2008 US Slalom Skateboard Championships
|
by
Rick "Pink" Floyd
Photos by Rick Floyd, John Ravitch and Jonathan Harms
Morro Bay, California - July 11-13, 2008
I like to shoot aerial photos from
commercial airliners, so I am looking forward to my cross-country
flight from Burlington, Vermont to San Jose, California. I will
spend the afternoon with my brother Mark, and his two kids; five
year old Alison and three year old Jackson. I will rent a car in
San Jose and drive to Morro Bay, on California's Central Coast,
where I will compete in the Seismic 2008 US National Slalom Skateboarding
Championships. I know about the wildfires in and around Big Sur, CA
- and also know that my plan to drive my rented Ford Mustang down
the Pacific Coast Highway to Morro Bay from San Jose is "toast"...so to
speak. By the time my flight is halfway across the country the
atmospheric haze from the California wildfires is very noticeable,
but I manage to take some decent photos before the haze becomes too
thick to shoot through, somewhere over Utah. Coming into San Jose I
can barely even see the foothills surrounding the bay and valley.
It's about 98 degrees as I exit the plane and traverse the tarmac
to the terminal - sunny, hot and smoky; and the forecast is for
more of the same.
 San Rafael Swell, Utah - From 38,000 Feet Photo: Rick Floyd
The dark red 2008 Mustang barely fits
my board bag and suitcases, but it hauls ass, and the A/C works, so
I'm happy. I drive the ten minutes to Mark's house, then spend the
early afternoon in the San Jose YMCA kiddie pool with him, my
nephew and niece, and about fifty other rug rats. A first for me,
but the water is a great relief in the heat, and I don't get to see
these guys that often. I've been wrapped super tightly recently as
a result of stressful work and living situations (I mistakenly
moved in with an escaped mental patient)...but I'm already starting
to relax a bit.
I hit the road on California Highway
101 at about 3 pm. The Mustang is purring along nicely. Man, it
would be fun to take it up the coast highway on the way back if the
fires subside and the road re-opens, but it will be late and dark
Sunday when I head back north...maybe next time. It's an easy three
hour drive to Morro Bay, ending with a gnarly and exciting descent
to the coast down the narrow and serpentine Old Creek Road - the Mustang and I enjoy it
thoroughly.
I smell salt water. Hallelujah! The
Central Coast at last. I know this will be fun, but now that I'm
here it is already a rejuvenating experience as well. The
temperatures; still in the upper nineties a half hour drive inland;
are hovering in the upper sixties. God I miss the coast, any coast.
I lived on Martha's Vineyard island in Massachusetts for thirteen
years before moving to Northern Vermont in late 2004, and the salt
water in my veins still doesn't jive with the fresh water in Lake
Champlain. I prefer Lake Pacific or Lake Atlantic.
Big Morro Rock thrusts skyward on my
right as I pull into town. What a cool vibe here. As I will
discover, it only gets better. I consult my printed maps, old
school style, and make my way to my digs for the weekend -
skateboard slalom champ Paul Dunn's boyhood home. Jack Smith, a
well-known skater himself, and the event's coordinator, lives next
door. He has generously arranged for a number of us to "house camp"
here for a small fee. The old Dunn home is a boxy redwood structure
with huge Plexiglas windows. It is built into the side of a steep
hill overlooking the bay and the barrier beach dunes beyond. The
Dunns no longer live here, it is empty and somewhat disheveled, and
due to be demolished soon...perfect! When I arrive, Cat Young from
the San Francisco Bay area, Jonathan Harms from St. Louis, and Rob
Sydia from Toronto, are already settled in. It is about six o'clock
and getting darker, and foggier, by the minute. The four of us pile
into Cat's car and head into the foothills to legendary (a word
which will become a theme of this event) Turri Road, site of tomorrow's Super Giant
Slalom race.
 Paul Dunn House - Morro Bay Photo: Jonathan Harms
We snake up through the mist to the
top of Turri, then stop on the side of the road when we spot some
fellow racers checking out the hill. It's getting darker. I have to
scramble to put together my Super-G setup because I didn't have the
chance to do so before I left home. Once my 75mm Abec 11 Big Zig wheels
are mounted on my Fullbag Red Baron board, Sydia and I take off down the
south side, where the race course will be the next day. You get up
to speed pretty fast here, and there is a funky crown in the center
of the road. I need to tighten my front truck...badly. It's pretty
dark. We catch a ride back up the hill and prepare to go again,
after a beer and some truck tightening. Did I mention it's dark?
