2004 Rookies of the Year Mens,Women,Teens and Kids

[Hans Koraeus]

Everyone who has a serie, cup, leauge, website, association can announce a rookie of the year in its name. Thinking of it like this suddenly makes it a lot easier. Here is the first one out, "The World Ranking Rookie of the year".

Yeah, that was simple. I don't like the voting based system beacuse it just creates a lot of... you know what I mean. A quick look at the internet gave me an even stronger opinion on that. What I like with my idea above is that not only can you have a rookie of the year but a whole rookie of the year ranking list. So some could say "I was 3:rd junior Rookie of the year." Cool, eh!

[Niall Horton-Stephens]

I think rookie of the year should be limited to those 42 years and over. All those young guys just bounce when they fall wheras us old'uns are laid up for months... that's real dedication for ya.

xx

[Ricky Byrd]

I like the sound of a Rookie Of The Year award, giving the newer racers something to shoot for in their first season. I do however think it's a difficult thing to put a finger on. My list of deserving racers would be long and full of explainations as to why any one of them is on my list. Eddy, you yourself would be an excellent choice with your improved skills and throwing GRS races. I also agree with JG on Ben Chapman. Ben really came a long way this year in his racing. What about Joe & Kyle, where do they stand? We all know how much they improved over the past year. Maybe this is two classes, Open Mens & Junior Mens. If that's the case and there's is a Junior Women's class, Katii? Maybe... was she racing last year? I like the sound of that little unknown, Sarah Byrd, she's tough, took a bad spill at the Worlds but was ready to fight the 5 footers the next day and did really well in the Cyber and she is truely a rookie.

Like Jack said, we need the rules in place before we start playing the game, IMHO, if we don't, be prepared to argue about it.

Odd not to have names like Josh and Dylan in the conversation. Old veterans of the sports new era.

[Eddy Martinez]

I agree with Johns points having a Rookie of The Year gives people more incentive to really go for it in their first year. Whether you are a rider who is advancing from the B class to the A class, or C class to the B class. I myself am fired up for the 2005 season. Maybe it is human nature to want to improve to get better at the sport that we practice. I witnessed some incredible skating this year, Aki Von Glasow coming to our country and making his prescense know and felt. Seeing skaters e g 66, JBH, Wes E and Goad skate like a man possessed at the Worlds. I saw a little girl by the name of Sara Byrd come down to Texas and bomb our hill with no fear in her eyes, just determination, at the Worlds she had smile from ear to ear. Arron Morris - I could watch this kid skate all day. Ben Chapman and the Mc Laren boys amazing. Yes, having a Rookie of The Year is a good thing. It can inspire a 44 yr old man to train harder. I may not be the fastest, but dudes I love this sport of ours. Enough time to run some cones. Eddy Texas Outlaws.

[John Gilmour]

Since I spent February- June stuck in bed unable to walk with my leg in a constant motion machine I didn't go to ANY European contests. I'm merely commenting on the racers I personally saw. The Farm in August was the first race I was able to go to without Crutches, but I still had my arm in a sling. Obviously I missed most of the season- but I am just commenting on the skating I did see.

I only said a racer that truly goes for it (both in Travel and continously upping the ante in contest difficulty) gets more points IMHO as rookie of the year. A racer that stays put in one location with a homefield advantage doesn't get as much recognition as one who travels to meet his opponents.

It is harder to be recognized for your talents if you don't make an effort to make yourself known.

Even if a local skater has slightly better results, I still have to give credit to the skater who travels and races under different conditions and time zones against skaters who have a homefield advantage.

Slalom. It isn't all the same- pavement varies more than you would think. Racing at the Trocadero is very different than racing the Slalom at MB. Even though the pitch of the Trocadero is much less- the acceleration at the Trocadero is a lot faster.

I am aware of Ramon's run against Luca- sounds like a fast guy. What were his race results and where did he stand amongst a competitive field?

I'm sure Ramon is a great skater and I hope to see him skate someday.

