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Front Page  Events & Coverage Official Guajataca Downhill 2009 Report
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Official Guajataca Downhill 2009 Report |
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Written by Hector Valle
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Tuesday, 27 January 2009 |
Guajataca Downhill 2009 Report
English Version:
The Guajataca Downhill was a much bigger event this year, fueled by mass Island-wide media coverage, and adding the catalyst of the top IGSA Pro and Captain of the Team Green, Scott (Scoot) Smith, the event drew an estimated 1,500 spectators at the main curves near the finish line, and another estimated 2,000 spectators along the 2.3 km race route. Several other thousands attended from their comfort of their homes, thanks to a live broadcast via internet facilitated by Nenito Molinari (a local techno-cat) and the great people at silverfishlonboarding.com. The event also drew 110 racers from all over the Island, and. Colombia, Italy, the USA (Florida), and Vancouver Canada were represented at the event.
Thanks to town mayor, the Honorable Heriberto Velez, the most critical part of the course was paved fresh just before the races, providing for a smooth surface and faster speeds.
A small army of staff volunteers from the Pirate Surf Club and the town of Quebradillas struck a delicate balance between the large crowd, angry residents, emergency services, and racers, to maintain control of the race route and enable the heats in all age groups to take place and flow in an event that lasted well over 6 hours. The racing excitement never stopped, as heats kept on forming and pouring down the Guajataca Downhill with full police escort every time. The wipe-outs were spectacular with racers paying dearly for any slight mistake made during course. The Vera Ambulance paramedics stayed busy for the duration of the races.
Stand our racers included Floridian Alex Sorgente and Leroy Vargas in the boys age group, Akisha Delgado and Naomi Cruz in the women division, Ivan Arroyo, Edwin Heredia and Kirbo Butler in the Men’s Division, and Jose (Pito)Velez and Danger Bay threat Jose (El Loco) Perez in the masters category. In the end, Scoot Smith was injured in a final run, and local stand-out took the $500 first prize money in the Open class.
This year’s event closed at the town square with a rocking after-party that included 2 of the top Island’s rock/reggae bands, and lots of prizes for contestants and spectators alike. Thanks to Landyachtz, Sector 9, Abec 11, Khiro, Banshee Bungee, Birdstown Surf and Skate, The Room Surf and Skate, Red Bull Energy Drink, The Coop San Rafael, and many other local and National sponsors for their support in making this year’s event as big as it was. We hope to make the Guajataca Downhill 2010 even better yet with much better safety features and an improved staff. See you next year!!
!
Spanish Version:
El Guajataca Downhill de este año fue aun major que el del año pasado con mas de 4,000 espectadores estimados entre las peligrosas curvas de la ruta y el corredor principal desde la salida localizada a 2.3 kilometros de la llegada. La midia Isleña ayudo a inflar el numero de espectadores este año, ayudada por la visita del actual campeon mundial en esta disciplina, el Canadiense Scott (Scoot) Smith, y otros representantes en esta modalidad provenientes de Italia, Colombia, y los EUA (Florida), los cuales batallaron con el resto de los 110 competidores de toda la Isla de Puerto Rico por los honores de ser los campeones de esta año en este evento. Ademas, el evento fue asisitido por primera vez, por cibernautas desde la comodidad de sus hogares, gracias a una transmission en vivo a travez del internet facilitada por el tecknocrata Nenito Molinary y silverfishlongboarding.com.
Gracias al Alcalde de Quebradillas, el Honorable Heriberto Velez velez, la ruta se pavimento antes del evento, presentandole a los corredores un major desafio aun, al alcanzar aun mas velocidad devido a las excelentes condiciones de la ruta. Un pequeño ejercito de voluntarios del Pirata Surf Club de Quebradillas logro adquirir y mantener un balance entre los espectadores que desbordaban la ruta de carrera, los vehiculos oficiales, y los corredores para que el evento se diera en un record de 6 horas. Gracias a la Policia Municipal de Quebradillas que repetidamente escoltaron a los corredores en sus grupos segun bajaron el recorrido, el evento mantuvo un flojo constant y seguro con pocos incidents. Los paramedicos de Vera Ambulance service se mantuvieron muy ocupados durante el evento.
Los atletas mas sobresalientes este año incluyen al Floridiano Alex Sorgente y el Quebradillano Leroy Vargas en la categoria de los niños, Akisha Delgado y Naomi Cruz en las mujeres, Ivan Arroyo, Edwin Heredia, y Kirbo Butler en la categoria de los hombres, y Pito Velez y Jose Perez en la clase de los “Masters”. Despues de un aparatoso accidente que saco al campeon mundial Scott Smith de las carreras, el joven Kenneth Barreto de Quebradillas gano la categoria “Open” y se llevo los $500 de premio en esta categoria cumber de la modalidad.
La actividad termino el la plaza publica del pueblo de Quebradillas con un concierto de bandas de “rock” y “reggae” y premios para los atletas y el public en general. Gracias a patrocinadores Nacionales e Internacionales como Landyachtz, Sector 9, Abec 11, Khiro, Bangee Bungee, Birdstown Surf and Skate, The Room Surf and Skate, Red Bull Energy Drink, y la Cooperativa de Ahorro y Credito San Rafael, entre otros por su apoyo en hacer este evento annual una realidad. Esperamos lograr que el Guajataca Downhill 2010 sea aun mas grande y major organizado, asi que nos vemos en Quebradillas el año que viene!!!
Hector (Tito el Pajaro) Valle
President, Pirata Surf Club
Quebradillas, Puerto Rico |
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 29 January 2009 )
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