Dominika Ozolina from Latvia makes it look easy at the Slalom Skateboarding World Championships at Bush's Pasture Park on Sunday, Oct. 1 (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)
If you thought skateboarding was for young kids skating on half pipes and at skate parks, think again.
From Friday, Sept. 29 to Sunday, Oct. 1, Salem had the unique honor of hosting the Slalom Skateboarding World Championships at Bush’s Pasture Park. Countries from all over the world were represented as well as several U.S. states. Flags from Brazil, Czech Republic, and Texas proudly fluttered from the group gathering spots along the derby track.
All ages were present at the competition, which includes race classes such as Grand Master (age 60+) and Master (55 and under). There were plenty of younger amateur racers too. Some of the founding members of slalom skateboarding in Oregon were there racing, such as Paul “Polliwog” Howard who has been racing and promoting slalom for over 40 years.
Local Salem racer Lari Rupp was also there to skate and compete with the USA Slalom Skateboarding Team. Rupp is hopeful that someday the team might be able to compete at the Olympics. Team USA did not prevail this year – the world champion was Daniel Syrovy from the Czech Republic.
Slalom skateboarding is a form of downhill skateboard racing that first appeared in the 1960s and 1970s. Slalom racers skate down a course marked by plastic cones. The racer tries to get through the course with the fastest time, while knocking down the fewest cones. Each cone typically carries a penalty of a fraction of a second (most often 0.1 seconds) which is added to the skater’s time. Boards used for this sport have thicker wheels and often are much longer than “street” boards that have smaller wheels and are lighter.
The 2023 Slalom Skateboarding World Championships in Salem recently earned an official sanction by the International Olympic Committee-recognized governing body – World Skate. This will be helpful towards the group’s goal of getting the sport recognized by the Olympics.
Two competitors go head to head on the course at the Slalom Skateboarding World Championships at Bush’s Pasture Park on Sunday, Oct. 1 (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Pete Ingraham, owner of Blast Off Vintage in Salem, starts into the Grand Master competition run at the Slalom Skateboarding World Championships at Bush’s Pasture Park on Sunday, Oct. 1 (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Attendees and racers enjoy complimentary pizza at the Slalom Skateboarding World Championships at Bush’s Pasture Park on Sunday, Oct. 1 (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)World Champion Daniel Syrovy mentally prepares before beginning his winning race at the Slalom Skateboarding World Championships at Bush’s Pasture Park on Sunday, Oct. 1 (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)A member of the Czech Republic team holds the starting poles steady as a racer positions themselves at the Slalom Skateboarding World Championships at Bush Park on Saturday, September 30 (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)A competitor drops into the course off the entry ramp at the Slalom Skateboarding World Championships at Bush’s Pasture Park on Sunday, Oct. 1 (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Lari Rupp, USA Team member and Salem resident, gazes lovingly at her Pavel custom made board that she confessed cost more than her current vehicle at the Slalom Skateboarding World Championships at Bush Park on Sunday, October 1 (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Sarah Byrd Compton skillfully weaves around the cones on her run at the Slalom Skateboarding World Championships at Bush’s Pasture Park on Sunday, Oct. 1 (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Paul Howard, aka “Polliwog” prepares to drop in to the Grand Master class at the Slalom Skateboarding World Championships at Bush’s Pasture Park on Saturday, Sept. 30 (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)The Czech Republic flag flies near the Czech team at the Slalom Skateboarding World Championships at Bush’s Park on Saturday, Sept. 30 (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Judi Oyama, Hall of Fame skater and USA Team member, checks the lineup at the Slalom Skateboarding World Championships at Bush’s Pasture Park on Saturday, Sept. 30 (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Renee Abousamra reads a story to Cyrus Houtari under a warm blanket while they wait for the hybrid races to start at the Slalom Skateboarding World Championships at Bush Park on Saturday, September 30 (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Ian Roe from Seattle concentrates on his form during the hybrid qualifier race at the Slalom Skateboarding World Championships at Bush’s Pasture Park on Saturday, Sept. 30 (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Maggie Harrison from the Texas Outlaws team ges ready to skate in the Amateur Women’s class at the Slalom Skateboarding World Championships at Bush’s Pasture Park on Saturday, Sept. 30 (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)A skater heads down the course during the hybrid slalom race at the Slalom Skateboarding World Championships at Bush’s Pasture Park on Saturday, Sept. 30 (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Daniel Syrovy from the Cech Republic checks his final results after being declared the world champion at the Slalom Skateboarding World Championships at Bush’s Pasture Park on Sunday, Oct. 1 (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)
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Laura Tesler has lived in Salem, Oregon for 20 years and is originally from Flint, MI. Laura has been an underwater photographer for 15 years, and is an avid scuba diver. Topside, she has been taking photographs since age 12, and currently works on assignment for the Salem Reporter, and full time purchasing land for fish and wildlife habitat in the Willamette Valley. Laura attended Oregon State University, and has traveled extensively all over the world and the United States.
