(Editors Note, August 29, 2016: This event has been canceled. Red Bull released the following statement, “Due to unforeseen circumstances, Red Bull Donner Downhill scheduled for Saturday, September 10 will no longer take place. We apologize for any inconvenience and hope to have a competitive downhill skate event in the future.”)
The speed limit on Old Highway 40, just west of Truckee and above Donner Lake, is 45 mph. The record for fastest speed reached while downhill skateboarding, according to Red Bull, is 81 mph, held by Erik Lundberg. On Sept. 10, this limit will be likely ignored when 64 downhill skateboarding athletes race down Donner Pass in Red Bull’s first ever North American downhill skateboarding event, the Donner Downhill.
Donner Pass has a historic background for downhill skateboarding that dates back to the ’70s, but the first competition on the mountain pass was held in the early 2000s when the road was freshly paved. Today’s road no longer offers that smooth, brand new surface.
“Over the years there have been many cracks in the road; that requires a type of skill where you need to suck it up and power through,” Louis Pilloni, downhill skateboarder and event participant, said.
Pilloni, whose personal speed record is 71 mph, was able to ride the Donner course a year ago as part of an initial scouting event, and said the road was exciting and challenging. “It [the course] will pose a challenge for many riders, and I’m excited to see the event come to life,” he said.
The 2.4-mile course — that contains more than a 2000-foot elevation change — will be host to eight racers per heat traveling at speeds upwards of 50 mph. Half of the competitors in each heat move on to the next round until a champion is crowned.
The sport of downhill skateboarding has become increasingly popular in recent years. And as explained by Pilloni, who calls Los Angeles home, is often born from street skating. “I grew up street skating and surfing and drove over canyons to the beach. One day I started to ride down the canyons to the beach, and it’s been downhill ever since,” he said.
While Red Bull was unable to give a specific number for the percentage of event participants who are professional skateboarders, word of the event spread quickly throughout the skateboarding community, and registration (which was open to the public) filled up within 24 hours — making it the top destination of choice for riders from all over the country.
The Donner Downhill is open to public viewing, and shuttles will be provided to specific locations throughout the course, as Donner Pass Road will be closed for an undetermined period of time on the day of the race.
