UOP hosts World Downhill Skateboarding Championship

UOP practice runs for the World Downhill Skateboarding Championship. Photo: courtesy of the WDSC

PARK CITY, Utah — You read that headline correctly, Sept. 25-28 the Utah Olympic Park will host a new kind of competition: the World Downhill Skateboarding Championship “Park City Downhill.” The event will use the Upper Olympic Parkway as the course. 

This event features a four-day race weekend for freeriders on a one-mile, technical course that includes four hairpin corners and smooth pavement. With an average grade of 7.7 percent and a steepest grade of 16.3 percent, riders are expected to reach speeds exceeding 50 mph.

Specific viewing areas promising festive atmospheres will be set up for spectators. 

Watch a practice run video below.

This year is the inaugural season for the series, which started its tour in Austria and then stopped in Turkey before heading to the Isle Of Man and finally Brazil before cruising to Park City.

The event is open to freeriders, qualifying series racers, and Championship Tour racers. 

Out of state and out of country attendees are lodging at the Olympic Residences, various hotels, and short term rental properties as well as camping, lots and lots of camping. 

Food trucks will be on site at the UOP.

No pads are required of the pre-registered competitors , just a full face helmet, slide gloves, and closed-toed shoes.

“With a world-class team running the show and a venue made for downhill,” writes World Downhill Skateboard Championships on its webpage, “it’s shaping up to be the biggest event of the season.”

Riders get to take the chairlift back up after skating down. 

American, French, British, Czech, Canadian, Spanish, Swiss, Australian, Norwegian, Swedish, Mexican, Italian, and Ukrainian skaters will be racing. 

SCHEDULE:

Friday, September 26 QS Qualifying

9:00 – Chairlifts Open
9:10 – Practice/Freeride for everyone
1:00 – QS Qualifying, best of 2 runs.
4:00 – Bonus Runs as time permits
5:00 – Prize Giving for QS

Saturday, September 27 QS Race and CT Qualifying

9:00 – Chairlifts Open
9:10 – Practice/Freeride for everyone
10:00: QS Racing
1:00: CT Qualifying
             CT Q1
             CT Q2
             CT Q3
4:00: Bonus Runs as time permits
5:00: End of day

Sunday, September 28 CT Race Day

9:00 – Practice/Freeride for everyone
1:00 – CT Race
5:00 – (or shortly after the finish of the race) Prize Giving