|
|
|
| Blog: Paul Dunn, 60-days to Hood River (177 Posts)
|
| Topic |
Entry |
|
state of
|
|
On 7/19/2005
FLU
wrote in from
United States
(192.18.nnn.nnn)
PD,
Thanks for the straight talk from a guy who has perspective.
I cannot take credit for the Colorado deal. Barker has as much to do with it as anyone, hauling timers and ramps to events weekend after weekend. Mike Mac is to blame for his kids raging success with that initial coaching from CB.
These scenes, like colorado, they're organic. They take a life of their own. Having hills that are no bust, and a timing system, and a little bit of outreach is what it takes to get started, but after that it has to grow on it's own. Races keep the stoke going between practice sessions.
It's important that the scene you create is inclusive, and not some old guy gnar club that beginners need not apply. It's a tough balance. Hard enough courses to be on the edge for world class skaters, fast, sketchy, big stakes. While fun and inviting enough for a 9 year old girl to give it go. I don't think we've arrived there yet in Colorado. But I'm going to use my convelescence time to work the newbies and get them stoked.
50 year old World Champs would be cool and lame at the same time. If it's the same group of us in a couple of years that WILL be lame. I don't think it will be. It will be Mclaren, Konigshausen, Laurent, Chapman, etc. We will glide nicely into the Masters because those kids will be kicking our asses. But that doesn't solve the money problem, or the new blood problem, which are forever joined.
Without recreational/grass roots races happening all over the country, the sport eventually dies. Even in Colorado where we have a hot bed of talent. If we don't bring the new guys in, eventually there will be too much attrition. It's cool to be underground, but we are SO far underground we almost don't exist, and that's lame, because slalom is addiciting. And when people get exposed to it, they get hooked. If they're not too cool.
Pool skating survived underground (and still does) for decades. Now there are parks everywhere and more everyday. I can only hope skateboard racing survives long enough to make it to that place where it is sustainable.
|
|
|
|
|
The State of the Skate
|
|
On 7/18/2005
PD
wrote in from
United States
(24.176.nnn.nnn)
Here it is.
Slalom in the USA is defined by Energy and Money. Straight out.
It takes energy to drive a fast pump, and it takes money to get you to a race to prove your mettle.
I landed smack dab into this at Hood River on the 9th of July. The most energetic, focused, racers at the place were the guys from Colorado. They practice, and they practice HARD. They dial their equipment. They are also talented. Combine talent with good ‘ole hard work and you get a wining combination…
To their credit, Mitchell, Barker, Pirnack, and the host of McLaren males are the future of slalom racing in this country. This brings both good and bad news. On the plus side, we are growing new, hot talent from within. On the minus side, we are on the verge of stagnation.
What am I saying? This: I will gladly lose to a younger, better skater with the hope that our “oh-so-fringe” sport will march on to become the competitive sport that deserves to be.
But why the Colorado hot-bed? Because Fluitt (following along his Jack Smith pedigree) has grown a group of racers that are now a FORCE in racing. Much as I have tried to produce in Cen-Cal from the Camp PD Sessions (Maxx & Sam Rivera, the Thompson girls, Dylan & Lauren Gordon, Maysey, etc.), we must attempt, as mature racers, to introduce slalom to the junior set, in a fostering manner which will “raise the bar” for future generations.
People: the bar has already been raised. Now it is time to take to the task of raising it further. For those in the Southern half of California: your time is now. Where are YOUR McLaren boys? Where are YOUR Josh Byrd’s? Where are YOUR Kelli Benko’s???
Here’s my challenge: any slalom skater over 25 in the USA should endeavor to bring four new younger racers into his or her personal fold, and to teach them all that they know – about pumping, racing, dual racing, tech, etc. so that we can lay a solid foundation from which to grow interested future talent. I know: it won’t be easy. You may have to physically TEAR the “Tony Hawk” video game away from their hot little hands, but you’re going to have to do it. Make them Learn to turn!
If we were to NOT do this, the Jason Mitchell’s of this sport will simply continue to win and win, and soon enough we will have 50-year old “World Champions.” Does anybody really want THAT? (not to slight to you, JM – you deserve many more wins…)
Okay… the money thing. Currently we are witnessing a situation where a few people are funding most of slalom. This is waaaay dangerous. It is an economy built on a rickety house of cards. The higher you stack ‘em. The sooner they’ll fall. This is not the fault of the “money people.” In fact, I thank them for “keeping the faith.” or “keeping the dream alive.” But that is ALL they are doing!
