Cathlamet Downhill Corral 2014 Preview by Wahkiakum Eagle

Cathlamet Downhill Corral Section B--A Special Edition Published by The Wahkiakum County Eagle August 7, 2014 -- Cathlamet, Washington -- © The Wahkiakum County Eagle -- www.waheagle.com

Inside The Downhill Corral

Here’s the story of the Cathlamet Downhill Corral.......................... Page B2

My turn Jp Rowan takes over the reins of the Cathlamet Downhill Corral Longboard Festival. . .............. Page B4 Things to see

There’s plenty of action in the three days of events. ................... Page B6, B7

What, when and where?

Here’s a schedule of events, history or results and a description of the races for all three days.............. Page B8, B9

Our turn

Female riders start to make waves in longboard events. Here’s Amanda Roden’s story .................. Page B10

Billy (Bones) Meiners leads Chance Gaul into Coffin Corner on Broadway Street in the 2013 Cathlamet Downhill Corral Downhill Championship Race. Eagle photo by Jennifer Johnson.

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The Wahkiakum County Eagle August 7, 2014

The story of the Cathlamet Downhill Corral by Rick Nelson The Cathlamet Downhill Corral Skateboard Festival will run August 7-10, presenting seven main events in three days of action. Skateboarders of all ages from all over the world show their style, their ability to sail through the air, their skill in controlling their boards through slaloms and slides, and finally their courage to scream down Cathlamet's hills in the hotly contested downhill race. “Cathlamet has become a major stop for downhill racing,” Rob McKendry, III, who announces the races and provides commentary based on 20 some years of skateboarding, told The Eagle. “It’s a challenging course. It slants the wrong way in the turns, and the manhole will take off your slide glove.”

ponsors and their crews descended on Cathlamet Tuesday and Wednesday to begin building the ramps and jumps needed for the varied events. Action starts Friday with the Run to the River Slalom, 10 a.m. on 3rd Street. At the same time, other competitors will be on Spring Street getting ready for the Slopestyle Competition and the Sidewalk Showdown, a challenging course over curbs and jumps. On Saturday, 9 a.m., racers will head to Stockhouse Farm on West Birnie Slough Road for the 7.5 mile push race around the lower end of the Island. Action moves back to Spring Street in Cathlamet for the Boardercross, in which groups of four racers will careen down a narrow track and negotiate ramps, turns and jumps. Practice runs start at 10 a.m.; competition starts at 2 p.m. The Mule Kicker--big air and best trick competitions--will end the day with competition starting at 5 p.m. Sunday is the Downhill Race. Starting near Wahkiakum High

School, racers will shoot down the Cathlamet Hill, veer onto Broadway Street, navigate the Mule Kicker jump, and finish on Commercial. They wear mortorcyle racing leathers and helmets and glue plastic discs to gloves for braking and maneuvering. Viewers are advised to stay behind the hay bales.

he idea for the races was conceived about six years ago when retired event coordinator Judy Edmondson and her son, Addison Fox, then age 14, visited her parents, the late Cameron and Ruth Edmondson, in their Puget Island home. Addison went out on his board and came back to suggest they hold a push race on the Island. They started brainstorming and came up with the idea of a variety of events. They took the idea to Billy “Bones” Meiners and other Portland racers who came to Cathlamet and fell in love with the streets and hills and welcoming community.

he festival continues to evolve. This year, thanks to donors from the Cathlamet area, there will be a $550 purse for women competitors. Sponsors will tally the women’s results and award the top all around female rider with the title of Queen of Cathlamet.

Judy Edmondson, center, with children Addison Fox, left, and Ramona Silver Fox, right, were the principle organizers and coordinators of the Cathlamet Downhill Corral. She’s retired this year, and Jp Rowan has taken over. See Page 4 for a profile about Jp. Staff photo.

