Laguna Seca Invitational

TODAY!!!

Monterey, CA, USA- An all-star cast of downhill skateboarders will take to the track today for the Laguna Seca Invitational.  The $5000 prize purse and the prestige of racing on the classic Laguna Seca course has brough out an incredibly strong field of skaters.

Taking place during the Sea Otter Classic cycling festival, the race will expose thousands of cycling enthusiests to downhill skateboarding.  Due to time constraints, the field has been strictly limited to only 32 top skaters who were selected based on the 2011 IGSA IGSA World Rankings.  A couple of skaters from the street and transition skating world have been added in to spice things up.

The action will kick off from 11:00 am till noon with an autograph session where fans will have an opportunity to meet and greet their favorite skaters.  We’ll have free copies of the 2012 IGSA World Cup Series Official Guide available for the spectators.

Using the original track used for the Laguna Seca downhill races held in the 70’s, the course will begin at the top of the Rahal Straight and travel the reverse direction utilizing turns 6 and 5. The finish line will be just before the Dunlop Bridge.

Practice will be held from 1:00 – 2:00pm. Everyone should get 4-5 practice runs down the hill. At 2:00 pm qualifying will begin. Everyone will get one timed run that will be used to place you into the racing bracket. There will be no cut so all 32 skaters will race. During qualifying, each skaters top speed will be recorded with a radar gun. The skater who sets the fastest speed will earn $500.

The race will begin at 3:00 pm. A standard 32-rider bracket with 4-man heats will be used. The top two finishers from each round will move on. The final eight skaters will race for position.  1st and 2nd place finishers in the Semi Final rounds will go to the Finals. 3rd and 4th placed Semi Finalists will race off in a Consolation Final for 5th – 8th place. The finals will be held after the Consolation final and will be the last race down the hill.

The $5000 purse will be broken down as follows: