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| Q&A: Slalom Pro Mike Maysey (2489 Posts)
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slalom under the stars
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On 2/24/2006
sc
wrote in from
United States
(68.4.nnn.nnn)
hey man, hope you're getting a lot of money back from your taxes, my lone sesh at [the spot] was killer
howzabout tonight @ Timms?
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Pump Tight
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On 2/21/2006
MG
wrote in from
United States
(216.145.nnn.nnn)
Thanks for the update. After setting sixes at JPL, I have been scratching my head trying to figure out how anyone was gonna run a whole long hill of 'em.
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PumpStation TS
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On 2/18/2006
mike maysey
wrote in from
United States
(72.130.nnn.nnn)
Skated the Pump today and set a TS. It was much more difficult to control speed on that hill than I had imagined. To try and get an idea of what I could run on the hill I set a line of six footers straight down the hill and set a course of 73 cones. They weren't straight, they were what I'd call semi-straight down the hill...It was nearly unmakeable especially with a tailwind. After input from everyone we finally started to arrange a fun course that you have to run a TS setup through, which was my goal in the course setting. I rode an 18" and it was tough to stay in especially if the run had a tailwind. With a headwind, the course became...fun...So, the course ended up starting about half way down (on the lower side of half) the steep part of the hill and goes through the 'S' curve. The top cones ended up being 7' or so with a sort of meander for the first 8 cones or so, then goes into an offset section...the cones are set almost hybrid style for about the next 8, then it shoots into a set of about 30 6' cones that go around the corner. After that, it jogs to the left with about 10 6.5' that are semi-straight...then you go back down to another 30 or so 6' cones that go through the second curve and through the finish. Cone total was 72 I think.
I painted white dots on the ground to mark the course. I don't intend to run that course for the race, but it will certainly be something similar...probably a little more meander to the rest of the course. I think I'm gonna have to skate the hill again and set some other types of courses before deciding on a course.
Was also thinking about maybe having two separate courses...one that starts lower and ends higher for those who don't want to take on the monster it's going to end up being.
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B-Street Sesh...
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On 2/12/2006
Miko
wrote in from
United States
(69.85.nnn.nnn)
Had a great session saturday am with JudiO and Drew at the "B"... Still running Steven King's hybrid blue course testing my new ICK and various rear trucks. (Next session we'll run the more sustained black ts course for some real ts practice.)
I switched from my Chicken Indy Offset, back to the Radikal rear, and managed to ride faster and cleaner on that course, then only real variable being the lack of a strong tailwind, which makes that course a real bear to clean. At this point, I'm once again digging the Rad rear, despite the stability of the Indy offset.
Finally... The ICK deck is really kicking ass, and has become my number one at the moment. with 18-19-20 inch drillings it's super versatile and I'm probably going to be on this for all but the biggest hybrids and gs stuff. rICK! You have really done it for me this time... This deck rocks my world! I finally have a real ts setup, and was finally back to pinballing at real race speeds through some tough offsets.
Wish I could make it down for the Pump TS deal. I hope to be working a different job either this summer, (or at the latest next year), with open weekends, (and a better paycheck), so I can get back to racing with you all!
Oh yeah, oh yeah...
-Miko
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CW Interview
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On 2/10/2006 Paulskiiwog
wrote in from
United States
(64.5.nnn.nnn)
That's basically what Fluitt told me last time I email blabbed with him. Dang. Whatever, I've seen you do it live and on Kenny and Maria's DVD's so I don't need the pictures but it would have been nice. Later-P
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Concrete Wave
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On 2/4/2006
mike maysey
wrote in from
United States
(72.130.nnn.nnn)
Thanks Paul...I just wish they would have shown a few other pictures...
