How old is too old too keep skateboarding?

I found out yesterday that I qualified for the 2025 USA Slalom Skateboarding National Team at 65 years old. I would give up my spot to make sure Leiola gets in but I kind of want race in the World Championships in Brazil in November if I can raise enough funds to help pay for it. I'll probably skip the US Nationals in Colorado in September so I can take the time off from work and race. I have only traveled twice out of the country to skate in my entire 50 years of skateboarding. How old is too old to keep skateboarding? I think I will find out myself. Tony Alva is still ripping as well as Randy Katin and several others close to my age or older. What an epic life adventure.

Slalomy Day in Salem Oregon viral video wow!

Photo's by Judi Oyama

I wasn't planning on going to this race, but I'm glad I did. I can't believe how many people have viewed the race posted on my Instagram account and all the interest in learning how to slalom skateboard race and what the equipment is. I'm going to post more how to and gear soon on this blog or youtube channel. 

I like to post results and some of the racing when I can. I know what it's like when you don't make a race and you want to see who is ahead and what the course looks like. USA Slalom Skateboarding was posting a live feed on Facebook

The first race was a dual hybrid which is a wider course with offsets and is not as technical as the tight which is usually harder because the cones are closer together. It was 75 cones long which is a good length for a race. Most of the time the road we are on is not long enough to have a cones and then room for footbraking or stopping. I wanted to get some racing in on this hill because the World Skate Championships are going to be held here in September 29, 30 and October 1st.

Commentary by Henry Hester a slalom champion from the 70's.

Judi Oyama 63 slalom skateboard racing Lari 28 Slalomy Day 7 29 2023

@judioyama IG

Video by Dave Baker.

Hybrid Results Men and Women's

Women's Final Hybrid Results

I won both races. Lari is an up and comer and will be passing me up soon.

Giant Slalom All Results

Best out of 3 Runs my last run was my slowest. 

I tried different wheels and had a head wind.

The sign says Hybrid but it's the GS.

Back from the World Skate Games Argentina 2022 Final Results Stoked

Overall Results from the World Skate Games 2022

I placed 4th overall behind 3rd by 5 points!

I Placed 3rd in the Hybrid

I wanted to make Podium and was happy to on the first day of racing against really fast younger racers from all over the world.

1st Lynn Kramer (USA) and 2nd Anna Gailite (LAT)

Hybrid Results

Tight Results

I placed 5th in the Tight Slalom. 68 straight cones.

I missed the round of 4 my 0.211 hundredths of a second.

I was stoked to see Suzuka Nakanishi (JAP)

power through and get into the round of 4. 

Special Slalom Race 

Sunday super cold and windy day.

I placed 4th. I had beat Eliza in both qualifying rounds. 

She powered and got me in the consolation round. Some great racing results I can't complain since I was the elder of all the racers at the event.

Tight race against Suzuka Nakanishi (JAP)

I can't move the video up near the tight PDF

 

Giant slalom results I placed 5th. I had the second fastest qualifying run. 

I didn't use my arms and tried to tuck the last run. 

I will add more information. So many great racers.

Thank you @lacostaracing for supporting the USA slalom team.

Thank you to all of my sponsors:

USA Slalom Skateboard Team Logo and sponsorship for the World Skate Games

There was not a logo for the team so I put one together and it's going on all of the team shirts and jerseys. Being a graphic designer it's hard for me not to design everything. 

I am overwhelmed with all the support from sponsors, friends, family and people I have never met.

It's getting real and I am super excited that I am on the USA Slalom Skateboard Team and have the opportunity to travel and skateboard internationally. 

Stoked on having two of these made for my race.

Camelbak custom stainless steel water bottles.

With the filter system.

You can do snail mail and get a tax right off.

Diana Rose ddr.nsr@gmail.com

2148 Inyo St, Los Osos CA 93402

Be sure they put Argentina@ Judi Oyama on the memo line.
Make the check out to “La Costa Racing.”
 or pay via paypal or venmo.

Thank you.

