Issac, parting the sea of spectators with his power of shredtasticness. Photo: Mufungo Mike.
The Guajataka Downhill event is held annually in the small town of Quebradillas (Pronounced something like: “Cameron Dias”) on the northwestern shore of the tropical Caribbean island of Puerto Rico. This year’s 2013 event was much like those of years past, with thousands upon thousands of pina colada-toting spectators overflowing the length of the entire roadway, a huge pool of downhill skateboarders in attendance representing all four corners of the globe, as well as a setting and backdrop of warm weather, lush rainforests, wave-filled beaches, rich & spicy culture, unmatched local hospitality, and an endless supply of yummy mufungo. Hell yeah mufungo!
Our Video Recap:
Puerto Rico’s rolling, tropical landscape & climate; its warm ocean, and its laid-back culture are much of what draws many of the skaters to the Guajataka Downhill event year after year. Guajataka Downhill is a party, a competition, and a vacation all wrapped in to one wild package, “wild” being the critical concept here.
The Race:
Focus amongst chaos. Photo: Mufungo Mike.
“See that dude? I think I know that dude right there with the red helmet.” Photo: Mufungo Mike.
Pilloni out front. Photo: Mufungo Mike.
Damn this place is beautiful! Photo: Mufungo Mike.
High waisted and happy locals. Photo: Mufungo Mike.
This is what happens when tropical moisture attacks your lens. Photo: Mufungo Mike.
Jose, ready at the starting line. Shaka brotha! Photo: Mufungo Mike.
Congested, eight-man heats made for some interesting starts. Photo: Mufungo Mike.
Dejuane Jones did not smile very much. Photo: Mufungo Mike.
Scott Lembach leads after the push. Photo: Mufungo Mike.
Puerto Rican cows like watching downhill skateboarding. Photo: Mufungo Mike.
“Get them babies out the street! We tryin’ to race up in here!” Photo: Mufungo Mike.
Jose, speed-blur. Photo: Mufungo Mike.
Sketchy shadow-pass. Photo: Mufungo Mike.
Canadian downhill legend, Scoot Smith, holds the line. Photo: Mufungo Mike.
Local bros. Photo: Mufungo Mike.
Lil dude gettin’ some on the last corner. Photo: Mufungo Mike.
We made sure to look around every once in a while. Beauty. Photo: Mufungo Mike.
Course conflict. Photo: Mufungo Mike.
AJ Haiby, full-on Beastmode. Photo: Mufungo Mike.
As many of you already know, there were some major organizational issues with this year’s Guajataka event. Shit got way hectic, real sketchy, downright dangerous, and this ultimately forced the race portion of the event to end prematurely. Similar to the 2010 Guajataka event, which was stopped due to roadway injury between spectators and racers. In response to this unfortunate turn of events, a handful of this year’s racers and event organizers rallied together on the following day and finished the race. That said, a majority of the original racers either purposely did not participate, or they had already left the island altogether. People were definitely butt-hurt about the whole affair, podium legitimacy was at question (and still is), and much better organization must be addressed and in place for a smoothly ran 2014 Guajataka Downhill event.
The Slide Jam:
Alexis Rivera killed it. Mega-booster boneless. Photo: Mufungo Mike.
Aaron Grulich, asphalt-surfing with style. Photo: Mufungo Mike.
Living on the dead. Literal translation. Photo: Mufungo Mike.
Louis Pilloni skated so fast that this is the only pic we were able to capture. Photo: Mufungo Mike.
A tomb with a view. Photo: Mufungo Mike.
Liam Morgan with some of his signature greasiness. Photo: Mufungo Mike.
Liam lays a bit more grease. Photo: Mufungo Mike.
The locals ripped hard—this dude especially. Photo: Mufungo Mike.
Like skateboarding, rust is apparently also not a crime! Photo: Mufungo Mike.
This local lady ripped it raw-style. Gardening gloves, sans bra & helmet. Photo: Mufungo.
Daniel Luna with a tomahawk chopper. Photo: Mufungo Mike.
Nooish Boom, Booming! Photo: Mufungo Mike.
Roger, laying some ‘thane. Photo: Mufungo Mike.
Howling dirt-dog. Photo: Mufungo Mike.
Local dude, lofty melon booster. Photo: Mufungo Mike.
Brodown with Liam and one of his new Puerto Rican homies. Photo: Mufungo Mike.
We don’t know his name, but he ripped hard all day. Stoked! Photo: Mufungo Mike.
Rest in Peace. Photo: Mufungo Mike.
John Kreutter, speed-derppin. Photo: Mufungo Mike.
Corey Shredlock sprays the crowd with ‘thane. Photo: Mufungo Mike.
Chance Gual with a Christo ariel. Photo: Mufungo Mike.
Bottom line, we had a great time at Guajataka, 2013 and despite all the bullshit we will definitely be back here again. The slide jam was that of legend and overflowed with sketchy, uncut shredding. The race was gnar, crowded, and shit got way hectic. All in all, Puerto Rico is an amazing island filled with awesome people, an epic landscape, radical skating, gnarly drivers, and copious amounts of mufungo. Here at Wheelbase Magazine we like it raw and uncut—that’s just how we roll. Hell yeah, Puerto Rico! See you again soon!
Good times! Photo: Mufungo Mike.
A special thanks goes out Scott and the Muir Skate crew for all their support, to the event organizers and sponsors for having the event, to Jose and his family for hosting us in San Juan, to all the skaters and homies we met along the way; and lastly, to the people of Puerto Rico for their hospitality and friendship. Mucho Grasias!
