Lausanne, Switzerland Euro Downhill Series Race

Lausanne, Switzerland – DESCENTE! A unique downhill race that will take place through the streets of Lausanne, Switzerland on the evening of Saturday, August 18th has been added to the 2012 IGSA Euro Downhill Series.

The Euro Downhill Series race originally scheduled for August 16-18 in Serra de Ossa, Portugal has been rescheduled for September 7-9.

In the past, inline downhill competitions were seen as major events in the city of Lausanne. Because of its natural slopes, the beautiful scenery between the Geneva Lake and the Alps, Lausanne has been a favorite for many downhill riders. From 1994 to 2002, crowds of over 20,000 people were showing up for the Sunday morning finals, and over 5000 people were taking part in the popular Friday night downhill from the top of the city.

Since the last race through the city ten years ago, the downhill scene has changed dramatically. Inline skaters are now a minority, downhill skateboarding is the main category, street lugers are faster than ever. The sport has gone global, there's an industry blooming and a lot of work to be done to catch a wider audience.

The DESCENTE 2012! Committee wants to mix all these aspects for a new event, both for the elite and basic riders. They want to offer all the advantages of their city for the athletes and the sport. Lausanne hosts the International Olympic Committee headquarters, over 52 international sport federations, as well as World and European HQ of companies such as Phillip Morris or British American Tobacco. The nightlife scene is very active, the Lake almost warm in August and locals are keen on downhill riders. Oh, and they've got banks and chocolate, too.