Rob and I take our second run with Cat driving behind us with the
headlights on, and with a slight film of mist on the pavement.
"Drifting" is an understatement, and visibility is nil. Sweet. The
adrenaline is flowing full-force in us now - let the games
begin!
We pull into a local taco joint for
dinner. Cat takes five or six very fast laps around the parking lot
in her car. People are looking at us. Cool.
By the time we get back to the house,
we have been joined by racers Lou Statman from Texas, Bruce
"Norski" Bjortvedt and Eric Tokle from California, and Dave Pirnack
and Gary Fluitt from Colorado. Everyone sits on the porch enjoying
good food, cold drinks, and the incomparable brother and sisterhood
of the slalom skating community. I guess because I live in Vermont,
I always end up with the Canadians eventually - Rob Sydia from
Toronto is my roommate. Over the next three days, we will have
numerous occasions where we are laughing so hard we have to take a
time out to breathe. Not out of the ordinary when you are hanging
with the slalom crew.
 Bottom of Turri Road - Morning of Super Giant Slalom Photo: Rick Floyd
Friday morning. Time to rock and
roll. I already feel like I live here...hmmm. I park on the side of
Turri Road at the bottom of the course. I'm still considering
racing in the Masters class (over 45 years old) instead of the Open
class, but a quick conversation with original 1970's Dogtown
skate rat Wentzle Ruml IV puts an end to that. He says simply, "you
know where you belong". I gather my gear, and head up the hill.
It's great to see the friends I know, and to meet new ones. At age
46 I have only been back in the sport for two years, having last
run a skateboard through cones in 1985. For me, like many of us
older skaters who had posters of pro skaters all over our walls as
kids, this event is special. The list of US skate royalty here,
both helping and competing, is long: Richy Carrasco, Bruce
Brewington, Denis Shufeldt, Jamie Hart, Chris Yandall, Judi Oyama,
Cliff Coleman, Marty Schaub, Jack Smith, Wentzle Ruml, Brent
Kosick, Dave Pirnack, Gib Lewis, Gary Fluitt, Lynn Kramer - and in
my case as an "old school" snowboarder, the Pappas brothers, Chris
and George.
The Turri Road course is
approximately one third of a mile long, fairly straight up top,
with an initial pitch flattening in the middle through the gradual
right hand curve, then dropping again straight to the finish, with
a nice uphill run out. As I approach the starting area, I get my
first glimpse of Johnny "The Thriller" Miller's Thunder Dome start
ramp. Fourteen feet high and adorned with both US and Pirate flags,
rippling lazily in the light winds. Sick. There is a regular sized
slalom start ramp, about four feet high, standing next to the
Thunder Dome, but I know my conscience, and my cohorts, will not
allow me to use it! It is being referred to as the "ladies
tee".
 John O'Shei on the Thunder Dome Ramp - Super-G Start Photo: Rick Floyd
The fog has lifted above our
elevation, but the sky is still gray as we begin our practice runs.
I'm confident I have the correct truck setup after my test runs the
night before. I climb the ladder up Miller's tower of a ramp and
put my board down. I consider climbing back down for a second, but
it ain't happening. I launch down the incline and go wailing out on
to the course, what a rush! If you need some fun and excitement in
your life, just hang around Johnny and the CCMF (Central Coast
Mother's Favorites) crew for a while - the FUN professionals. The
course is a true Super-G with five quick "pumping" cones, a few
medium GS sweepers, and then about 100 feet between cones for the
meat of the course, ending with four slightly tighter cones at the
finish. I run it clean and fast and get "gunned" at the bottom at
41 mph! I walk back up the hill with other riders while spectators
and photographers along the sides of the course mutter things like
"you guys are insane" and "that's crazy". Again, perfect.
The race is on. After instructions
from Jack, we all get set to run for real. We will each take two
timed runs, with the best time counting as our result. There is a
three-cone DQ limit...hit four cones and you are disqualified on
that run. Wild man John O'Shei takes off down the ramp, rips away
into the distance, and cruises around the bend and on to the bottom
of the course...smoking. Maybe that is where all the haze in the
air is really coming from? Greg "Hell" Fadell from Detroit, Richy
Carrasco from San Diego, and Jonathan Harms all look fast, among
others. Finally it's my turn. I have learned in practice runs, and
by watching the runs of other racers, that pumping after the first
two wide sweeper turns is slow, and that a full downhill tuck is
the way to go. I whip down the big ramp, pump to speed, and then go
into my best downhill skiing/snowboarding race tuck. Clean run,
serious adrenaline shot, truly awesome. This is SO COOL!! Where do
I work? What kind of freak do I live with? Who cares.
