untitles

WindSkating Skate to San Diego

Alaska Fest Magazine June 1981

by JamieBudge

ON SEPTEMBER 29, 1979, a crew of four roller skaters left Green Lake Park in Seattle, Washington, for a 17-day skate down the coast to San Diego, California. The object of the trip was not just to roller skate, but to demonstrate the versatility of a new sport: wind-skating! Using 12-foot, 7-pound nylon sails with aluminum frames, the crew planned to ride coastal winds on roller skates the distance of over 1,400 miles along some of the most scenic but rugged coastline in the world.

The WindSkate team lines up for a portrait: Jamie Budge, Terry Marcellino, Colin Courtman, and Terry Caccia.

The team consisted of the inventor of the WindSkate, Jamie Budge; Terry Caccia; Colin Courtman; and Terry Marcellino, the only woman to make the trip. They wind-skated around Green Lake Park in a departure demonstration, and then used a bike trail by Puget Sound to make further progress south out of the city.

All of the trip, unfortunately, was not going to be smooth sailing. There would be many times when the WindSkates would be of no use at all, such as when there was no wind or the wind was blowing in the wrong direction. During these times, the skaters divided the great distances as a relay team to fill the quota of 85 miles per day to make the tour on schedule. This meant they had to average 7 miles per hour, 12 hours per day.

Although this would seem like an easy pace, it actually meant maintaining 10 to 12 miles per hour on any level surface because they would slow to 3 to 5 miles per hour uphill. Going down the other side of the hill, however, was a free ride. A skater could average 15 to 20 miles per hour on downgrades that sometimes went for 10 to 15 miles.

The Oregon and California coastlines offered inspiration for both roller-skating and wind-skating. Huge waves smacked rugged cliff faces and shot spray hundreds of feet into the air. The coast highway wound along the ocean, climbing hundreds of feet above sheer cliffs and dropping to sea level again. The scenery varied from coastal town to primeval appearing forest with decayed trees, tidal mist, and swamps.

The opportunity to wind-skate came and went as abruptly as the changing coastline. The wind would blow perfectly across the highway for one section and be blocked by trees and mountains for the next. It would be the perfect means of transportation along the ocean for several miles, and then the highway would turn inland away from the wind.

Jamie Budge, creator of the WindSkate, is a photographer in Santa Monica, California. Every day was a combination of laborious uphill trudging, downhill speed skating, and sprints across the level stretches. When the conditions were right, it was always a relief to set up the WindSkates and let the wind do the work of moving the skaters down the highway. Each night, the party would find a campground or trailer park in which to shower and eat. The WindSkates were made into makeshift tents to provide shelter for the night's sleep.

As the days rolled along, instances of adventure began to filter into the skating routine. In Washington, they learned the benefits of quick reverse skating when a skunk darted out onto the road just in front. Approaching Portland, they were run off the road by an enthusiastic drunk who leaned out his car window to congratulate them on their endeavor. On days when they hadn't filled their quota, they would skate in front of the reconnaissance van with its headlights turned up to light the road. If the skater got too far out in front on a downhill curve, he would be skating in darkness at high speed until the van caught up.

In mid-Oregon, the highway patrol asked them to get those skate sails off the highway immediately. Minutes later, the crew was given pedestrian violations for skating over the bike lane onto the highway. The police did give the skaters official guidelines for skating legally. Shortly thereafter, the wind-skaters found a stretch of secondary highway that ran between the ocean and the rolling sand hills of Dunes, Oregon. Blue skys and brisk winds provided the setting for miles of scenic wind-skating.

Terry Caccia speeds down the coast highway at Cape Sebastion, Oregon.

Entering Northern California, they were warned by the California Highway Patrol to stay off the freeways. This led the crew on some elaborate detours - such as Thompson's Hill, a steep climb on a surface of soft tar and loose gravel. Another detour, known only as "D-8," rose hundreds of feet into the air and then turned to gravel where sections of road had slid down sheer cliffs into the ocean below. All along the northern highway, huge surf crashed along the coastline, sometimes covering the road with water and spray.