Those were just opinions and I can only base my opinions on skaters I have personally seen ride. I'm looking at this discussion thread as a consensus. I think having a rookie of the year gives people more incentive to really go for it in their first year.

[Wesley Tucker]

Ok. My 2¢: determining a "rookie" in our sport at the amateur level is not feasible. If you want to decide the "rookie of the year" for the first year some skater gets money, that's fine. But Slalom Skateboarding is just too new and unorganized to worry about who's the best out of who started racing in the previous 12 months.

Pro Sports have "rookie of the year" awards usually given to someone between 20 and 24 years old. Occassionally an 18-year old high school phenom will win (Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett come to mind.) What's not made obvious is that more than likely the award goes to someone who's been at it since they were nine years old. (Yes, there are exceptions: Michael Jordan didn't start playing basketball til he was 16.) But even so, these so-called "rookies" have years of competitive experience behind them through grade school, high school, college and minor league play. Far from what we call a rookie: someone who saw a slalom board in April and is doing really well in May.

Again, it's easy (well, almost easy) to decide a professional slalom skateboarding "Rookie Of The Year." If nothing else, whoever wins the most money in their first year at the pro level wins the award. Trying, though, to get an amateur such status is both an exercise in futility and will further fan the flames of sectional antagonism. (We vote on "Rookie Of The Year?" Ok, all the Cali skaters vote for a Cali rookie, all the East Coasters vote theirs and the Europeans split their votes between some rookies from Switzerland, England, France and Sweden. Whadda 'ya know? The Cali kid won.)

Since this is a discussion about ideas, here's my idea: leave it alone. It might be fun to haggle over what upstart had the most impact, but I see it as something divisive that'll just leave a bad taste with a lot of people. Let's forge ahead with organizing more races, more participation and maybe more constructive organization. When that's accomplished we can then look forward to a more objective and certainly less subjective method of determining "who's hot."

[Christopher Bara]

Jack, i can agree with your point....but like you say, what defines a "rookie" must be adequately described...Jason Mitchell obviously ran amok in the contests this year, but he also raced last year on a more localized level...is he still a rookie?....I guess my point is that a true "rookie of the year" would be hard to find because their exposure would be limited...John, lets be honest, a true rookie isnt too likely to travel the continent in his first year...Mitchell was a break from the norm from what i can tell....
So speaking for the US skaters (since i've no idea who the Euro's are, but they sound pretty determined that their man is Ramon )....

The DC guys may have a new skater who's doing great in his first year, not beating the likes of Vlad and Ohm, but giving them a run for the money.....
The West Coasters could potentially have 2 or 3 rookies that only enter local contests in their first year, do great, but never cross paths with such a large state and so many races
Colorado, Georgia, Florida....all the same......
So how could you compare rookies from across the nation who never meet and who dont all travel extensively, at considerable expense, in their first year?
I guess that was what i'm trying to say...The "rookie of the year" is most likely to be a lesser known name that not many people have seen race in the first year...than it is to be a common name that's seen everywhere.
True rookies rarely have the backing, popularity or experience behind them to receive attention at a national level....
so how do people decide?

I would say that an organizer who is well known, such as Jack or Fluitt or somebody, puts together a short list of true "rookies" (some of which may be found lurking in the B group and most likely at GrassRoots events for sure)...and put it to a vote on this or the other website...let the popular vote decide.

right or wrong....it's just my opinion

[HUYNH BACH SAC Frédéric]

I agree with Donald... Ramon was very, very impressive ( and so young )
A very big potential for the years to come....

[Donald Campbell]

john,with all due respect:
i don't think that you are qualified enough to comment on the qualities of any european rookie during this year's season.
did you ever see any of the other rookies you are putting aside in favour of your top-rookie?
i doubt that.

from the rankings ramon rules the scene and he's 16?

gimme a break here,what else do you think necessary to vote for him being the top-rookie of this year?

[John Gilmour]

I think to be considered rookie of the year a rookie has to embrace the sport and throw himself head first into a bunch of competitions in various places and at various levels of competition. He should quickly step up in terms of intensity of competitions and show rapid improvement.

