IGSA World Cup Today

Martin Siegrist is Top Qualifier

Under stripes of high clouds, the Maryhill Loops Road will be the scene for the IGSA World Cup race today, and it looks to be a really fast day. Yesterday, the qualifiying speed for every class improved. It's only going to get better. This is a short report, with a few photos. Check out the forums and galleries for a lot more.

The qualifying on Friday was a long process, that puts racers on the course at one-minute intervals...a steady stream of speedboarders, luges, gravity bikes and inliners coming by, one after the other in a solitary run for top qualification in their class. On Thursday, the speedboarders had been led by Mischo Erban and Kevin Reimer. On Friday, the grid was reversed, meaning that Reimer and Erban would be the last two skateboarders down the hill.

Most every racer was faster on Friday, and the speedboarders were certainly no exception. Toward the end of the bracket, 2007 World Champion Martin Siegrist came down with a "perfect run"...and bettered Erban's time from Thursday. The pressure was on, but the racers at the top of the hill didn't know it. Reimer came down, fast, but not fast enough to beat Siegrist... Martin Siegrist earned the $300 premium for Top Qualifier, sponsored by Never Summer Longboards.

After the racing, it was off to Ekone Park for an excellent dinner provided by the local families and then...concerts. A local band opened with clean, crisp blues and rock. Then, Coast Longboarding's "Loose Tooth" took the stage to inform the locals "We Hate the States" before cranking into Goldendale's first punk concert in 20 years. The mosh pit was bumping, the F-bombs were flying, the beer garden packed with racers and things became somewhat blurry...