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Interview in Concrete Wave
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On 2/1/2006 Paul Howard
wrote in from
United States
(64.5.nnn.nnn)
Hey, Nice interview in Concrete Wave!-P
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Course
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On 1/28/2006
mike maysey
wrote in from
United States
(24.176.nnn.nnn)
"Are you going to go around the "S" curve at the bottom, or will the run out be a rather hard right turn with a lot of speed? In other words, the whole course will be on the grade and then after the finish line run into the curve?"
I'm not sure how I'll set the course yet, since I've never run tight on that hill. I'd like to have the course go through that corner, but like I said, I just don't know what's going to be best for that hill. I do know this, making a tight course go around that corner would be no problem as long as I make the course apex the turn.
"I have a bad habit of thinking backwards. I always go to the bottom of a hill and set the course UP so the run out is in the flat.
Are you going to set the course from the top of the hill DOWN with a fast downhill run out? I'm just really wondering what part of the hill will be the course."
Again, I'm just not sure. What I'm probably gonna do it set a 6' straight course down the hill and see how that feels. I've run some six foot centers on another comparable hill to the Pump in Irvine, so I know TS is possible to run on Pump. Also at this hill in Irvine we run a crazy-ass fast TS course where survival is tough. Anyway, after setting the six foot straight down Pump, I may just create a course by bumping cones off of that line. I was also thinking about setting a bunch of straight sixes up top into some sevens down the fast/steep part of the hill going back into some sixes. Right now it's all just guessing. I think I'll head down there next weekend sometime and set some courses so I can get a real solid idea of what I want to set for race day.
And, no, I won't set the race course that...run it a bunch of times...and get it totally wired so I can do it blindfolded the day of the race. In other words, the race course WILL BE set the day of the race not before. In my mind, this keeps the playing field as level as it can be.
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Boards
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On 1/28/2006
mike maysey
wrote in from
United States
(24.176.nnn.nnn)
Chris, I would get in touch with DavO.
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Just Wondering Out Loud About The PS TS
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On 1/28/2006
WT
wrote in from
United States
(205.188.nnn.nnn)
I have a bad habit of thinking backwards. I always go to the bottom of a hill and set the course UP so the run out is in the flat.
Are you going to set the course from the top of the hill DOWN with a fast downhill run out? I'm just really wondering what part of the hill will be the course.
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PS TS
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On 1/28/2006
WT
wrote in from
United States
(205.188.nnn.nnn)
Mike,
I'm not coming, (I'm not filthy rich like the Detroit guys who can fly out to Cali once a month :-)) but I got to ask one question:
Are you going to go around the "S" curve at the bottom, or will the run out be a rather hard right turn with a lot of speed? In other words, the whole course will be on the grade and then after the finish line run into the curve?
It will be interesting to see what you're thinking.
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PS TS
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On 1/28/2006
Chris Chaput
wrote in from
United States
(66.116.nnn.nnn)
Thanks for the info. I'm sure that you'll set a good course. I'm mostly interested in knowing what the minimum cone settings are. I'd like not to practice 6' settings if there's gonna be 5' stingers and 5.5' sections with offsets.
It sounds as if being in shape will be as important as practicing. Since I don't want to practice on (and show up with) a board that won't be allowed, who is making the decisions on boards and when will we know?
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Plumphouse Tight
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On 1/28/2006
mike maysey
wrote in from
United States
(72.130.nnn.nnn)
"Cones will be set up somewhere between 6 and 7 feet".
I'll try to set all the cones in that range. Honestly though, I don't know how the course will be set right now. I gotta get down there and have a session with a few different courses to figure out what'll work. I think I'm gonna set the course so it traverses the hill. In other words, I want a meandering course, not something that goes straight down the fall line, but snakes around on the way down. My intention is to set the course so that you'll HAVE to run a TS board to make it.
Are 6-wheelers allowed?
Bring whatever you think will take you through the cones fastest. It's not up to me though. I'm only the course setter.
Do you have an idea about how many cones there will be?
