Downhill Skateboard Racing

Hey there boys and girls – Justin here, giving you the low-down on IDGR #4 – Curvy Canyon, the fourth event in the Irvine Downhill and Garage Riders Downhill Race Series. We had a little difficulty with my permissions on the site, so this is a bit late, but we got it figured out!

Yours truly actually hosted this race, and we had a location set in the North Fullerton/Rowland Heights area for last Sunday the 24th. Everyone showed up bright and early, ready to race, but not 2 practice runs in and the Sheriff rolled up! Some type of wedding event was taking place up the road, so lots of people were parked along the sides, and I assume someone walking to or from their car give Johnny Law a ring for us. Luckily, the Sheriff was super cool, and was telling us that apparently he used to luge up at GMR back in the day! Legit! Unfortunately, since people had complained, he said we had to go. He even suggested other roads to go ride, and that in the future, we start earlier in the morning to avoid him having to come out. If you’re gonna get rolled, at least that was the way to do it. I’m definitely still looking forward to holding another race on that hill, and those lucky enough to get some runs in seemed to really enjoy it – luck just wasn’t with us that day.

We kicked around the idea of skating anyways for a while, but decided it was best to just be respectful and ride the backup hill. I actually had two in mind – one that was a lot closer, but just a mellow bomb, and one a little further north that had more turns and more speed. A vote was taken, and the gnarlier hill was chosen! A 40mph-ish bomb through 4-5 sweepers in a scenic little canyon kept everyone on their toes, but was safe for all skill levels. Everyone who came out  drove the extra 15 or so minutes out to a secret spot in West Covina (except a van full of 5-year-olds from Laguna whose dad didn’t want to drive anymore – we didn’t miss em!), where the race went off without a hitch! Neighbors there were stoked to see us and the hill was prime.

Heats were assigned at random, and a four-man, top-two-advance format was used, including a consolation bracket that let everyone race at least twice and gave people a shot to get back in to the semi-finals. About 13 people raced, and the final heat came down to Drew Edwards, Phillip “Swagmaster” Crow, Nathan Marton, and Markise Gladney. Markise showed up in his bright green super-suit and half-shell, but still managed to put at least two solid body-lengths on the other riders, and took an easy first. The rest of the podium was hard-fought, with Nathan pulling off second, Drew snagging third, and Swagmaster rounding out fourth place.

Some epic, custom California-themed trophies were provided by Brian “Hernan” Vigil of Unmodern Industries/Black Velvet Slide Pucks/Never Grow, and 1st through 4th took one home. We managed to give out over $120 in cash money to the winners from the entry fees plus some extra dough provided by sponsors Icaro Aero Helmets and Unmodern Industries. Black Velvet/Unmodern also sent out a bag of their famous collaboration Cali toe-stops that a couple people were able to snag, and Rayne Longboards sent a package out that didn’t make it in time but will be included in one of the next events! Also, big ups to Axl Dyer and Katie Fredericks for helping me run the event, to our guest photographer Caylin Schutz for the great pics, and to everyone who helped shuttle. Word on the street is that IDGR #5 is going to be a slide competition, so be on the lookout for that and lots more from the IDGR and Adrenaline-Fueled!

You stay classy So Cal!

- Justin

Video Edited and shot by: Tye Donnelly
Each SDDRL (San Diego Downhill Racing League) is a story of it’s own and this one was a story of legends. I mean both both Dave and John Rogers were there, Dave Hackett, Chris Yandall, Lynn Kraemer just to name a few. The raddest part of the whole thing was seeing Jay Adam’s show up. Jay Adams is the first skateboarder ever. The original. He was from before the dogtown era and helped pioneer skateboarding.

The hill was mellow and fun with speeds topping off around 40 and some good racing. Live music was being played on the drums and guitars and everyone chowed down on some burgers. All in all it was a totally rad and awesome time. An SDDRL to remember. Another chapter in the book.