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Jp Rowan takes the reins of Downhill Corral by Diana Zimmerman Jp Rowan, a skateboarder and event coordinator, has taken over the planning for the Cathlamet Downhill Corral this year. Jp (pronounced “jay-pea”) picked up skateboarding at the age of 14 in Virginia Beach, VA. The pragmatist in him saw it as a way to get around town, whether to be with his friends or get to the nearest surf break. The kid in him liked the challenge. The kid in him thought it was fun. “About five years into the sport,” Rowan said, “a buddy of mine introduced me to the concept of longboarding with the bigger boards. It kind of took over. I met my first skate community and that had such a positive influence on my life. I found this really cohesive community of people, from people in their 40s to really young guys. The community aspect really inspired me and became a big influence in my life. I’ve been in the downhill skate industry for almost 10 years and I still feel that strong solid sense of community.”

Jp moved to Portland eight years ago to be a part of the growing

skate park scene.

After sixteen years the sport still brings him a lot of joy, but his focus has shifted to the challenges outside the daily ride. He ran Rip City Skate shop in Portland for five years and began to help with event planning, learning a lot from local Judy Edmondson, who began the Cathlamet Downhill Corral six years ago.

Jp Rowan for five years has worked in the background to organize, set up, manage and tear down for the Cathlamet Downhill Corral Longboard Festival. This year, he takes over full management of the event. Photo by Diana Zimmerman.

These days his focus has shifted to event coordination, and this year he has taken the reins from Edmondson.

“It’s my first year really,” Jp said. “Judy Edmondson has really spearheaded all of this over the years. I’ve been a big helper to her, but this is the first year that I’ve really had to step up and take over the full role of putting it together. There are a lot of little things that I see that I wish I had done better. It’s a full time job. I don’t know how Judy did it.” Next year he hopes to spend more time working with local businesses to get them involved. He also knows he needs to start planning for the event much earlier.

Jp learned by going door to door that the crew needed to do a

better job of picking up screws after the event. More importantly he learned that there is a lot of support and excitement from the locals.

Jp Rowan acted as master of ceremonies for the awards presentation of the 2013 Downhill Race. Staff photo.

Last year he moved to Santa Barbara after receiving an invitation to join a commune. One man in the community is an employee for Powell Peralta, which according to Rowan is an old and established skateboard company. His new neighbor built an indoor park for skateboarding on the commune. There is also beach access.

The Wahkiakum County Eagle August 7, 2014

“It’s paradise,” Rowan said. “We grow our own food. We’re trying to create a sustainable lifestyle. I’m able to break some of my life away from the skateboard world and do some farming. It is so physically and mentally rewarding. I’m really happy down there, but I have so much built up, up here. I can’t fully disappear.”

For now, he’s here. He hopes to still have his hand in this event 10

year from now.

“I want to grow it to a much bigger level,” Rowan said. “I’d like to do more for the skate community and for Cathlamet as well. I’d love to leave a really positive footprint on the town. It seems like the town is at it’s strongest since we’ve been here, as far as the local economy. I hope to see it continue to grow.

Chamber of Commerce Welcomes

Longboard Racers

to the 2014 Downhill Corral!

“I’m so happy to have become a part of this town. Even if I’m not a resident, it’s a part of my life.”

One of his dreams is to

build a permanent concrete skate park to honor Judy Edmondson’s father, Cameron, who passed away recently. “Cameron saw so much positive coming out of the Downhill Corral,” Rowan said. “We’ve been storing ramps in his garage. He let us take over his home every year. He took great pleasure in making this happen in Cathlamet.” Downhill racing is growing rapidly, according to Rowan. New courses are showing up around the world, and he says in some places skateboarders are racing at speeds of more than 60 mph. “The downhill course we have here is iconic,” he said, “but it’s not a very gnarly course. It’s the environment that brings people back. It’s the ‘skate everything’ attitude about the event and the fact that the town is really into it that makes it special. It’s a great venue.”

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The Wahkiakum County Eagle August 7, 2014

The action of the Cathlamet Downhill Corral

Dillon Stephens leads Patrick Switzer and Casey Morrow into the Coffin Corner. Rain made streets slick at Coffin Corner in 2013.