After the first runs are done and we
are all back at the start, Jack reads off the first run times. I
had been shooting for top seven or eight in the Open class, but
find myself in second place. I'm pumped. One tenth of a second
ahead of me in the Open class is snowboard legend "Revvin" Kevin
Delaney, and in third for the moment is the Bay Area's Eric Tokle.
In the Masters division, slide guru Cliff Coleman leads, followed
by Gib Lewis and Michael Kaelon. Martin Reaves is just ahead of
Gary Fluitt and John O'Shei in the Pro class, Lynn Kramer leads Cat
in the Women's division, and Nick Ronzani heads up the Juniors. But
that is all about to change.
 Bruce "Norski" Bjortvedt - Super-G Style Photo: Rick Floyd
As the second runs get under way, the
golden hills are now glowing in the mid-day sun; but more
importantly, there is a fifteen knot tailwind kicking up. With the
tailwind now helping to push the racers down the course, almost
everyone is dropping their times by two to six seconds, and trucks
are wobbling. I feel I can handle any "wobs" so I only tighten my
front truck about a quarter turn, and I decide not to opt for
harder bushings. Big mistake. I launch down the big ramp and
cleanly build good speed through the pumping section. I go into my
best snowboard racing tuck again, knowing I have a shot at the win.
About halfway down I am thinking "this is really fun but this run
is a LOT faster". I clip a cone on the big bend - no worries - but
then I start getting speed wobbles, badly. At this point I am
basically just trying to avoid getting skinned alive, or worse. I
try my best to negotiate the last four cones while staying on the
board, but clip three of them. DQ. I know I have just dropped a
bunch of places due to everyone else's wind-aided second runs...but
I'm alive!
Eric Tokle burns down the course on
his second run and takes the Open class Gold, followed by Skip
Marcotte and Lou Statman. Nice work boys! Richy Carrasco, owner of
the Sk8Kings
shop, just kills it on his second run and takes the Pro class
victory, with Fluitt and O'Shei keeping their hold on second and
third position. The timeless and amazing "Lynnibob" Kramer takes
the Women's event, with Californian Michael Kaelon jumping up to
first in the Masters class, just ahead of original La Costa Boy
Marty Schaub and original Colorado ARA series vet, Gib Lewis. Nick
Ronzani rips up the course, taking the Junior class Gold over Keith
Henderson and Peter Ramirez.
 Jack Smith - Race Organizer Photo: Rick Floyd
What a day. We are done by two
o'clock. Some racers are still taking straight downhill runs for
fun. Everyone has a perma-smile plastered on their face. As I am
packing up, my pal Rob Sydia is talking with one of the State
Highway Patrol officers working the event. Rob points out that the
road below us is closed to the public, that he and I are driving a
couple of fast cars, and we sure would like permission to drag race
down to the main road. The officer replies, "All I'm gonna say is
that nobody PLANS to have an accident". Rob looks at me; I look at
the officer...he turns around and looks away up hill. Sydia's smile
gets even bigger. Once the gear is packed, Rob and I get the cars
side by side, and then floor it. Rob hits 110 mph and I hit 100 as
we blaze down the two lane strip. Skateboard racing AND drag racing
in the same day - definitely California.
After a clean up session back at the
Dunn house, Cat, Rob, Jonathan Harms and I head down to Giovanni's
Seafood on the harbor for lunch. The seals are barking. The food is
killer. It's 72.5 degrees and the sun is out - with the fog bank
hovering just offshore.
That evening, it's time for the "One
and Done" fifty-cone challenge on the boardwalk along the harbor,
right next to the famous Morro Rock. The course is fifty cones in a
straight line, six feet apart on center, and nearly flat. We start
from a standard slalom start ramp and get one run each. There is an
atmosphere of 1970's California slalom races around this one, and
plenty of onlookers asking questions and enjoying the show. Pro
rider George Pappas charges the course and puts up an overall best
time of 10.55 seconds to win; an unofficial new world record. John
Stryker runs an 11.23 to take the Open crown (there's not really a
crown), with Wentzle Ruml IV smoking the Masters class with a time
of 13.90 seconds. It's Lynn Kramer again showing the women, and
most of the men, how it's done with a 12.87, and Keith Henderson
winning the Junior division with a 16.34. After the race, the
Kahuna
Creations Big Stick folks are letting everyone try out their
skateboard pushing sticks in preparation for Saturday night's Big
Stick race. The sticks look like a paddle, about five feet long
with a T-handle top and non-rotating rubber "push wheels" on the
bottom. The winner of the Big Stick race will pocket a cool $500,
so there is some pretty aggressive practice going down and several,
ahem, altercations. As the daylight wanes, a group of us wander out
to the ocean side of the big jetty next to Morro Rock for some
relaxing hang time watching the swells come in.
