Rain or shine, sun or snow, waves
or asphalt, it doesn’t matter what you are looking for, the Big Island has it
all. With the entire island being one giant mountain, there are bound to be
huge hills wherever the eye can see. And on one of these very hills was held
the Hawai’i Winter Outlaw Series event 2.
The
weather was perfect. The sun was shining and there was no rain to be had. The
road was crispy dry and buttery smooth. Early in the morning the guys were on
the hill taking practice runs. Due to inexperience as an event organizer, Brian
hadn’t forbidden practice runs the day of the race. Everyone else was lined up
at the dope camp zone, Kole Kole, to hear the rules and find out their heats.
As Brian explained the rules and drew the heats everyone knew this day was
going to be crazy! The heats were stacked; with some of the fastest guys from
each island racing each other.
With
the brackets drawn, the rules laid out and everything set, it was time to head
up the hill and get the party started. But alas, as the final cars were leaving
the campsite to the race hill, the cops rolled up because someone called about
some skaters. BLOWN!!! The cops were
cruise and didn’t cause any trouble, but the racers had to find another hill to
race on, or postpone till the following day. With the rider consensus being
that we postpone til the following day, it was a day of free skating for the
entire group. With so many runs within driving distance it was going to be a
great day after all. But a surprise was in store for everyone.
Just
about 30 minutes away from the Homestead, there was an untouched gem with 40-50
mph speeds and tight corners. As the group rolled up the hill, tensions were
high. This road was gnarly. After one practice run down the course everyone
agreed this would be the hill for the race. With people set up on corners and
some very helpful volunteers holding down the one lane bridge that the race
ended on, the last practice run was under way. After the practice runs there
was a small racers meeting where new rules were laid out. Crossing the double
yellow line meant disqualification. If the spotters saw a car coming for the
one lane bridge they would signal the riders to shut down, at this point we
would rerun the heat if the riders were very close, but if there was enough
distance the lead racer would be the winner. Brian gave everyone a chance to
withdraw from the race since the hill was changed, but every racer stood their
ground. It was on!
Back
on the top of the hill the racers were getting amped. After the practice runs,
everyone knew this course was fast and gnarly. Everyone had their game face on
for there was only one chance to move on in this single elimination race. With
the first round of heats under way the brackets were emptying quick. After the
first round of heats were the quarter-finals. Many great racers had been
eliminated in the first heat, but this left only tried and true veterans of the
course.
Through
the quarter-finals the pack of racers was getting smaller. In the Semi-finals
we had 6 remaining riders, the victors of these heats would move on to the
finals and the defeated would be left to race for consolation prizes. In the
semi-finals the heats were: Dakota vs. Kaimana, Mike vs. Nick, and Dusty vs.
Brody. Every racer in these heats had been putting on a show in their other
heats, but pit them against one another and this was going to be a showdown.
The
semi-finals were on and they were intense! Each racer was giving his all,
passing in critical sections or waiting for the last 100 yard dash, these guys
had their strategy planned. And it paid off, moving into the finals were: the
Man from Maui Dakota, the crazy Hawaiian Dusty, and the Oahu O.G. Nick. Crazy
thing about the finals heat was that there was one representative from each
island. In the consi race were: Mike, Brody, and Kaimana.
Since
there were 3 racers in the finals and the consi’s, we had no choice but to hold
3 man heats. Each rider had to be at the top of their game to come out on top
of these heats. The course was gnarly enough with 2 man heats, but these guys
just weren’t any racers, they were finalists. And they proved their merit. The
finals were off, Dakota pushing into first with Nick close behind and Dusty
trailing. This heat was off to a great start. Through a few turns Dusty was
battling with Nick for the pass while Dakota held his lead. Dusty found the
line and got past Nick and was barreling down on Dakota, but Dakota wasn’t
having it, hanging onto the lead Dakota came flying through the last few
corners with a sizeable lead. Nick was trying to get back out front but there
just wasn’t enough distance left to catch Dusty and make the pass. So the epic
battle for podium spot ended with Dakota being 1st, Dusty earning 2nd,
and Nick taking 3rd. This was one heat you had to watch to
understand the intenseness. In the consi heat it was Kaimana in 4th,
Mike in 5th, and Brody in 6th.
The
award ceremony was epic with 1st through 6th receiving a
good deal of schwag and cash, with 1st place receiving an additional
100 dollars from Landyachtz. But not only did the racers get prizes but also
our very valuable volunteers were given some free schwag as well. This race
could not have happened without the work of these wonderful individuals!
The riders and organizers would like to give thanks to all of our generous sponsors
and wonderful volunteers! Mahalo nui! Be sure to make it out to HawaiiWinterOutlawSeries event 3 THE
SCORCHER INVITATIONAL.
Write up by Brian McOuat - Big Island DH skateboard ambassador
Photos by Niko Shimozaki and Jeffery Khau
Hawaii Winter Outlaw Series event 2
The Landyzchtz Big Island Flow Fest
1st Dakota Camp
2nd Dusty Owens
3rd Nick Shimozaki
4th Kaimana Pinto
5th Mike Broan
6th Brody Santiago
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