» Guajataca Downhill 2011 / Surf Caribe

Wednesday 05 January, 2011

Guajataca Downhill 2011

In reaching its benchmark fifth year, the Guajataca Downhill skateboarding event takes a step from grassroots local culture to international renown on the doorstep of a serious explosion.

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Puerto Rican Shiatanael Hernandez was on the course early Sunday, studying the curves where things began to get interesting.

Along with his cousin Nashley Alameda, who placed 2nd in the Women’s 13 and Up, Shiatanael Hernandez has downhill skateboarding running in his family.

The contents of any serious downhiller will have this kind of stuff.

Cholo was out of action with an injured wrist, but was on the scene early to get a good viewing spot.

Jose “Guzmi” Guzman took advantage of a free ride back up the hill after a warm up run.

Christian, the EMT on the right, did plenty of first aid up and down the course.

For a beautiful Sunday morning event everyone was breaking out their best rides.

Early heats on Sunday had the younger divisions tackling the course.

Early in the Junior heats Nassim Riquelme was on a good line around the first corner.

Many riders came from off the island, making this Guajataca Downhill the biggest yet.

But the local boys know the hill best, even if their gear is a bit dated.

Coors Light was in the house for this edition of the Guajataca Downhill, and they brought lots of good infrastructure to help a growing event.

Carlos Duran was another local buy in the Men’s 18 – 29 who made it through the the semifinals before going down.

The Canadians were well represented and all sporting the GoPro cameras on their helmets.

Speed demon around the last corner towards the home stretch.

Manuel Vázquez emerged from this heat to reach the semifinal in the Men’s 18 – 29 division.

Delaware’s Face Plant team came equipped with their tie dye t-shirts for good measure.

That blur in the street is Shiatanael Hernandez whizzing by at 50mph while the fans look on.

Down on the last turn before the home stretch, William Lawhorne of Florida was making time towards a semifinal finish.

Another one of the Canadian crew figured his Birdwell Beach Britches were enough to keep the road rash at bay in the event of a spill.

The last turn in the course was the most critical line to find…

…so that a good head of steam garnered from the rest of the course could be directed towards the finish.

Peruvian national and Miami resident Maria Isabel Nuñez took second in the Women’s 13 and up category.

Men’s Open winner, Canadian Kevin Reimer, lead this heat from start to finish ahead of Sector Nine’s Jeff Budro and another rider.

In the middle of this threesome is Juan Rodriguez who was yet another local making a strong showing into the semis of the Men’s 18 – 29.

Words & Photos by Steve Fitzpatrick

Virgin blacktop. There’s not much more for which a downhill skateboarding event can ask. And if that weren’t enough for the milestone 5^th official year of the Guajataca Downhill, there were a host of other elements that made this annual edition one for the record books and one that is garnering international acclaim.

The number of competitors was up from last year’s 120 to over 160, many contestants have grown to know the hill well, and with the fresh pavement the Municipality of Quebradillas kindly provided the playing field was leveled somewhat as the speed pockets along the course became what they naturally should be instead of being dictated by road conditions. This meant the times would be fast, and they were.

The weather was pristine. The entire weekend enjoyed clear skies and bright sun. It was classic winter Caribbean weather. Cool nights gave way to sunlit mornings and bright warm afternoons as the three days of events and competition unfolded.

The music rocked. Cultura Profética stole the show supported by La Mancha del Jardín and dj’s Yolanda Be Cool and Solo from the UK.

Big crowds. Locally, this event brings out big numbers including entire families from the towns of Quebradillas, Isabela, Aguadilla, Camuy, and the surrounding areas who love to see the riders challenge the hill while socializing with friends on the sidewalks and grassy knolls that buffer the course.

TV coverage. The entire event was filmed by Channel 6 and will be broadcast this weekend in a two-hour program. Check your local listings for times.

There’s already rumblings of a five day festival next year including all the other disciplines of skateboarding, so hold on to your hats and stay tuned to Surf Caribe for all the details and updates as they become available.