 Skip Marcotte Rips the 50-Cone Challenge at Morro Rock Photo: Jonathan Harms
That night back at the Dunn house,
Norski tells me that Paul Dunn's baby footprints are in the cement
down in the carport, and that if I go and stand in them, I may pick
up some of the "Paul Dunn Mojo" and make up for my DQ in the
Super-G. I do so immediately, thinking it is a silly thing to do,
but I'll take any edge I can get.
Saturday dawns sunny, with that
now-persistent 72 degrees and low humidity. What a climate. I have
breakfast at Kitty's Kitchen downtown, along with a group including
British slalom legend Paul Price, Judi Oyama, John Ravitch, Harms,
Norski, Sydia and Wentzle. Paul has enticed a couple of young Czech
riders to try slalom racing, and they look ready to rip.
Today is qualifying for the Hybrid
Slalom and Tight Slalom races. It's dual lane racing on the famous
Pacific Street site in downtown Morro Bay, with
a view of the Pacific over the finish line. Each class will take
two runs in each discipline, with their best time seeding them in
the elimination bracket finals on Sunday. The Hybrid is first, with
a nice 55 cone course set consisting of tight sections, directional
changes, tight offsets and a few bigger offsets in the middle,
along with a particularly tough offset about six cones from the
finish. The Tight is slightly shorter and of course, tighter.
Legendary "king of style" skater Denis Shufeldt is the event emcee,
and does a terrific job keeping everyone informed, calling the
races, giving slalom history lessons, and handing out event schwag
to spectators who answer skateboard history questions correctly.
With the event in full swing, and spectators gathering, the
intensity builds. The irrepressible and ever energetic Richy
Carrasco is doing his running comedy act on the sidelines, and
skating like a madman on the course. I'll never forget Richy's
first words to me at the 2007 Worlds in Statesville, NC last year -
"Nice to meet you...you ever raced a Mexican before"?
I again manage to amaze myself with a
third place qualifying position in the Open division, behind Skip
Marcotte and John Stryker. I am paired with my buddy Rob Sydia for
qualifying, and in our first run I almost go off course when Rob
yells "I love you Floyd" halfway through the run. Canadians. I
manage to qualify second in the Tight, again behind Stryker, and
just ahead of Tim Kienitz. I am starting to believe there may be
something to this Paul Dunn Mojo thing.
 Rick Floyd on the Start Ramp - Hybrid Qualifying Photo: John Ravitch
George Pappas, Fluitt and Price
qualify one-two-three in both the Pro Hybrid and Tight. It's
Schaub, Lewis and Coleman in the Masters Hybrid quali, and Ravitch,
Kaelon and Schaub in the Masters Tight slalom qualifier. The women
race with the men in these disciplines, Lynn in the Pros, and Cat
in the Open class. Peter Ramirez dominates the Junior qualifying in
the Hybrid by over a full second, with Nathan Deweber and Nick
Ronzani in the two and three spots. In the Junior Tight qualis it's
Deweber, followed by Josh Elder and Nick Ronzani; the latter having
himself a very good weekend so far.
We are again done by mid-afternoon,
so everyone splits to clean up and chill out, before the Kahuna Big
Stick push race at 5 pm. At the urging of some locals in the know,
Sydia and I decide to get some vittles at a little place by the
harbor called "The Fireman's Five-Dollar Diner". We walk in.
Nobody greets us. I pick up a menu from a stack and start perusing
it. Then a tousle-haired older guy about six-foot-three appears
from the kitchen. "What the hell do you guys want", he says. I like
this place already. "You want a menu", he says, grimacing at me.
Yes. "Well that's not the menu tonight, it's up here", and he
points to a white board with three choices on it - Steak and Cheese
and Salad, Burger and Salad, Soup and Salad. Nice. I love steak and
cheese. Don't worry; I haven't forgotten the skateboard
races.
