2007 - The young guns are taking over!
[Nov 7, 2007] By Donald Campbell
With the resurgence of professional slalom racing this year in particular is showing an increasing number of racers and a change of guard which is slowly but steadily happening. With Ramon Königshausen, Switzerland, spearheading the pack there is a nice section of up and coming young racers waiting in the wings to inhabit future podiums. Dominik Kowalski from Germany showed the strongest rookie pro season so far, the COSS crew is spawning speedfreaks like crazy. This season we had Martin Reaves and Zak Maytum and the very present McLaren clan. England has Ella Roggero who just had an impressive standing at the World Championships in Statesville, NC, USA and there's way more than just mentioned. So in general the future looks bright for this sport. New venues such as Brasil are coming up on the horizon. New faces and new names from all across the world reflect the growth of this sport. Hills got steeper this year and racing got more intense than it has ever been. The future looks bright. Let's see what 2008 brings with new race locations in Europe such as Cadwell, UK which seems to attract even US interest and Amsterdam, Netherlands, waiting to become a big contest. Also Gothenburg, Sweden, as the next possible Worlds candidate looks very promising.

Check list for Race organizers
[Sept 24, 2007] By Wesley Tucker / Marion Karr
The following is a chronological checklist for any race promoter to follow ensuring a great even. Whether it's a grass roots get together or the 2007 World Slalom Skateboarding Championships, following these steps means nothing will be left to chance. Marion Karr of Statesville, North Carolina is one of the Downhillbillies founding members and has jumped right into the slalom race promoter's job since he started slaloming again in the summer of 2005. After just one session of running cones he had made the decision to stage a race in his hometown. Five months later the first Downhillbillies' Dixie Cup was the result. Setting the standard for race organization, promotion and racer amenities, the Third Annual Dixie Cup will be run November 2, 2007. Additionally, after their success with two Dixie Cups, the Downhillbillies and the town of Statesville are hosting this year's 2007 World's Championship Of Slalom Skateboard Racing September 27 through the 30th. Over 100 skaters from 9 countries are expected to participate. It's safe to say Marion brings the necessary credentials to "lay down the guidelines" for putting on a great slalom skateboard racing event.
(Reprinted with permission from CONCRETE WAVE MAGAZINE. Thanks go out to Michael Brooke, Publisher

Slalomskateboarder.com Reaches 1000 Slalomers Worldwide
[June 12, 2007] By Wesley Tucker
After five years of steady growth, the International Slalom Skateboarding Association's official website, Slalomskateboarder.com, reached its 1000th registered user. Springing from a local grassroots resurgence in 1999 and 2000, slalom skateboarding is quickly becoming a major influence on the competitive skateboarding scene.

With registered users from over 17 countries, Slalomskateboarder.com is truly an international medium for the slalom skateboarding enthusiast. Beginning in August 2002 as the brainchild of ISSA founder Jani Soderhall and longtime racing enthusiast Adam Trahan, Slalomskateboarder.com quickly became a meetingplace for skaters in many regions and many interests. The Forums section of the website has over 45,000 posts on everything from equipment to tips on riding. Local groups with a strong racing presence like New England, France and England all have places to post messages to neighboring friends and distant comrades. The newest forum on Slalomskateboarder.com is for the Czech Republic, reflecting a growing interest in racing in Eastern Europe. Also, individual forums for every major (and some minor) manufacturer of slalom equipment has grown to almost 40 different product lines for the slalom skateboard racing enthusiast.

Slalomskateboarder.com is also the clearinghouse for information as slalom racing aficionados work together to make the ISSA a better and more helpful resource for the racing community. Recently-elected ISSA President Claude Regnier of Canada and the Board of Directors are continuing efforts to normalize and formalize racing rules and regulations, assist organizers with getting low cost insurance and helping with the sometimes overwhelming minutae of putting on a race. ISSA also maintains a Slalom World Ranking. The ranking list pro, amateur and youth skaters for both men and woman. Currently over 1500 slalomers have earned ranking points at various skate races over the past several years.With over 100 paying members, the ISSA continues to grow and influence the direction for international slalom skateboard racing.

In Memorium - Sean Dawkins
[June 12, 2007] By Wesley Tucker
The ISSA membership, Slalomskateboarder.com administrators and all the registered users would like to recognize one name on the roles we will always remember. Early in 2007 slalom skateboarding lost one of its own when Sean Dawkins, 42, of Louisville, Kentucky passed away. The heartfelt condolences from the slalom racing community went out to Sean's family and friends and everyone associated with Slalomskateboarder.com will never forget the energy, humor and intensity Sean brought to our ranks.

Jean-Sebastien Dennebouy, France, at Paris Slalom World Cup, May 2007.


David Rudnianski, France, at the Désaxé European Skateboard Slalom Championships 2007 - Photo: JanDaniel.

Announcement: World Championships 2007
[May 20, 2007] By Downhillbillies
The 2007 World Championships Of Slalom Skateboarding comes to Statesville, North Carolina September 27-30. Several events will comprise the four-day Championships culminating in both professional and amateur world champions.

Slalom racing is one of the oldest forms of skateboarding. Ever since kids started nailing their roller skate wheels on a 2x4, they were setting up paper cups and tin cans as a course to ride. Once two skaters started to slalom, racing was the natural result. Slalom skateboard racing involves a course using plastic 9” cones in a pattern of either a straight line or zig zagged “offset turns.” As skateboard slalom racing usually requires asphalt or concrete, a race normally involves community support to secure a street or parking lot for holding a race.

A local Statesville group of skateboarding enthusiasts, the Downhillbillies, are taking the point on organzing and promoting the World Championships in September, 2007. Past years has seen the World Championships held in California, Austria, France and Sweden. Events will include Giant Slalom on a big, fast, hill; head-to-head dual slalom and other racing events to test the best in the world.

Skaters from as far away as Russia, Australia, Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland, Great Britain, Sweden and Canada are expected to race. Racing hot spots in the United States include California, Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Utah, Texas, Mississippi, Georgia, Florida, The Carolinas, Virginia, the Midwest and New England. Over 120 skaters are expected to register. In addition to the fastest Men's skaters in the world appearing, there will also be World Champions crowned for Women, Girls and Boys.

Statesville's Mayor, City Council, the Iredell County Council, local and regional businesses and people from all walks of life are gearing up to show some real southern hospitality to the world's fastest skateboarders. All events are free and open to the public. Skateboarders, spectators and anyone who likes fast, gnarly downhill racing should plan to attend this year's World Championships Of Slalom Skateboarding.

For more information, go to

SlalomSkateboarder World Championships forum

Amateur video of Statesville location (Ron Olsen)

Silverfish Contest Calendar