Longboard races provide spills, thrills

The Second Annual Cathlamet Downhill Corral, a series of internationally sanctioned longboard races, came off with few hitches last Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The races brought nearly 100 competitors to the area, over twice the number that competed last year.

Food and lodging business enjoyed a brief surge as competitors and their friends and family members gathered in Cathlamet and at Skamokawa Vista Park.

The racers competed for prize money in a variety of events. On Friday, they held a slide contest and a tight slalom race on Broadway Street.

Slide is all about style, one competitor told The Eagle. The contestants performed tricks and maneuvers on their boards before a group of judges; Kyle Martin claimed first prize.

Colorado resident Zak Maytum won the tight slalom contest; Brad Jackman finished second and Michael Dong third.

Saturday events started in the morning with a seven-mile push race around the upper half of Puget Island. Winners were 1. Robin McGuirk, 2. Branden DesJarlais, and 3. James Peters.

In the afternoon, action moved to Una Street for a mystery slalom race. The timed event involved riders coasting down a ramp pointed uphill on the street, turning and coming down a course that followed sidewalks and included several jumps.

Maytum again took first place, with Will Brunson second and McGuirk third.

The premier event occurred Sunday, the half-mile long downhill course starting at Wahkiakum High School and coming down Spring, Columbia and Broadway streets to finish on Commercial Street by the funeral home.

Course designers Billy Bones Morrow and Robin McKendry added three jumps to the course. One, halfway down Broadway, challenged many riders and led to several minor injuries. Emergency medical technicians became concerned about the injuries and suggested the jump, named the Mulekicker, be removed, but the racers, after a conference, agreed to keep it in the course.

James Kelly, who finished second in last year's race, led the first practice heat through the course and kept up the pace all day. He finished in first place and claimed a $500 prize. Alex Tongue placed second, Casey Morrow third and McGuirk fourth.

"I skated really well today," Kelly said after the race. "I've been racing all summer and just got back from competing in Europe.

"It's a challenging course. I was bummed that Zac (Maytum) didn't make to the finals; he crashed out earlier in the day (knee)."

The racers expressed appreciation for the welcome they received in the community for the second year in a row.

"We don't normally get to take over a town," said McKendry, the public address speaker for the races. "Thank you."

The Wahkiakum Chamber of Commerce was the local coordinator for the event.