Rob and I sit at a booth; Q-tip head
walks away. He comes back with two pieces of flat, rectangular
Styrofoam and two red Sharpie pens. Then we notice the drawings
tacked to the wall, all on Styrofoam, some well-drawn, most lewd
and/or offensive. There is one huge piece of Styrofoam on the back
wall, which is titled, "Information not to be given to the IRS",
and lists weekly sales totals for the year to date. The Fireman,
I'll call him, has noticed Rob's Canadian accent by now. "Where the
hell are you from", he bellows. Canada, says Mr. Sydia proudly.
"Just my luck", and he saunters off into the kitchen. We wait for
our food....and wait...and wait. Rob goes into the kitchen, and I'm
thinking it may be time to cut and run. Out comes Q-tip head...uh,
sorry, The Fireman. "Is he in my kitchen"? "Of course he is grampa,
we're hungry you idiot", I retort. He smiles at me and nods - I'm
winning him over. Then he goes after Rob. He chases him out of the
kitchen with a wooden spoon. Our food comes out and while we are
eating, Q-tip head...uh...The Fireman, seats an elderly group in
the booth behind us, with his crap-for-service persona bewildering
them. But they seem to have hope it is just an act, and are likely
pretty hungry. As he is taking their order, he sees a couple
walking their dog along the pier outside. He stops, lifts up the
window, and yells at the top of his lungs, "Jesus, that's the
ugliest dog I ever saw", and then turns back to the table and says,
"continue". Rob and I are in stitches and he is now smiling at us
and laughing too. We exchange few more insults, and then we are off
to the Stick race. If you are ever in Morro, don't miss this place!
The service is overtly bad, but the food ain't!
 Kevin Delaney Leads George Pappas - Big Stick Race Photo: Jonathan Harms
We arrive at The Cloisters oceanside park a little late, and
the Kahuna Creations Big Stick Race is already on. It is a stellar
evening, with Mr. Carrasco once again providing a majority of the
one-liners, and then laughing hysterically. Classic. The race is
about a half mile loop on a fairly flat, roughly oval, bike path.
Up for grabs is $500 cash for the winner. As the heats progress
towards the money heat, the racing gets aggressive. After all, we
are skaters - it happens. Statman goes down and smacks his head,
Kosick rakes his face and forehead on the pavement, Harms gets road
rash on his back, Jay LaPalm eats it, Statman goes down TWO more
times and ends up with a slight concussion. Fluitt goes down right
after a start, and limps back to us holding his wrist at an awkward
angle and shouting "somebody get an ambulance". Everyone goes
silent...then Gary looks up and smiles and laughs...gotcha! Some
folks slammed, but it was a classic example of skaters just
charging it in skater fashion, with maybe a wee bit of beer mixed
in. In the final heat, Kevin Delaney, who has looked unbeatable all
night, flies around the track and pockets the $500. Kevin is just a
pure athlete, and is getting faster on a skateboard every time out;
Big Stick or not!
Next attraction? Party at Johhny
Miller's "Toyland" ranch. If you skate, or used to skate, or even
ever so much as THOUGHT about skateboarding, you need to
go to this place sooner than later. It really is a surreal scene. I
drive out with Wentzle, enjoying the scenery along the way. There
is a gorgeous sunset happening. Add in two great days of racing and
fun and we are starting to get a serious
California-skate-sun-chill-race-jam-party attitude going. The ranch
is out East towards San Luis Obispo, situated in a foothill valley
away from practically everything. As we enter, there are a big fire
pit and grills straight ahead, and on the right is the ever-growing
Toyland Skatepark; a series of walls and features on one big bowl,
including a rideable Plexiglas window on one side of the abutting
skate museum. Watching the riders rip that wall from inside the
museum is a trip, but being inside the museum is even better.
Toyland indeed. Skate gear and photos from the 1960's to the
present...so freaking cool. I hung out in there for at least an
hour, and it's only one small room!
 Michel Gamache, Rob Sydia, Wentzle Ruml IV and Rick Floyd - Toyland Skate Museum Photo: John Ravitch
While I am in the skate museum, Bruce
Brewington's band, "The Reef Riders" starts playing - on the roof
right above my head! Full on surf music. I'm starting to think
someone has drugged me and this is just a hallucination. Vassar
Triplett is absolutely tearing up the park, and does so for almost
the entire three or four hours we are there. Harms, O'Shei and
Fadell are in the mix too, getting in some roundwall time in a
seriously fun environment. Bruce and The Reef Riders finish their
set with a ripping rendition of the surf classic "Misirlou", and
then the all-girl band "Dirty Pink Slips" takes over. I'm starting to
get the feeling I could party all night, but the finals start at 8
am tomorrow. Wentzle catches my eye and motions for the parking lot
- we're out. Thanks Johnny, you are truly "the man", and your
little daughters are gracious hosts - good work papa!
