Bob Denike gestures for an appeal from officials after being nudged out of his tuck by John Hutson. John was DQ'ed to 4th place, Bob wound up third.
10
THE CLASSIC QUESTION
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The prospect for this years 6th annual,
first Saturday in September, skate dash
through the streets of Capitola, California,
was already raising some questions about
downhill skating back in the initial planning
stages last spring.
Except for the '83 Classic, organized
downhill competition was virtually non
existant in 1983. Maybe it shouldn't seem
so weird that, with all the different types of
skateboarding going on these days,
especially in the mind blowing bionics of
vertical and the everyday, eveybody can
skate, street sessions, a specialized field
of skating such as downhill is capturing the
biggest contest crowd of any other event in
skateboarding. Why not? As a skater, the
first question you hear from the clueless
pedestrian on the street (after they say
"Damn, that skateboard is soo big!", is,
"How fast can you go on that thing?" When
you think about it, downhill skateboarding
is about as close to the roots of skateboard-
ing as you can get. What else do you do
with a platform that has four wheels
attachéd and no motor? You go find a hill
and push off down that sucker. You might
even say that any skater who hasn't
stepped on a board at the top of a smooth
asphalt grade, with the full intention of
making it to the bottom intact, and then
done so, is not full fledged. Many skaters
have been initiated only because after 25
m.p.h. stepping off of a moving skateboard
gets a little tricky. The only other alternative
in this situation, is to tuck it and go for it!
As the early morning fog lifted and the
racers began to take their practice runs
many of the more urgent inquiries of the
day were being answered. Reigning
downhill champion and number 1 plate
holder in the last three Capitola events,
John Hutson, was on the course and
looking smooth and fast. The Seattle
contingency consisting of the four Wood
brothers (Glen, Scott, Dave and Dan) and
Roy Wakeman were out on the course
early and yes, fully decked out in the now
famous duck tailed speed suits. With all
five Seattlites sporting this odd looking
fairing apparel, definetely a factor in skate
racing, the prospect of a strong challenge
or an upset was in evidence. By contrast,
Bob Denike, was relying only on a super
slippery looking rubber speed suit and not
the bullet head helmet that he had used
effectively in past races. Bob had faired
well two years ago when he tucked into
second place behind 'The Hut' but last
year, misfortunately wound up with a
broken arm a few weeks before the race
and had to settle for a very gallant 11th.
Another skater on the course who has
placed second to one of Hutson's first was
Caedman Bear. His head to head racing
experience on the winding upper terraces
of his hometown, Berkeley, would give him
an edge in the turn and through the top of
the course.
Some of the other top riders who were in
attendance and ready to challenge were:
Chuck Bell and Covey Bauman from
Canada, The Kid' Roger Hickey was
looking for a comeback this year; Randy
Katen from Sacramento who had some
consistent placings here over the last two
races was looking ready to roll.
Hutson comes out of the turn with his wings out, getting ready for the drag race down Monterey Ave.
Dressed for speed. Roy Wakeman shows his winning form after out foiling all comers at the Classic.
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