Teutonia, Brazil - Practice and the first qualifying run of the 2011 Malarrara IGSA World Championships got underway today in Teutonia, Brazil. In his first appearance of the season after sustaining a serious leg injury in a pre-season race, Kevin Reimer took everyone by surprise by storming to the number one position in today’s first qualifying run.
Reimer showed that his injury and the long recovery from it, have taken nothing away from his outstanding ability when he set a time of 1:20.075 late in the session.
Douglas Silva currently sits .589 sec behind Reimer. Photo Liz Kinnish
Local hero and 2008 winner Douglas Silva was a half second back in second place with a time of 1:20.664. With two-time World Champion (2010, 2009) Reimer’s injury, Silva looked to be the favorite coming into the event. Now that Reimer is clearly back and as competitive as ever, it looks to be an epic showdown just as it was in 2010.
Qualifying third was 2009 winner Mischo Erban with a time of 1:21.876. Erban loves speed and at Teutonia, he is in his element. Last year he finished third to Reimer and Silva. It remains to be seen if he can return to the form that saw him beat both of them in 2009.
Brazilian riders occupied the next five positions with Vinicius Mendez and Otavio Munhoz,fourth and fifth respectively. Danky Dean who reached semi final in Teutonia last year, placed sixth while Thiago Lessa whom recently won a South American race in Chile was seventh. Max Ballesteros who won the Verdicchio European Campionship race in Italy recently was eighth. Augustin Virgolini from Argentina was ninth.
Patrick Switzer had visa problems and nearly had to miss the event. Fortunately the newly crowned IGSA World Cup Series Champion was able to overcome his difficulties and made his way to Teutonia. He posted a respectable time of 1:24.095 on the first day he’d ever seen the course. The effort placed him tenth. Look for Switzer to move closer to the front as he gains more experience on the tricky, high speed course.
Teutonia is a tricky and high speed task master that rewards a nano second’s loss of concentration with a painful introduction to the tarmac and hay bales. As the weekend progresses and the pace heats up we can expect to see more riders fail to finish the course.
Title sponsor Malarrara Clothing have a wide presence around the site, confirming their huge commitment to the sport. Their boss Paulo Martins is ever present on the hill urging riders to give their all.
Tomorrow sees second round qualification and Sunday is Race Day. An additional attraction tomorrow will be the IGSA Speed Trap, were we hope that Teutonia will underline it’s reputation as the world’s fastest downhill race.
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Malarrara Pro Teutonia IGSA World Championships
Open Downhill Skateboarding
First Day Qualifier Top Ten
1. Kevin Reimer, Canada
2. Douglas Silva, Brazil
3. Mischo Erban, Canada
4. Vinicius Mendez, Brazil
5. Otavio Munhoz, Brazil
6. Danky Dean, Brazil
7. Thiago Lessa, Brazil
8. Max Ballesteros, Brazil
9. Augustin Virgolini, Argentina
10. Patrick Switzer, Canada