Sunday. Nationals finals. Guess what
the weather is like. That's right - perfect. I could see living
here, possibly with the waitress from Kitty's Kitchen? I can cook
eggs...really. I like hash browns almost as much as I like steak
and cheese...and cute blondes.
Anyway...time for some brackets! Jack
Smith has decided to make an innovative if somewhat controversial
move, and make the finals a head-to-head, double elimination
bracket. This format includes a DQ for an early start (i.e. jumping
the beep tone early), and there is no per-cone time penalty, only a
cone-DQ limit...hit eight cones out of their chalked circles and
you are DQ for that run. Any type of DQ and you lose the heat.
Higher qualifier gets lane choice, and each pair only races once,
unless one stays in the winner's bracket and the other comes back
around through the loser's bracket. You could also race two runs in
the finals if one racer has a loss and the other does not - the
racer with the loss would have to beat the other one twice to claim
victory. The obvious advantages of this system are the second
chance bracket keeping more racers in the game longer, no cone
penalty computations, and the first racer to the finish line wins,
period. Jack, his girlfriend Cathy, and Chris (the timing guru - I
forget his last name) ran things seamlessly. This format is easy
for the spectators to follow, especially given Denis Shufeldt's
expert commentary; and the majority of racers, myself included,
loved it.
 Denis Shufeldt - Race Announcer Extraordinaire Photo: Rick Floyd
Hybrid finals are first, and my first
pair is Chris Pappas. He hole shots me badly but I am able to
recover and squeak by. For those non-racers reading this, a hole
shot means a huge advantage right at the start. I then get Delaney,
and beat him by about a wheel length - really great pair. He's so
damn mentally tough. Stryker is next and sends me to the loser's
bracket, but by then I only have to win one heat to ensure a podium
finish, although I am not aware of that fact just yet. Next up?
Delaney again. This will be tough. I know I need a hole shot to
beat him, but don't want to jump the start tone and DQ right away.
He knows the same thing. The four beeps count down and we pull into
the course. I can hear Denis Shufeldt saying "DQ white course" as
we roll into the first set of cones. I am on the green course.
"Keep it clean" I'm thinking. I do, and advance to meet Marty
Schaub, who has been allowed to race Open as one of the top three
Masters racers, who completed their brackets before the Open class
final started. Before the heat, Marty informs me this heat is for
third place. I'm positive he is joking. He's not. This is nuts. I
am able to get by Marty in a nice clean and close race, and he
secures the Bronze medal. By this point in head-to-head races you
need to run back up the hill for the next start if you advance; and
in this format your next competitor is often already rested and
waiting at the top. I get to the top breathing hard and Stryker is
ready to go. "You ready", he asks with a wry smile? "What lane do
you want", he asks? "You have lane choice", I reply. "I know, but
what lane do you want?" "I want green". "OK, I'll take green", he
says. I've just been schooled. We launch down the course with clean
starts, Stryker pulls ahead, and beats me by about four or five
cones to take the Gold. I am far from disappointed though. A
Nationals Silver, especially after my second run DQ in the Super-G,
is beyond belief. Paul Dunn Mojo indeed!
 John Stryker (Near Lane) vs. Rick Floyd - Hybrid Final Photo: John Ravitch
The Hybrid finals in all classes are
exciting to watch for spectators and fellow racers alike. The
podium in the Pros was George Pappas in first, Gary Fluitt second,
and England's Paul Price third. Fluitt came through the loser's
bracket; having lost to Price, then beat Greg Fadell to get to
Price again, this time edging Paul out for the Silver. It was Lynn
Kramer again leading the women, followed by a still strong and
stylish Judi Oyama, and Cat Young. The Masters class is loaded with
talent and they had some of the closest heats all day. Gib Lewis
won all his heats, sending Marty Schaub into the loser's bracket in
his next to last heat, only to face him again in the final after
the original La Costa Boy bested Michael Kaelon to win the loser's
bracket, meaning Kaelon took the Bronze. Gib ran fast and clean to
take the Gold, giving Schaub the Silver. The Juniors were
progressing in ability all weekend long, and it was showing on
Sunday. Nathan Deweber took the Gold, followed by Dylan Foley and
Peter Ramirez, who beat Josh Elder in an extremely close race in
the loser's bracket semifinal. There was a kid's race on the Hybrid
course, with Maliah Miller beating her sister Alicia, and proud
father Thriller Miller quite obviously loving every second of it.
