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The 6th Annual Sandia All Around Challenge was held in Albuquerque, NM September 22, 23 and 24 of 2006. The 9 event weekend started with 40 skaters, including a few Juniors and a Womens Class gathering west of town at the Rio Bravo Ditch. TimeShip Racing set a wide open, fast and fun banked slalom and the giant roll in ramp from the Bear Race was brought in to add some speed to the already downhill ditch. Tail winds prevailed as some first time ditch riders took their timed runs. First time racer Ryan Smith from Texas clocked a 40.92 and watched as everyone else tried to break the 40 second barrier. Only Ryan Ricker and Will Brunson did so, with the winning time going to Brunson, Smith held on for 5th.
Will Brunson 38.81
Ryan Ricker 39.74
Andrew Mercado 40.21
Ryan EP 40.45
Ryan Smith 40.92
John Rogers 41.32 At the conclusion of the banked slalom, a heated session broke out at the top of the ditch with the TSR Juniors joined by Starr Adams and Tower throwing down
all kinds of cool moves while the event staff moved the start ramp and timing system 30 feet onto the ditch side bike path. The 74 cone slalom challenge took only minutes to set up and was soon under way. It was instantly clear who had been practicing and who had not. More cone heads were rounded up for duty and the desert winds started to get less predictable. Meanwhile the start ramp became a jump ramp as skaters took turns pushing at it uphill and flying off the back in between runs. The All Around Challenge was under way! The leg crushing slalom challenge puts a premium on running clean with a .5 second cone penalty and a 10 cone DQ. Ryan Ricker ran a CLEAN sub 30 second time and was looking like the man to beat for a while. James West Jr and Will Brunson went wild, but tied after adjusted times were in, with West winning by hitting only 2 cones while Brunson hit 3 cones. TimeShip racers took 5 of the top 6 slots. James West Jr.29.27
Will Brunson 29.27
Ryan Ricker 29.31
Chris Miller 32.11
David Price 32.26
Joe Lehm 33.84 Sandia Crest Road was drying out nicely from the night’s light dusting of snow, some hay bales still had white on the tops, but the sun was melting it quickly. Some racers were putting on their leathers like under wear, beneath all of the clothes they could find to try and keep warm. It’s cold at 8000ft at 7:00am!
The traffic control equipment was no where in sight, and the Sheriffs would not allow the road to be closed until it arrived. The “new” driver was lost and when the equipment made it 2 hours later the entire event was now running on Navajo Time, and continued to for the rest of the weekend. After qualifying times were in and bracketed, the real Downhill Racing began with many exciting close heats. Timing is never anyone’s favorite part of the day until the racing starts and it becomes evident that well placed bracketing makes for more closely drawn heats.
TimeShip Racing’s low tech starting gate was elegantly handled by Yukia in her high heels and mini skirt. Many a racer complained of being overly distracted at the gate, but they all seemed to agree she did a good job. Other things didn’t go as well, with a stray car finding it’s way onto the course and a heat of angry riders narrowly missing it. The promoter got an ear full and the volunteer that let it happen apologized profusely to everyone saying that he should go home in disgrace. As the racing progressed, no one was surprised to see both of the Rogers brothers in the Pro final along with Ryan Ricker and David Price. Ricker slid out in the “C Flat” taking 4th, David Price made the cover of the Sunday Paper, and Dave and John Rogers showed why they are considered the best Speedboarders in the world. About 15 riders still had some legs left for the 6 mile Soul Jam and they charged it hard as the sun set behind the mountain. A Class
Dave Rogers
John Rogers
David Price
Ryan Ricker
McKendry
Brunson
Connor
Andres B Class
Seth Cox
David Angelus
Skip Marcotte
Jim West Sr. Womens Judith Rogers
Isa Ruiz
 | Los Altos Skate Park was host to the evening’s elective events. Navajo Time continued as the prepared skaters showed up to shred on time and the race weary organizers showed up an hour late. First up was the longest grind in the combi pool, Andrew Mercado dominated with a 160 inches! Next up was Best Trick, and some of the oldest and newest moves from the last 30 years were executed to everyone’s delight. Guest Judge on the panel was Jeff Tatum who was astounded at the variety displayed. The highest scores were a tie going to Andrew Mercado for a sick deep end creeper and 14 year old Malcolm Hecht with a boneless into the baby’s arm pool. By 11pm it was obvious that the High Jump and Ollie Jump would have to wait until the next day. 360’s were tallied by those that could, attempted by those that could not.
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 Cross Town racing is possibly the oldest kind of skateboard racing dating back to the early 60’s. Much of this 8.3 mile course is gently downhill and re-paved making for some fast action. The winners finished in under 30 minutes huffing, puffing and flopping about in the grass. 3rd place looked like a tie, but was settled between the racers like gentlemen. The 2 Women tied in what looked like a plan. Men
John Huey
Ryan Ricker
John Rogers
David Angelus
Will Brunson
Dave Rogers Women Judith Rogers
Isa Ruiz The calculations to determine the All Around placing’s took many hours of work by Kaylee and Nyah, then they carefully posted them onto the results boards for the awards party at Kelly’s Brew Pub. While they prepared the results, the entire skate crew enjoyed being shuttled up the Indian School Ditch as many times as their legs could take. A couple of extended runs took the crew down to the Witches Nose where much fun was had trying to carve around her gnarly face.
By 5:00pm everyone agreed they had noodle legs and were hungry for a real meal. The Awards Party was held on the patio of Kelly’s and had good food, draft beer and TONS of prizes for everyone. All Around to 10th place (calculated from 9 events) 1 Ryan Ricker 159 points TimeShip Racing / Dregs
2 Will Brunson 157 points TimeShip Racing / Pocket Pistols
3 Andrew Mercado 130 Madrid / Pocket Pistols
4 John Rogers 129.25 Rogers Bros Racing / Abec 11
5 John Huey 127.5 Maryhill Ratz
6 Dave Rogers 122 Rogers Bros. Racing / Abec 11
7 James West Jr. 120 TimeShip Racing / Longboard Larry
8 David Angelus 114
9 Seth Cox 113.75 Skate School / Ricker Racing
10 David Price 104 TimeShip Racing / Seismic Women’s All Around
Isa Ruiz 126 points TimeShip Racing / Pink
Judith Rogers 90 points Rogers Bros. Racing / Pink
Claire Bartlett 72 points TimeShip Racing / Skate School
TimeShip Racing would like to thank all of the sponsors that came through to help make this a prize filled event and we look forward to doing it again next year.
Thanks to: San Marcos Feed Store, Skate School, Dregs Skateboards, Gravity, Tailtap.com, Concrete Wave, Khiro, PressureDrop Longboards, Juice Magazine, Comet, Southshore Distribution, Pool King, San Diego Speed, Conspiracy Skateboards, S-One, Ninja, Sk8Kings, Subsonic, Abec 11, Landyachts, Tail Devil, Insect, and Monster Energy Drink.
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