Although Washington and Oregon receive rain on 17 out of 31 days in October, so far the wind-skaters had been lucky. Then a month's worth of rain seemed to come down on them at once outside Jenner, California, where the torrents drove them off the road into a cafe. When the storm had passed, they continued their journey with an elaborate lightning show flashing in the distance. They hoped it was in the distance, giving rise to some speculation on the effectiveness of roller skaters as lightning rods.

Arriving in San Francisco, they were met by a television crew. They arrived at Half Moon Bay by sunset. Progress was rapid the next day and they made it to Salinas Valley by early afternoon. Here the strong sea breezes funneled into the valley and gave the wind-skaters a chance for some real cross-country sailing. Across back roads through the great fields of agribusiness, they were able to make speeds of 20 to 30 miles per hour over rolling country.

By late afternoon, the team had arrived at Monterey Bay, where surfers were taking advantage of another kind of free ride off in the distance. The Wind-Skaters sailed the road along the bay and entered the I7-mile drive around Monterey Peninsula. Diminishing winds left them skating, not sailing, into Carmel.

The team arrives under sail at Monterey Bay.

The segment from Carmel to Morro Bay would prove to be the endurance test of the marathon. The distance was more than a hundred miles, and the narrow mountainous road made it impossible to sail. Near Big Sur, the highway alternately climbed from sea level to 700 feet and dropped to sea level again. Uphill climbs on skates were made at the pace of a walk he following downhill runs would take them to speeds near 30 miles per hour, and had to be handled with the skill of a ski racer.

The vivid scenery through Big Sur seemed to keep spirits energized and endurance levels high. By late afternoon, they had raced down their last hill toward San Simeon. Here the roadway seemed to be made for roller skates and sails, and they experienced a few miles of twilight WindSkating before making it to Morro Bay shortly after dark.

The next day seemed bland by comparison, as they skated the back country roads through San Luis Obispo County. Their arrival in Santa Barbara that night, however, meant that they could make it home to Venice, California, by the next night.

The homecoming at Venice was complete with public acknowledgement at a promotional event for the movie "Skate Town U.S.A." The wind-skaters put on demonstrations in a parking lot amid a warm reception. The day seemed a fitting finale to 1,300 miles of skating. Unfortunately, their ultimate destination was still some 140 miles away in San Diego.

Late in the afternoon, the wind-skaters were the only sailors to leave Marina Del Rey without using the ocean. Instead, the crew used the 15-mile-long bike trail that weaves across the sands of Playa del Rey and becomes the beachfront promenade to Redondo Beach. The trail is one of the best WindSkate distance runs in Southern California and the conditions were perfect. Brisk winds and blue skies turned to iridescent pink as they finished their sailing with the sun disappearing into the horizon.

The next day was an example of beach city speed skating, with the crew working their relay system to maximum advantage. By late afternoon they had left the Camp Pendleton Bicentennial Bikeway in Oceanside, arriving later at Cardiff-by-the-Sea, where they camped for the night.

The skate into Mission Beach, San Diego, was a fast-paced leisurely stroll. Only the up-grade to La Jolla reminded the crew of the uphill agonies at Big Sur. And the downhill run to the beach restored their enthusiasm. At 1P.M. on October 16th 1979 the crew skated by Crystal Pier to end the marathon three hours ahead of schedule.

By 4 P.M. the reporters had arrived and the wind came up for a grand finale WindSkating demonstration. The skaters recounted their 17 days 12 hours per day, 1,440 miles.

Heroic, perhaps. But for the everyday skater with a bike path or parking lot, WindSkating is as available as the next windy day.

For More Information Contact:

Windskate Santa Monica
P.O. Box 3081
Tel: 310.453.4808
FAX: 310.829.9511
email: windskate@windskate.com