Overcoming fears and riding the BAR skateboard ramp at 62! The last World Skate Games qualifier to compete in Argentina 2022

The Slalom Supreme in Salem
the BAR (Bad Ass Ramp) 10'

Location: Bush’s Pasture Park, Salem, OR
Dates: July 23 & 24th, 2022
 

After a full day of racing on Saturday it was time to commit to the BAR (Bad Ass Ramp) I had done 7ft ramps before. One in Texas and one in Nevada City. The BAR in Texas was super scary because it was 3 feet wide, wobbly and leaned forward on the hill. You had to climb a ladder to get to the top and when you stood and looked down you could only see the curve of the ramp and then the pavement. It took coaching from Jonny Miller who said you got this. 

Because I ride vert and had practiced in Scotts Valley dropping into twinkie bowl as some of us call it. It goes over vert when you drop in and has the same feeling as the big ramp. It was scary but I did it.

So back to Oregon. I purposely didn't go to the top of the ramp with my skateboard in my hand the day before. I stood up there when it wasn't done and imagined myself going down the ramp. 

Sunday morning I watched Paul Howard go to the top 3 times with his board and walk back down the ramp. He's ridden it twice before when they set it up. He rides this hill more often than probably anyone. I thought to myself if he doesn't go down that ramp I'll probably never do it either.

My heart pounded everytime I imagined myself up on top looking to go down. I was sitting in my chair sweating just watching everyone go down.

Giant Slalom Final Results

How we read the times at the race. They only went to 10th place and so I wasn't sure when I left where I was in placings. It was great to see the final results posted. I placed 12th against men and women racers. I don't always run the GS races because they are fast and I'm more of a technical racer than a all out hill bomber. 

Saturday morning on the hill. It was cold and damp from the fog but that changed pretty quickly as it was supposed to be hot. 
Hybrid Slalom Final Results

Hybrid against Patrick Lehrmann

Saturday afternoon I got 4th and skated until after 7:00 pm. It was hot and I was racing really well considering how many runs I had put in and was still trying to podium. I was happy with the end results because I was close and raced well all day.

 

Tight Slalom Final Results

Tight Slalom race with Paul Howard. Check out the gimme got you!

I placed 4th this is when you don't give up and ride to the end.

One World Championship qualifier slot each 

Judi Oyama designed the poster and medal art.

Thank you Michael Dong for the spread sheets.

Thank you everyone for putting on the event.

Thank you John Stryker for designing and making the ramp.

Skip, Levi, Mark Harris for working on it too.

 

Skateboarding over 60 Getting and Keeping Skate Sponsors

I am not ashamed to tell people how old I am and never have been. I have been skateboarding for over 49 years. I didn't even think I would still be slalom skateboarding again for another 21 years. My OG Santa Cruz teammate Steve Olson told me that slalom racing has started up again and I should race. I searched the internet to see where slalom was happening and what board setups everyone was using. Got a hold of Henry Hester another OG teammate and he sent me a Nina Roe Racing deck that was named after his daughter. Fast forward to today next weekend I will be at the racing at the WSG Qualifier #1 Texas Sizzler XVII Mach 2 in Houston (Hockley) Texas.

A month ago I skated in Southern California and was stoked to get a post on one of my favorite websites Judi Oyama crushes it at the President's Jam in Poway . Thanks to my BFF Cindy Whitehead who posted my slalom skateboard racing video on her IG and Girl is NOT a 4 Letter Word Movement is fiscally sponsored by Skatepark Association International a 501c3 non-profit established in 2002 who sent me funds to help me to go to Argentina to compete in the World Skate Games. I am one of 4 women that got seated to represent the USA.

All these years of skateboarding I have had long relationships with companies that have sponsored me since I was 16. NHS Fun Factory owned by Rich Novak has been there for me. Bob Denike just celebrated 35 years of being the President of the company. I am humbled and honored to have so many companies support my skateboarding for all these years. 

I have been asking for product and financial support to help raise money to get to Argentina and the other races. It's not cheap and I have other responsibilities like raising a family, and caregiving for aging parents. I feel super fortunate to have several cool brands step up and help. 

Yesterday, Lenz Arts gave me a check to pay for flight the WSG Qualifier #1 Texas Sizzler XVII Mach 2 in Houston (Hockley) Texas. I have been working in-house on marketing products and behind the scenes changes that the customers can't see but will benefit from for years to come. They are an amazing family and I'm working on updating the website, POS and other visual merchandising and graphic projects.