Above: Scrapes, etc., are part of a skateboarderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s learning experience. Right: Brandon Tissen weaves through a slalom course. Robert J. McKendry has announced the Downhill Corral event every year.

Wahkiakum County Sheriffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Office wishes you a safe visit during the

6th Annual Downhill Corral Races www.originalskateboards.com www.facebook.com/originalskateboards

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The Wahkiakum County Eagle August 7, 2014

The pack heads out at the start of the 7.5 mile Puget Island Push Race.

A racer hits the sky in the Big Air competition.

A racer heads down Broadway Street. A rider goes off the side of a truck in the Slopestyle Competition.

Photo credits: All photos on these and other pages are “staff photos” unless credited otherwise. “Staff photos” refer to photos by present and former staff members and stringers, including Ruby Murray, Diana Zimmerman, Jennifer Johnson and Rick Nelson.

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The history of the Cathlamet Downhill Corral 2009 Results Downhill Race Results 1. Patrick Switzer, Hanover, Ontario 2. James Kelly, Santa Rosa, CA 3. Casey Morrow, Portland, OR 4. David Mitchell, Salem, OR 5. Kevin Reimer, Vancouver, BC 6. Robin McGuirk, Portland, OR 7. Patrick Haluska, Corvallis, OR 8. Daniel Hawes, Adelaide (AUS) Puget Island Push Race 1. Robin McGuirk, Portland, OR 2. Erickson Kolberg, Longview, WA 3. Eric Hovey, Portland, OR Slalom Results 1. Michael Dong – 11.351 – Clean 2. Zac Maytum – 11.73 – Clean 3. Brad Jackman – 12.257 – 1 cone

2010 Results Downhill Race Results 1. James Kelly, Santa Rosa, CA 2. Alex Tongue, Happy Valley, OR 3. Casey Morrow, Portland, OR 4. Robin McGuirk, Portland, OR 5. Zak Maytum, Boulder, CO 6. Dennis Manougian, Bellingham, WA 7. Nick Calafato, Washougal, WA 8. Billy Meiners, Portland, OR Slide Contest 1. Kyle Martin, Vancouver, BC 2. Ty Andersen, Salt Lake City, UT 3. Ross Druckrey, Eugene, OR Biggest Early Grab (off ramp) Ross Druckery, Eugene, OR Longest Soft Wheel Stand Up Slide Graeme Hystad, Vancouver, BC Mystery Slalom 1. Zak Maytum, Boulder, CO 2. Will Brunson, Santa Fe, NM 3. Robin McGuirk, Portland, OR Tight Slalom 1. Zak Maytum, Boulder, CO 2. Brad Jackman, Sumner, WA 3. Michael Dong, Bothel, WA Puget Island Push Race 1. Robin McGuirk – Portland, OR

2. Brandon DesJarlais – Salem, OR 3. James Peters – Seattle, WA

2011 Results Downhill Corral Open Class 1. Alex Tongue, Happy Valley, OR 2. Chip Wood, Portland, OR 3. Billy Meiners, Portland, OR 4. Patrick Switzer, Hanover, Ontario Juniors 1. Charlie Darragh, Vancouver, BC 2. Brandon DeJarlais, Salem, OR 3. Alex Johnston, Vancouver, BC 4. Addison Fox, Beaverton, OR 4-Man Boardercross 1. Patrick Switzer, Hanover, Ontario 2. Will Royce, Tampa, FL 3. Robin McGuirk, Portland, OR 4. James West Jr., Albequerque, NM Slide Contest 1. Luke Morrow, Eugene, OR 2. David Rudgers, Portland, OR 3. Ross Druckrey, Eugene, OR Sidewalk Showdown Slalom 1. Casey Morrow, Portland, OR 2. David Mitchell, Keiser, OR 3. Jon Huey, Portland, OR Tight Slalom 1. John Stryker, Lake Stevens, WA 2. James West, Albequerque, NM 3. Skip Marcotte, Portland, OR Puget Island Push Race 1. Robin McGuirk, Portland, OR 2. David Mitchell, Keiser, OR 3. Brandon DesJarlais, Salem, OR 2012 Results Tight Slalom 1. Brad Jackman 2. John Stryker 3. Brandon Tissen 4. Scott Moore Giant Slalom 1. David Mitchell 2. Brad Jackman 3. Jon Huey

