Donovan

The Downhill Rodeo is back, this time with music and beer

After a one-year hiatus due to financial strains, the Paskapoo Downhill Rodeo returns this year to the winding road that snakes alongside the slope of Canada Olympic Park.

Reaching speeds of up to 90 km/h, competitors will bomb down the course on longboards, hoping to claim the top prize of $10,000 and avoid the protective hay bales and concrete lunches.

The first Rodeo was held in 2006, followed by another in 2007, but the organizer — the Speedboard and Longboard Association of Calgary (SLAC) — was unable to raise the necessary funds to host the event in 2008.

This year, Winsport Canada (formerly Calgary Olympic Development Association) stepped in to host the event in partnership with SLAC. “This is the help we’ve needed. It’s a lot of work when you’re just two guys, low out of high school, not that much capital,” says Noah Wesche, one of the organizers and a founding member of SLAC.

“It just makes everything so much less stressful and you have a much more positive outlook for the race.”

That positive outlook may help more than just the event. Both Wesche and his SLAC compatriot Aaron Chrisnsen are two of the more than 150 crazy bastards who will be bombing down the curving course. “It’s pretty rare for an organizer to do well in their own event,” says Chrisnsen. “You’re usually pretty stressed out the day of.”

“Three days you’re awake before the event, so you’re pretty much out of it,” concludes Wensche.

Of course, it’s not just the possibility of the organizers doing well that is an added bonus of having a large organization backing your event. There’s the media connections, the cameras and Jumbotrons and this year there’s also the addition of a battle of the bands, DJs, onsite camping and beer gardens.

A favourite of racers from years past, the course remains the same this year, including the two speedbumps that seem an atrocious addition to the uninitiated, but which gets riders all hot and bothered. “You actually take flight,” says Wensche excitedly. “On the bottom speed bump you’re actually still turning the corner; you have to straighten out, hit it and then continue to finish your turn.”

“It’s right at the finish line, so if you want to win your heat and you want to do well, you have to just tuck right over the speedbump, in which case you get a little bit of air,” adds Chrisnsen.

Another highlight, and one that most people can actually relate to, is chairlift access — eliminating the customary long trek back up the hill.

On Friday, riders of all levels will take to the slope for a free ride, followed by competitive heats on Saturday and the finals on Sunday afternoon. Oh, and admission is free to the public.