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Racers tear it up at Britannia Beach longboard course

Treacherous, steep course makes for exciting viewing

Speed freaks from around the world converged in Britannia Beach to ride one of the best longboard race courses around - a 3.5 kilometre stretch of Copper Road in Britannia Beach.

Donning scuffed full leather body suites, approximately 120 racers ripped down the course a few dozen times each day of the two day event, vying for first place finishes while trying not to crash in to a nearby hay bale.

Former Squamish resident, Nate Lang said he loves everything about this course.

"It's awesome cause it's steep and you can carry good speed through the corners. It allows for tight racing."

Hawaiian Ethan Lau expressed a similar sentiment about the five cornered course that drops more than 1,000 vertical feet.

"It's a beautiful course, I love it here. It's steep and beautiful - there's waterfalls."

Brazilian longboarding champ and world record holder for top speed Douglas 'Dalua' Silva said - in very broken English- he likes the course because it has "perfect asphalt."

After a day of racing what organizer Lee Cation called one of the most aggressive courses on the continent, Vancouver longboarder Kevin Reimer earned a first place finish, beating some of North America's best racers.

Burnaby's Patrick Switzer finished in second place while third and fourth went to two American racers Los Angeles, California resident James Kelly and Boulder, Colorado's Zak Maytum, respectively.

Lang was doing well until he slid out and crashed in the quarter finals.

"I'm pretty disappointed. It's alright though, that kind of thing happens," said the Vancouver-based bike courier.

Although Lang finished in second place last year, he recognized the competition at this year's race was pretty tough.

"It's as stiff as it ever is. Every year it gets harder."

British Columbia females swept the women's category with three Lower Mainland residents earning a spot on the podium. Burnaby's Brianne Davies grabbed a first place finish, while Dominque Vukorep of North Vancouver nabbed second place and Vancouver's Christin Gregorson earned a third place finish.

The 16 and under category podium was equally divided between Seattle racers and B.C. athletes. Washington State residents Spencer Smith and Max Wipperman finished in first and second respectively, while Vancouver's Wolfgang Coleman earned a third place finish and Courtney-based racer Mike Slota came in fourth. The youngest racer at the Gold Rush Challenge, 11-year-old Quinn Dubois didn't place but he said he still had fun.

Jeff Woodfine, a Whistler resident, earned a first place finish in the 30 and over category while second place was taken by Justin Dubois from Estes Park, Colorado. Two more Canadian rounded out the category with Montrealer Yann Lhermitte grabbing a third place finish and Frank Cote of Revelstoke finishing in fourth.

For more information on the Gold Rush Challenge or other longboarding races of its kind, check out www.unkle.ca.

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