Keeping and getting sponsors takes time and years of dedication. You need to ride the equipment give feedback on what works and doesn't work so it helps the company with future upgrades or products. Never bad mouth companies because it will come back to you. I always tell people to never burn a bridge. Cindy Whitehead and I talk about what it takes to get sponsors and want to help mentor young up and coming skaters. We both worry that because skateboarding has become an Olympic Sport that parents will push kids to the point they will not love skateboarding like we have for all these years. 

QR code to video on IG.

A big part of my continued skateboard abilities come from working out 5 days a week at CrossFit Aptos. Staying fit and strong has made a huge difference in my skateboarding and life in general, thank you to my awesome coaches. Thank you for posting my video on your Instagram.

QR code to video on CrossFit Aptos IG. 

 

I want to thank all of my skateboard sponsors:

• NHS Fun Factory - my original sponsor since my professional skate career starting 4 decades ago!

• Santa Cruz Skateboards 

• Bronson Bearings 

• Girl is NOT a 4 Letter Word Movement

• Lenz Arts 

• RipTide Sports

• Old Bones Therapy

• Sk8kings

• Catto's Graphics

• NHS Brands include: (Santa Cruz Skateboards, Independent Trucks Co.  Bronson Bearing Co. Mob Griptape, Creature Skateboards...)

• 
  

New Updated Shirt in the works. 

• 
  

Slalom skateboarding race in Los Osos racing against the clock

Last weekend I drove to Los Osos to skate at Jonny Miller's slalom skateboard race. I had not raced cones since October 2020 cyber slalom weekend with anyone because of Covid-19. I ran cones on Saturday the day before in front of my house. My last run was fast and clean and I was happy to go out and get some exercise.

6 footers

Practice run Powerlines

Jack Smith, Stephen King, me, Wentzle Ruml, Cliff Coleman and Jamie Hart.

I placed first place after Cliff Coleman told me that he had beaten me by .2 of a second. I went back up the hill and got my fastest run of the day even with the stronger headwinds. They were closing the course at noon so I had to get a last run in. Super fun and stoked to have won the Grand Masters against men I have been skating against and with since the 70's. Jamie Hart Cliff and I skated for Santa Cruz Skateboards back in the day. 

Fun photo from Shreddie Mercury check out his website.

Thank you to everyone for being super kind and awesome. Thank you to Brad Jackman for loaning me Sk8kings Turbo wheels since I didn't have any of the bigger faster wheels. Thank you Jonny for reminding me to do a few things to get more speed. I was rusty but did well. Here's to pushing yourself and not letting your head get in your way of what your body can do.

Slalom Skateboarding Morro Bay

Morro Bay Skateboard Classic 2019

This is a 1-day slalom event in downtown Morro Bay during Harbor Festival. Head-to-Head racing on Morro Bay Boulevard. Giant Slalom in the morning. Slalom in the afternoon. 2-run qualifying, double-eliminations. Trophies to 3rd place.

Gary Fluitt put this video together and he also put on this race. Did I think I'd be slalom racing in 2019? Nope. It is super fun and as long as my friend Jamie Hart is riding in his 60's I'll keep riding. We both rode for Santa Cruz Skateboards in the 70's. We have the nervous jitters the night before and in the morning when we meet for breakfast before the race. Is the hill too fast is the pavement slippery and rough. Which wheels should we use.

Thank you for everyone that helped put on the event.

Thank you LifeAid Beverages for the FITAID and FOCUSAID

Sk8kings Slalom Skateboarding US Nationals 2014 Results

Pro Men Hybrid, Giant and Tight Slalom - Joe McLaren

Pro Women Hybrid, Giant and Tight Slalom - Lynn Kramer

Master Men Hybrid and Giant Slalom - Scott Hostert

Master Men Tight Slalom - John Ravitch

Master Women Hybrid, Giant and Tight Slalom - Judi Oyama

Amateur Men Hybrid - Oshean Lehrmann

Amateur Men Tight and Giant Slalom - Josh Harvey

Amateur Women Tight and Giant Slalom - Madee Prez

Junior Hybrid, Giant and Tight Slalom - Oshean Lehrmann

Results on ISSA - International Slalom Skateboarding Association

Direct link to event results

Saturday - July 19, 2014 WOMEN Overall Division Results***/Cash Prize Payout $450 /Prize Value $100