Little Christina Velasquez was third, but all three girls are
champs in the eyes of anyone who saw them race.
 Alicia Miller - Hybrid Ripping Photo: Rick Floyd
The Tight Slalom finals was the last
event of the weekend. There were some pretty serious offset cones
in the Tight Slalom course during qualifying, and a few have been
moved in a bit, making it a touch easier to negotiate at speed. The
Pros had some unbelievably close racing. Gary Fluitt stayed in the
winner's bracket all the way through, until he met George Pappas.
Fluitt then got sent to the loser's bracket to face his close
friend Dave Pirnack, who had bested Paul Price to ensure himself a
podium spot. Gary then beat Dave by about the width of a pencil
tip, giving Pirnack the Bronze. So it was Fluitt and Pappas in the
final again, but this time Mr. Fluitt took the Gold and Pappas the
Silver. Lynn Kramer continued to kick ass and take names...and the
Tight Slalom Gold. This is a special athlete folks - for those of
you who don't already know it, and most of us do...she's really
cool to watch and better to get to know. Way to go Lynni! In the
Masters class, it was John Ravitch pouring it on early, advancing
cleanly through the winner's bracket, all the way to the final.
Marty Schaub also advanced through the winner's bracket until
getting nipped by Ravitch. Kaelon then beat Judi Oyama out for a
podium position, leaving Judi fourth in the Masters TS - congrats
Judi! As often happens in this format, Michael then met Marty
Schaub, who had sent Kaelon to the loser's bracket only one round
earlier. Kaelon beats Marty, giving Schaub the Bronze. Are you
following this? Good. Michael then bests Ravitch in the final to
grab gold. Kaelon was on fire today and had the smile to prove it!
Nathan Deweber again dominated the Juniors, taking a finals win
with a bye, after Peter Ramirez and Josh Elder both DQ'd in their
semifinal heat. Ramirez took the Silver and Elder the Bronze.
 Cliff Coleman (on Left) vs. Wentzle Ruml IV - Hybrid Photo: Rick Floyd
The Tight Slalom has not been my
forte since my return to skateboard racing. I had my new
carbon-fiber Gecko TS board, and some serious adrenalin from my
success in the Hybrid, but that is about it. Even though I had
somehow managed to qualify second, I figured there was no way I
could repeat my Hybrid result, or even come close. The one thing I
knew I had going for me was that my setup felt perfect during
qualifying - like driving a correctly tuned race car. My first heat
is against Skip Marcotte. It's another close race against a class
act guy, and I manage to get by him. I expect I'll see him again
though - that's part of the fun of this format. Next up is number
three qualifier Tim Kienitz, and he smokes me - off to the loser's
bracket I go. And who do I see awaiting me there? Delaney of
course. I figure this is it. Nope, it's not. Maybe there really is
something to this Mojo thing. I now face Canada's Michel Gamache,
who had beaten me in Tight slalom regularly back in Quebec the last
two seasons. I'm feeling really good now - definitely in the
proverbial "zone". People are touching my helmet for good luck -
crazy. Michel and I have a good race but the Mojo is too strong.
I'm on the podium again. At this point everything slows down for me
- I feel like I'm in a movie or something. It's just one of those
days. I face Kienitz again to determine second and third place. I
get a great hole shot start and hold the advantage all the way down
the course. Tim takes the Bronze. So I get Mr. Stryker again in the
final. I'm so friggin' excited at this point that I can barely
think straight. Everything is a blur - including Stryker, who beats
me again to take Gold, although I am closer to him this time. As
soon as I cross the finish and foot brake to a stop, I release a
primal scream and hold my board up to the sky, then just about
collapse. This has been a phenomenal trip with great people, good
times, intense racing,great weather, and now this? Now I really do
believe in the Paul Dunn Mojo, and everyone else says I definitely
got it...so, thanks Paul! And thanks to Wentzle too for his "you
know where you belong" advice. You had faith in me brother.
I continue to be in la-la land as the
awards ceremony begins. It's late in the day and the sun is turning
a golden-orange color over the Pacific, which is reflecting that
color. Somehow when it is over, I am standing there in the middle
of Pacific Street, in Morro Bay California, in 2008, surrounded by
my fellow skaters, with two Silver medals around my neck. I'm not
sure I have adequately explained what a surreal experience this was
for me...but I have tried my best. As always, there are tons of
good vibes during awards, lots of final picture taking
opportunities, and then the good-byes begin. This is really the
hardest part. Jack and his crew have run a seamless and smooth
professional event, start to finish. I made tons of new friends and
skated with a bunch of riders I idolized in my childhood. The
weather and the venues have been amazing. Toyland, and everything
Johnny "The Thriller" Miller does, is pure stoke. And...I got the
Mojo.
