Tucked and determined, Bob Denike leads Covey Bauman off the top of the hill.
TOP 16
Head to Head Breakdown
1983 Capitola Classic
Top 16
1.
Roy Wakeman
2.
Chuck Bell
3.
Bob Denike
4.
John Hutson
5.
David Wood
-Chuck Be
6.
Glen Wood
7.
Covey Bauman
8. Scott Wood
9. Mike Phillips
Once again the serene surfside town of
Capitola had been invaded by skate-
boarders looking for a thrill. A stroll up to
the top of the course provided a good
chance to check out some of the latest
custom skate vehicles that had been set
up with this race in mind. Also, as the
skaters barrelled off down the hill one by
one to qualify, one could glimpse the
power pushing techniques that would, in
many cases mean the difference between
a winning or losing run later on.
As soon as the qualifying round was
completed it was obvious that Roy
Wakeman and the Wood Brothers
painstaking attention to detail in fabrication
of their speed tails was going to pay off.
Glen Wood posted the fastest qualifying
run (26.3972) to take poll position for the
head to head eliminations, he was followed
convincingly by: Roy Wakeman, John
Hutson (who for the first time anyone could
remember, had not qualified first) Covey
Bauman, Chuck Bell, Scott Wood, David
Wood, Bob Denike, Mike Phillips, Tim
Piumarta, Caedman Bear, Mark Aley,
Randy Katen, Rich Dunlap, Cliff Coleman,
34
10. Tim Piumarta
11. Caedmon Bear
12. Marc Aley
13. Randy Katen
14. Rich Dunlap
15. Cliff Coleman
16. Dave Moorhouse
and Dave Moorehouse.
Based on last years results and the
presence this year of more refined
streamlining tactics it was obvious from the
outset that two styles of attack would be
used in this years race. Many skaters
would rely on the push like hell approach to
try and secure a lead into the harsh left
hand turn, then, try to hold it through the
hay bail chicane and down through the
flats to the finish, the key being to try and
avoid being drafted and passed at the
bottom. The second and more strategic
approach is just the opposite; a secure
push from the start immediately into a
drafting tuck going into the turn and staying
close enough to suck by your competitor
towards the finish line.
During the eliminations from the 16 cut
down to the 8 cut quarter finals is when you
see some of the wilder action at Capitola.
This year was no exception and the crowd
witnessed some very close and intense
racing. More than a few riders hit the
pavement this year at two critical spots on
the track. Coming into the turn in a race
against Chuck Bell proved too tricky for
Marc Aley of Berkeley at one point and he
blew into a hay bale after laying down a
drifting bert slide. Mike Phillips eliminated
himself by clipping a bale further down the
course while trying to catch Denike.
Another fall zone was the finish line were
several riders simply leaned right off the
front of their boards trying for a few extra
ounces of speed. Going into the semi-final
round, the 8 skaters still alive were: Glen
Wood, Chuck Bell, Dave Wood, John
Hutson, Roy Wakeman, Scott Wood, Bob
Denike and Covey Bauman.
The ensuing battle in the semi-finals was
intense. Hutson and Dave Wood went
down after tangling in the turn and had to
restart before John could fend him off.
Covey Bauman took a hard pile at the
finish line trying to lean into a win over
Denike. Bell and Wakeman each won
close duels with Glen and Scott Wood
respectively. So the Wood brothers
downhill team was out of it.
The top four. This was it. The final four
had produced two surprises. First was the
presence of the only fairing suited racer in
the form of Roy 'Not a Wood' Wakeman.
He would go up against Bob Denike who
was racing with the "get out in front and
hold on" strategy. Another surprise was
Chuck Bell from Calgary, Canada, who
had slid in on pure grit, and a lot of speed,
to surprise more than a few. But his biggest
challenge was yet to come, because the
fourth finalist, and Chuck's, opponent in
the next match-up was John Hutson, "Mr.
Capitola".
Denike managed to shut the door on
Wakeman in their first race but could not
hold on to his lead in the second battle.
Roy blew by Bob at the finish and into the
finals with Chuck Bell. Chuck had managed
to stave off John Hutson in two of the
closest and most exciting match ups of the
day... So Hutson was out. Denike was out.
The consolation round between the two
was a rematch of the '81 classic finals
except that the best either racer could
hope for this time was 3rd place. Just as he
had been doing all day, Bob powered into
the turn and came out well ahead of John,
then the 'Hut' began to creep in behind
Bob's wind, looking for an open door to
pass. At this point he pulled up to the left
and as he began to maneuver his momen-
tum in for the pass suddenly was pitched
back to the right and collided with Bob
jolting him out of his tuck. Bob made an
appeal to the officials who agreed on an
interference penalty and Hutson was
disqualified. A victim of circumstance.
It was Chuck Bell and Roy Wakeman,
the battle of the Northwest, in the final
match-up. The push against the pull. In
both races, Chuck seemed to have a safe
lead over Roy coming out of the turn and
through the upper straight. But each time,
Wakeman sucked up behind him on the
flats, eased over and slipped by at the
finish line to take the pair of races and the
1983 Capitola Classic crown back home to
Seattle. There was no doubt that the day of
the ducktail is here and Roy Wakeman and
the Wood Brothers were already thinking
ahead to next year's race to prove that this
victory was no fluke triumph. THER
L
When it comes right down to WINNING, Tom Sims
dominates Snowboarding. Nobody comes close in
designing and manufacturing, either. In fact, the only
reason to ride another board is to prove our guarantee:
ONLY Sims Boards are guaranteed to out-perform
any other board in any snow conditions or your
money back!!!
Only Sims Snowboards have P-Tex 1000 racing bases.
Our totally new adjustable bindings allow you to have
your own individual stance. Only SIMS boards have
stainless thrusters and offer steel edges.
SWIS
Om ready to check out snowboarding this
winter. Send me more info, and order form.
I'm enclosing $1.00 for Sims Snowboarding
Handbook and decal.
1500 FE
TOM SIMS
1983 CONTEST RESULTS
1st SLALOM, 1st DOWNHILL, 1st OVERALL
NATIONAL SNOWBOARDING CHAMPIONSHIPS
Snow Valley Ski Area, Winhall, Vermont
1st GIANT SLALOM
KING OF THE MOUNTAIN
SNOWBOARDING CHAMPIONSHIPS,
Berthoud Pass Ski Area, Colorado
1st SLALOM, 2nd DOWNHILL, 3rd AERIALS,
1st OVERALL
WORLD SNOWBOARDING CHAMPIONSHIPS
Soda Springs Ski Area, Tahoe, California
Please send me a Sims design long sleeve t-
shirt ($18.95).
Hooded T-shirt (17.50) Sweat Shirt ($20.00)
SMO MEDO LGXL (tax included)
I don't surt, or skate. I can't relate. I'm enclosing
$50.00 for a BOZO DECAL and cap
ADDRESS
STATE
ZIP
835 NORTH MILPAS SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA 93103 (805) 963-1989
NAME
CITY
"35"