Racers and spectators turned out in the hundreds for the world's premier longboarding event - the 8th Attack of Danger Bay in Pender Harbour last Sunday.
"It's just a great community event. Everybody seems really supportive. It brings people into the community and showcases what the Sunshine Coast is all about," said Tom Edstrand, an organizer for the event.
The men's race was taken by Douglas Da Silva, part of a squad of Brazilian longboarders sponsored by Coast Longboarding who added an international flavour to the race.
"He's one of the top racers in the world and we've been sponsoring him for a couple years. We wanted to get him up for Danger Bay. It's kind of nice for all the people participating to have some world-class athletes there," Edstrand said. "He showed us what Brazil can do."
Pender Harbour hero and current World Cup champion Scott "Scoot" Smith crossed the finish line fractions of a second behind Da Silva.
Finishing second at the hometown race was no shame for Smith, though, given the competition.
"I was completely satisfied. I'm just glad I didn't get fourth again like last year," Smith said. "The talent level was through the roof. We've never seen so many world-class riders come here. It gets harder and harder every year."
Despite the added pressure of a hometown race, Smith said he was proud to be part of Danger Bay, and it deserves its world-class prestige.
"This is the Stanley Cup of longboard racing. Or this is like Woodstock for longboarding. Everyone comes to Danger Bay," Smith said.
Despite nursing a sore knee from a crash in an earlier heat, Brianne Davies of Vancouver took first place in the women's class for the second year in a row. Second place in the women's race went to Gibsons local Charlie Daigneaut, a friend of Davies.
"Speed is important, but fun is definitely mandatory. I am so stoked. I tried to beat Brianne at the end put she pulled it again, you crazy girl," Daigneaut said, gesturing to Davies.
The most popular gathering point for spectators was on the infamous Carnage Corner where racers routinely crashed into the hay bales in nearly every race.
Despite dozens of crashes, the event produced only two injuries requiring an ambulance evacuation.
Event staff roused the bleary-eyed and partied-out racers from their Lion's Club campsites at 4 a.m. to prepare for the race by banging on metal drums and firing up chainsaws.
Hangovers and road rash did nothing to keep riders away from bombing down the hill at speeds over 60 kilometres per hour.
"It is honestly one of the most intense adrenaline rushes you could ever possibly have," said team Red Eyez racer Jordan Prain.
"Once you start going, everything seems to just fit right into place and your feelings kind of take over. You're moving faster than you can even really think. Your body just kind of takes over and you get to the bottom and its an intense rush."