 Marty Schaub, John Stryker, Rick Floyd - Open Class Hybrid Podium Photo: Rob Sydia
With a bizarre combination of ecstasy
and a heavy heart, I head back to the Dunn house to pack up. Eric
Tokle, Cliff Coleman, Rob Sydia and I have a final pow-wow out on
the back patio. Gib and Fluitt and Pirnack are packing up their
car. The sunset out over the bay and dunes is just getting better
and better. I suddenly feel as if I cannot leave. I don't want to.
The only thing I can do is promise to come back, and I will. I make
a final visit to Paul's footprints in the carport - and say thanks
to a block of concrete with two tiny footprints in it. When I do
return, this house will likely be gone. I walk backwards to my car.
Sydia and Coleman take off. Fluitt and Pirnack are gone. Gib and I
stand and stare out at the sun as it melts into the Pacific Ocean.
A last handshake and we are on the road. I drive slowly through
town in some sort of ethereal daze. I take a last spin down by the
harbor, and then head up Highway 1 to Oak Creek, pulling over just
before the Oak Creek turn-off to gaze out over the ocean one last
time, and to run my toes through the sand as the waves crash ashore
in the rapidly dimming twilight. This weekend will be one of those
memories that is stamped in my brain forever.
Thanks again Jack. I look forward to
seeing you all again soon, in Morro and/or elsewhere. Thanks also
to the folks who made this event happen: Cathy Grossi, Dylan Smith
(Jack's son), Adrian Pina, Johnny Miller, Jay LaPalm, Will Grossi,
Joe Woods - the City of Morro Bay, Morro Bay Chamber of Commerce,
and the crew from Tactis SK8 Shop. Skateboard racing, and more
importantly the people who do it, are simply the best. Nothing like
it. As the current California Governator might say, "I'll be
back"!
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Comment
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Comment by Rick Floyd on January 15, 2009 at 6:07pm -
Michael - sorry...correction has been made!
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Comment by Michael Kaelon on January 9, 2009 at 9:00pm -
Great reflections on a great weekend! One correction, though: in the Masters TS finals, Ravitch got second, I got first.
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Comment by ROBO on January 9, 2009 at 12:03pm -
Great read!! More of this to everyone! Slalom is the sheit!!
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Comment by Peter Metzger on January 8, 2009 at 7:17pm -
Hey Rick,
I live in northwest Ohio (Ottawa) but am currently at school in Mishawaka, IN. Any kind of contact information would be great-- for the most part, I'm on my own out here, though there are a few people here at school that ride with me sometimes. Working on converting more people to the ways of longboarding (or any kind of skating!) but it's tough.
-PM
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Comment by Rick Floyd on January 8, 2009 at 9:29am
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Peter Metzger - where do you live? I may be able to tell you who to contact to ride some slalom.
-RF
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Comment by Rick Floyd on January 8, 2009 at 9:27am
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Slowriddah - you have some big contests every year right near you in Statesville, NC - put on by the Downhillbillies (http://www.slalomskateboarder.com/phpBB/viewforum.php?f=122) - ..the Worlds were there in 2007! You should also contact the DC Outlaws and hook up with Mike Ohm, Brian Parsons, Earl Cephas and the crew - (http://www.slalomskateboarder.com/phpBB/viewforum.php?f=105) ... tell 'em all I sent ya!
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Comment by gary ohm on January 5, 2009 at 6:21am -
What a great writeup. You'll be doing it again right Jack??? :D
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Comment by Wentzle Ruml IV on January 5, 2009 at 4:41am -
cool read.....brings it all back.......that was one fast hill and the 2nd runs were sick!!!! thanks for sharing this with all of the TSJ members.....lets snowboard again before too long.....peace WR4
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Comment by Slowriddah on January 5, 2009 at 3:49am -
We need contests like this in VA, I'd like to try this out. Looks fun.
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Comment by Peter Metzger on January 4, 2009 at 10:35pm
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Awesome, and congrats on your medals!
Slalom is a discipline I've never known much about and there's none of it happening around here that I know of, but between this article and some other stuff I've seen/read lately, I'm ready to give it a try! If I can get my hands on some cones (slalom cones, get your mind out of the gutter!) I'll definitely set up a course and do what I can to spread the stoke to the longboarding club I started at my school... thanks for the great article!
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