Isle of Man hosts 'ultimate' downhill skateboarding contest
The Manx route has an average incline of 8.5% but reaches 22% at its steepest.The course starts at a cattle grid and features a fast straight with two hairpin turns shortly before the finish.The skateboarding category sees racers donned in leather suits, crash helmets, gloves take to the course standing on their boards.The luge contest sees riders lie on their backs on the boards, using their feet to steer and brake.
Qualifying runs for the two leagues of competition will take place on Friday and Saturday, with racing planned for Sunday.Mr Kemahli confirmed the "ultimate" contest for the sport was governed by a strict set of rules, with a raft of safety measures, kit inspections and insurance requirements.He encouraged Manx residents to turn out and watch along the course as "we know that the island has a culture of spectating on crazy stuff".Spectating at the event was "like watching the TT without the engines", he said."This year we're dipping our toes, if its a success we hope to come back year after year using the Gooseneck section of the Mountain Course down into Ramsey," he added.A section of the A14, from next to the Sulby Reservoir to the Tholt y Will Glen, will be closed between 09:00 BST and 18:30 daily for the event. Organisers expect the road will be opened for brief periods throughout the duration.
Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
24-07-2025
- BBC News
Manx artists to dream up Team Isle of Man Commonwealth baton designs
Manx artists have been invited to submit designs to decorate the Isle of Man's baton set to feature in the King's Baton Relay and at the 2026 Commonwealth games, taking place in Glasgow from 23 July to 2 August, will feature a 10-sport programme with athletes from across the the first time, each of the 74 nations and territories set to compete will receive their own baton to customise to reflect the uniqueness of its of the Commonwealth Games Association of the Isle of Man Basil Bielich said the organisation was hoping to see some "inspirational design ideas". Using the theme of Manx culture and heritage, the preferred design will be selected by a local panel of judges in March 2026 after the closing date for submissions of 13 winning artist will then be invited to apply the design to the baton in time for the visit of the King's Baton Relay to the island ahead of the Glasgow Bielich said the association was "excited to be able to offer this opportunity to local creatives".He said "the baton itself is simple and sustainable with no complex electronics or chambers" so the "design potential is broad". The King's Baton Relay is a games tradition that connects communities across the Commonwealth, reaching the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, the Americas, Oceania and Europe in the countdown to the tournament that takes place every four by King Charles at Buckingham Palace in March, the 18th official relay is expected to arrive on Manx shores in the second half of June 74 Batons will be then reunited at the opening ceremony of Glasgow Australian state of Victoria was originally chosen to stage the multi-sport event in 2026 but withdrew July 2023 stating it could no longer afford to overall number of sports at the Glasgow Games has halved from 20 in Birmingham in 2022 to combat rising hosting costs and time more than 200 gold medals will still be contested at venues within an eight-mile corridor of the city. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
BBC News
21-07-2025
- BBC News
Football festival teams 'blown away' by welcome, organisers say
Fans and teams who travelled to the Isle of Man for a summer festival of football were "blown away" by the welcome they received, organisers have event saw four clubs from across the English football pyramid, including hosts FC Isle of Man, face off at the island's national stadium, The Bowl, in Two side Fleetwood Town won the trophy after a penalty shootout victory over Radcliffe Borough, while the home side finished fourth after losing 3-1 to Altrincham FC in the third place play its second year, Lee Dixon from FC Isle of Man said more than 2,000 spectators watched the four "incredibly competitive" matches played across the weekend. The island team has just completed its fourth season competing in the North West Counties Football League, finishing 11th in the Premier play in League Two of the English Football League, Radcliffe feature in the National League North, while Altrincham are part of the National League, the fifth tier of English revamped contest for 2025 provided a rest day on Saturday and a results table once the matches had been played. Fleetwood Town manager Pete Wild said the FC Isle of Man players "ran and worked as hard as they could for each other" and "defended for their lives" in the clash between the sides on Friday, which saw the visitors win with a late Manx team have "real good players. I think they've got that hunger and desire that I think any team needs", he Radcliffe co-manager Anthony Johnson said the teams taking part in the event had been "really brilliant"."From a football perspective, from a professionalism point of view, but also from the on the pitch stuff... it's been an unbelievable weekend", he said. Dixon said the feedback on accommodation, food, transport and local events such as the Douglas Beach Day - which people could visit on Saturday's rest day - had meant "the island had an amazing impact on the people that visited, who made some brilliant memories".Visiting players, coaches and supporters had also praised the turnout in the stands, the volunteers and the organisation of the friendly tournament."It bodes well going forward and for next year's tournament in terms of the confidence that we can have in ourselves, but also the confidence that teams will have in us have been able to deliver such a brilliant weekend in future," he added. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
Belfast Telegraph
20-07-2025
- Belfast Telegraph
Why two headliners could be absent from the starting grid at this year's Armoy Road Races
The hard-working Armoy Club have secured a high class line-up for the popular Co Antrim meeting, including Yorkshireman Jamie Coward, Manx racer Conor Cummins, North West 200 winner Paul Jordan, leading national road racing exponent Michael Sweeney and last year's runner-up Phil Crowe.