1. Lynn Kramer - Pro ($300)

1. Judi Oyama - Master ($150)

1. Madee Prez - Am (gift cert $100)**

* Junior class run with Amateur Div ** Gift Certificates total value $400 sponsored by Southwest Geophysics ***Women run with men Pro/Master/Am

FINAL Top Four All Events:

Day 1 - Dual Hybrid (Top 4)

Pro

1. Joe McLaren

2. Richy Carrasco

3. Mike Maysey

4. Paul Price

Masters

1. Scott Hostert

2. John Ravitch

3. Rick Floyd

4. Brad Jackman

Amateur

1. Bruno Silva De Oliveira

2. Oshean Lehrmann

3. Josh Harvey

4. Nathan Favero

Day 2 -- Giant Slalom (Top 4)

Pro

1. Joe McLaren

2. Richy Carrasco

3. Paul Price

4. Jonathan Harms

Masters

1. Scott Hostert

2. Brad Jackman

3. John Ravitch

4. Brent Kosick

Amateur

1. Bruno Silva De Oliveira

2. Josh Harvey

3. Oshean Lehrmann

4. Paul Chestnut

Day 2 - Tight Slalom (Top 4)

Pro

1. Joe McLaren

2. Mike Maysey

3. Paul Price

4. Richy Carrasco

Masters

1. John Ravitch

2. Scott Hostert

3. Brad Jackman

4. Rick Floyd

Amateur

1. Bruno Silva De Oliveira

2. Josh Harvey

3. Oshean Lehrmann

4. Patrick F. Lehrmann

Slalom Skateboarding a good test of coordination at any age

Site 17 with the NorCal skate crew. Mikko who took this footage sold me my second skateboard some 4 decades ago. Who'd of thought we'd still be skating on new better gear and in our 50's. I want to skate as long as some of the men I skated with. Might not be as fast or ride the bowl as high but I'll still go out and try. And as Yoda says "Do. Or do not. There is no try."

Slalom Skateboard World Championships 2013 Texas

Wrote this on the plane ride home yesterday morning sitting with John Ravitch my skate travel bud.

Back from the Slalom Skateboard World Championships in Texas yesterday. Racing started late on Friday practice was suppose to start at 2:00 pm but their was some talk about starting all qualifying due to rain on Sunday but since they could not round up all the riders we went with the original plan. Day 1 the giant slalom not my favorite event Since it is faster and single lane verses the tight and hybrid race which is head to head racing and more technical which I think I'm better at. The scare factor of the BAR (Big Ass Ramp) had been on my mind since the first day I saw the sign ups on NCDSA. I wasn't even going to go to worlds if their weren't going to be very many women racers since placing second to Lynn and only two racers isn't very fun bragging rights. The NorCal crew which consists of Kevin Delaney not far from where I live and John Ravitch from Oakland. We meet up in San Jose on a hill we have been practicing on since the resurgence of slalom around 2001.

When practice started on Friday we got two runs each. They marked your arm with a sharpie so they could keep track. My first run I went off the small ramp and hit 3-4 cones and my rear wheels were sliding out big time I could hear the chirping noise. At the bottom of the hill Lynn lent me spacers and rear two wheels. Second run off the BAR that was a rush and just making the ramp made me get behind on the cones and I hit a few cones but had better traction. Then a lull as the practice was closed and then reopened. I took a third run and had a great run and only hit 1 cone and felt ready. Every time I was up on the ramp I was asking myself wtf am I thinking. You stare down the narrow Masonite ramp that looks skinnier from above that is a bit warped and bulked and doesn't even lay flush to the asphalt you look at the pavement and know that is not forgiving then you just stay low and compress. I got great tips from many of the other racers. (thank you) I asked them if it scared them and most all said it haired them out too the first race. My legs got banged up just from the ladder climb but the adrenalin is focused on not falling and standing on the ramp so I never really noticed until later that night and following day when putting on lotion.

All said and done I placed second behind team mate and 9 x women's world champion. Racing went late and we got to dinner after closing and they still fed us around 10:00.