I'm thinking somewhere in the neighborhood of 50-80 cones. Probably on the longer side since I like a grueling course. Again, I don't know for sure since I gotta session the hill with some tight courses to find something that'll work.
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Dixie Cup C ourt Street Course
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On 1/27/2006
North Carolina Longboarder-Downhillbillies.org
wrote in from
United States
(166.82.nnn.nnn)
WTucker is right when he says that none of the spacings at the Dixie Cup were more than 7.3 feet or so. When I set the original course (3 am in the morning in the middle of the week) and painted it I actually measured every spacing from the top of the hill to the finish because I was trying to get as many cones in as I could in the fairly short distance. I will need to look the info up but if my memory isn't failing me I believe we averaged roughly 6.5 feet per cone. Court Street is a false flat where the start ramps were located but very quickly drops elevation quickly. If you look at some of the pictures from the finish line up the hill you can get a perspective on the grade by looking at the buildings and spectators on in the background. It was hybrid though in the fact that we incorporated a "pyramid section" (now a staple of DHB hybrid and GS courses) in middle section and several quick step overs before finishing with a stinger section w/small random offsets.
We are just learning how to set good tight courses for practice and drilling but I think everyone that is running it are getting faster in all of the slalom stuff we are doing.
Looking forward to hearing more about the Pump Station tight fest.
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TS at PS
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On 1/27/2006
Chris Chaput
wrote in from
United States
(66.116.nnn.nnn)
The Contest Calendar says that "Cones will be set up somewhere between 6 and 7 feet". Does that mean that all of the cones will be set up between 6 and 7 feet or just some?
It also says, "It’s guaranteed that a 6-wheeler will not make it through", but it doesn't say whether or not they are allowed. Are 6-wheelers allowed?
Do you have an idea about how many cones there will be?
I'm going to need to practice just to make the course and so any and all information would be greatly appreciated.
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ts or what?
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On 1/27/2006
mike maysey
wrote in from
United States
(24.176.nnn.nnn)
To me, it's TS if I have to run my TS board through it. Yeah, 6 footers could be considered TS, why not? I ran a few TS courses in races last season. Breck, Stockholm and Worlds...the courses were in the 5.5 - 6.5 range and I needed my TS board to negotiate them.
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Fun Stuff
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On 1/27/2006
WT
wrote in from
United States
(205.188.nnn.nnn)
CM wrote, "We have a practice hill that is pretty fast running 35 cones in 10-11 sec. with some offsets and and curves. Like 5'-6' gates."
CM, not to brag, but at the Shamrock Open a couple of weeks ago in Dublin, Ga., we were running 39 cones at 6 to 6.5 spacing in 11-12 seconds (I was 5th place with an 12.4 adjusted (I think.) Bobby Mandarino set the fast ADJUSTED time (.1 sec penalty with a .2 on a couple of special offset cones. It was supposed to dissuade criddling.) It was a very mellow hill with 7 out of 10 asphalt. We did, though, have an unlimited push start. Bobby was starting back in the next county and just blasting into the course.
Very fun stuff.
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tight
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On 1/27/2006
Michael
wrote in from
United Kingdom
(87.115.nnn.nnn)
Quote: The best part though, is that the tight training is also helping with the big stuff too!
yep, I still reckon a good tight slalomer will find GS easier, but a good Gs'er that doesnt do tight is in great difficulties race day.
Except for the annoyingly naturally talented.
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Tight is cool
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On 1/27/2006
CM
wrote in from
United States
(64.128.nnn.nnn)
I was one of those people who liked the faster, bigger stuff more, but I have been working on tight stuff and I have really gotten to like it a lot. We have a practice hill that is pretty fast running 35 cones in 10-11 sec. with some offsets and and curves. Like 5'-6' gates. I figure after stuff like this the tight race courses like in Breck should be easier to handle.
The best part though, is that the tight training is also helping with the big stuff too!
I CANT WAIT FOR SUMMER!!!!