By Mid season the rookie should also be traveling to contests- making himself known. Intercontinental travel does not have to be a part of it- but should a rookie choose to do that they should get special consideration.

My categories
39+ (senior men)
30-38 (mens)
30 - 18 (young mens)
18 and under

and of course the same categories for Europe


Rookie of the Year Mens- Jason Mitchell
Not only has Jason traveled to the East Coast (Won The Farm), West coast (Won Super G worlds), skated well in Colorado, and skated in the European championships- he has undeniably done well in nearly all events and done so with a style he has created by himself without emulating anyone else.

My hat's off to Jason. I only wish my first season racing in Europe was as good.

Europe (Young Mens) Aki - someone needs to tell me which races he has attended. I think he is also a very well traveled skater who places well consistently and has excellent dynamic style. Has Aki attended as many or more races than Jason? I also would like to aknowledge his win in downhill at Breckenridge, though I see the times might be a off with the timer, it is undisputed that he destroyed the competition by a wide margin.

18 and under USA- Ben Chapman, who's first race attended was Luna in Mississippi, as well as The July 4ths kids race, The Farm, Breckenridge, and the World Championships- he shows good racing strategy and technique derived from Snowboarding as well as consistent dedication to practice- in regards to good will/spirit of slalomracing, he gave Jim Korten his some bearings he won so Jim could race at the World Championships. Remarkable for a junior.

[Donald Campbell]

great input from jack!!!

[Jack Smith]

Chris and Corky,

I respectfuly disagree with you.

It is possible to name a "Rookie of the Year". Our sport needs to establish the criteria that defines a Rookie. The criteria could be endlessly debated on this site and others. This is something the ISSA could address, the "Rookie" criteria could be established before next season. At the end of the season, the rookie(s) of the year (different classes/genders) are announced. After the awards are presented the ISSA could review and tweak the criteria if needs be.

As for the World Champion, as above, criteria must be established before the season. There of course should be multiple World Champions, based on: class, age, gender.

We need to make some decisions during this off-season, publish them and live by them next season. We can always adjust the criteria after next season.

[Hans Koraeus]

I agree with all you say Christopher. The only reason to have a rookie of the year is beacuse it's a good thing for media attention. Something to write about. But of course always debatable behind the scenes. Just as the world champions. But maybe it's a good thing for media and hype to have multiple rookies. As Donald said: "European Rookie of the year". You could also have an American, German and so on. Maybe one could also have one for certain world rank regions like USA West and USA East. The possibilities are endless. But it would be good if the same rookie definitions were used everywhere.

[Christopher Bara]

...and that's probably the best way to do it too Hans
Names that are entering national events, new to the pro scene and placing well.....to pick a rookie of the year in a sport that anybody can enter, to one or a dozen contests, worldwide, in different types of events...would be impossible....that list you put out, of riders who are "rookies" in the professional ranks, would be better off......and even then it's touchy, since some of those riders rode the "open" or "amatuer" ranks for years, while a couple are completely new to the scene.

I think a true Rookie Of The Year is impossible to determine
Just as is a true World Champion
They'll be eternally debatable and based on personal opinions from region to region...

[Donald Campbell]

As I can see from your detailed list, it is Ramon who scores for rookie of the year in europe.
What a way to start a career.

[Hans Koraeus]

It's true that it's very difficult to select a single world rookie.

I have a theory why there are so many European "rookies" in my list above (first year in ranking). It just shows that many Europeans entered high status competitions on their first year. In a normal scenario this would not be normal. Rookies ought to be scared to enter high status competitions. In the future maybe "true" rookies wouldn't even be allowed to enter high status competitions. But we are not there yet. Also with 100$ entry fee for the Worlds (highest status in USA) it didn't really invite rookies either. Doesn't mean it's good or bad but it gives maybe this effect in the world ranking. Even when a high status event like Paris had 75 Euros entry fee it was only 25 for the Am class. This strategy also helps european rookies I guess.

