Getting ready to race are (left to right) Tim Robinson, Wilson Wong, Steve Garcia’s head in the back, Monica Greene, Mike Perrett, John Simpson, Bruce Weston, Gildo Beleski, Jordan Bruyn, Gina Alo, and Sean Tice (photo by Douglass Weymouth).
The first and probably most exciting race of the Skki Inn 2013 event was the Trikke Skki Grand Prixx — won by Fred Welch of the Trikke Academy, followed in second place by John Simpson, CEO of Trikke Tech, with Darrick Bruyn of Central Oregon Trikke in third place. It was an exciting series of heats followed by a dramatic final in which Gildo Beleski, Trikke inventor, took a spill opening the way for a controversial finish.
I have participated in the yearly competition held during Spring Fling at Hoodoo Skki Area each April since 2010. It has been a mostly local race held in conjunction with the Ski Bike races held at Hoodoo. Each year I get a bit more comfortable with the speed and close quarters of the race. My goal each time is to be able to race in two heats. As this year’s race started out I was not sure that I would reach my goal. Steve Garcia of Las Vegas got out to a quick start and I was following him closely, knowing that I would be able to pass him when the time came due to my extra weight. Apparently Steve saw my shadow coming up from behind him and this distraction caused him to take a bad line through the gates and I was able to pass him.
Wilson Wong
In the second heat I was racing Darrick Bruyn, Fred Welch and Sean Tice. As Sean and I were negotiating the whoops we bumped a little and I must have caused his skki blade to come loose and when he made the big turn his blade came all the way off. If you look closely you can see his blade almost hit me as I go around the turn. These things happen in the Trikke Skki Grand Prixx, I have seen wrecks each year that I have participated. My apologies to Sean, there will always be next year.
In the final we had Fred Welch, Gildo Beleski, John Simpson, Darrick Bruyn and Tim Robinson vying for the win. I followed behind to capture the action. Going into the big turn Gildo Beleski hooked up with Fred Welch and was turned around leading to a crash. I managed to capture the action from a bit further away while Darrick, who was right in the middle of the action caught the fall up close and personal. Fortunately noone was hurt and we were able to continue racing on the final day with the Giant Slalom.
Congratulations to all who participated in the first National Trikke Skki Grand Prixx since Skki Inn 2010. I hope that we will be able to continue the Trikke Skki racing at the next Skki Inn.
About Douglass Weymouth
FANTASTIC!
Thanks, Ann