boarding.com ::Catalina Classic 2002 FCR World Championship Slalom Skateboarding Series Skateboarding

2002 FCR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP OF SLALOM SERIES
" Catalina Classic"

Check the 2001Moro Bay Slalom photo gallery >>

Check the Battle by the Bay >>

The second event of the 2002 FCR World Championship Slalom Skateboarding Series will take place April 20th and 21st in the Catalina Island city of Avalon, California. Racing will begin both days at 10:00am.

The "Catalina Classic" is being sponsored by Turner Downhill, Comet Skateboards, Croakies, Dagger Sunglasses, Life-Link, JustPushPlay.com and Soul Studio. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. The event will be have an international flavor, as more than 65 racers from England, Australia, Italy and Trinidad are registered to compete alongside skateboarders from across the United States.

The race is part of an eight race series to be contested in locations throughout the western United States, culminating in the World Championships to be held October 11th, 12th, and 13th in Morro Bay, California.

Unlike the skateboard events seen on television almost daily, skateboard racing is not a subjective judged event open to controversy. The FCR Series is electronically timed, high-speed, head to head racing, usually contested on city streets. Spectators can view the whole race; start to finish, from a single vantage point. They can see the emotions etched on the racer's faces as they struggle to best their opponent, as well as experience the danger that results from a racer attacking the course too aggressively and slamming to the pavement at 25mph. It is a competition that everyone can relate to, even those with no previous skateboard racing exposure. After all, everyone can understand two racers racing against each other, and the clock. The race fans come to know the racers, and choose their favorite as they make their way back up the hill, walking through the crowds lining the racecourse.

The exciting head to head racing format pits one racer against the other on two identical side-by-side courses. The racers are given two qualifying runs to establish their seeding position. Thirty-two racers advance to the head to head round. The racer with the fastest qualifying time is matched against the slowest qualifier, the second fastest against the second slowest, until all 32 positions are filled. To advance to the next round a racer must have a lower cumulative time than his opponent. Each round is single elimination, sudden death, you lose...you sit.

Skateboard racing is fundamentally different in that an athlete can perform at a world-class level over a much more extended career. Currently, competitive pro racers range in age from 20 to 50 with the current World Champion Gary Cross at 38. This allows a much broader cross section of the public to identify with and enjoy the competition. Additionally, many of the racers of today, former Vert World Champion Steve Olson for example, have transferred their desire to win from other areas of skateboarding. It would not be surprising to find that many of today's Street and Vert stars become more focused on racing competition as time passes.

When you review the FCR Series schedule you will see that the venues include some of the most visually interesting and photogenic locations in the western U.S. We expect to draw between 65 and 100 racers per event from the U.S. and Europe. The regional diversity of the participants adds an exciting dimension for the fans as well. Last years World Championship race between America's Gary Cross and Switzerland's Maurus Stroble gave everyone a favorite to root for in a race that was decided only by a tremendous come from behind American victory in the last heat of the day.

FCR 2002 World Pro Slalom Skateboard Racing Series

Event                           Location                     Dates

Battle By The Bay   San Francisco, CA      23-24 March

The Catalina Classic   Avalon, CA              20-21 April

The Sierra Cup           Tahoe, CA                 18-19 May

The High Peaks Drifter  Breckenridge, CO   7-8 June

The La Costa Open    La Costa, CA             20-21 July

Rose Festival Classic  Portland, OR            10-11 August

The Cowboy Cup    Jackson Hole, WY       15-16 Sept.

2002 World Championships   Morro Bay, CA    11-13 Oct.

The first event of the 2002 FCR World Championship Slalom Skateboarding Series, Comet Skateboards "Battle by the Bay" was held March 23rd and 24th at The Presidio in San Francisco, California. Los Osos, California resident Mike Maysey won the dual slalom event. Second place went to Steve Evans of Long Beach, California. Paul Dunn also of Los Osos finished third. Charlie Ransom of Tahoe Paradise grabbed first place prize money in the Giant Slalom. Dunn and Maysey were also on the podium, with Dunn placing second and Maysey third.

For results info check out http://www.fcrseries.com

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