This is why I think that the first PRO season rookie is the most interesting anyway. I.e what I wrote in one of the very first posts of this topic.

Looking at the World Pro ranking for this year and taking the top 4 new names coming from amateur or nowhere.

5 Jason Mitchell, USA
7 Ramón Königshausen, SUI
9 Chris Barker, USA
13 Marcus Seyffarth, SWE
18 Peter Klang, SWE
19 Alexander Von Glasow, SUI
20 Noah Heinle, USA

Here you also see a more balanced view between USA and Europe. And if it wasn't for Noah's baby popping out just before the Worlds he would have been much higher on this list.

[Christopher Bara]

I guess going off the points list would be a good starting point, but not the best way to determine rookie of the year ..... since points are based on a years totals toward a series. Therefore, the more races you attend, no matter where you finish, the more points you accumulate. Where it's true that "Life is 90% just showing up", that's not the best way to say if one skater is better than the other. It's interesting how many Euro's are on that list...undoubtedly a fast bunch, but do most of the Euro races count toward a point total, as opposed to US races which consist of many that don't apply to the national championship (not trying to take anything away from the Euro's, it's just an honest question).....
But also, coming up with one Rookie of the year for the WORLD isn't possible in our sport, just as determining a WORLD champion isn't possible, not without paid travel expenses for the best of the best...The most reasonable title would be for the Euro Champion and the American Champion (encompassing Canada/Mexico as well)...same for Rookie of the Year.
That being said, I believe Jason Mitchell attended a race or two in '03 and got his feet wet before this year.
My vote....Todd Oles.....truly a rookie.......he wont be unheard-of after '05
(and no, he's not a local Detroit skater).

[Donald Campbell]

My criteria:
A rookie has to be under 18.


R A M O N!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jack Smith]

I like the idea of a Rookie of the Year Award.

I would like to see some type of criteria developed before a vote is taken. What's cool about slalom is that we as racers get to choose, in other sports it's usually the press. For example, in baseball I think it's the baseball writer's who vote and make the award.

We need to decide the parameters of what makes a "rookie"

Slalom Week - September 2005

[Ramón Königshausen]

Hey Peter, thank you for suggesting me! "That's cool, hehe"

I agree with the nomination of Heiko Schöller as "Am-Rookie Of The Year"
I guess he will be a strong pro-racer next year...

I also agree with the nomination of Aki! Aki rules, Aki has style, Aki the "ma se poes", Aki I miss you!

What about a voting? That would be the most easy way to find out our "Rookie Of The Year"

rmn

[Marcos Soulsby-Monroy]

I would cast my vote for Aki Von Glasow as well. I skated with him at Luna and then at Athens. His improvement was phenomenal.

Marcos TX outlaws

[Hans Koraeus]

Thanks Rick, seems like you have got the idea with the ranking. Good seeing the rise in the Mens ranking. Unfortuntley we also see that women are declining from 40 to 35. But of these 35 for this year at least 18 are new (didn't compete in 2003). Harder to figure out for the men. Maybe I will have to come up with some statistical functions in the future.

Anyway this is just a beginning. More are coming.

[Hans Koraeus]

I agree Peter. I was just sticking to the RRR (Rick Rookie Rule ). And since you did compete in 2003 even though it was not a big thing you were in the ranking 2003. If you wouldn't you would have been the number one Rookie with the RRR.

But with my "First Pro ranking season rule" you are quite high up as well. See above. Counting only Europeans it's Ramon, Marcus and you. So in a way you are right. Ramon is the European (Pro) Rookie of the year.

[Peter Klang]

Well Corky, if your are looking at slalomers not competing in 2003 with the highest ranking in 2004 it happens to be me, the only race I was in 2003 was a small local amateur race in Stockholm, a race you were at. It hardly takes my slalom virginity. It still don’t take away my vote on Ramon, he is 17, ranked nr 7 and have only a few amateur races behind him in 2003.

