LAFAYETTE, Colo. — LAFAYETTE -- A smooth, steep stretch of asphalt tucked away in an office park in the southeast corner of the city is getting some national attention from skateboarders this weekend.
Lafayette's Overlook Drive will be the site of the Seismic U.S. Nationals of Slalom Skateboarding -- and closed by city permit to vehicle traffic. About 40 skateboard "elite" racers from around the country are registered to compete in four events.
Race organizer and competitor Jason Mitchell, who lives in Louisville and owns the Colorado Skate School, said Overlook Drive is one of the best slalom hills in the country.
"It's a beautiful, fourth-of-a-mile stretch with a run-out area where you can slow down safely," he said.
He said the hill is perfect for the specialized sport of slalom racing, where racers maneuver through a downhill course of pre-set gates and cones, because it has smooth "grippy" pavement with a consistent, 9-percent grade and wide lanes.
Racers, who compete against each other and the clock, are expected to reach speeds of 35 mph. Colorado has hosted the national competition twice before. A smaller race, the Colorado Cup, also was held on Lafayette's Overlook Drive two years ago.
"This is going to be a challenging course," Mitchell said.
Winners in the professional category will receive cash prizes. The competition also counts toward the point tallies that qualify riders for the slalom world championships, which will be held July 18-19 in Hood River, Ore.
Slalom was one of competitive skateboarding's original disciplines, with interest peaking in the 1970s. In the late '70s, interest shifted to more aggressive skateboarding styles. Then, in 2000, the sport saw renewed interest.
Now, there's a mix of veteran competitors in their 30s and 40s and newcomers to sport in their teens and 20s. The average elite professional is 32, Mitchell said, but top competitors range from their early 20s to mid-40s.
"There's been a resurgence in interest in slalom," he said.
At this weekend's race, Mitchell said, he's expecting a mix of well-known names and up-and-coming local skaters.
"There should be some really good competition," he said. "It should be really cool."
One of the local competitors is Zak Maytum, a Boulder 18-year-old.
"Slalom is really fun," he said. "It's a really good way to get into skateboarding."
He said he likes racing, both slalom and downhill, because "the clock doesn't lie. It's just how good you are."
Maytum said local skaters found Overlook Hill a couple years ago, soon after it had been paved, and made it a popular practice spot.
Lafayette, CO hosting national slalom skateboarding competition
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