The third annual ‘Race for the Old Gold Jug’ in Antrim will be an officially-sanctioned International Skateboard Slalom Association race, organizers announced today.Having been to the first and second, I can attest that this event is a blast for participants and spectators alike (see previous posts or the article advancing last year’s race). I don’t doubt that the event will remain as low-key and welcoming as always, having met the folks involved, but this sanctioned status should draw a larger, even more international crowd.

The press release came with a photo of last year’s winner, Pascal “Rookie” Jean:

http://blogs.nashuatelegraph.com/off_track/resource/general/slalomracer2007.jpg

Check out the race website for more info, and here’s the press release:

ANTRIM–The International Skateboard Slalom Association announced today Thursday that Antrim’s September skateboard slalom race has been awarded “Main” status, making it one of the six highest-ranked events in North America. The name of the event has also changed from the Race for the Old Gold Jug to the Antrim CAN/AM Slalom Championships to better reflect the contingent of Canadian skaters who have raced in the past two years. The event is part of the Antrim Home & Harvest Festival, which takes place September 19, 20 & 21.“The town support for this event has been nothing short of tremendous,” said race organizer and Antrim Chamber of Commerce member Brian Beihl. “Without the support of the neighbors, the Town of Antrim, the Antrim Chamber of Commerce and the members of the race committee, we wouldn’t have received such an honor. Community support is something the ISSA looks for its larger events,” he said.

ISSA Vice President Pat Chewning also commented on why the Antrim race was chosen: “The ISSA is pleased to announce a MAIN contest sanction for the Antrim CAN/AM Slalom Championships in Antrim, NH on September 19-21. The racing surface is excellent, the organizers have improved the event every year, and the racers who have attended in the past speak highly of the organization, venue, local support, and competition,” he said. “This will be one of the premier slalom skateboard events in North America, and that is why it has earned the ISSA MAIN contest status.”

According to Brian Beihl, the benefit to the higher sanctioning will bring additional contestants to the race and higher attendance to the Home & Harvest Festival by raising the profile of the town regionally and nationally. “We’ve worked very hard to make it a great event for the racers, and word has gotten around. “As for attendance, it has started to bring in families from throughout the region to enjoy our fall festival — that’s what it’s all about,” he said.

Already in March, the race has 52 registrants from Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, California, New Jersey, Colorado, Virginia, Illinois, North Carolina, Texas, Oregon, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec, Ontario & Alberta.

The weekend’s racing will include three events this year, a requirement of the higher sanctioning. New this year is the Friday afternoon 100-cone “tight slalom” course will be run on Summer Street. The main event takes place on Saturday, September 20, still called the Race for the Old Gold Jug. A 50-cone “hybrid” race, cones are spaced at different lengths and angles. This style of racing is a mix of speed and balance,reaching speeds of 20 to 25 miles per hour down a 4 percent grade. The Sunday event is a giant slalom, where racers speed down the hill at speeds of almost 30 miles an hour, but through a course of cones spaced 10 to 12 feet apart.

Antrim joins the University of North Carolina Spring Slalom as one of the two events awarded Main status thus far this year, with three additional races to be named. The season’s largest event and the only race with a Major status, is the North American Championships in Hood River, Oregon.

For information about local sponsorships of the event or participating, please contact Brian Beihl at the Antrim Chamber of Commerce, 603-588-8300, or see the event website at www.SkateboardSlalom.com.