[Rick Stanziale]

Corky - don't apologize! The World Rankings may do more to promote slalom skateboard racing than any other single effort! We now have a resource the media can refer to before a race, something that was lacking before (sure we have SS.com, but it can be a b*tch to wade through the posts, and NCDSA...well I'm sure I'm not the only one who has stopped sending anyone with an interest in skateboard racing to that website).

And as an added bonus - we can see that the number of racers grew by 14% from 2003 to 2004. Not bad, not bad.

[alavoine jean paul]

I think (today) Aki has <i>the best physique/technique combination</i> and a lot of potential.

Yeah Vlad, I think you're right. This guy is fast, he has a good style which will allow him to win a few races in every kind of slalom, in the years to come. Moreover he is surrounded by a bunch of very fast Swiss skaters, which will make it easier for him to improve some more...

[Hans Koraeus]

Great research Rick! Didn't realize that it was possible to find out that only by looking only at the rankings. But you are right. Looking at the "4-Year Total Men" ranking you can figure it out.

Looking at rookie the way you have done it (as first year in ranking) it gives some interesting names as well.

92 Detlef Rehbock, GER (PRO)
108 Chris Linford, GBR (PRO) (No competitions 2003!? Would be strange to call him a rookie either way though)
113 Heiko Schöller, GER
115 Janis Kuzmins, LAT (PRO)
120 Simon Feldmann, SUI (PRO)
138 Henrik Madsen, SWE
140 Martin Drayton, TRI
142 Anders Hellqvist, SWE
151 Jadranko Radovanovic, SUI
159 Niall Horton-Stephens, GBR
174 Ben Chapman, USA
175 Sven Lippert, GER
180 Donald Campbell, GER
183 Stephan Hinzen, GER

I'll stop there but it does filter out some very interesting names...

Rookie PRO: Detlef Rehbock, GER
Rookie AM: Heiko Schöller, GER

[Rick Stanziale]

true rookie of the year - highest ranked racer with no racing in 2003 (according to slalomranking.com)...............

Detlef Rehbock

not knowing Detlef, I'll give my vote to the highest ranking American...BEN CHAPMAN - Wicked Chowda!!!

and thanks Eddy & Tom, but come on, my fifteen minutes of fame (along with the ticking clock of many of us here) is long over - that being said, most improved is a toss up between Mitchell & Harms

[Tom Thompson]

I don't think Mitchell raced in '03. He went from mid-pack at Luna to World Champ in a matter of six months! Amazing....

Ohm echo....Aaron Morris progressed alot this past year. He'll be lighting it up next year...just wait and see....

[Christopher Bara]

Thanks for the vote of confidence Eddy, but none of us Detroiters will be causing any A's to look over there shoulder any time soon....but we do like to have a good time and we've been growing in numbers all year

all this gets back to the question of a rookie...even by definition, it has to be somebody that is NEW to the sport this year, that being new to slalom in 04. If Jason Mitchell just started competing this year, and won the worlds, that's a pretty strong case in his favor. He did damn well in Antibes as well. There may be other gret new skaters out there, but i'd say it would have to also be based on accomplishements, not just raw talent....

Did Mitchell race in '03?

[Hans Koraeus]

Vlad,
The other Swiss guy is Santi (Santiago Diaz).

Peter,
Some say slalom is gay.

And Peter, see, I can do short topics too.

[Peter Klang]

What, it´s nothing to even talk about. There is only one guy who can be ROOKIE of 2004, Ramon Königshausen. He is the one. This guy will kill Slalom racing in two years when he gets control over his nerves, oh, and listen more to me...

Ramon and Aki is the future.

wish there was any swedish kids, but they´r all busy being gay.

love ya all

[Hans Koraeus]

Can't help myself. I just have to try to get to the root of things.
_________________________________________
rookie

Pronunciation: 'ru-kE
Etymology: perhaps alteration of recruit
1: RECRUIT; also : NOVICE
2: a first-year participant in a major professional sport
_________________________________________

Now then? What do we make of this?