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Tight Is Alright
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On 1/27/2006
WT
wrote in from
United States
(64.12.nnn.nnn)
CBara,
Ya' gotta million-dollar Eurofighter . . . dude, you gotta be runnin' tight!
By the way, just for the record, if anyone asked me I'd have to describe the Saturday Court Street race at the Dixie Cup as "dual tight." There may have been one or two 7-foot spacings, but it was 6 and 6.5 all the way down. It was definetely a "Tight-Hybrid."
Also, don't forget this: "tight" is not necessarily a rock-solid cone measurement. "Tight" is a combination of spacing/grade. 5.5 on flat is tight, 6 on a 5% grade is tight, 7 on an 8% grade is tight. Eventually you get to the point where spacing is wide open and the hill is really steep, but just laying down a course and calling it "tight" doesn't account for everything.
Personally (and this will never happen,) I'm more inclined to determine whether a course is "tight" or not by the cones-per-second measurement. If you're screaming down Bicknell or some other precipice and clearing cones spaced 7 or 8 foot but still getting 4 or 5 per second, that's tight. If you're on the flat running 5.5 at 2 or 3 per second, you're just running some cones with a little acceleration.
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T S
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On 1/26/2006
Eddy
wrote in from
United States
(24.175.nnn.nnn)
Is running 6 ftrs considered TS. Some of the riders I ride with can not stand straight 6 ftrs. But to me 6 ftrs and 5 ftrs are a discipline that requires alot of practice. I understand that setting up a course depends on the pitch or steepness of the hill. Running 8-12-15-20 ftrs would justify a large fast hill. But if the course is not that fast. Running huge offsets to me is just plain syrup. Don't get me wrong it is great for beginners. TS Slalom is constant wiggling and plenty of pumping. Eddy Texas Outlaws
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"If TS makes a comeback"
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On 1/26/2006
bara
wrote in from
United States
(68.61.nnn.nnn)
nah, i'll stand behind that quote.....I think TS is a blast...and i agree that it's true slalom...
That being said, and considering that 2005 was only my first full year of attending races, i dont think i've seen a true TS course yet.
We set them up and practice here at home, but that's because we like the challenge, it's not to prepare for anyplace we've been to.
I'm hoping to see some TS courses this year.
I've heard longtime slalomers say that we dont do much TS here in the states because nobody takes the time to practice and get good enough to do it.
And i read that the talent pool is stonger than ever before...so if there's ever been a time to bring it back into the limelight....this is it.
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TS
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On 1/26/2006
MG
wrote in from
United States
(216.52.nnn.nnn)
TS never went anywhere. But some people are too lazy to put in the work for it.
The only I ever used my Cambrias was on that crazy Bicknell course. For those that haven't seen it, Bicknell was steep and short, thirty cones in six seconds.
Bicknell was a unique freakshow type of steep hill TS that is not typical of anything else we race. And with six foot centers, a smaller wheel actually helped you get through it. You can check out what it looked like here.
http://www.juicemagazine.com/bicknellblitz2004.html
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ts wheel speed
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On 1/26/2006
mike maysey
wrote in from
United States
(67.103.nnn.nnn)
"If TS does make a comeback..." Makes a comeback from what? TS is slalom buddy.
As for wheel diameter, only switch to smaller wheels if you want to slow down. Personally, I never used Cambrias or anything smaller than an Avalon. Oops, well there was that brief period when I rode La Costas which were 63.5mm...but as soon as I figured out how to handle the larger diameter wheels, I never looked back.
Another way to slow down is to take out your bearing spacers and crank your wheels down so they don't spin.
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wheel speed
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On 1/26/2006
bara
wrote in from
United States
(204.78.nnn.nnn)
...and that leads to a good question. If TS does make a comeback, would there be an advantage to switching to wheels smaller than Avalons....under what kind of conditions are 62mm wheels like Cambrias a better choice?
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