Downhill Etiquette
K-Rimes posted,
As we see the racing scene start to grow and blossom and
see the competition level rise to new heights, we are
seeing a new motion currently that is based in fun, but
has drastic effects for safety and for sportsmanship. There
are more and more and people to be careful of for those
who are coming up and speeding up, and there are other
riders who are skilled but need to be aware of those
around them.
We have moved on from days past where certain riders
would dominate a heat, session, or even an entire race
and now there are riders who are able to mix it up, dice it
up, and get right into the action with attempts, skilled
though they may be, that can endanger others. To add
onto the tremendous gains in skill we are all
experiencing, the playing field is becoming more even and
overall, more challenging. This challenge can make for
some dazzling defeats, and startling wins and passes and
that is what downhill is really all about... But these days,
some of the passes we're seeing involve riders cutting
inside lines that just won't work or won't make sense
(unless a proper drift and line is taken), riders grabbing a
hold upon another rider and pulling for the pass or even
persons giving up their speed to others (so that the
boosted rider may make a pass before the line). These are
just the sort of thing that we must be cautious about if
we're going to keep all happy and most importantly, safe.
Inside lines are a KEY point to downhill skateboarding, as
those who are able to make them and have used them
know very well. It is one of the few sports in which we can
fit two, three, or even four wide going through turns at
equal, or in the case of footbraking, differing speeds.
Riders who are making inside line passes need to be
conscious not only of their directional forward line, but
also their outwards direction that can be accentuated, or
diminished by proper lines. When one passes on the
inside, their line will take them outwards towards the hay,
whereas a rider on the clean, smooth line will go from
wide, to inside, to outside taking up maximum room in
the turn for a minimal amount of time. We're seeing riders
who are making unnecessary inside passes (which is
especially brutal for those who are taken out by them) as
they are able to take out top riders (who arguably have the
better line and rights to it).
One way to skate safe in tight areas is to use your hands
and body, not your skateboard. When wheels rub, decks
get stuck together, or trucks link up inevitably the
skater(s) go down. When hands or the body are primary
points of contact there is better traction for those who do
so as there is another set of wheels to gain traction from
(and a body traveling at the same speed to balance with).
The same applies to freeriding... Never touch a skater's
deck as it is their lowest point thus when moved, has the
most leverage over the skater's weight. When it slows
down (gets pulled) the skater goes over the front (this is
what you see with wheel rub). Use a flat palm when
touching riders, never grab!
To pull or to push is to modify the true outcome of your
skateboarding vs. those who you are racing with. The
leading rider has it and that's it, grabbing and pulling is
dangerous for the riders not expecting it and is the lamest
you can get for sportsmanship. Be it a qualifying heat or a
practice heat, keep it true to skateboarding and your own
skills. Pushing a rider forward is a difficult point for most
people... Arguably, it is the safest way to race, especially
on tracks with only one clean line (Maryhill, etc). As said
before with intersecting lines, it is often far better to
separate and stay safe. There is a limit to what is
necessary and what is judged acceptable and that is up to
the judgement of the rider giving the boost, but as far as
modifying a person's position with a HUGE boost, that's
just hurting the rider that's getting pushed... They didn't
earn that speed, nor would they earn the falsified win.
Push with a flat hand and only what is necessary to keep
you safe.
Along with technique, knowledge, and experience there
must be a huge addition to the racer's world known as
judgement... Take a look back and gauge your
competition, do you really need to take 1st in the heat, or
will a solid 2nd keep you in the race equally? These are
the things that we all must take into account before and
especially during the heat.
Will a pass before a turn gain you the distance you need
to use your preferred braking technique?
Will passing a pre-drifter and footbraking in front keep
you well spaced in the turn?
Do(es) my opponent(s) footbrake for turns?
What type of line do my opponents take? Does mine
differ?
Does my set-up limit me to certain lines (sticky wheels
stick, drifty wheels drift)?
What line will a right footer take vs. a left footer?
These are the sorts of things we need to think about
before we race... What do the rest think?
2009 May 30 2:36 PM
CVmack replied,
Push n pull with your friends whom are comfortale with it, while NOT racing.
Maybe "Racing Etiquette" would've been more of an appropriate title.
The rest is spot on if you ask me.
2009 May 30 3:56 PM
Kaleb replied,
I'm fine with contact if it's going to benefit you and the rider in front from crashing...but if your going to throw arms and shit because your too much of a pussy to take a clean pass then that's messed. I don't care who you are show some courtesy, when you ride...someone tries shoving me in a straight like that one dude i will straight up sock you off your board.
2009 May 31 6:01 PM
madbomber replied,
Best point iv heard was: in the next three years there will be twice as many people wanting to race... We have to make room for the up and coming pros, as well as all the newcomers, we have to support the next generation and keep our sport going, but we also need everyone to be racing in the safest environment possible. EG: at DB... on Saturday do a full day of am racing, ie: anyone who has less than however many races experience rides in the am class, and maybe the pro class could get in a few practice runs. then on sunday the pros and women race. everyone wins, no one will have grounds to complain. and the level of skill will be much more even. something to think about. good call on bringing this up kev
2009 May 31 7:55 PM
switchback replied,
WOW!!!! This has gone on too far and is getting ridiculous!
Come on guys!
Lets just ride our skateboards, perhaps agree to disagree, but in the end ride safe and think about how our actions affect other people.
Alright?
2009 June 1 10:06 AM
replied,
beat his ass Jux
2009 June 1 10:16 AM
Kaleb replied,
Hey Mack when you use a word. KNOW what it means before hand you ignorant prick. It's very offensive term to people of east asia.
2009 June 1 10:22 AM
andrew...langley replied,
IF YOU CAN'T TAKE THE HEAT GET OUTTA THE FUCKIN KITCHEN, rubbin's racing, if your scared, GO HOME..i think race organizers should be able to define the rules for there races....ie isga...isga races....lee for goldrush...strke for db..etc..etc...etc....
2009 June 1 11:38 AM
replied,
man i remember when nobody gave a fuck about descretion... i seen you pull a mans jawbone off... you've changed
2009 June 1 5:38 PM
boardinthepark replied,
I understand where you guys are coming from when you say that you must spectate a couple of races before you are actually allowed to race but dont forget about people coming from out of town/province/country that may be competing in their first race as it would have been an awfully expensive trip for some puerto ricans or even albertans if they had to spectate multiple races