1: With the word novice I guess it's your first year doing slalom skateboarding. Even better first year doing skateboarding at all. But that will not set any exceptional marks on the slalom scene I'm afraid.

2: With the second I will just assume that slalom skateboarding is a major professional sport. I don't know the reason why they insisted on putting the word major in there. I think rookie would be just as good a word for any professional sport. Or any sport or game or whatever. Then it is not clear what to make of a first-year participant in a professional sport. Is it the first year doing the sport as I concluded from the first point? Or is it the first year as pro in that sport?

Of the two alternatives I would go for the second one.

So far we don't have a clear definition of what pro is in our sport as is discussed elsewhere on the forum. But if we assume that those who have entered a pro class are pros we will come quite close to such a definition. That is the base pro definition I use.

My conclusion: Rookie of they year is the one with the best competition result during the first year as pro.

Rookie of the year: Jason Mitchell, USA


Now it happens that I personally also want to see best rookie of the year for all the other classes as well. Amateurs, Women and juniors. But I guess I will have to put that under the category of "my personal definitions".

[Vlad Popov]

It's hard, if not impossible, to make a rookie/no rookie distinction.

I think (today) Aki has <i>the best physique/technique combination</i> and a lot of potential.

Ridoli, Sidler, (I forgot another super fast Swiss name, it starts with an S(?) -John, Corky, help!-, retired in the early 1990s) - the 3 Swiss guys who were at times faster then Luca in all slalom disciplines.

"There's a lot you can learn from these fast guys. You just gotta pay attention". It seems that Aki did. Now you can watch him.

[Eric Brammer]

My (albeit biased) nomination would be for Adam Schwippert. "The Worlds" were his 5th,6th,7th race[s] on a skateboard.. Of course, Racer X has to be noted, even if his name remains unknown.

[Eddy Martinez]

Chris Bara and the KCR Crew definately made the prescense felt at the Gathering 4 they get my vote for the mens. Meg and Laura from Road Kill Racing for the ladies. Pro Alexander Von Glasow. B group graduating to the A ranks Wes-E,66,John Harms. Boys Mc Laren Boys, Teen Boys Aaron Morris for sure. Eddy Texas Outlaws.

[Mike Ohm]

Aaron Morris VA Beach Outlaw
McLaren Boys COSS

[Christopher Bara]

wouldnt "rookie" describe somebody who made their racing debut this year?....since there's no clear cut pro/am rankings, it wouldnt apply to somebody who's moved up from the B ranks to A ranks.

I'm following this thread mostly for curiousities sake...but most of the names i've seen posted raced in 2003 as well. They may be the "most improved" skaters....but not rookies

[Tom Thompson]

Will someone define "rookie"?

Best new racer I've seen this year is Jason Mitchell. Harms and Stanziale definitely stepped it up this year.

[Donald Campbell]

How about Stefan Hintzen? Check his appearance at the Cologne championships this year to see his potential.
Results speak for themselves.
If you don't vote for him - he'll be out there next year on the race circuit, that might change your mind.

[Eddy Martinez]

Sara Byrd definately gets my vote for the girls. Brought a tear to my eye to see her do so well at the Worlds. Eddy Texas Outlaws.

[Jeff Goad]

HARMS hands down

[Hans Koraeus]

Looking at the World Pro ranking for this year and taking the top 4 new names coming from amateur or nowhere.

5 Jason Mitchell, USA
7 Ramón Königshausen, SUI
9 Chris Barker, USA
13 Marcus Seyffarth, SWE

Well since Vlad mentioned Aki let's take a couple more...

18 Peter Klang, SWE
19 Alexander Von Glasow, SUI
20 Noah Heinle, USA

Now the ranking is maybe not all but still. It gives you a clue.

[Vlad Popov]

I vote for the following three:

Aki, Alexander and Alexander Von Glasow

[Eddy Martinez]

Well another year is about to pass us by. New faces on the Tour. Time to cast our votes for the Rookies of 2004.