Good times and fast skateboarding. Connor Ferguson, mobbin’! Photo & Cheers: Ruano.
The first stop of our “Keep on Tuckin’” tour brought the crew to one of the gnarliest races to date: Angie’s Curves. Hidden in the rolling hills near San Diego, California, Angie’s Curves is a steep and winding strip of road that only a select few have ever skated. Multiple speed-checks into hairpins coupled with 60+mph straights, and drifts are mandatory when skating this behemoth of a run. This race was not my first time riding Angie’s—years ago, I was in the Mercado Van when the hill was discovered. We never even thought that one day there would actually be a race on this seemingly unskateable road. Gnar!
Jacko coming in hot! Photo: Ruano.
The ladies killed it! Photo: Bandy.
Negotiating the gnar. Photo: Ruano.
Max Capps out front and moving real fast. Photo: Bandy!
The crowd watches from above. Photo: Ruano.
The first straightaway after Angie’s. Fast!!! Photo: Bandy.
The anticipation for Sunday’s race had everyone in a buzz—homies asking one another how’d they’d hit Angie’s bodacious curves in the first hairpin, or how they would manage speed wobbs in the straights. By the end of the first day, wheels, leathers, and a lot of grass had been smoked—the stoke was high though and fools were ready to keep on tuckin’ for Saturday’s race. Friday night’s festivities rounded out with a couple of bands and a mellow campsite party for those that could still walk. Qualifying the next day was not much different from the previous day—dudes just skating runs with everyone—but this time you had to wear a house arrest-like ankle bracelet that kept track of your personal times—no need to wait one-by-one for your qually run. Pretty sick!
Ready to shreddy. Photo: Ruano.
Riders on course. Photo: Ruano.
James Kelly with a side of style. Photo: Bandy.
Billy Bones dippin and leanin’. Also, check the photog tuck. Photo: Ruano.
Nerves were high on race day for many riders, but the spectators were chilling hard—coolers full and smiles wide—waiting patiently for racing to start and the gnar to reach a premium level. Excitement was high as the women and children got their shred-on and finished the first rounds of racing. Men’s was next. Unfortunately, for me, I did not make it through the first round—fell in Angie’s Curve, and after buzzing by Aidan Lynds’ like a fighter jet. I put it right back in the hay in the fast turn. Shit! Ha ha! I love racing on and off the course, and as much as I wish I could have made it further, I was stoked to kick back and watch the homies mix it up real good. A couple sweet slides and epic passes later the final was lining up for a glorious finish. After Chance kicked his own wheel during his heat in the finals, and some epic passing from Duke, James, and Ricado the dust settled and it was the “American Dream” James Kelly our front and first across the finish line. Hell yeah, James! Congrats!
Zak Maytum gettin’ it in. Photo: Ruano.
Scott Lembach making moves. Photo: Ruano.
Scott Lembach. Moves made. Photo: Ruano.
“Who’s that out front, yo?” Photo: Ruano.
This French lady shreds! Photo Bandy.
Sector 9’s Rob Molt and Danny Conner callin’ it like they see it. Photo: Bandy.
Straight mobbin’! Photo: Bandy.
Jimmy Riha chuggin’ down the track! Photo: Bandy.
Uhaulin, we haulin’. Photo: Ruano.
Elena Corrigall toe-drifter. Photo: Bandy.
Shuttle scuttle. Photo: Ruano.
A tight pack picking up some speed into Angies. Photo: Bandy.
Louis Pilloni is one of the best in the biz, but everybody has to crash sometime. Shit!! Photo: Ruano.
Birdseye views. Photo: Ruano.
couples-only run. Pat and Tamara. Photo: Ruano.
Yes, he crashed hard, but that’s because he shredded harder than you ever will. Fact. Photo: Ruano.
Event organizer, Big Lou, out front and stylin’ it. Photo: Ruano.
James Kelly charging and barging! Photo: Ruano.
“Oh shit! Is that? . . . out front!!!!!” Photo: Bandy.
Yep! James Kelly wins Angie’s Curves, 2013. Photo: Ruano.
Men’s Podium:
1st James Kelly
2nd Duke Degen
3rd Ricardo Reis
Women’s Podium:
1st Georgia Bontorin
2nd Tamara Pradar
3rd Elena Corrigall
Spectators and racers alike were stoked with this most excellent event; it definitely raised the bar for both speed and organization. Good vibes and smiles all day. Huge thanks to the Sector 9 crew & the Ian Tillman Foundation for throwing one hell of a race. Many thanks to all that made Angie’s happen, can’t wait for next year. Huge props to Louis Pilloni, the IDF, Jeff Budro, EG, Rob, Muir Skate, and the entire Sector 9 crew as well as all of the volunteers that gave their time. See you fools at Maryhill! The Keep on Tuckin’ continues. . . next stop: San Fransisco.
-Max Capps
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A big shout-out to all of the “Keep on Tuckin'” sponsors who made this radical road-trip a reality: Muir Skate, Loaded Boards, RDVX Grip, Landyachtz, Rider Approved Designs, Waterloo Wheel Designs, Rip City Skate, and Paris Truck Co. Thanks homies!!!!