Kevin placed first and John placed 4 th.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lW0ZO81gcCI

Kevin Delaney overall World Champion Masters Division

Day 2 we were asked to be on the hill at 8:00 am we practiced ran the ams and the women were next I saw 2-3 guys slam in front of me on course due to some rain drops. I was asked a few times if I wanted to get a time. The wetter the road got I said no I will wait. I walked down the hill and then it dumped. A few of us were at the bottom and took advantage of the Boy Scout food set up. After the rain stopped I went up to find my pads soaked and wheels wet. I hung them out to dry and they did before we raced. We were actually told we could take off for a few hours to get food. We left and then got summoned back up the hill. The track never dried and so they set a course on the side road which wasn't as hard a course and not as long as the one we practiced on. At this point we just wanted to get times in. We got two runs that counted. I got a clean run then a 1 cone with a head wind and two bad pulls out of the gate. I know better to wear new gear but I got new wrist guards and the plastic slipped when I pulled and there was no punch in my start.

Ended up with third by 1/5000 of a second which was still a podium spot. All the women raced well. Kevin again got first in the masters and John got 2nd.

Last minute decision since the hill was drying was to let the top 16 pros run head to head and go to finals. We left at 10:00 or so and they were still racing. We grabbed a late dinner and were instructed to be ready in the am if rain 12:00 regroup and rain rain rain it was so I worked on my video homework project. Went to see RUSH with a bunch of racers and then went to the awards event back at the track. I didn't go out for cocktails afterward and since we had to head to the airport the Monday at 5:45 am for an early flight. Fun weekend. Thank you to all of the sponsors, racers, Texas Outlaws for putting Worlds on and taking on the RAIN.

Photos posted on FB and Flickr

More Race info from Slalom Skateboarder.com

The World Championships of Slalom Skateboarding

Texas Outlaws for the World Championships of Slalom in Houston (Hockley) Texas on October 11th 12th and 13th 2013.

ISSA-International Slalom Skateboard Association Results and photos: Giant Slalom Hybrid Results and photos.

PRO Giant Slalom

1. Joe McLaren, USA

2. Janis Kuzmins, LAT

3. Louis Ricard, CAN

4. Viking Hadestrand, SWE

5. Jonathan Harms, USA

6. Pascal Rookie Jean, CAN

7. Martin Reaves, USA

8. Mikael Hadestrand, SWE

WOMEN

1. Lynn Kramer, USA

2. Judy Oyama, USA

3. Natalya Dudina, RUS

4. Lienite Skaraine, LAT

AM

1. Joseph "Kyle" Smith, USA

2. Paul Chestnut, USA

3. Patrick Brassard, CAN

MASTERS

1. Kevin Delaney, USA

2. Jonny Miller, USA

3. Brad Jackman, USA

JUN

1.Petr Matous, CZE

2. Oshean Lehrmann, USA

3. Hubert Roy, CAN

2013 ISSA World Championships Results, Hybrid slalom

PRO

1. Joe McLaren, USA

2. Viking Hadestrand, SWE

3. Janis Kuzmins, LAT

4. Mikael Hadestrand, SWE

5. Louis Ricard, CAN

6. Robert Thiele, CZE

7. Martin Reaves, USA

8. Pascal Rookie Jean, CAN

WOMEN

1. Lynn Kramer, USA

2. Lienite Skaraine, LAT

3. Judy Oyama, USA

4. Natalya Dudina, RUS

5. Madee Prez, USA

AM

1. Sebastian Vorhoelter, USA

2. Joseph "Kyle" Smith, USA

3. Pierre Hazera, FRA

4. John Stryker, USA

5. Patrick Brassard, CAN

6. Tom Kienitz, USA

7. Gabriel Duquet, CAN

8. Chris "Cfav" Favero, USA

MASTERS

1. Kevin Delaney, USA

2. John Ravitch, USA

3. Jonny Miller, USA

4. Brad Jackman, USA

5. Claude Regnier, CAN

6. Keith Hollien, USA

7. Hans Göthberg, SWE

8. Chris Chaput, USA

JUN

1.Petr Matous, CZE

2. Daniel Duquet, CAN

3. Oshean Lehrmann, USA

4. Hubert Roy, CAN

5. Nathan Favero, USA

6. Orion Lehrmann, USA

Judi Oyama Giant Slalom run

Big thank you to the trainers Jason, Chris and Sam at CrossfitWest in Santa Cruz. I'm the slowest in class and the oldest 7:00 am but it really really helped. My core was strong and my legs. I use to fizzle by the end around finals and since these were 10 - 12 hour days it was sooo worth training for skateboarding. I highly recommend Crossfit to help any sport.