Groms

1st- Ethan Vinograd

2nd- Jesse French

3rd- Elijah Vinograd

Open

1st- Gregg Kent

2nd- Ben Hryn

3rd- Nathan Bryant

Masters

1st- David Rogers

2nd- Jonny Miller

3rd- John Rogers

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SDDRL # 33 “Talegadega Nights”

SDDRL # 32 “Bombing Party”

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So a small crew of us hardcore IDGR (Irvine downhill and garage riders) group met up as Spencer “Spez” Adams hill. After 3 practice runs we were ready to start running heats. Thats when things started going down. Everyone was going full blast into the righty and bailing hard into the curb. We actually only got one run in before the Irvine PD came to tell us to stop and to tell me that she didn’t think my helmet was safe? Anyways NO ONE DIED!!! The race got stopped and everyone was bored waiting for pizza and watching the footage. It’s a cruel joke to play that people died. People were calling to make sure everyone was alright…don’t worry everyone was amped  about it. “How’s my back look”, “did you see me jump the curb? I jumped over the curb.” “I think I flew the farthest” “You hit the curb so hard your wheel broke off the bearings” “You totally took him out” etc etc.

In all seriousness though everyone this situation was very dangerous. These riders could have easily been in the way of a car. In my heat a car pulled out in the middle of me and Swagmasters run. I could have skated the hill all day as a group and not done heats and it would have been safer. Re-think traffic control and know the road your skating on. Expect the unexpected. Shit happens, ride safe and ride forever. – Leecifer over and out

P.S. I think you did take him out Gregg. Your line was sketchy.

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Showing up to a scene full of hundreds of people, skateboards, helmets, pads and smiles I skated towards the road I have been too many, many times before. I have seen every type of event go down here but I think it is safe to say this was the gnarliest, craziest, most innovative contest I have seen. I turned the corner to see the Mike Vallely rainbow rail, followed by some sort of side ramp, a hump ramp (known as the Honey Hump) and a step up jump. Further down the road there were smaller ramps, spine ramps and the huge kicker from last years Disco. With all that there were cones snaking down the course and groups of skaters walking back up the hill.

Just two years ago I attended my first Disco. There was only a group of around 50 people in attendance and you didn’t need to jump off any ramps, go through any tunnels or ride over spines, step up jumps and sideways hit ramps. The event seemed more of a race than anything else and a strong group of fast racers competed in the event.

I attended the event last year and the place looked like a snowboard park with ramps and jumps, rail and even a tunnel lining the course. A whole new crowd of shredders were competing and people layed down four deep allowing riders to soar over their bodies, people even hucked themselves over their buddies stand or sitting in chairs just past the ramps. The event still a race also had somewhat of a slide jam to it.

This year was so completely insane. There were hundreds of people. Lots of shredders and even a lot of spectators. Cameras were a plenty snapping pictures and recording video capturing everything that happened. The rain brought a halt to the race portion of the event after only a few groms had the chance to take their runs so far. The rain gave  birth to a couple new contests which included who could do the longest stand up slide and who could launch the farthest off the huge ramp. The rain did not let up and with hundreds of soggy shoes, rain soaked boards and bearings and some donated skin and blood Scott Lembach from Muir Skate told everyone to meet back the next day at 9am. Although I did not make it this day I am still finding out who won and will post that when I know. Until then enjoy these pics I snapped. Got many, many more so check back. – Leecifer

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Niko Kroha gets up close and personal with the camera for a rad shot. Thanks Niko! Photo By: Lee Eisler

1st (center)- Max Capps, 2nd (left)- Sean Brinegar, 3rd (right)- Nathan Marton. Photo By: Lee Eisler

Sunny and already tired I headed over to check out the race. Finding out the semi finals were going by I quickly skated and power walked up the hill to get my spot. It seemed like a never ending flow of many familiar and many unfamiliar faces flying by. Unsure of what was going on I just started snapping some pics. It wasn’t long until what turned out to be the final heat went by (The results are shown below).

It was great seeing all the familiar faces I haven’t seen in some time. Many first time racers and many stoked families. The race only cost a dollar so it was to be taken lightly and meant to be fun which it was. I have to admit this was much cooler than I thought it was going to be! – Leecifer

1st- Max Capps

2nd- Sean Brinegar

3rd- Nathan Marton

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Edit By: Leecifer

Gloomy sky’s, a very  small group of people and a drying road is what we arrived to. The sun began drying the road and more and more people began showing up as we took practice runs.

The day rolled on and and more and more people showed up. “Are you gonna take a spill on the hill today Spencer?” I asked. “No Lee,” he replied.”