We simply cannot afford to sell equipment to each other for the next 5 years. It’s nothing more than a shallow ponzi scheme! And manu’s: how long can you afford to “sponsor” someone in an industry that is no deeper than 300 participants???
(Which begs the question: how many slalom skaters are there in the world, anyway???)
The money thing is the fault in the way in which we market slalom. We need to bring NEW people into the fun. We need cross-overs! The mass boarding populace such as the longboard set is one good example. We will have a very difficult time trying to bring in “flipper-boarders.” (This was lightly attempted at Lake Elsinore in 2003…)
We need to start fresh. We need less “throw money at it” and more “New ideas.”
I KNOW it’s hard. I hardly had time to work on my practice and to pick up cones while at the same time act as the slalom ombudsman to my local crew and to the ogling public or the passers-by as Maysey and I practiced in Avila some years back. Damn, that was a long sentence – and my grammer check didn’t even pick it up…
Anyway, to summarize… the talent is there. There is more talent out there waiting to be discovered. The money is here. But the money is never permanent. We need NEW talent and NEW money to GROW this sport. I suggest that we look from WITHIN for talent and from WITHOUT for money.
All suggestions are encouraged.
--PD
|
|
|
|
|
Two Men and a Putz
|
|
On 7/18/2005
PD
wrote in from
United States
(24.176.nnn.nnn)
Thanks to Steven King for the photo, we are now looking at two of the best US Giant Slalom racers in the land. I came along for the ride, had a good time, and squeeked out 3rd place. Mitchell took the top spot (by far), Barker schooled me, and I got lucky and maybe didn't have ahead wind.
That's the thing about single Lane GS: sometimes it comes down to who didn't have wind in their face. Not this time. Mitchell makes his own wind with that psycho hard pump of his.
Let's just say that I learned a lot.
|
|
|
|
|
Hood River Trucks
|
|
On 7/18/2005
PD
wrote in from
United States
(24.176.nnn.nnn)
For Paul Howard...
For GS I rode a Split-Fire Black for the front and the "Buzz Truck" full-suspension on the rear. I was the only one making the course on Avila's, according to Michael Dong.
For TS, I rode a Radikal loaner on the front, with a PVD on the rear. Avalons all the way around.
|
|
|
|
|
Breck
|
|
On 7/17/2005 Judi O
wrote in from
United States
(68.127.nnn.nnn)
Paul,
You are a great racer and I'm glad to see you back on the start ramps again. It was nice to see you and Michele back on the hill. Awesome racing on both days. You'll have to come up and skate with us NorCal skaters some time.
Judi O
|
|
|
|
|
Trucks at Hood River
|
|
On 7/16/2005 Paul Howard
wrote in from
United States
(64.5.nnn.nnn)
Hey, What trucks besides the Boothby Secret Weapons were you using at Hood, Did I see DS's? Adios- a different sort of Paul
|
|
|
|
|
Well Done
|
|
On 7/16/2005 Ravitch
wrote in from
United States
(64.172.nnn.nnn)
PD,
Great to have you back on the scene in Hood. You almost made the final 4 - an impressive feat against some strong competition. It was that close - and you were only .17 behind Jason in qualifying. Regardless of the finish, it is a lot more fun having you on the Tour for your competitiveness, humorous one liners and info sharing. I hope you stay racing and we'll see you at the next event.
JRavitch
|
|
|
|
|
Retirement...
|
|
On 7/16/2005
Miko
wrote in from
United States
(69.85.nnn.nnn)
Great comeback Paul... It's exciting to see Maysey and the boys all throwing down in Stockholm. Mitchell is amazing eh? I hear you about the injury factor Gary. It seems that after years of chicken-wing falls from skateboards, mtn bikes etc. I'm having rotator cuff circulation problems with both shoulders. Time for some physical therapy.
