"Riding Road mountains" is the theme for this years Mossel Bay Downhill Dash to be held on the weekend of 4th and 5th February 2012. This forms part of the Dias Festival and will see the country's top downhill skaters congregating in Mossels to compete for the coveted title of Downhill Dash Champion 2012 and to show off their skills to the local community.
theBOMBsurf caught up with the organiser, Mike Sheppard from Waves Surf Shop and some of the top competitors from last year and got the scoop from the organisers on what is fast becoming an integral part of the Downhill calendar.
Mike, give us a little background to the event - how long has it been going and how did it come about in the first place?
Riding Road Mountains started last year. Mossel Bay has some of the smoothest tarmac in the country. We also have fairly steep roads in the general municipal area, especially the CBD. We have a growing Skating Fraternity and I would like to see some “Skate Friendly” roads in our municipal district in the near future. I believe our event, Riding Road Mountains could be the catalyst we need for this to happen.
What are some of your personal highlights from events gone by?
Absolutely blown away by the awesome competitors, the distances they travelled to support our event and the community [6000 +-] who came to support the event.
Who are some of the riders participating this year - and who can we look out for?
We have not heard from Glen Phillips yet, but Matt Ardene has confirmed his spot!
From a surfing perspective, do many of the Southern Cape locals, take to the tarmac? Do any of them ever compete with the hardcore downhillers?
Loads of the locals own some form of skateboard. There has been quite a big growth in the sliding and cruising styles. As for the downhill hard core, they go down the hill at 02h00, on anything that would take them on 4 wheels and fast.
Matt Arderne, SA champion in 2010 has this to say...
Matt, you came second last year in this event to Glenn Phillips. What's your strategy this year?
Last year the event was really great, so I think this year everyone will be up for the new and improved course. The right race strategy is difficult to predict because we haven't skated the new course, but most likely you will need to be in front going into the last corner, which will most likely mean mayhem!
Tell us about the equipment you're on?
I ride Fibretec boards, handmade in Switzerland, Abec 11 Wheels, Fat Ant Bushings made in Cape Town and Aera Trucks. The big factor for the race is going to be choosing wheels, it all depends on that last corner and how tight it is...
Have you been doing any specific training?
The nice thing about skating is that the training is pretty fun, and skating with your mates is never dull, so we do "train" a lot, but it's always just skate sessions.
Matt Arderne (left) chases friend, Raoul van Den Berg (right), down the Hot Heels Africa track, the last race of 2011. Image by Loius Joubert.
Matt, What was your highlight of the event last year?
It was such an unexpectedly awesome weekend away, no one really knew what to expect from the weekend, so to go up and enjoy it so much really made it that much better. Not to mention the prize money!
What's your day job?
I'm studying Industrial Engineering at Stellenbosch University.
You surf right? So why should surfers get into Downhill skateboarding?
I grew up in Cape Town, and surfing mid-winter in freezing onshore slop just because there was nothing else to do, we quickly found out that going for a slide session gave was the better alternative! Also learning to slide gives a cool sensation that you can relate to as a surfer, doing standup slides feels sort of similar to a cutback fin waft type thing.
What do we need to do in SA to grow the sport?
We need local companies to see that the sport is growing rapidly internationally, and that there is an opportunity for a local company to be the first one to get behind the local scene and help push the race scene from its early stages into something bigger.
Full concentration at full speed. Image by Melanie Fourie of Ultra M photography.
Literally following close behind Matt is Anton Pratt, who came a close 3rd in the event last year:
Anton, you came third last year in this event to Glenn Phillips and Matt - what's your approach this year?
My approach......for Mossel's is pretty much to get the biggest smile on my dial....make top 8 and have an extra run.....same approach for all races: "Have a shit load of fun"
What are you riding?
OK well my board is a Rebel 2 aka "Ama Speed Freak" made by Project Skateboards......really cool local skate co. GOG trucks with FAT ANT Bushings Bones Swiss Super 6 bearings and Wheels range from ABEC 11 Lime Big-Zigs to Orangotang Orange In-heats/4 Prez. This is my race set-up.......one of many boards in the quiver.
Have you been doing any specific training or you just skating whenever you can?
Ha ha ja I am always training.....skate hard always
Anton showing skill and style at full speed - image by Jakub Fulin.
What was your highlight of the event last year?
Just the whole mission hey, I went up with a sick crew (Gerhard, Eebin and Steve) we drove up in the Faff van. The comp was well executed for a first time event and friendly organisers and a styling vibe. Skating with all your friends burning down a 4 lane wide Main road..........ja what's not to like. It's so hard to put a finger on an actual individual thing.........so I'll have to say it was the party.....
How else do you keep busy when you're not bombing hills?
WOW......well I do Irrigation, civil and turf from 7-5 with the rest of my time I focus my attention on FAT ANT Bushings and Project Skateboards.
Mossels is primarily a surf-orientated town. Is downhill skating relevant to surfers, and will it become more so through events like this?
Yeah I still surf......not as much as I would like to though. Downhill took over my life, once you start........... ............As for skating in any respect being related to riding the glossy tunnel, the answer is "4 sho". Surfing was the birth of skating, surfers can get into it quick cause of the similar aspects..... .....I think the more this gets exposure the more will come ride, plain and simple.
Where do you see the growth coming from in the sport?
The youth......the key lies with them... There is already a boom in the Industry locally and abroad. Last year we had record turn outs at comps. We now have an established Groms category (under 17) and our first Ladies Category as well. More get together's like this up coming event in Mossel Bay.
Finally, theBOMBsurf caught up with Raoul van den Berg - one of the main stalwarts in the Stellenbosch and Western Cape skating scene
Raoul, Tell us a little about about the state of Downhill skateboarding in SA?
It's become huge! Real sponsors are getting involved. More and more spectators pile in at every event. But more importantly, there has been a change in the riders. They train, they prepare mentally, they don't drink before or at events. They look after their bodies. It's awesome to see guys taking it to the next level!
Do we compete on a global scale?
I think we do, and on fast tracks with fast sweeping corners we definitely do. The majority of our hills are fast, which in turn makes us fast. We do however struggle a bit when it gets technical. For that reason few of us head overseas every year to learn.
In the shot from front to back, Raoul van den Berg, Anton Pratt, Paul Du Plessis, Murray Chandler
Image by Melanie Fourie of Ultra M photography.
What was your highlight of the last Mossel bay event?
Other than the fact we got to race down a city main street? I would say all the stoked spectators.
Who's the smart money on for this year's event?
Sjo, this is a difficult one! It could be any of the usual favourites. It's anybody's game really.
Who's your personal favourite SA Downhill skater and why?
It's impossible for me to choose one. All of us bring our own style and flare to the table. I enjoy skating, learning and hanging out with each and every one of them.
Raoul and the Cornerstone crew shot this little clip from last year's event.
Mosselbay 2011 event final results: 1st Glen Philips, 2nd Matt Arderne, 3rd Anton Pratt, 4th Alex Duss
. Thank you for sgntesuigg Streams in the Desert. I just ordered me a copy off Paperback Swap. I love that you have dreams of Christian. Are your other dreams as vivid or just the ones from God? It made me cry too.
Posted by Glenda on the 21/02/2012 00:21
. Thank you for ssegguting Streams in the Desert. I just ordered me a copy off Paperback Swap. I love that you have dreams of Christian. Are your other dreams as vivid or just the ones from God? It made me cry too.
Posted by Arlind on the 22/02/2012 08:51
Wow so glad you guys got to go to Cape May one last time. Wish we could have been there. Even thgouh we haven't been in years, it's sad to see it go. Was hoping to go one last time ..
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