Sergio Yuppie, Johnny Miller and several of the Gravity Skateboards dude showed up either for the race or the synchronized slide jam.

As the light rainfall soaked the road again everyone decided to wait for the road to dry again. It took about 45 mins and then the race was on. Starting from the top heats were run and riders were weeded out the fast from the slow.

Yudy Vinograd the skateboard towmaster provided rides up the hill in his Toyota Tundra. Good choice in rims by the way Yudy!

Edit and filmed by: Leecifer Eisler

It was a cloudy cold morning and we all met up at the Poway Skatepark. I showed up expecting to skate the skatepark. I was not the only one but we found the skatepark to be closed due to wet conditions from the rain the day before. We shredded around the parking lot until Darrin Neiner showed up and led the caravan of cars of skaters to the secret location.

We all showed up ready to shred and as soon as everyone was parked skaters were hiking the hill. It wasn’t long until signups were over and the race was underway. Heats were being run in an efficient and timely matter and there were tons of racers. The road was secluded from where we could be seen and there were no problems with the race getting shut down.

The speeds of the road were around 30 mph, maybe 35 and it ended in riders either foot braking or shut down sliding into the cold de sac at the end of the road a ways past the finish line.

There wern’t many turns in the road and it was definitely a tuck run. There were many close heats and lots of drafting. The open class final heat was one of the most exciting heats I have seen. Max Capps and Ben Hryn came towards the finish line with a good lead on the rest of the finals heat. Hryn tried luge bumping Capps several times. You could hear the riders colliding on their way to the finish line, each one struggling to beat the other one down the hill. On the last hit Hryn hit Capps to the side forcing him to narrowly miss some sandbags on the side of the road.

Open Class

1st- Max Capps

2nd- Ben Hryn

3rd- Tim Del Rosario

4th- Aj Haiby

Groms (14 & under)

1st- Roger Jones

2nd- Ethan Vinograd

3rd- Elijah Vinograd

Huge thanks to all the sponsors who help support SDDRL. Gravity Skateboards, Rayne skateboards, globe shoes, Skater socks, Gunmetal Trucks, Holesome Longboards, pig skate, khiro bushings, edge boardshop and so cal skateshop.

Edit By: Lee Eisler

Filmed by: Lee Eisler & Tyler Hampson

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we got this SDDRL vibe going as we jam to Laguna Niguel, pick up Max and Tyler and start heading south. Such a familiar scene. The race was to be held in Vista, CA in a secret location. We all met up and caravaned to the race hill.

The actual race hill was described as gnarly, fast, fun, sketchy, everyone had a different opinion. The first part of the hill was mellow but then it dropped down a steep chute accelerating riders to speed in the upper 40′s mph. Riders then crossed the finish line and shot over a bump into the braking area.

It wouldn’t be an SDDRL day if all we did was race and then go home. Post race and pre-post race activities Tye worked the B-B-Q and everyone stuffed their faces.

Everyone gathered around Tye Donnelly as he described the Synchronized Slide Jam Contest. Teams of two were formed and everyone got ten minutes to practice their routine.

Team names such as “Butt-buddies,” “Thug Sauce,” and “Team Swag” were formed. We saw innovation and a lot of talent. Wyatt Gibbs and Chance Vinograd were killing it. The synchronized slide jam ended up being a hit, this is an event to look for in the future.

Anyways we all had tons of fun. Trophies and shwag from the sponsors was passed out and then we all went home tired and content. – Leecifer

Shout out to the sponsors! Thanks for all the support. Skater Socks, Rayne skateboards, Gravity Skateboards, Gunmetal Trucks, Khiro Bushings, Globe Shoes, Pig Wheels, Holesome Skateboards, Edge Boardshop, So Cal Skateshop.

We are all winners but the winners of the race are as follows.

Open Division

1st- Max Capps

2nd- Aaron Enns

Grom Division

1st- Roger Jones

2nd- Chance Vinograd

3rd- Elijah Vinograd

Masters Division

1st- Tye Donnelly

2nd- Darrin Neiner

Synchronized Slide Jam

1st- “Dream Team,” Wyatt Gibbs and Chance Vinograd

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Photo’s By: Lee Eisler

The SDCG (San Diego Chain Gang) comes up to go garaging and throw a free race meant primarily for fun every once in awhile. This one happened November of 2011 in Irvine as usual.

