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Skate the Cape shreds state park

63 riders take part in Delaware's first longboard competition
Jared Beers of Branchville, N.J., leads a heat of riders into the sharp turn on the course near Fort Miles in Cape Henlopen State Park in Lewes. BY NICK ROTH
November 13, 2012
Zach Leach of Baltimore leans into a turn. BY NICK ROTH
Kardon Allard of Yorktown, Va., leads Daniel Harris of Salisbury, Md., at the end of a race. BY NICK ROTH
Daniel Harris of Salisbury, Md., slides his board in front of a crowd gathered along the side of the course. BY NICK ROTH
A heat in the downhill skate approaches a sharp turn. BY NICK ROTH
Andrew Collins of North Wales, Pa., performs a flip trick at the bottom of the hill. BY NICK ROTH
Jared Beers of Branchville, N.J., tries to make a turn at high speed. BY NICK ROTH
Tino Romano of New Castle slides on his way down the hill. BY NICK ROTH
Kardon Allard of Yorktown, Va., practices sliding before the competition begins. BY NICK ROTH
Dave "Danger Davey" Harris gets low to pick up the speed. BY NICK ROTH
Brian Fritch of Allentown, Pa., leads riders down the hill. BY NICK ROTH

The inaugural Skate the Cape Shred Festival was held Nov. 10 in the Fort Miles section of Cape Henlopen State Park. The event, presented by Liquid Board Shop and Faceplant Boardriders, featured 63 riders competing in slalom, downhill, slide and the Dogfish Head Invitational Style Session.

Riders reached close to 30 mph in the featured downhill event. Four riders at a time sped down the 15-foot-wide path maneuvering around each other for position while trying to stay on the course. More than 300 spectators throughout the day witnessed high-speed turns, stylish sliding and road rash crashes.

“It was an awesome experience at Skate the Cape Shred Festival with the longboard folk. Definitely an amazing event.” said Bobby Langerfeld of Philadelphia.

The slide and Dogfish Head Invitational Style Session highlighted the technical elements of the longboard skateboarding competition. A slide is when riders head downhill and pull their boards perpendicular to the direction they are heading and get them so the wheels are not gripping the pavement and the boards can be moved freely.

Davey “Danger” Harris, Original Skateboards team rider from Newton, N.J., shouted out, “No doubt, that was a sick event!”

“We were very excited about the positive response from the riders and spectators. It was a great day of skating, and with the generous support of the Cape Henlopen State Park, we hope to make this an annual event,” said Faceplant Boardriders owner Rob Wheeler.

The winners are as follows:

Slalom

1st - Zane McKaskill (Lewes)

2nd - Steven Friday (Dewey Beach)

3rd - Max Bisaha (Rehoboth Beach)

Downhill

1st - Matt English (Newark)

2nd - Austin Bouthillet (Yorktown, Va.)

3rd - Sam Cooksey (Newark)

4th - Ryan Yearsley (Middletown)

Slide

1st - Andrew Collins (North Wales, Pa.)

2nd - Aaron Gordy (North Wales, Pa.)

3rd - Tino Romano (New Castle)

4th - Max Bisaha (Rehoboth Beach)

5th - Matt Smith (Madison, Conn.)

Invitational Style

1st - Kardon Allard (Yorkstown, Va.)

1st - Rob Wheeler (Cape May, N.J.)

3rd - Brian Fitch (Bethlehem, Pa.)

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