James Kelly leads first day qualifying at Padova

Race Report: Padova Grand Prix, Day One
Written by Marcus Rietema
Friday, 31 July 2009
IGSA

James Kelly (USA) continues to impress. Photo Bob Ozman

Teolo, Italy- James Kelly and his teammate Louis Pilloni continue to take downhill skateboarding to a new level. During first round qualifying for today for Sunday’s Padova Grand Prix Kelly and Pilloni qualified first and second. The California duo have taken Europe by storm this Summer with their incredible speed and no hands down style.

Mischo Erban finished third on day one. Photo Bob Ozman

Peyragudes winner Pilloni is looking strong in second. Photo Bob Ozman

Current IGSA World Cup Series points leader Mischo Erban was third with fellow Canadians Patrick Switzer and Scoot Smith rounding out the top five. All five skaters were separated by less than one second on the twisty and highly technical Padova Grand Prix course. The course features a high-speed top sections followed by a seven hairpins and another high-speed section leading to the finish.

64 Downhill Skateboarders took qualifying runs today. Tomorrow afternoon the skateboarders will get a second run to determine their final starting positions for Sunday’s race.

Martin Siegrist sits in sixth only 1.1 seconds from the front. Photo Bob Ozman

Padova Grand Prix
Downhill Skateboard Qualifying Run #1

1. James Kelly United States 2:00.154
2. Louis Pilloni United States 2:00.365
3. Mischo Erban Canada 2:00.893
4. Patrick Switzer Canada 2:01.005
5. Scott Smith Canada 2:01.121
6. Martin Siegrist Switzerland 2:01.231
7. Jackson Shapiera Australia 2:01.425
8. Christoph Batt Switzerland 2:02.747
9. Erik Lundberg Sweden 2:02.799
10. Adam Yates Australia 2:03.473

other Australians
15. Corey Leeson AUS 2:05.135
16. Ashley Donaldson AUS 2:05.254

NZL
47. Eddie Spearing NZL 2:13.415

Complete First Run Qualifying Results

Premium Member Comment by pete hill on August 1, 2009 at 8:31: how good is ash doing !!!!!!!!! first trip o/s and he is getting up there

Comment by Ash on August 1, 2009 at 9:13: Ash was so stoked with his time he sent us a text at 3 o'clock this morning.
Simon(his Dad)

Comment by Brad NS on August 1, 2009 at 10:25: Ash is realy impressing !! rip it up BRO !!
go the aussie contingent
!!

Comment by Kanufi on August 1, 2009 at 10:33: Making aussies a force to reckon with .

ASRA Admin Comment by Bugs on August 1, 2009 at 12:56: Four Australians in the top 16, and two in the top 10! Amazing! What are the odds on an all-Australian final?

Some numbers (disclaimer: I am not a statistician):

The difference between 1st and 2nd was 0.2 second. Over a 2 minute course that's 0.002%. The difference between 1st and 7th (Jacko) was 1.27 seconds, which is 0.01%.

That's so close that you'd think it was almost a product of natural variation, and if you ran more qualifiers the results would be all mixed around. But the qualifying results seem to be roughly consistent from race to race. So it seems like those tiny differences between each racer's times are a reasonably good reflection of each rider's relative speed/ability.

Premium Member Comment by Dani on August 1, 2009 at 13:22: Again Aussies are so close to one another. Ash is doing amazing things on his first trip.

Premium Member Comment by Lance and Josh on August 1, 2009 at 23:10: we are all rooting for you ash , leeso and the boys , what a fantastic effort , they are going to have soo much stuff to show us and share when they get home...go boys

Premium Member Comment by sean meaney on August 1, 2009 at 23:20: I do love it how James kelly is in vollys by the looks of it, finally someone else worked out they are the best longboard shoe out

Premium Member Comment by Jacko on August 1, 2009 at 23:34: those are actually $2.50 shoes he found at the supermarket... no-brand euro styles...

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James Kelly leads first day qualifying at Padova

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