Dillon Stephens Takes Pole Position
Today´s qualifying for the Festival de la Bajada IGSA World Cup started early this morning under wet track conditions and sunshine at the Parque Nacional Olaya Herrera in Bogota Colombia. Using a new timing system with transponders and chips, all riders were able to make three qualifying runs before the rain came down soaking the new pavement of the fast, technical course. Since everyone understood that times would not get any better under wet track, plenty of practice runs were held preparing everyone for tomorrow´s day race.
In Open Downhill Qualifying, Canadian Dillon Stephens missed his first qualifying run but came back to set the fastest time of the day on second and third runs. American Alex Tongue qualified in the second position while Argentinian Santiago Gonzales impressed everyone by setting the third best time of the day. 2011 World Cup Series Champion Patrick Switzer sits on fourth position and American William Royce rounded out the top five.
Mariza Nunez from Peru took the first place position followed by Brazilian Christie Aleixo. Sadly Mariza crashed during afternoon practice and will have to heal fast to be able to challenge Christie in tomorrow´s race. Top contender in the Women´s Downhill Katie Nielson did not show up due an injury on her knee. 2011 Street Luge World Champion Water Baresi took the lead while 2011 Classic Luge World Champion Alexandre Machado set the best time for Classic Luge.
A big crowd is expected for tomorrow’s race. Rain is expected in the city of Bogota making the results of the race completely unpredictable. Although this event is round #8 of the IGSA World Cup Series, the IGSA South American Series has barely started. We can feel that the Continent is breathing the wind of the speeds of the best downhill skateboarders in the world.