Mt. Tabor Downhill Challenge: July 22nd, 2023

This is a special year for the legendary Mt. Tabor Downhill Challenge. Celebrating its 10th year, the event has been a staple for the Portland longboarding community for generations of riders. Downhill longboarders from all over the world - amateur and professional - have competed in the race and the event has served as a gateway for many new riders interested in participating in the scene.

It is recommended as an excellent first event for a few reasons:

• The hill is not too fast, about 25-30 mph.
• The hill is not technical, meaning no sharp turns that require riders to slow down or slide.
• The hill is easy to access in the middle of the city and easy to plan for as a one-day event.
• The course is completely closed to cars and pedestrians, and the safest time to skate downhill at this location.

The 2023 Mt. Tabor Downhill Challenge includes a downhill race and a freeride event for skaters, lugers, and roller skaters/bladers. New this year is the $1000 first-place prize for both the Women's Class and Open Class. There will be prize money for podiums for the Masters Class (age 40 plus) and Juniors (age 15 and below) as well. Also, there are two entry fee options this year: $75 for downhill racers and $55 for freeride only (not racing). Register for the event here.

Downhill Event Schedule: Saturday, July 22nd, 2023

• 8:30am: Check-in for Registered Riders who paid online and Day of Registration (cash only).
• 9am: Rider's Meeting
• 9:30am-12pm: Freeriding Runs for All
• 12pm-1pm: Lunch (Online registration before race day includes lunch from Sizzle Pie Pizza.)
• 1pm-5pm: Freeriding, practice runs, and Racing.
• 5pm-ish: Podium and Awards

For more information, check out the Mt. Tabor Downhill Challenge Facebook Event Page.

Dancing and Freestyle Kick-Off Party: Friday, July 21st at 6-9pm

This is a meet-and-greet kick-off party the night before the main event. Any and all are welcome! Longboard dancing action will be going down at this prime spot with Longboard Dance PDX, hosted by locals Carla Javier-Brea and Steven Hoppe. They will be there to help anyone who'd like to try longboard dancing. Also, our featured photographer Jon Huey will be spinning some tunes and there will be a free raffle with prizes from our sponsors Landyachtz and Loaded Boards. Come hang out and chill, meet other riders in town for the race, and have fun skating or spectating.

Located on Westside of the Tilikum Bridge: S. Bond Ave, Portland, OR 97239.

For more information, check out the Dancing and Freestyle Kick-Off Party Facebook Page.

A Brief History of the Mt. Tabor Downhill Challenge

The MTDC was originally created by Portland rider Billy Meiners back in 2009 as an outlaw event, meaning not permitted by the Parks Department. It ran like so many other events with a core group of local riders in the area together and running some race heats in the early part of the day when the park was quiet with fewer people. Most of the road is already closed to cars all the time and it being the most well-known spot to longboard in the city, it was a perfect place!

The first Mt. Tabor Downhill Challenge in 2009. Photo by Robin McGuirk.

Meiners put in the planning and work and through his determination was accepted by Portland Parks as an official event in the year 2011. This meant the event was permitted and sanctioned for skaters only for that one day. It was a dream come true for many locals and would be the first time riders could skateboard down Mt. Tabor on a completely closed road to all other traffic. Thus, the tradition was born and now this year marks the 10th anniversary of the event. Don't miss out as you never know how long special events like this will last. Late July usually rings perfect weather in Portland and even if you are not a skater, this is one of the most entertaining events to watch at Mt. Tabor. Free for all spectators!

Mass Start for the 2010 Tabor Old School Outlaw Race.

If you are a fan of Downhill Skateboarding this is also a chance to meet and watch your favorite downhill riders in person. Riders from Landyachtz like Alex Hannigan, Wolfman Coleman, Dexter Manning, and more are likely to attend. As well as a host of other big names from other major brands like Loaded Boards, RipTide Bushings, Rayne Longboards, and more mixing it up with the Portland locals who ride Tabor all year long.

