Jason Brown (Port Elizabeth) Wins Second Urban Descent Downhill Longboard Title
Glenwood, Durban – Port Elizabeth longboard skateboarder Jason Brown made it two wins in two today by winning the open men’s division at the second annual Urban Descent Downhill Longboard Race presented by Quiksilver and Gunslinger. Brown was a clear favourite going into the four-man final, clocking speeds of up to 75 kilometres per hour. The much anticipated open men’s final was tightly contested coming into the final straight before three riders collided at high speeds leaving them all on the tarmac deck and out of contention. “I am happy to be back in Durban and to take the win again, there were some heavy slams today and I am glad everyone is safe after a gruelling day of racing,” said an ecstatic Brown after the event award ceremony.
Over eighty competitors made their way to Alan Paton Road in Glenwood to race along a 1 km length route which featured a number of bends and chicanes before a final straight to the finish line. Hay bales were carefully positioned as a safety precaution for racers, most of whom wore special racing leather outfits and compulsory helmets. Participants were categorised into five divisions; open men (19 and older), ladies, junior boys 1 (12-14), junior boys 2 (15-18) and supergroms (8-11). A number of time trials and qualifying rounds got underway before the top four finishers in each division were grouped into finals. Odin Kerkhoff (Durban) managed a flawless race to win the supergrom division, while Sebastian Rich (Durban) and Michael Davies (Durban) stole the show in the junior boys 1 and junior boys 2 divisions respectfully. Gabi Murray-Roberts made the trip up from the cape and showed her class to easily claim the ladies title.
“We were very pleased with the Urban Descent Downhill Longboard Race presented by Quiksilver and Gunslinger today, the racing was spectacular and there were some radical bails leaving some riders in some serious pain, we hope to see an even bigger field next year,” said event organiser Keith Hockly of Gunslinger Longboards.
Prizes at the event included a cash purse of R5 000 and product prizes valued at over R40 000 from sponsors Quiksilver, Gunslinger, DC Shoes, Drift Cameras, Blue Dolphin Resort, Sportsman’s Warehouse, Nev The Barber, Corner Café and Urban Pizza.
For more information and photos of the event, visit the event mini-site at: www.quiksilver.co.za/
Full Results:
Open Ladies
1. Gabi Murray-Roberts (Western Cape)
2. Cindi Kritzinger (Kwa Zulu Natal)
3. Sadie Burger (Kwa Zulu Natal)
Super Grom (age 8-11)
1. Odin Kerkhoff (Kwa Zulu Natal)
2. Ryan Chikandiwa (Kwa Zulu Natal)
3. Keegan Long (Glenwood, Durban)
Junior Boys 1 (age 12-14)
1. Sebastian Rich (Kwa Zulu Natal)
2. Cameron Wasserman (Kwa Zulu Natal)
3. Matthew Swanepoel (Western Cape)
Junior Boys 2 (age 15-18)
1. Michael Davies (Kwa Zulu Natal)
2. Nathan Soule (Kwa Zulu Natal)
3. Bryce Gardiner (Kwa Zulu Natal)
Open Mens (age 19 and up)
1. Jason Brown (Eastern Cape)
2. Troy O’Sullivan (Kwa Zulu Natal)
3. Lloyd Clarke (Gauteng)