Mobile phones dont really work at Maryhill, internet is only available in the motel, so much of what happened at the IGSA World Cup at the Maryhill Festival of Speed is still a mystery.

I type this in Australia on Tuesday night 7pm. I am slowly piece together some of the results. This must have been what it was like reporting on sports in the last century. Having to wait months for competitors to arrive home on a ahip to get the full report on what happened.

IGSA website is reporting on the men’s open final. Lots of controversy over a restart penalty in the semi’s and Mr Siegrist regulating in the final. The winner was Aussie Ramon. Yeah, could not happened to a nicer guy, no one skates harder than Ramon. Maybe the first person to win World Cup events in two different skateboarding disciplines (slalom and downhill)?

Still no official words on the women’s final. Everyone’s favourite IGSA official Komakino gave us the tweet on Ramon winning and Rebekka coming second in the women’s final. Rayne confirmed their team rider Dominique got third. Katie on facebook updated her status that she is the Maryhill Champion for 2011.  So that sorts out the women. It would be cool to hear what happened. Katie gives us a taste in one of her blogs, hopefully we get a bit more on the final. LOVE YA WORK KATIE, you still have my vote for the raddest downhill chick in the world (sorry Lea). Come back to Australia soon, it was fun having you work in the Hopshop. We’re growing our women’s scene for when you come back.

I know what you are thinking, wasn’t there suppose to be a Junior World Championship race at Maryhill? I know I know. We helped one of Australia’s fastest juniors get there to compete against the world. So many people have called me today to find out the result. I’m sorry to say I have nothing. Maybe it didn’t happen. Though Aiden on Coast Longboarding has said Max won the Junior 2 final.

In the world of longboarding and downhill racing maybe it is not a big deal. There was 70 juniors competing at Maryhill, we get than many juniors at MOTH each year. There must be a lot bigger junior events around the world. Still it would be nice to get a tweet or an article on a result. You could do it 10 words.

We’ll just have wait until Kelly grom arrives back in Australia to hear what happened. As soon as I know, you’ll know. If you beat me to the news, please post up in the comments.

UPDATE
See comments below, Kelly gives us a run down on the Junior finals.
Junior 2 results (14yrs to 17yrs)
1st Max Wippermann  USA <– new Junior World Champion
2nd Alex Silva USA
3rd Austin Nicassio  USA
4th Justin Rolo  USA
5th Brendan Davidson  CAN
6th Riley Crone  USA
7th Spencer Smith  USA
8th Bradley Cameron  USA
9th Shaun Douglas  CAN
10th Keith Henderson  USA
11th Quin Finocchio  CAN
12th Kelly Carter  AUS

Junior 1 results (8yrs to 13yrs)
1st Nohlan Campbell  USA
2nd Roger Jones  USA
3rd Oliver Korman  CAN
4th Bryan Sheehy  USA
5th Nathan Anderson  USA
6th Quinn Dubois  CAN
7th Gaines Harrison  (jr) USA
8th Tristan Bell  (Bellaboy) CAN
9th Adam Bornstein  USA
10th Maxim Moisanen USA

Women’s Open results
1st Katie Neilson CAN
2nd Rebekka Gemperle SUI
3rd Dominique Vukorep CAN
4th Jerica Green USA
5th Alicia Fillback USA
6th Ishtar Backlund SWE

Many of you may know one of the Hopshop’s local skate dad’s Bruce de Graaf. He is a passionate skater, generous with his time, loves motivating the longboarders who come into the shop and has two of the rad’s daughters in Sydney.

When we first met Bruce, his daughters were bombing the local hills on snake boards. Stepping onto a longboard was an easy transition!

Bruce and the girls were in our local newspaper. A nice write up about Newtons, and the longboard racing scene.

Hey Striker, see that? they’re all wearing helmets!!

The Sydney Groms tore up the Master of the Hill event and walked away with all the cash.

In a tale of two events, there were two major skate competitions on last weekend. The kick flippers had Battle for Supemacy and ASRA had Master of the Hill (MOTH). Battle for Supremacy was canceled but MOTH was not. The downhill skaters not scared of a bit of rain. Maybe the kick flippers thought their tiny little wheels would dissolve in the rain.
Killara High cleaned up with 1st, 2nd and 3rd on the Grom’s podium and Cooper backing up with a 2nd on the Junior’s podium.

The big news was Hopkin Racing has finally given away some cash for our T-shirt podium guarantee.

Cooper Kruize, who is only 15 years old, won $700 from his first day ever of racing. That is almost as much as the prize money for each skater at Battle of Supremacy ($1000 each). No wonder all the kids are buying longboards, not only is it more fun, there is money in it!!

Groms podium
1st Cooper Kruize
2nd Scott Poole
3rd Ilan Aarons (Steve Daddow standing in for Ilan)

Juniors podium Master of the Hill 2010
1st Merrick Wildash
2nd Cooper Kruize
3rd Gabe Gwynne

Read the full report on the ASRA website

Big thank you to Ado at Cr8tive Sk8. We can not do these races without the support of skateshops and the skate industry.
Love ya work ado!!!

There is a lot of interest from the juniors and groms about competing at this year’s Master Of The Hill (MOTH).

It is this weekend, so you gotta start making plans on how to get there and getting parental permission to race.