I think I may be in partial retirement now. I'm having too much fun mountain biking with my son... He's 10 now. We've been going to the local dirt jump lots and running into Jamie Goldman, Mike's 18 year old son. Turns out he's one of the hot new crop of crazy stunt jumpers and is amazing to watch. He's also an amazing, cool young man along with several other noteworthy teenagers.
Went speedboarding up at Maryhill and had a blast, but I think this is going to be a slow season for me... (I might get to Sandia.) I LOVE this sport, but I'm taking some time off to spend it ripping the trails and jumps with my son Jackson. Maybe I'll be back to challenge some of you old guys next year!
I'm looking forward to your take on the state of slalom... welcome back!
|
|
|
|
|
State of the Union
|
|
On 7/15/2005
PD
wrote in from
United States
(24.176.nnn.nnn)
Back from a long week travelling all over the west.
Will reduce all my thoughts shortly for my take on the "State of Slalom" in the US tomorrow...
Love ya,
--PD
|
|
|
|
|
Head East
|
|
On 7/14/2005
WT
wrote in from
United States
(205.188.nnn.nnn)
Denver? You're halfway there. You can WALK to Chicago from Denver.
|
|
|
|
|
Post-Race Blogage
|
|
On 7/13/2005
PD
wrote in from
United States
(24.8.nnn.nnn)
Stuck in Denver until Friday -- will post all my impressions on Hood when I get back home on Friday night.
See ya'll in Breckenridge!
--Pablo
|
|
|
|
|
Hood+1
|
|
On 7/12/2005 fluitt
wrote in from
United States
(205.172.nnn.nnn)
PD- Nice job in the Hood. 6th overall? you suck. Looking forward to your thoughts about what it's like to come back to a sport that you pretty much dominated. That must have been weird. Did you have butterflies? Were they welcome? What is different about it now? Kenny is not retired, just retired from caring he says. I wonder what that is like, what that does to your game. Hasn't hurt Kenny much.
I think about retiring. I can't keep getting hurt, and I've just grown weary of major injuries. Then I read that interview with Danny Way in Juice, and I just feel like such a pussy. And then there is the whole kid thing. Someone posted that I'm an idiot for taking the risks I do, as a Father. He may be right.
Mariah surfed for her first time today, on little one foot ankle slappers on the West Coast of Kauai. Perfect clear warm water, little waves. Just pushed her in on this huge board and she just pops up and rides it all the way to the sand with this huge grin. She couldn't paddle into a wave to save her life, partly because the damn board is so big, she can barely get her hands in the water. But it was more gratifying to see my kid ride her first wave than anything I could do for myself right now. Balance is a hard thing to find in life.
I tried to explain to my kids that learning to surf was a little different experience for us, growing up on the West Coast. Thick wetsuits, freezing cold water, and paddling out through ugly beach breaks. They couldn't comprehend it at all. Poor kids are experiencing paradise with no idea. This place has so many breaks that any one of these waves today would have been like the best day ever in Estero Bay, and they're going unridden.
|
|
|
|
|
What's next?
|
|
On 7/11/2005
WT
wrote in from
United States
(152.163.nnn.nnn)
So is Paul done or do we start over with "60 Days To The Worlds?"
Or maybe "11 Days To Chicago?"
C'mon, PD, grab and plane and check out the Windy City. I'll buy the Pizza . . . if they got anything in that town that's decent.
|
|
|
|
|
That last room at the Riverview...
|
|
On 7/6/2005 Steve in AZ
wrote in from
United States
(130.13.nnn.nnn)
...Norski got it!
The Viking rides again in Hood River!
May the Lord protect him and all of us.
-=S=-
ps...am I gonna need to pack some rubber wheels if it gets wet?
|
|
|
|
|
Another room in HR available on 7/9...
|
|
On 7/4/2005 Steve in AZ again.
wrote in from
United States
(130.13.nnn.nnn)
...at the Riverview Lodge!
Laura, Race and I will be at the Comfort Inn down the street, so I cancelled our reservation for (what they told me) is the last room available on July 9th at the hotel. Their number is 541-386-8719. www.riverviewforyou.com
Folks comin' to Da'River read your blog, Paul. Hope you don't mind the post.
Also...what's the w/b on that 36"er of yours?
