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Return to Paradise Catalina Island Classic

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My Catalina experience started when I decide to forgo the usual ferry ride (which is about an hour long) and instead travel by yacht.

The seas decided that they weren’t going to cooperate as they had done in previous years. (You can learn more about my eight-hour ordeal in The Fine Print.) After quickly disembarking from the yacht, I instantly felt Catalina’s mellow vibe gently flowing over me. The Island overflows with positive vibes and is very different than other California tourist spots. There’s very few cars on the island; most people get around by golf cart, and the slower pace resonates with both tourists and locals. The stunning scenery completes the experience – Catalina is simply amazing.

841x527Return-To-paradise-article-workfile-2Justin Reynolds, Riviera brand and team manager, was the key individual responsible for resurrecting the contest. “Catalina is pure treasure hidden in plain sight,” explained Justin. “It represents a lot of what we love about California:the Pacific Ocean, coastal vistas, nearly year-round sunshine and a rich history of skateboarding. The original event in 1977 was the birth of downhill racing when it was presented to the public, but it only happened once, and I’ve always wanted to pick up the torch and pay respect to the event and the forefathers of downhill.”

Justin said he never thought about what the initial reaction would be. “I just knew it had to be done.” Justin enlisted Brent “Dubes” Dubendorff to help create the event. “With Dubes and his connection to the downhill race community, I trusted that the right people would come, and they did.”

“Catalina has its charms. Any destination-based event, specifically on an island, creates some magic,” remarks Justin. “The community of Avalon and all our island friends that make the event possible add to the magic and really make it worth all the hard work that goes into an event like this.”

The town of Avalon is easy to navigate, and because everything is centered on a small area, you end up running into all sorts of people all weekend long. A mini-ramp was set up in the center of town, which was also a gathering place for racers. The restaurants range from reasonably priced to quite expensive. Two Vons supermarkets did a booming business all weekend long.

The race course itself was challenging, with some fairly tight corners. Spectators saw more than their fair share of spills. The folks at Riviera have things down to a science when it comes to setting up the equipment, so the event move along very smoothly. Mike Girard and Justin announced the race with a heavy dash of humorous quips. Most of the audience appreciated their wit, although one guy with enormous arms didn’t seem too amused!

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The racing was fast and furious. Downhill skateboarders continued to step up to the challenge, and the level of riding was outstanding. Many runs featured insane drafting and passing. Kevin Reimer won the race, followed by Dillon Stephens in second, and Troy Yardwaste placing third. In the women’s division, Emily Pross was the champion, followed by Spoky Woky, and finally Victoria Waddington. The joyful camaraderie between racers was evident and contagious. This is something that we’ve documented many times in Concrete Wave. It was a pleasure meeting with and making new friends from many countries including Canada, Spain, France, Norway, and Sweden. Mark Nisbet, one of the best skate photographers I’ve ever worked with, captured the spirit of Catalina both from the ground and in a helicopter. Mark loaded so many amazing photos at Dropbox, we had to extend this piece by two additional pages.

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I was fortunate to be able to interview the mayor of Avalon, Anni Marshall, and get her views on the event. With her easy-going manner, Mayor Marshall (aka Anni) personifies Catalina Island. “We’re fortunate to live here,” explained Anni. “Catalina is a step back in time. It’s not just the Island – it’s the getting here by boat. We’ve maintained a quaintness that has affected generations of visitors.”

Anni said that the event is well know parents love having the race here because their kids enjoy skateboarding.” Catalina Island is indeed a gracious host and the locals genuinely make you feel comfortable.

I was also able to meet three young skaters who made the trip not to race, but just to take in the event. “I came to Catalina during spring break,” said Finn, a 16 year-old longboarder. “I heard there were some great hills and very few cars. It was really fun to skate.” Finn brought two friends to the event. One of them, Noah, 18, said he was surprised at how nice everyone was. “Everyone is super-polite and there’s been no trouble at all. It’s been fun skating with everyone. When you skate past the sheriff, he throws you a shaka. Everyone is just so chill.”

“The community of Avalon and all our island friends that make the event possible add to the magic and really make it worth all the hard work that goes into an event like this.” -Justin Reynolds

500x822Return-to-paradise-article-workfile-8David Hart runs the City of Avalon Recreation Department and said the event represents the California lifestyle on this iconic island very well. “We get to help make great events happen. These events benefit our community and are a blast to attend,” said David. He noted the contest was very well run and that many residents and visitors remember what happened years ago. “It’s exciting to be a part of making a new chapter in Catalina history, and one that we hope keeps skating active for years to come. The setup support we provide is significant for such a small city crew, but is just a small part of everything the event organizers provide. Each year it gets smoother even as the event grows.”

The people at Riviera pour considerable resources into the event. The residents also do their part to ensure that the event is successful. “We owe our hearts to Monica ‘Moe’ Seals and her father Randy,” said Justin. “‘Moe’ owns CSC Boardshop and is the Queen of the Island to us.” Additional islanders that Riviera thanked included Ed, Ed Junior and Chris Arnold of Straight Up Builders. “Jen Monroe and the entire staff from the city of Avalon have always been great to us,” said Justin. “The Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce and Steve and Brenda Hoefs from Three Palms always support us and show love.” “Finally,”Justin explained, “Doug Feteroll and the entire sheriff’s department, along with Mike Krug and the Fire Department, have always been supportive and helpful.”

Catalina is indeed an enchanted place. The Four Preps called it the island of romance. Adan Garcia, an employee over at Riviera, embraced this spirit when he proposed to his finance near the mini ramp. She accepted, and the crowd erupted in smiles.

Through the years, I’ve attended many events but none have gone by as quickly as the Catalina Classic. It truly was a magical event. A huge thanks to the hard working staff over at Riviera who did a truly magnificent job putting the event together. If you’re wondering how I got back to the mainland, I’m happy to say that I took the ferry this time and it was smooth sailing. See you at the fifth
anniversary in 2016!

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