4. Patrick Switzer Slide Jam 1. Dan Couch 2. Ross Druckery 3. Tyler Howell 4. Brandon Tissen Push race 1. Paul Kent 2. Robin McGuirk 3. Brandon DeJarles 4. David Mitchell Sidewalk Showdown 1. Jon Huey 2. Brandon Tissen 3. Chance Gaul 4. Robin McGuirk Boardercross 1. William Royce 2. Brian Cortwright 3. Jesse Breiman 4. Brandon Tissen Downhill Masters 30 yoa 1. Jeff Budro 2. Scott Limbach 3. Robin McGuirk 4. Adam Yates 5. Eric Hovey 1. Downhill Jrs. 15 yoa 1. Chance Gaul 2. Ian Russel 3. Oliver Korman 4. Arman Jaberi Downhill Open 1. Kyle Martin 2. Dillon Stephens 3. Micah Greene 4. Scott Limbach 5. Alex Tongue 6. Billy Meiners 7. William Royce 8. Jose Guzman Overall Champion 1. Brandon Tissen,

Downhill 1. Billy Meiners 2. Chance Gaul 3. Nick Calafato 4. William Royce Slopestyle 1. Chance Gaul 2. William Royce 3. Brandon Tissen 4. Michael Carson 5. Brian 6. Ross Druckery 7. KJ Nankanalua 8. Nick Calafato

2. Paul Kent 3. Robin McGuirk

Unofficial 2013 Results Giant Slalom 1. Jon Huey 2. Jackson Shapiera 3. Brandon Tissen 4. Brad Jackman 5. Skip Marcotte 6. Robin McGuirk 7. Nick Ronzani 8. John Stryker Tight Slalom 1. Jackson Shapiera 2. Brad Jackman 3. John Stryker 4. Robin McGuirk 5. Skip Marcotte 6. Brandon Desjarlais 7. Brandon Tissen 8. Tyler Howell

Big Air 1. TJ Swinkles (35’ jump)

Sidewalk Showdown 1. Brandon Tissen 2. William Royce 3. Casey Morrow 4. Robin McGuirk 5. Jon Huey 6. KJ Nankanalua 7. Michael Carson 8. Nick Ronazni Puget Island Push Race 1. Brandon Desjarlais 2. Robin McGuirk 3. Cory Poole Boarder Cross 1. Brandon Tissen 2. William Royce 3. Chance Gaul 4. Robin McGuirk

John Stryker runs the slalom course in 2012 action. Staff photo.

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The Events of the DHC Friday, Aug. 8

racers to lose feeling in their legs.

Run to River Slalom, 10 a.m., 3rd St. This year, this will be “a fast flowing hybrid course one lane slalom held on a pristine incline with a beautiful view of the marina,” according the the Cathlamet Downhill Corral website.

Boardercross (Boarder X) 10 a.m. practice, 2 p.m. start Spring and Columbia Streets This is a race with four racers all wanting to be in the same square footage at once. There will be multiple ramps in this event. The Boarder X race is a combination of downhill racing with banked walls, pumpers, and launch ramps. Four man heats keep the tempo high leaving only the stoutest racers on top.

Slopestyle 10 a.m. practice, 2 p.m. start Spring and Columbia Streets Next, with preliminary heats at 2 p.m., comes Slopestyle, a trick oriented competition that uses ramps and other features along the course. Competitors will be graded by a panel of judges to determine their final position. Creativity of style, Variety of tricks, use of all the Features, Speed and Consistency will factor into the competitors’ final score. Sidewalk Showdown 5 p.m. practice, 6:30 p.m. start Spring and Columbia Streets Closing the action on Friday will be the Sidewalk Showdown with its course through the street, up and over curbs, and down ramps.