-=S=-
|
|
|
|
|
Blog 59.0
|
|
On 7/3/2005
PD
wrote in from
United States
(24.176.nnn.nnn)
Billy B., & the Cambria crew skated the sweete
st GS hill we know of for about an hour today... And that was all I needed to figure out my GS set-up.
Now, I'm packing all the boards away and won't skate until race day. I need some time to heal.
No more blogs until I hit town in Portland in 4 days.
Gonna be interesting.
|
|
|
|
|
Blog 58.0
|
|
On 7/2/2005
PD
wrote in from
United States
(24.176.nnn.nnn)
Skated Cambria on a decidedly Hybri-likwe course today. Adrian Pina and I tried to work out the bugs as best we could on a 52-cone course. Not bad. More tomorrow as we try to approach the inner cone-zone...
|
|
|
|
|
Blog 57.0
|
|
On 7/2/2005
PD
wrote in from
United States
(24.176.nnn.nnn)
No skating, but I'm just about ready.
I'm VERY ready mentally. In fact, I'm ready to win the frickin' thing. That's the only way to go into it.
Go Big, or go Home.
Will skate tomorrow and Sunday, then break down my boards, put in my new Ninja's and get ready to travel.
Now I'm Pissed.
--PD
|
|
|
|
|
Blog 55.0
|
|
On 6/29/2005
PD
wrote in from
United States
(24.176.nnn.nnn)
Kind of a recovery day. Damn, my knee is starting to go funky on me. Must have caught some of Billy's knee problem thing...
Did some upper body stuff just to keep the tone up. Then went to SLO and did the Pipe Band weekly. We're gearing up for a local 4th of July parade. Should be intereesting.
Big skate planned for Saturday and Sunday. Then I'll pack my boards and start the journey North to Oregon.
|
|
|
|
|
waves
|
|
On 6/29/2005
mike maysey
wrote in from
United States
(63.165.nnn.nnn)
Ya Hack, if you head up north pick me up on the way
|
|
|
|
|
JUST SAY WHEN
|
|
On 6/29/2005
HACKETT - BLACK LEATHER RACING
wrote in from
United States
(68.71.nnn.nnn)
OK, THIS HAS GONE A BIT TOO FAR...
PD, JUST GIVE ME THE WORD, AND I'M UP THERE
FOR SOME OF THAT CROSS TRANING AT THE SECRET SPOT!!
(I GOT A 4/3)
HACK-BLR
|
|
|
|
|
Blog 54.0
|
|
On 6/28/2005
PD
wrote in from
United States
(24.176.nnn.nnn)
Today was an office day. By 7:00 pm I was ready to get back on that exercise bike. My plan was to emulate the 80 - 90 second GS effort that will be needed for Hood's GS run. So I did interval training on the rig, pushing minute and a half sprints every 5 minutes for a 45 minute ride.
Too bad the left pedal started to go south. By the time I got off the bike, the pedal had trashed its bearings. Made it a little noisy, but the overall effect was good, I think.
Boothby and I tweaked yet a little more on the TS set-up. Guess what? I'm actually going to have a nose block on this board. Crazy, yes.
|
|
|
|
|
Blog 53.0
|
|
On 6/27/2005
PD
wrote in from
United States
(24.176.nnn.nnn)
Okay... After a grueling sesh at Cambria, I convinced my wife that a day off was absolutley necessary for the general health and well-being of you-know-who.
So, with that, I put the boat in the water and rode up to a secret little outpost North of most of the local breaks and bagged a few. But before that, I bagged a few fish -- the main ingredient comprising the tacos which have scince slithered down our gullets...
Another way to cross-train.
|
|
|
|
|
Blog 52.0
|
|
On 6/26/2005
PD
wrote in from
United States
(24.176.nnn.nnn)
More and more good ol' Cambria today as we sessioned for threee hours and totally tweeked and benched stuff. Still not totally dialed, but it's fun to get out there and skate with max, Sam, and Dylan.
Headed home and rode my dirt bike with my neighbor. Capped it off with another killer BBQ.
|
|
|
|
|
Big Ed
|
|
On 6/26/2005 OZZ
wrote in from
United States
(71.107.nnn.nnn)
Hey Paul,
Time to archive that shot of Gilmour and you doing your Ed Economy imitation. Ed showed up today at HB he lost over 30 lbs and is in serious training…
|
|
|
|
|