Rod Gon seems to be somewhat of the leader of the chain gang and he organizes the event. There were tons of new faces though and many first time racers. Carly Richardson from Landyachtz even came all the way down from Canada just for this race. Victor from sector 9 showed up as always for the SDCG events. The level of stokage was pretty high and grew as the night wore on. The garages were fun and there tons of people crashing onto each other.There were lots of bloody knees and elbows everywhere.

We continued on to the second location and raced, skated, had funand finally ran the award ceremony. At the end of the night the previous king (Rod Gon) handed over the crown to Drew Edwards making him the new king of the garage…until next time. – Leecifer

Max Capps loves being “on time.” This is him sitting in the car an hour before anyone else showed up.               Photo By: Leecifer.

November 13, 2011. The crew met up for another SDDRL (San Diego downhill racing league) Outlaw race. The race was scheduled to start at 12 with about 30 minutes of practice but these things are never on time. Over an hour later after everyone showed up the we caravaned to the hill and started racing right away.

 Ben Hryn swoops his arm over the camera and photog.                                Photo By: Leecifer

 Max Capps (gold helmet), Ryan Ricker (white helmet) and Key Dougherty (black helmet) halfway down the hil in a tight pack. Photo by: Leecifer

The hill was a steep drop which flattened out for about 100 ft then dropped again to the finish line. The radar guns had the open riders topped out at 48 m.p.h and the groms topped out at 43 m.p.h according to a radar gun at the bottom of the hill.

Tim Del Rosario (skins) and Ben Hryn (right) neck and neck coming into the second drop trailed by Rick Kludy.                                 Photo by: Leecifer

 Tim Del Rosario (left), Max Capps (center) and Ben Hryn (right) come in neck and neck and neck towards the second part of the race course in the final heat.                               Photo by: Leecifer

Heats were run one after the other and the actual race part didn’t take too much time. The racing was close with tight packs and some close finishes. We ran the final heat 10 minutes before San Diego’s finest showed up to let us know we were not welcome back ever.

Walk faster Max. He’s coming for you. Photo by: Leecifer.

We then moved to another hill to BBQ and do the podium. Our new police officer friends showed up again to our new location kicking us out, this time off of a public street. So we were able to complete the race minutes before the cops came.

Spencer Adams (left) throws the football around while waiting for the burgers to cook. Ben Hryn (right) waits for another chance to catch the football.                      Photo by: Leecifer

Tye Donnelly cooking up burgers. Darin Neiner picking which trophy he wants and some SDDRLer’s swooping on food. This is what SDDRL is all about.                             Photo by: Leecifer

What’s in the football Key? Shady…..                   Photo by: Leecifer.

After our first BBQ was shut down we moved it to the bottom of a long driveway belonging to friends of SDDRL. The driveway known as Hamburger Hill featured several hairpin turns, leading up to a few enormous houses at the top. This hill was rad and had a super gnarly off camber left hairpin turn near the bottom.

Max Capps navigates the gnarliest corner ever with steeze.                               Photo by: Leecifer.

Carter Monacell gets extra steezy at Hamburger Hill with this roastbeef slide.                                  Photo by: Leecifer.

 Chance Vinograd makes a double grab slide look easy.                                        Photo by: Leecifer.

Carter Monacell throws a toeside predrift overlooking the valley.

After all was said and done we held the award ceremony and handed out some shwag from the sponsors. – Leecifer

Groms

1st- Chance Vinograd

2nd- Elijah Vinograd

3rd- Ethan Vinograd

4th- Carter Monacell

Photo By: Leecifer. Grom podium. 1st (center)- Chance Vinograd. 2nd (left)- Elijah Vinograd. 3rd (right)- Ethan Vinograd. 4th (bottom)- Carter Monacell

 Masters Division

1st- Justin Clark

2nd- Darin Neiner

3rd- Tye Donnelly

Photo by: Leecifer. Masters podium shot. 1st (center)- Justin Clark. 2nd (left)- Darin Neiner. 3rd (right)- Tye Donnelly

Open Division

1st- Tim Del Rosario

2nd- Max Capps

3rd- Ben Hryn

Photo by: Leecifer. Open division podium shot. 1st (center)- Tim Del Rosario. 2nd- (left)- Max Capps. 3rd (right)- Ben Hryn

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