Sunday Downhill

Posted on June 11, 2012 by Ozzie Ausband

I was asked by David Hackett to come along yesterday and cover a local downhill race. I didn’t know what to expect. I kept my mind open. I arrived early. The access road was a long straight plunge of blackness that cut towards the right about halfway down, then dropped further into the distance. The air was cool. It was overcast. I helped Aerial Action Sports set up and slowly as the morning progressed, people began arriving and the sun began to shine through the clouds.

Legend – Bob Skoldberg

Legend Chris Yandall

Riders of every age descended on the place. I saw legends Bob Skoldberg and Chris Yandall. BBQ grills were lit, helmets and pads were slipped into and sign ups began. Some people practiced a bit. A few groms were cruising and pulling sweet laybacks and slides. Fun seemed to be everywhere.

Darren- Racer signups

Skylar Golter getting in some stylish grom practice

“It’s a long way to the top if you wanna rock-n-roll”

: Darren -at the top -rider meeting; They ran the race in a few different heats. Groms, Open and Masters categories. Riders made the long walk to the top, a riders meeting was held and the race began in earnest. I slipped up into the hillsides and took photographs with a long lens. I wanted to show the incline and I was really impressed with the speed. I’m fairly certain that everyone was cruising in the 30 to 40 MPH range. I heard that some even topped 50 MPH that day! I was struck by the friendliness and camaraderie of all the riders. It was a grass roots skateboarding event like no other.

: the steep plunge

: David Hackett – out in front – Masters heat

Aerial Action Sports Crew

Cara Way is a quarter mile strip of road set on a 5% grade that allows downhill skateboarder racers to reach speeds of 50+ MPH. On Sunday June 10th, Skateboard Racers from all over California converged to the excellent patch of Asphalt to test their Speed Tuck in a DownHill Race dubbed “KEEP IT ROLLIN”. One of the fastest Racers of the day was Black Leather Racing’s Jonny “The Thriller” Miller who came all the way from San Luis Obispo to clock top speeds of 54 MPH to take 2nd place in the 40+ Masters Divison. Jonny said “Today was Killer, I got to race some real Legends of the Sport including Rick Kludy (1st Place) Mike Maysey (3rd Place) and BLR team Bro, Dave Hackett (4th).

Hackett and Maysey

: Jonny and OG Slash

Mike Hess- OG Sims Teamrider

In addition to the Super Fast Masters division there was a 14 and under “Groms” division and an Open Class of Pros who were on hand to show the 100+ spectators and Racers what 50MPH looks like while Speed Tucking in a full set of leathers, Gloves and Helmets in a tight pack of 4-6 racers all jockeying for position of the fastest line down the hill!

Amanda Powell- the lone female racer was on a tear! Mach-5 bottom drop

let it take you where it may

Evan Spencer- high speed hill manual on a borrowed board- YIKES!

Black Leather Racing (BLR) has been holding Races on this hill for over 10 years now, so when their crew shows up they know how to “Throw it Down”! Despite looking like “The Hells Angels of Skateboarding” the BLR crew was very generous and gracious in lending equipment, mentoring some of the beginner racers and BBQing lunch and providing water and soft drinks for the entire crowd of spectators AND racers free of charge. I heard one of the single mothers (who brought her 2 sons to compete in the race) say “I wonder if any of those BLR boys are single? They sure know how to have a good time!”

Conner Kemmsies and Cameron Toor

eyes on the prize

One of the day’s highlights included BLR amateur racers Conner Kemmsies and Cameron Toor Racing head to head down the course at over 45MPH- Not bad for the 14 and 17 year old Newbies. ”Going super fast down a hill like this is so mesmerizing, it’s addicting! It’s like all I can think about now” said Conner Kemmseis. Conner and Cameron are racing a new Race Deck designed by the BLR team with a unique contour in the deck that allows the racer’s feet to be in a perfect position while attaining high speeds. They call this new deck The “Stealth Bomber” because of it’s linear lines and flat black B2 Bomber-ish Stealth like presentation.

Grom podium- 1st Place- Jesse

Open Podium- 1st Place- Key

Masters Podium- 1st Place Rick Kludy

The Race was sponsored by Black Leather Racing (BLR), KHIRO Skateboard Products, Globe shoes, Pig Wheels, Dekline Shoes, Osiris Shoes, Edge Board Shop, SoCal Skate Shop, Never Summer, Gravity Boarding, Abec 11 Wheels, Malibu Surf Skates, Logan Earth Ski, and Aerial Wheels

Thanks to Dave Hackett for the invitation and Randy for feeding me… Thanks to everyone that came out. Skate- Ozzie