A newsletter for customers of Klickitat PUDWatts New
Racers Ready to Fly at Maryhill Course
By Carol York
he International Gravity Sports Association (IGSA) awarded Tthe 2008 IGSA World Championships to the 2008 Maryhill Festival of Speed, adding to the quiver of internationally recognized sport venues in the Columbia Gorge. The Maryhill Festival of Speed is the largest North American gravity sports festival. Maryhill Loops Road, the oldest paved road in the Northwest, is recognized as one of the best venues in the world due to its challenging hairpin corners, high speeds and perfect pavement. Skateboarders will race down Maryhill Loop Road this month, vying for a world title at Though often used in automobile the IGSA World Championships. Photo by John Longfellow. commercials, the road is closed to daily traffic. Thousands of hay bales The “Racers Village” at the as buttboarding or classic luge. and miles of containment fence will Klickitat Fairgrounds features live Street luges can be customized to line the 2.2-mile racecourse. bands August 30-31, starting at 8 increase performance, whereas the Shuttles will provide rides p.m., a skate park, beer garden, food, buttboard has design limitations to between designated spectator areas, vendors and camping. keep the equipment standardized, where spectators will line the course With competitors from five less expensive, and minimize to cheer both the leaders and the continents, locals and visitors can technological advantage. sensational wipe-outs. mingle with the world’s best. A speedboard is also known as a Registration, technical inspections Gravity sports involve speeding stand-up or downhill skateboard. and open practice begin August 26, downhill on a paved, curvy road These are specially designed for with racing scheduled daily 8 a.m. to lined with hay bales on a streetluge, speed. Riders stand, squat, tuck and 5 p.m., August 27-31. skateboard, gravity bike or inline angle to achieve high speeds. The event will be nationally skates, powered by gravity with NO Cranks, pedals and chains are televised on NBC’s Jeep World of brakes. removed from gravity bikes to Adventure sports, and will be Outfitted with special gloves, prevent them from catching on the re-broadcast on ESPN International padded suits and sturdy helmets, ground in high-speed turns. and Universal HD. riders push off from the start and let Attached rear pegs provide The festival features the world’s gravity do the rest, careening at high footrests. The bikes are built with fastest gravity downhillers, plus speeds downhill trying to avoid each stretched and lowered suspension sponsors, exhibits, food and musical other to be the fastest through bike frames. Riders wear full-face entertainment. multiple curves and obstacles to the motorcycle helmets, body armor In addition to downhill finish. Riders often descend at more and leathers, kneeling in an “aero- skateboarding and streetluge, than 50 mph. tuck” to increase speed. n athletes will compete in classic luge, Street luge riders use modified downhill inline skating, inline board skateboards in a prone position— For more information, visit and gravity bike classes. Racers also known as land luge. maryhillfestivalofspeed.com. Reprinted range from age 14 and up. Sitting on a skateboard is known with permission from the Gorge Guide.
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