NewsD
Video heads from local stations could be
seen working all angles.
MATT ETHERIOGE
CAPITOLA CLASSIC
The harsh realities of intense downhill
racing, Caedman Bear escapes
across the finish line as Roy Wakeman
goes down right behind him.
STECYK
Speed, Thrills and Spills, spread, John Hutson, sleek speed tuck
through the upper part of the course and on to yet another downhill
victory.
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Bob Denike
MOFOTO
MATT ETHERICO
Early morning practice
runs as the sun and
If "Wide World of Sports" ever gets a
hold of the annual "Capitola Classic
downhill, Roone Arledge and the boys
upstairs are going to be saying to
themselves, "Why haven't we ever
covered this before?" and maybe even
some lowly scout will get fired for not
finding out about this "event" years before.
Maybe. But there's a good chance that
"Wide World of Sports" or Sports Illustrated
or ESPN won't cover this or any other
"major" skateboarding event. Instead, the
coverage will be relegated to video
upstarts and local news channels.
("Downhill race in Capitola today on...
SKATEBOARDS...!?...more after this).
Well, it's their loss and ultimately our
loss because this race has just about
everything one could ask for in a sporting
gig. But we've never really called
skateboarding a sport, remember? "I mean
those kids look like their having too much
fun to be involved in a sport"-anonymous
quote. Attitudes like this are partly
responsible when a loud basketball game
on a surburban driveway goes unnoticed,
while a loud skateboard ramp in a
backyard gets complaints all the way to
City Hall. Ah well, more on that some other
time, the fact is that here is a full-on,
sanctioned event that features all the color
and excitement and it seems that it would
be enjoyed by more than just a few
thousand that witnessed the Classic this
year.
Capitola is a small resort town just south
of Santa Cruz on the Monterey Bay. In
many ways, it is a reflection of what Santa
Cruz used to be, until the valley's and
college students came and ruined its tight,
local, brotherhood-type atmosphere. This
atmosphere can still be found in Capitola
most of the time, except on big summer
weekends and during the annual Begonia
festival when the town opens its doors to
the world and the tourists. It is during the
festival that the Classic is held.
The Capitola Classic could be consi-
dered the perfect skateboarding gig.
Combining all the elements that make for
spectators begin to show. an excellent outdoor event. A race that is
meant to be enjoyed and challenged by
both competitors and a few thousand
curious but eager spectators. This year's
event was no exception to that assumption.
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