Saturday, Aug. 9

Puget Island Push Race, 9 a.m. Starting at Stockhouse Farm, West Birnie Slough Road, Puget Island, the Push Race is 7.5 miles of pancake flat pavement, with at least a quarter of that distance rough enough to cause

Sunday, Aug. 10

Downhill Race 9 a.m. practice, 1 p.m. start Third, Spring, Columbia, Main, Broadway and Commercial streets The Downhill Race will be capped at 64 racers, and bracketing will be run in a race every position format. Much like Round Robin race systems, first and second place from each heat will move forward for the opportunity to compete for the title. Unlike Round Robin racing, third and fourth place will also continue racing, but will then be ranked based on their position in the following heats. There will be a Open, Womens, Masters and Groms finals. Groms will be limited to competitors age 15 and under and Masters will be limited to competitors age 35 and older. Riders will be allowed to ride in both the Open and their own division, but if they make it to the open finals will be required to choose their division.

The Schedule of the DHC Thursday, August 7: • Brand exhibition, 5-7 p.m., Spring Street. Friday, August 8: • Run to the River Slalom: 10 a.m. to 1p.m., open timed runs; Third Street. • Slopestyle Competition: 10 a.m. practice; 1 p.m. preliminaries; 2 p.m. lunch break; 3 p.m. finals; 4 p.m. awards ceremony; Spring and Columbia streets. • Sidewalk Showdown: 5 p.m. practice; 6:30 p.m. racers meeting; 7 p.m. race; Spring and Columbia streets. Saturday, August 9: • Puget Island Push Race: 9 a.m. race along West Birnie, Ostervold, North Welcome Slough and School House roads. • Boarder X Race: 10 a.m. practice; 1 p.m. lunch break; 2 p.m. race; 4 p.m. awards; Spring and Columbia streets. • The Mule Kicker: 5 p.m. biggest air; 6 p.m. best trick, 7 p.m. awards; Spring and Columbia streets. Sunday, August 10: • Downhill Race: 9 a.m. practice; 12 noon, lunch break; 1 p.m. racers meeting and races; 3 p.m. finals; 4 p.m. awards. Course includes South Third, Spring, Columbia, Main, Broadway and Commercial streets. Traffic impacts Traffic will be curtailed on Cathlamet streets during the events. On street parking is also prohibited. On Friday, 3rd Street near the clinic will host three events. Boarders and other vehicles will share Puget Island roads for the Saturday morning push race starting on West Birnie Slough Road. Competition moves back to the Spring and Columbia streets in Cathlamet for Boardercross races, with practice runs starting at noon and finals at 5 p.m.. On Sunday, Main Street will be closed up to 20 minutes for heats starting at 9 a.m. Commercial, Broadway and portions of River, Columbia, Spring and South Third streets will be closed for the Downhill Race which will last into the evening. People planning to travel through town on Sunday should be prepared for 20 minute closures.

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The story of a female longboard racer Editor’s note: Cathlamet residents and businesses have put up $550 in prize money for female competitors. Sponsors will compile women’s results and award some cash to the Queen of Cathlamet. Here’s a profile about a young woman who will be in the hunt. Photo and story by Diana Zimmerman Amanda Roden, 23, grew up in Dallesport, WA, which she says is even smaller than Cathlamet. She now resides across the river in The Dalles, OR, but is making plans to move to a more skateboard friendly Portland in the near future. Last year she managed to finesse a ride to southwest Washington to watch the Cathlamet Downhill Corral and keep company with likeminded individuals. She wanted to compete but was

Amanda Roden joined the skateboard community at age 19, and now at 23 years of age, she has a sponsor and is competing in events across the region. She’ll be in the Downhill Race this year.

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