Skateboard Slalom World Championships taking place in Ottawa

Wish I was there and happy for my friends that are.
Slalom worlds taking place in Ottawa article
And this one too. World Championships of Slalom Skateboarding take Ottawa has a news clip video.
Another article Slalom skateboarders fuel their need for speed could be a dupe of the first one: way to go Claude on the marketing, well done.

Skateboard Slalom World Championships 2011
www.worldslalomskateboarding.com
Twitter
Facebook

Photo link
Not official results I saw posted on the FB page.

Pro Tight Slalom
1. Janis Kuzmins, LAT
2. Joe McLaren, USA
3. Louis Ricard, CAN
4. Richy Carrasco, USA

Women's Tight Slalom
1. Lynn Kramer, USA
2. Julie Boulanger, CAN
3. Lienite Skaraine, LAT
4. Emilie Gascon, CAN

Masters Tight Slalom
1. Keith Hollien, USA
2. John Ravitch, USA
3. David Hackett, USA
4. John Stryker, USA

Photo link on FB
http://www.clbuchananphotography.ca/
http://www.blog-clbuchananphotography.com/
photo by- Cherie-Lynn Buchanan

Long board post. Congrats to everyone.

Seismic Cold Fusion Sizzler 2011 Results

Seismic Cold Fusion Sizzler
March 27 • Houston, Texas, USA

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Certified by Timing Manager D. Gesmer

Hybrid Slalom - Group A
1 Joe McLaren
2 Chris Barker
3 Domink Kowalski
4 David Pirnack
5 Richy Carrasco
6 Keith Hollien
7 Karl Floitgraf
8 Justin Collins
9 Lou Statman
10 Matt Franklin
11 Kyle McLaren
12 Steve Pederson
13 Jonathan Harms
14 Ryan Smith
15 Mark Gosser
16 Chris Doan

Tight Slalom - Group A
1 Joe McLaren
2 Chris Barker
3 Domink Kowalski
4 David Pirnack
5 Richy Carrasco
6 Keith Hollien
7 Karl Floitgraf
8 Justin Collins
9 Lou Statman
10 Matt Franklin
11 Kyle McLaren
12 Steve Pederson
13 Jonathan Harms
14 Ryan Smith
15 Mark Gosser
16 Chris Doan

Hybrid Slalom - Group B
1 John Stryker
2 Greg Stubbs
3 Steve Lavin
4 Marcos Soulsby-Monroy
5 Bobby Thomas
6 Jeremy Coffman
7 Dustin Dixon
8 Chris Favero
9 Neil Orta
10 Dan Hardick
11 Ethan Allen
12 Earl Cephas
13 Pete Cardenas
14 David Tolley
15 Jason Bortolussi
16 Kevin Lane

Tight Slalom - Group B
1 John Stryker
2 Neil Orta
3 Steve Lavin
4 Marcos Soulsby-Monroy
5 Jeremy Coffman
6 Bobby Thomas
7 Greg Stubbs
8 Dustin Dixon
9 Paul Adams
10 David Tolley
11 Ethan Allen
12 Glenn Bukowsky
13 Chris Favero
14 Dan Hardick
15 Earl Cephas
16 Jason Bortolussi

Hybrid Slalom - Group C
1 Daniel Jones
2 Humberto Salcedo
3 Peter Metzger
4 Zack Levitt
5 John Janik
6 Peter Waters
7 Nolan Casselman
8 Fabian Kiedels
9 Teresa Waters
10 Sergio Munoz

Tight Slalom - Group C
1 Peter Metzger
2 Daniel Jones
3 Peter Waters
4 Humberto Salcedo
5 Sergio Munoz
6 Zack Levitt
7 Teresa Waters