2014 Core Downhill Sokkie Jol

Jolling in JBay

It’s about speed but also knowing how to shed that speed,” was how 2014 Core Downhill Sokkie Jol presented by Sector 9 champion Alex Meyer described the unique format of the Downhill Skateboarding event. Now in its second year the event attracted over 80 skaters and forms part of the JBay Winterfest. The little town is pumping, so countless festive spectators came out to appreciate the skating and good vibes on a classic JBay winter Saturday.

The course was laid out on a modest downhill with a left hand corner and obstacles positioned throughout the course. These obstacles included banks, rollers, a kicker jump and a tunnel. “It wasn’t a very long course,” explained Meyer.“So if you were in the lead you had to try not to bail because it’s hard to overtake,” he said.

The usual suspects stood out early on, with the likes of Cam Adams, Ren nan Staden and Alex Meyer shining. It was local boy Van Staden who took honours in the time trial and making him a sure favourite for the man-on-man racing.

The racing in this format got ever tighter throughout the heats and the final saw Ren van Staden up against Alex Meyer. It was the calm and cool Meyer who used his skills from a variety of skating disciplines to prevail.

“We came into the first berm really tight,” said a visibly stoked Meyer post race. “I think it was my pull-off that helped me stay in front of him though and I kept the lead going from there.”