ASRA have changed the focus of MOTH this year, and made it tastier for all the groms, juniors and anyone new to Downhill. This is a perfect race to start your downhill sporting life. The road we are racing on is about 800m long. It has an up hill run out, so no need to waste urethane sliding or shoes foot breaking. There is no motorised traffic. Road is perfect hotmix, no potholes. It is located in the bush, plenty of places to sit, watch or chill out.

For parents and guardians
This is not a dangerous event. ASRA are taking every precaution to make the event as safe as possible. There is always an element of risk, however there is no more risk than normal skate play on a local street or hill. In fact, kids are probably taking more risks on their local roads than they do at a sanctioned ASRA event where the authorities are watching.
ASRA believe it is important to give the youth coming into Downhill an event to learn all the safety aspects of the sport from older competitors. This is better than skaters holding their own outlaw races.
Competitors will get their safety gear and longboards checked. Racers will learn proper skating etiquette, how to skate within a group and near other competitors.
Racing will be limited to two competitors. All skaters will be wearing fullface helmets and leather jackets.

For competitors
You will need the proper safety gear or you will not be allowed to compete. If you still need a full face helmet, we have them available in hopshop. For leather jackets, check your local motorcycle shop, there are normally sales this time of year.
Leather pants are not required, but are an additional safety item. Shorts or jeans with skate knee pads are a good idea. Draggin Jeans have a full range of jeans that will save your skin in a crash. Check em out, your skin will love you for it.
Please check all requirements on the official MOTH page

How to get your parents to let you race
Let them read this blog post, so they can see the ASRA safety requirements.
Tell them they can call the Hopshop and speak to James, David or Jackson on 02 80601588. Sometimes it is better to let one of the older skaters explain what the event is. Parents dont respond well to “it will be mad and (insert unreliable friend’s name here) will be there, and I’ll hate you forever if I can not go.”
If reason does not work, time for bribery and honey. Promise to do more around the house, more homework etc. Or tell them they can be involved.
Dad’s are more than welcome to volunteer, or be involved in some way – make it a father and son day. Mum’s are welcome. We always need more mum’s track side to make the responsible decisions.
If that does not work, try to sell the charms of the Blue Mountains. They can drop you off at the race, and then enjoy a day in the Blue Mountains.  Maybe if you can all stay overnight, make it a small holiday. Last minute accommodation can be booked at Wotif.com.
Your parents can do the heritage walk at Katoomba. How about visiting the art galleries? Bushwalks. What mother could resist high tea at Liianfelds!!
The Hawkesbury farmers market is on this weekend in Penrith. Located on High Street in the Civic Precinct. 8am to 1pm. Enough time to drop you off, go to the markets to enjoy the food, produce, music and cooking demos, then cruise back to MOTH to see you in the final!

Get creative, and get to MOTH.

It is on again and Hopkin Racing is proud to be a race sponsor. Master Of The Hill 2009 was a fantastic day of racing and longboarding. This year promises to be an even better pocket nugget of skateboarding goodness.

Location is the Pump Station in the Blue Mountains. Approximately 90 minutes drive West from Sydney. It is a locals only hill. The exact location of the Pump Station is only revealed to those who sign a sacred oath to respect it, respect the traditional owners, and to leave it as clean and sparkling as they found it. If you can’t get somebody to tell you where it is, join ASRA online and ask Bugs or Robbo.

Master Of The Hill is a downhill racing event. Two-man heats. There will be no timed qualifiers – every rider qualifies and will be seeded randomly. Don’t worry about getting a tough draw; it’s a double-elimination system, so everybody gets a second chance. Every person will race at least two heats, and there will be hours of practice.

The hill is about 800 metres long, with a top speed of about 55km/h (for skateboarders). No footbreaking is required, nor sliding around corners. It’s easy enough for first-time racers, but has enough in it to create epic head-to-head racing for the pros. The road is closed, there is no motor vehicle  traffic on this road. All family, parents and friends are welcome. For Groms and Juniors, the best way to get there is to convince your parents to go. If your parents need to talk to a responsible adult, get them to call the Hopshop on 02 80601588 and asked for David Robertson, Jackson Shapiera or James Hopkin. They are also welcome to come into the shop to discuss the joys of gravel rash.

Date
Saturday 6th February 2010

Categories
Open Skateboard: Everybody who wants to be Master of the Hill.
Maximum 64 riders.
1st: $300, 2nd: $200, 3rd: $100.

Junior Skateboard: For those under 18 on race day. Juniors can also race in the Open category, so they get two events for the price of one.
Maximum 32 riders.
1st: $300, 2nd: $200, 3rd: $100.

Grom Skateboard: For those under 16 on race day. Groms can also race in the Junior category, so they get two events for the price of one.
Maximum 32 riders.
1st: $300, 2nd: $200, 3rd: $100.

Luge: This includes classic luge. It’s all one big category for those lying down. Ride whatever you think is faster (or whatever you have).
Maximum 32 riders.
1st: $300, 2nd: $200, 3rd: $100.

Requirements
To enter you must:
1) Be a paid-up member of ASRA. Click here to join ASRA.
2) Have a full-face helmet, leather gloves and a leather jacket to ride in. Full leathers are recommended.

Official Race webpage
For more details on the event and how to enter go to the official Master Of The Hill webpage.