By Paul Price.
I was stoked to be able to represent Team GB in Argentina in October 2022 at the World Skate Games.
This was an excellent showcase for skateboard slalom racing before possible inclusion in the 2028 LA Olympics.
Prequalification was from the 2019 World Ranking, which allowed the top 20 to compete. Then three from each nation could also race.
I was at 11th so was offered the chance to race for team GB.
In the US they held 3 major slalom events in 2022 and the top overall racer in each race got a place on the US team. I raced at all three US events.
I was also back in London for six weeks in the summer and was able to train at Hyde Park with the GB slalom crew.
In Argentina I raced in all four events, my best result was 10th in Tight slalom and an overall 11th place. Hopefully more British slalomers will compete for Team GB at the 2024 WSG in Italy.
Race report from my Facebook:
Day 1 of 4 slalom racing at the World Skate Games in Argentina 2022.
Racing at Villicum motorsport circuit in San Juan! They had super bikes here last week.
In racing fractions of a second separate the winners and losers.
Our slalom skateboard equipment is set up like a Formula 1 race car. Suspension, board design, wheel size, bearings and wheel durometer are critical. My best-selling signature Pavel Roadster slalom skateboard design (made of composites and carbon fibre in Germany by Donald Cambell) was inspired by classic roadster sports cars. But the engine is not a polluting V8 or straight six running on dinosaur juice; it’s literally the athletes heart! I used to race a 1970 Datsun 240z on race tracks in historic car racing. Now I race skateboards.
This is the future of race track racing, electric motor sport and human powered skateboards.
Today was Hybrid Slalom, cones set staggered. Cone penalty is 0.1 seconds added for each cone hit. Two qualifying runs, one on each side with the two times combined for fairness. The top 8 times raced in the final heats. A variable head wind was a factor in racing times.
I raced top racer Junji Uno from Team Japan. Racers in positions 9-16 got another run and with focus my time improved 5 places to 11th place.
In retrospect I should also have adjusted my trucks and increased wheelbase for more overall speed.
So stoked to finish 11th in Hybrid Slalom for Great Britain at the World Skate Games in Argentina!
Here are some clips:
Hybrid orange course;
https://youtube.com/…/UgkxhUI-hCrPUFqrz-U9bVxi9w02_drdUitW
Hybrid white course;
https://youtube.com/…/UgkxdOpA559wn5QnUw2nSoyS6qbhG4OJ2gZX
Slow motion Hybrid course;
https://youtube.com/…/Ugkx-dfyMRJUzoMY1dJxZjWcJYltrVHNNkKv
Day 2 of 4
Today was Tight slalom, 68 cones ranging from about 6 to 7 feet apart. Cone penalty is 0.1 seconds added for each cone hit. The top 8 times raced in the final heats.
Up against Jakob Jirman, the top Czech Republic racer who finished in 4th place today. His speed and power out of the start gate is amazing.
I didn’t hit a cone all day, in practice and racing. In retrospect I should have increased my wheelbase for more overall speed.
Stoked to finish 10th in Tight Slalom for Great Britain at the World Skate Games!
Here are some clips
Tight run 1
https://youtube.com/…/UgkxHE4YucxUq9p447wnUyBM0JHUYsFiMLRO
Tight run 2
https://youtube.com/…/UgkxM0AV6JL8cNpgphVa2Iio697trIXMMwZE
Slow motion tight
https://youtube.com/…/Ugkx8mxhVBCDijfwFf-tkHCWKfyHl_K9G_ON
Day 3 of 4
Today’s racing was Special Slalom, with staggered cones ranging from about 6 to 7 feet apart. Cone penalty was 0.1 seconds added for each cone hit. The top 8 times raced in the final heats.
The previous days were sunny and hot at 37c. Overnight the temperatures dropped and a very strong wind hit the town. There was talk of cancelling the race and going to the spare day. Luckily the wind was a little less at the track and we got to race!
Up against the 25 year old Latvian Arturs Liskovs (LAT) racer. His reactions and determination out of the start gate was amazing.
In retrospect I should have increased my wheelbase for more overall speed and a faster start off the ramp would improve my qualifying times as the clock starts after the random 4th beep.
Stoked to finish 12th in Special Slalom for Great Britain at the World Skate Games!
Day 4 of 4
Today was Giant Slalom, 40kms out of town on a mountain road down from a dam. With high speeds, cross-winds and variable G-Forces it would be a real test after my knee surgery.
It was hot and a variable wind effected race times. At one point the wind blew tents into the race track while we were practicing.
I was happy with my runs, and improved my time by two seconds on my last run, but in retrospect I should have tucked more for better aerodynamics and more overall speed.
After this last of four races I am stoked to have finished 11th overall for Great Britain at the World Skate Games!