WLAC Nov. 23, 2003
Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2003 10:19 pm
I started off Sunday by getting Noah and I lost and on the way to Pasedena. That didn't stop the "Scud" from kicking ass on the hill though!
The Sunday WLAC race tight was exceptionally tight and tech. Rick Howell set it and it was test ridden with a small change and marked. I would not have made the course even a few months ago. To me, it was harder than the Worlds Tight course on Sunday. It started with a good push in, about 8-9 cones pretty even and slightly offset and as the rider began descending, a fast 8 foot gap to kink and then a twitch to a Gilmorian curve. Back into a straight and it became increasingly tighter down to six and a half footers. Even then a rider had to aim for the finish line six foot away. Neither a goofy or regular foot had an advantage, and I won't touch the mongo problem. Everyone who ran clean was cheered by all, Lynn Kramer put in a beautiful clean run. When a seriously fast run was done, even 2 cones down was cheered! Fluitt looked hot. But so did Noah, Barker, Floyd Reid, Richy and David Carrasco, Brent and the rest of the usual suspects. I felt pretty bad for the newer riders as this course was very hard. There were no cone penalty DQ’s, but many riders could and did blow out of the course. I kept going softer with Avalons and wound up on 78a Cambria’s which were too slow to be competitive, but allowed me to be relatively clean. I lent Jack Smith a set of rare red Cambrias and he did well with those on the rear. Of course the fast guys were on harder wheels, mostly Avalons. Gary Fluitt won the T/S with an awesome run.
The G/S was big and sketchy and a lot of fun. This hill claims it’s share of riders and I have fallen here before myself. This time I was a little more conservative, I didn’t slam, but I wasn’t all that fast. Oh well, as Brent said, if you survive this hill you are a winner! MSK, Tim K, and Mark (Coady I think) took some slams. Floyd Reid had a really spectacular run-out, as he was making the last gate before the timing tape, he went off the nose at serious speed, with giant steps he made it! I saw it and still don’t know how he did it. This hill is ruled by softer wheels, Avalons, Avilas, Gumballs and Flashbacks seem to rule.
Rose Bernfeld was practicing with Isabelle, hopefully Rose will be competing soon. Lynn K was charging as well.
Noah Heinle had the fastest time, but got bested by cone penalties (a repeat of JPL) by Richy. Thanks to the Howells for running the show, Tammy Carrasco for timing. Darn near the whole Carrasco clan showed up, it was a pleasure to meet their Mom.
Atilla cut his hand badly, but still showed up in support and helped out at the top of the hill. Bill Wahl broke a finger skating a bowl the day before, he was there but not racing.
Yeah, Scott Peer, that dude on roller blades had the fastest time of the day. Everyone gets along on the hill! There is this old guy named Frank who is about sixty on blades dropping the same course and he is a great guy. There were even some downhill guys that gave it a shot on their down hill decks, they were having a hard time turning, but there might be a little crossover. It was fun for everybody.
During a discussion the night before, we realized that WLAC is the longest running organized race series in the U.S with a history back to 1999! It has a great vibe and everyone gets along. You will learn a lot so show up next year, it is worth it!
The Sunday WLAC race tight was exceptionally tight and tech. Rick Howell set it and it was test ridden with a small change and marked. I would not have made the course even a few months ago. To me, it was harder than the Worlds Tight course on Sunday. It started with a good push in, about 8-9 cones pretty even and slightly offset and as the rider began descending, a fast 8 foot gap to kink and then a twitch to a Gilmorian curve. Back into a straight and it became increasingly tighter down to six and a half footers. Even then a rider had to aim for the finish line six foot away. Neither a goofy or regular foot had an advantage, and I won't touch the mongo problem. Everyone who ran clean was cheered by all, Lynn Kramer put in a beautiful clean run. When a seriously fast run was done, even 2 cones down was cheered! Fluitt looked hot. But so did Noah, Barker, Floyd Reid, Richy and David Carrasco, Brent and the rest of the usual suspects. I felt pretty bad for the newer riders as this course was very hard. There were no cone penalty DQ’s, but many riders could and did blow out of the course. I kept going softer with Avalons and wound up on 78a Cambria’s which were too slow to be competitive, but allowed me to be relatively clean. I lent Jack Smith a set of rare red Cambrias and he did well with those on the rear. Of course the fast guys were on harder wheels, mostly Avalons. Gary Fluitt won the T/S with an awesome run.
The G/S was big and sketchy and a lot of fun. This hill claims it’s share of riders and I have fallen here before myself. This time I was a little more conservative, I didn’t slam, but I wasn’t all that fast. Oh well, as Brent said, if you survive this hill you are a winner! MSK, Tim K, and Mark (Coady I think) took some slams. Floyd Reid had a really spectacular run-out, as he was making the last gate before the timing tape, he went off the nose at serious speed, with giant steps he made it! I saw it and still don’t know how he did it. This hill is ruled by softer wheels, Avalons, Avilas, Gumballs and Flashbacks seem to rule.
Rose Bernfeld was practicing with Isabelle, hopefully Rose will be competing soon. Lynn K was charging as well.
Noah Heinle had the fastest time, but got bested by cone penalties (a repeat of JPL) by Richy. Thanks to the Howells for running the show, Tammy Carrasco for timing. Darn near the whole Carrasco clan showed up, it was a pleasure to meet their Mom.
Atilla cut his hand badly, but still showed up in support and helped out at the top of the hill. Bill Wahl broke a finger skating a bowl the day before, he was there but not racing.
Yeah, Scott Peer, that dude on roller blades had the fastest time of the day. Everyone gets along on the hill! There is this old guy named Frank who is about sixty on blades dropping the same course and he is a great guy. There were even some downhill guys that gave it a shot on their down hill decks, they were having a hard time turning, but there might be a little crossover. It was fun for everybody.
During a discussion the night before, we realized that WLAC is the longest running organized race series in the U.S with a history back to 1999! It has a great vibe and everyone gets along. You will learn a lot so show up next year, it is worth it!
