LVAL aŽu and give you a laugh.
Another good example of mind-tweaking: John Gilmour did an excellent bit of work this year at the Cambria Double-Header. He was in the Porta-Potti and the finals were going to start. I made the poor decision to meet him at the top of the hill. So there I am, waiting for him, and everyone is yelling, “Hurry-up John!” See that puts the focus on him, and he was working it beautifully: he pretended not to hear, and strolled very casually up the hill. I finally saw what angle he was working on and so I left the box and went off to the side, and pretended to adjust my Gull Wings…


How do you feel about the courses that are currently being set and run?
From what I’ve raced, the courses are excellent. I would like some that are a little tighter, but I love being presented with a challenge: it only makes me work harder. From what I’ve seen, Andy Bittner sets the most interesting “Hybrid” courses around…

You have to remain flexible as a racer. Like I said, you should be able to skate anything. It may take a deep quiver and a depth of talent, but that’s what it’s all about…

How do you feel about the racers?
Whoa! We have some of the best people showing up for this “New Era” of skateboard slalom. The fact that you have guys like Brad Edwards, the venerable Don Bostick, and a guy like Chris Chaput, and Andy Bittner all on the same hill, is mind-blowing! The always hilarious Ritchie Carasco; the tripped-out Eric Groff; Mr. Quiet Chicken Deck; of course we have Henry, Cliff Coleman, Hutson, and relative newbies like Gary Holl, Terrence Kirby, Marc DuPaul and Mike Maysey… the list goes on. I think that next year’s heavies will be Cross, Mollica, Olsen, Evans, Kimball and SSS guys - but the Turner bros will be going