Here is a list of the past champions and podium finishers:

• 2009 (outlaw): Jon Huey, Nick Calafato, Billy Meiners, David Mitchell, Casey Morrow, Aidian O'leyne
• 2010 (outlaw): Chip Wood and Billy Meiners
• 2011: Open: Billy Meiners, Chip Wood, Tim Del, Josh Torres
• 2012: Open: Dillon Stephens, Kula Jensen, Billy Bones, Mohawk Max. Masters: Scott Lembach, Mike Campbell, Tracy Beaupre. Groms: Eric, Keegan, Charlie, Landon. Buttboard: Frank, Huey, Teebeau, Ben. Mini-bike: Ryan O'Brien, Guardrail, Tia, Jay.
• 2013: Open: Billy Meiners, Nate Ryan, George Mackenzie, Bradley Cameron. Mini-bike: Ryan O’Brien, Sean Brady, Harlan Whitman, Chuck Yeager.
• 2014: Open: Brandon Tissen, Chip Wood, Bricin Lyons, Wolfgang Coleman. Groms: Grant Benesh, Jeremy Pellens, Harrison Finney, Martin Cheek. Masters: Tad Drysdale, Deano, Brendon Corrao, Matthew Franklin.
• 2015: Open: Chip Wood, Pat Haluska, Noah Throckmorton, Laine Jackart.
• 2016: Open: Pat Haluska, Mack Wacey, Robin McGuirk, Trey Denham.
• 2018: Open: Daina Banks, Keenan McCartney, Noah Throckmorton, Tate Flippo. Women: Amanda Roden, Cat O'dell, Carla Javier, Autumn King. Masters: Gordon Miller, Tad Drysdale, Deano, Lee Dansie. Groms: James Nelson, Iggy Aldama-Shaw, Sky Grumbles, Ernie Campbell.
• 2019: Open: Gunnar Morrin, Mack Wacy, Mike Bridge, Sam Sparkowich. Women: Amanda Roden, Marcie Morgan, Autumn King. Masters: Gordon Miller, Tad Drysdale, Micro. Groms: Oliver Fox, Iggy Aldama-Shaw, Seth Walton, Calder Nakell.
• 2022: Open: Dexter Manning, Garett Belanger, Mike Bridge, Troy Grenier. Womens: Alisha Fillback, Katerina Hill, Tessa Campbell, Amanda Roden. Masters: Robin McGuirk, Gordon Miller, Micro, Tad Drysdale.

Special Rules and Info for the Mt.Tabor Downhill Challenge

The Race has some pretty unique modifications that have to do with the “Challenge” part of the name.  This includes the “Old School” downhill skateboarding stance that celebrates the first era of the sport, back in the 1970's. Riders then rode with their feet closer together and their knees together. This is actually harder for the rider to keep their balance vs. the modern style of downhill skating. Current riders tuck with their feet farther apart and place their back knee behind their front knee which is easier to hold a tuck for longer periods of time. The “Old School” stance is required for the Open Class to make it more challenging for the advanced riders. Also, no leathers are allowed for Open Class to discourage crashing each other out without skin protection. All other classes can tuck, however, they can wear whatever protection they want.

Open Class Racers in the "Old School Tuck" – Feet overlapping with knees together. Photo by Jon Huey.

If you want to win the $1000 for Open you need to practice the “Old School” stance at speed and be skilled enough to keep it sunny side up all the way down the hill with three other racers. The Racing format for all classes is four-person heats with the top two advancing to the next round. All racers start out in the Open Class and by the third round you can then join the other classes that begin their first round of racing (Women's, Masters, Groms).  If you are in one of these other classes and are still in the Open Class, you can decide which race you want to continue with. Once you are eliminated you then join the Freeride Group who do runs together before or after the racing heats. All riders are brought to the top of the hill whether they are racing or freeriding. Everyone gets to do all the runs. Many riders skip the last run or two to watch the semi-finals and finals finish at the bottom.

As a spectator, you can walk up the hill and watch from anywhere you'd like from the side of the road.  There are many nice grass areas and shady spots to watch the action all along the course. A good way to see it all is to walk to the top for the first round of racing and see the start line take-off area. Then after all the riders go down, walk down the side of course a bit and wait until they come back up in the shuttle van and watch the next round from there. Then do that again walking down a bit more for each of the 5-6 rounds of racing. That will bring you to the bottom finish line area for the final heats. All of the Finals for all the classes will be run during the last round. They will be announced on radios that you can hear from the course workers along the sides of the road. So you will have plenty of notice to be down at the bottom for the Finals and see all the close photo finishes along with all the celebrations going on. The podiums and awards will be announced immediately after the racing is done right below the finish line. We hope to see you all there!

Photo by Jon Huey.