the bottom of the hill never lies

Posted on July 9, 2012

give us racing or give us death

The day started much like any other. Dawn. Caffeine. A mad scramble to get everyone in the truck, fed and over to Toyland. Everyone camped and thrashed the night before so it was a bleary-eyed crew that met us in the early morning. Al and Daniel gave an impromptu demonstration on how to ride the Toyland ramp complex. People were stoked!

Rich and Lacey watch the rampage

Al Brunelle – saying “Good Morning”

Everyone ambled about sleepily. Jonny had coffee and breakfast made and the machinery of downhill racing managed to get moving shortly after. We headed over towards Pismo and up into a neighborhood that Jonny knew of. The streets were completed but the houses had yet to be built. Fresh roads. No people. No cars. Hills and turns. It was ‘go time.’ They set up a slalom course, held a racers meeting and turned everyone loose. They road hard and fast. It was elimination, speed and racing at its best. The BLR crew held it down during the day.

The raceway

preparing the gear

David Hackett and Adrian Pina

behind every great racing man is a great lady…

Daniel Cuervo – first time down the hill

Mike Maysey- he lit it up. 2nd place

Sergie Yuppie – flying

We stopped for lunch and a break. They were setting up a Super G on another hill close by. This would be no joke either. I looked it over and wondered –  ”How in the F@#%! are they going to do this?!” I would find out in just a few minutes. These guys take their racing VERY seriously. People can get hurt. 50 mph + on a skateboard is not a thing to be taken lightly. A few faces were somber and thoughtful as we walked to the top.

Hackett – Super G

Mike Maysey 2nd Place tie

BLR’s Jason Mitchell 1st Place GS

Gravity crew upholding the law

BLR’s Greg Fadell – 3rd Place GS

Dave Rogers 5th Place GS

BLR’s John O’Shei 2nd Place GS

I was walking up and down on the hillsides trying to get photographs. These guys were literally flying by me. I was actually stunned at the speeds they were all attaining. I hadn’t realized just how gnarly they really are. Everyone had a great time, races were run and no real injuries were suffered. It was an interesting look into the world of big speed and wide open racing…  In the end, the bottom of the hill never lies. Fastest man down is the man. Skate- Ozzie

podium

Paso Robles

Posted on July 7, 2012 by Ozzie Ausband

Jonny Miller and racers with the Fire Department

The day started early. The BLR crew left the hotel. Breakfast. Coffee. Laughter. The area up here is wild and unattended. Rolling hills and long dried brown grass. The roads curl up the hillsides and run back down the other side like black water. We left Jonny’s place after a riders meeting and the caravan left for the hill.

riders meeting at Toyland

Toyland crew preparations

Caravan

After an hour of vast landscapes and twisting turns, we came to a stop near a fire station on a lone mountain road. Hawks and vultures circled aimlessly in the air above us attesting to the remoteness and isolation of the place. Spirits were high and the energy intoxicating. The racers readied themselves and Jonny drove the first bunch up the mountain. He turned them loose.

barbed-wire start

Greg Fadell and Jason Mitchell

Tahoe longboarder

David Hackett

The riders ran through a few hours of speed racing and then took a break. It was hot. 90′s. Hackett whipped up some PB&J’s. Water. The vultures still circled. It made me smile. “Not today…” I mumbled. Jonny then took the riders up a larger hill and they ran that one out until it gave all it could give. Power slides. Big speed.

PB&J day

Gravity crew loading up…

Daniel Cuervo – power slide

Jason Mitchell

Everyone loaded up and readied thmselves for the mineral springs that Jonny was taking us to. Ahhhh. The place sat there shimmering. A lake. Ducks. An oasis. We pulled down the long dirt road. Paradise in the middle of nowhere.

mineral springs

stoked

mineral bath and heavy duty mud slinging…

It was a beautiful end to a beautiful day. The sun set over the water, BBQ was prepared, music floated up to the sky and smiles were the norm rather than the exception. Grass roots. Skateboarding. Awesome. The BLR crew lit it up all day. They ruled the contest and the event. It was perfection.

Gods way of signing off on our day

the long dark drive home…