Tyler Howell out front and speedin’. Photo: Bandy.
WORDS Marcus Bandy PHOTOS Jake Grove & Marcus Bandy
This year’s 2015, Santa Gnarbara event was amazing and truly reflects a hearty and diverse downhill skateboarding community in Southern California. This year’s event saw hundreds of skaters—young, old, female, dudes—and riders from all over the U.S., Europe, Canadian, and Mexico mixing it up and shredding fast and with quality vibes and killer style. Like last year, Santa Gnarbara, 2015 spanned two days, but Sunday was racing, and when the action really began to popped-off. We’ve been covering this event since it’s inception some years back and it’s great to see it continue to grow, thrive, and to see so many of the OGs in the Santa Barbara DH scene—the guys who created the event—still showing up and ripping with the young guns. It is also great to see Tom Flinchbaugh step-up-to-the-plate and continue to grow the event more and more every year.
Fitz Illingworth leading the pack. Photo: Jake Grove.
As you can see via the accompanying pics, the new location for this year’s Santa Gnarbara event was epic, way-out-there, and wild to the core. Located somewhere ish-near the local mountains around Lake Chucama, the steep, skinny, and snaking pavement proved an exciting challenge for the riders as well as great location for capturing photos and generally just watching riders grip, rip, and slide the day away. We had fun and it was great hanging with our friends and making new ones to. Did I mention how dope that BBQ was on Saturday night?!? Anyway, please enjoy our photo recap and do not miss this event next year. Cheehoo & Yeeehaw!
Nature’s spectacle. Photo: Bandy.
Malachi Greene & friends. Photo: Bandy.
El Beasto is back! Photo: Bandy.
One of the Downhill Party Buses! Photo: Jake Grove.
Roger, LBDRing! Photo: Bandy.
Liam Morgan leading a heat in the no-hand-down race. Photo: Bandy.
Tarantulas!!! Photo: Bandy.
Nick Ronzani leading Louis Piloni and Littlecreek. Photo: Bandy.
Jacko getting pitted. Photo: Bandy
Morgan Owens living that skate-face lifestyle. Photo: Bandy.
Ian Mcsherry keepin’ it country. Photo: Bandy.
Dusty in the lead and leaning low. Photo: Jake Grove.
Corners on corners. Photo: Bandy.
The original Santa Gnarbara gangsters, Eric Singer and Max Myers. Photo: Bandy.
One of the corner marshals taking a break between heats. Photo: Bandy.
Tim Del ridin’ well. Photo: Bandy.
Scenic shreds. Photo: Bandy.
Damn! Did you just see that?!? Photo: Jake Grove.
Roger Jones out front and fully flared!!!! Photo: Jake Grove.
Speedboarding. Photo: Bandy.
Ryan Ricker, drift-life. Photo: Bandy.
Event Organizer, Tom Flinchbaugh. Photo: Bandy.
Thanks to all the racers who came and supported this rad little event! It’s a lot of work but to see how stoked it makes everyone and to see the progression or people over the years makes it all worth it. - Tom Flinchbaugh
A pack entering the first corner. Photo: Bandy.
Ryka Mohammadian riding his skateboard well. Photo: Bandy.
Paul Gratland going for speed. Photo: Bandy.
Kevin Reimer, backfoot goodness. Photo: Bandy.
Motoradventuring to get the shots. Photo: Jake Grove.
Noah Fischer setting the pace. Photo: Bandy.
Marty Mc Greensleeves, ripping it hard with Dusty in tow. Photo: Bandy.
Hay bale huck-master and hill slayer, Caden Castellini. Photo: Bandy.
Alex Charleson wins Santa Gnarbara, 2015! Photo: Bandy.
Race Results:
Junior’s
1. Noah Fischer
2. Paul Gratland
3. Elija Vinograd
Photo: Jake Grove.
Am/Expert
1. Roger Jones
2. Ryka Mohammadian
3. Patrick Welsh
Photo: Jake Grove.
Women’s
1. Palaxa Golden
2. Caitlin Yong
3. Laura Nocka
Photo: Jake Grove.
No-Hands-Down
1. Jasper Ohlson
2. Liam Morgan
3. Michael Carson
Photo: Jake Grove.
Open
1. Alex Charleson
2. AJ Haiby
3. Micah Green
Photo: Jake Grove.
Thank You’s:
-Tom Flinchbaugh
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