deal with
5. Slalom is a downhill racing event, it's not cross country with obstacles

All this being said, I think there are some valid uses of parking lot slalom. The first race I ever had was in a parking lot and it was great. But it wasn't a World Championships. World Championships should be held on hills. Do you disagree?

[Chris Eggers]

Can you state why you think it MUST be held on a hill?
I think the col thing is that slalom can be (also be) done on flat. It shows pumping skills and not how good you can go down a hill and avoid hitting cones standing in the way....(oh my god I hope I did not open a can of worms here....)

Just interested how you get this feeling nothing else....

[Gary Fluitt]

Pierre,
I was not able to make it to Antibes, but I have heard that 2 of the 3 events were held on flat ground, in a car parking area. Is this correct? I feel that the Worlds events must be held on hills, and the bigger the better. Even tight slalom must be on a hill. Cyberslalom is the one exception, but this is not a world championship level discipline I think.
thanks,
Gary

[Chris Eggers]

Pierre, very good idea, that will make me take the trip finally.

I think the bar lies very high after Morro Bay locationwise and Jack Smiths great organisation.
Antibes will sure do it weatherwise, I assume it is as safe as California when the right time of year is chosen.

[Pierre Samray]

I already say somewhere that "Antibes Longskate Organisation" is interesting to organize WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP in 2006 on the French riviera. We will propose a complete project during the year. But those who already come to the "Euro championship in 2003 or the Cone's festival in 2004 know the place and can judge it.

But before let prepare the 2005 world cup edition september 10 and 11.

Let me know about your point of view.

Anyway see you soon on the world slalom scene.


Pierre

[Gary Fluitt]

Asia would be cool too. Europe in 2006, Asia in 2007, and US in 2008. I recommend Australia or Japan for 2007. Gives them two years to get the scene going in those places.

[Jani Soderhall]

For 2006 I would like to suggest that the World Championships be held in Europe. "Slalom Week 2006" will be the home of the "2006 US National Championships".

That's really cool. It would be nice to have the World Championships rotate between the US and Europe. Ideally it should also be held in different places. For the European Championships we managed quite well in the 80's and 90's and it's coming along correct also in the slalom revival with alternating sites and countries every year.

Jack has made sure that Morro Bay, with its five consecutive Slalom World Championships will remain in the history books of slalom. Impressive!

/Jani