Leiola and I at our Hotel in Italy.
Hybrid with Sasuka from Japan 19 vs 64!
36+ years of Graphic Design work. 50 years of Skateboarding. Notes to my future self and for my kids. Life is short. Enjoy everyday.
Leiola and I at our Hotel in Italy.
Slalom Skateboard World Skate Games Championships 2024 September 11-15
We are pleased to announce that Skateboarding Slalom will return to the World
Skate Games on 11-15 September, in the city of Chieti ( Abruzzo region, 200
kilometers east of Rome). This exciting skateboarding discipline will feature the top
racing talents from around the world, three exciting days of competition and a prize
money of $10,000.
About Slalom Skateboarding:
Slalom skateboarding is a form of downhill skateboard racing that first appeared in
the 1960s and 1970s and made a worldwide resurgence in the 2000s. Racing events
are electronically timed - so being the fastest through the course is the name of the
game. Adding to the challenge, competitors must launch from a ramp and navigate
through a course of variously spaced cones while still generating speed - requiring
technical strategy and high skill level. Staying clean through the course is a top
priority as each cone hit carries a time penalty that will be added to the racers' run
time. Competitors are time-qualified and then seeded for elimination matches that
conclude with the final winners of each event day - awarding titles and medals to
the top finishers both men and women.
VENUE INFORMATION (Race Locations)
CHIETI, Abruzzo, Italy
Small charming historical city 10 kilometers from the Adriatic Sea, with the Maiella and Gran
Sasso mountains in the background.
330 m/1,080 ft above sea level, about 48.000 inhabitants
Via Vernia Nicoletto, Chieti, Abruzzo, Italy
Coordinates: 42.344702° N, 14.163133° E;
https://maps.app.goo.gl/LHPVKmToHLpiw9Ym9
Viale IV Novembre, Chieti, Abruzzo, Italy
Coordinates: 42.346052° N, 14.165052° E;
https://maps.app.goo.gl/JuUTaUGGBmKpTpNeA
Just when I think my 15 minutes of fame is over I keep getting emails, texts and calls to do a story. I got an email yesterday morning but was at CrossFit working out at 6:00 am. When I finished class I was looking at my phone of course and had friends texting me saying they watched the CBS Morning Show.
Vince my old tent mate from doing the Aids Ride 5 back in the 90's was the first to DM me. We have stayed friends ever since and had some of the most belly laughs when we were getting up the morning after 100 day rides riding from SF to LA.
It's Judi not Jody for the record. Either way I am stoked.
One more bucket list item checked off. Ditch Slap is known for you know ditch slaps. I had a two good ones. Both stopping and jumping out of the ditch. It's a skill and when your legs are stuck to your board with the weight of your body with the g-force going up the bank and instinct to stay on your board but you have to jump off your board and land on your feet it takes practice.
Ditch Slap is in the books. Thanks to Joe and Isa who hosted the Banked Slalom World Championships an ISSA sanction event in Albuquerque for the first time, the stakes have never been higher. Two action-packed days of racing from May 7th to May 10th, 2024, in ABQ, NM, the world’s top riders battled it out for the title of World Champion and had an two additional days of shuttle runs on the busses, riding Albuquerque’s renowned ditch drainage system!
I was happy placing 4th day one. This was my second banked slalom race since the 70's and I'm getting more confident and figuring out the transition and pumping with your whole body to get more speed.
Day 1 – Women’s Podium:
Day 2 – Women’s Podium:
Yesterday I saw a post that the World Championships of Banked Slalom were going to be held in New Mexico. I immediately contacted Isa Ruiz a USA slalom team mate and awesome young racer who's dad puts on the race. I have always wanted to skate Ditch Slap because it's suppose to be epic.
In order to fund my racing I'm asking my sponsors to help fund my travel fees by putting brand logos on my board, helmet and jersey.
Catto's Graphics Boardroom Racing, Lenz Arts, RipTide Sports, Insta360 Santa Cruz Skateboards, Bronson Speed Bearings, MobGrip, Sk8kings Skateboards, Sk8kings Turbo Wheels, Girlsnota4letterword, Laird SuperFoods, Old Bones Therapy, 187killerpads, Old Lady Gains cool woman owned former Masters CrossFitter Kim Munoz and badass. I love her messaging and posts on her social media.
Adding more sponsors so I can update my jersey for the World Championships of banked slalom and will update again for the World Skate Games if I get more paid sponsors.
Thank you everyone who has already sent money and helped me. If I missed anyone please hit me up.
Another view.
Here is a link to the 10 foot ramp and 9 foot ramp Texas had but it got eaten by termites.
Current media links:
KAZU article on our local NPR station
Came across these documents while looking for something else about Cyber Slalom. In 2008 I set up a Cyber Weekend in Santa Cruz for the 25-50 International 25, 50, 100 cone race. We set a course on the levee in Santa Cruz near Josephine Street. Jonny Miller was kind enough to bring a start ramp and we set it up on the levee.
We had a good size crew of all ages. Jamie Hart came down from Sacramento, John Ravitch, Gary Holl, Jonny Miller from Los Osos and many others a few we have lost like NorSki and Wally Sueyoshi RIP. We did get one complaint and the police showed up. I told them we would be done soon and a few hours later they came back and we wrapped it up. It took a bit longer than I thought but it was done and we had times. I just ran the Cyber a October 7th and my time was slower by .4 seconds.
If anyone missed the opening to the No Comply Art Show they are having a closing ceremony. I was honored to be asked to be in the show with a host of amazing skateboard artists. I went have been an insecure artist when it comes to my drawing and painting. I airbrushed surfboards to get through SJSU in the evenings after work or school.
I started this painting working on the Board Rescue Art Show and never finished it. I finished it and sent it to the show. Sugar Press Art printed 20 of these and 2 press proofs and 2 artists proofs that I got to keep. They are selling the rest.
1 | Lynn Kramer | |
2 | Isa Ruiz | |
3 | Judi Oyama | |
4 | Lari-Ann Rupp USA | |
5 | Jennifer Coppa USA |
1 | Lynn Kramer | |
2 | Judi Oyama | |
3 | Isa Ruiz | |
4 | Lari-Ann Rupp USA | |
5 | Jennifer Coppa USA |
1 | Lynn Kramer | |
2 | Judi Oyama | |
3 | Isa Ruiz | |
4 | Lari-Ann Rupp USA | |
5 | Jennifer Coppa USA |