As we say goodbye to 2020 I’m sure like me you will all be looking forward to 2021 and hopefully a return to something bordering on normality, if we can remember what that is?
The year got off to a bad start when we said a sad farewell to our friend, fellow racer and prime supporter Michael. At least we were able to give him a suitably fitting send off before the government-imposed lockdown began, for most of us that was the last time we saw one another.
With Covid-19 being rife here, (and everywhere else), all UK races were cancelled. The ISSA also announced that all Main and Prime status events planned for May, June and July were cancelled. This meant that the World Championships due to be held in Båstad, Sweden were to be postponed until 2021. At the time we were clinging on to the possibility that things may have improved by October meaning that we could still hold our Hogtoberfest race, but it was not to be.
There were a few socially-distanced meet ups in Victoria Park when Boris relaxed restrictions earlier in the summer and a few races took place in the States and in the Czech Republic but that was about it for the slalom year.
In June the ISSA decided that as it was impossible to adhere to the scheduled international slalom calendar, they would hold several 25-cone World Series Cyber Slalom events. Those taking part would need to register their participation on-line with the ISSA and set the same 25-cone straight course on the flat. Everyone would compete virtually on the same day, time their runs and submit the results to Corky the same weekend. The Cyber Slalom Course Specifications were as follows:
- 15ft from start line to centre of first cone. (Push start)
- Cone spacing – 6ft from centre to centre
- 15ft from finish line to centre of last cone.
- 174ft Total from start line to finish line. (174 feet=5304cm)
- Riders must run the course in both directions, two best times (raw time + cones) for each direction must be submitted.
The First event kicked-off during the “Go Skateboarding Day” weekend, 20/21 June with two further events on 22/23 August and 17/18 October. There is another due to take place on 23 January, so if you are interested in taking part please go to the ISSA website for further details and to see the results of the previous events. http://www.slalomskateboarder.com/
UK No. 1 Louis Selby has been taking part in these events and has consistently remained in the top 10 in the Pro category over the past three events. Well done Louis.
Obviously, we remain optimistic as ever that we will be able to hold races again this year and Sam has provisionally booked some dates at Hog Hill as follows:
- The Crackling – 15/16 May
- The Razorback Games – 17/18 July
- Hogtoberfest – 16/17 October
If the May race takes place then this will be dedicated to the memory of Michael Stride and at the July meeting we hope to hold the “old school” tight slalom (4½ -5ft centres) race for the Martin Sweeney Memorial Trophy which was cancelled in 2019 due to the bad weather.
Finally, a big thank you to Nigel Allgood for sorting out the problems with the website.
I would like to finish off by wishing you all a much brighter, happier and healthy new year and look forward to seeing you all again very soon. Take care and stay safe.