WindSkating Skate to San Diego *Alaska Fest Magazine June 1981* by JamieBudge ON SEPTEMBER 29, 1979, a crew of four roller skaters left Green Lake Park in Seattle, Washington, for a 17-day skate down the coast to San Diego, California. The object of the trip was not just to roller skate, but to demonstrate the versatility of a new sport: wind-skating! Using 12-foot, 7-pound nylon sails with aluminum frames, the crew planned to ride coastal winds on roller skates the distance of over 1,400 miles along some of the most scenic but rugged coastline in the world. The WindSkate team lines up for a portrait: Jamie Budge, Terry Marcellino, Colin Courtman, and Terry Caccia. The team consisted of the inventor of the WindSkate, Jamie Budge; Terry Caccia; Colin Courtman; and Terry Marcellino, the only woman to make the trip. They wind-skated around Green Lake Park in a departure demonstration, and then used a bike trail by Puget Sound to make further progress south out of the city. All of the trip, unfortunately, was not going to be smooth sailing. There would be many times when the WindSkates would be of no use at all, such as when there was no wind or the wind was blowing in the wrong direction. During these times, the skaters divided the great distances as a relay team to fill the quota of 85 miles per day to make the tour on schedule. This meant they had to average 7 miles per hour, 12 hours per day. Although this would seem like an easy pace, it actually meant maintaining 10 to 12 miles per hour on any level surface because they would slow to 3 to 5 miles per hour uphill. Going down the other side of the hill, however, was a free ride. A skater could average 15 to 20 miles per hour on downgrades that sometimes went for 10 to 15 miles. The Oregon and California coastlines offered inspiration for both roller-skating and wind-skating. Huge waves smacked rugged cliff faces and shot spray hundreds of feet into the air. The coast highway wound along the ocean, climbing hundreds of feet above sheer cliffs and dropping to sea level again. The scenery varied from coastal town to primeval appearing forest with decayed trees, tidal mist, and swamps. The opportunity to wind-skate came and went as abruptly as the changing coastline. The wind would blow perfectly across the highway for one section and be blocked by trees and mountains for the next. It would be the perfect means of transportation along the ocean for several miles, and then the highway would turn inland away from the wind. Jamie Budge, creator of the WindSkate, is a photographer in Santa Monica, California. Every day was a combination of laborious uphill trudging, downhill speed skating, and sprints across the level stretches. When the conditions were right, it was always a relief to set up the WindSkates and let the wind do the work of moving the skaters down the highway. Each night, the party would find a campground or trailer park in which to shower and eat. The WindSkates were made into makeshift tents to provide shelter for the night's sleep. As the days rolled along, instances of adventure began to filter into the skating routine. In Washington, they learned the benefits of quick reverse skating when a skunk darted out onto the road just in front. Approaching Portland, they were run off the road by an enthusiastic drunk who leaned out his car window to congratulate them on their endeavor. On days when they hadn't filled their quota, they would skate in front of the reconnaissance van with its headlights turned up to light the road. If the skater got too far out in front on a downhill curve, he would be skating in darkness at high speed until the van caught up. In mid-Oregon, the highway patrol asked them to get those skate sails off the highway immediately. Minutes later, the crew was given pedestrian violations for skating over the bike lane onto the highway. The police did give the skaters official guidelines for skating legally. Shortly thereafter, the wind-skaters found a stretch of secondary highway that ran between the ocean and the rolling sand hills of Dunes, Oregon. Blue skys and brisk winds provided the setting for miles of scenic wind-skating. Terry Caccia speeds down the coast highway at Cape Sebastion, Oregon. Entering Northern California, they were warned by the California Highway Patrol to stay off the freeways. This led the crew on some elaborate detours - such as Thompson's Hill, a steep climb on a surface of soft tar and loose gravel. Another detour, known only as "D-8," rose hundreds of feet into the air and then turned to gravel where sections of road had slid down sheer cliffs into the ocean below. All along the northern highway, huge surf crashed along the coastline, sometimes covering the road with water and spray. Although Washington and Oregon receive rain on 17 out of 31 days in October, so far the wind-skaters had been lucky. Then a month's worth of rain seemed to come down on them at once outside Jenner, California, where the torrents drove them off the road into a cafe. When the storm had passed, they continued their journey with an elaborate lightning show flashing in the distance. They hoped it was in the distance, giving rise to some speculation on the effectiveness of roller skaters as lightning rods. Arriving in San Francisco, they were met by a television crew. They arrived at Half Moon Bay by sunset. Progress was rapid the next day and they made it to Salinas Valley by early afternoon. Here the strong sea breezes funneled into the valley and gave the wind-skaters a chance for some real cross-country sailing. Across back roads through the great fields of agribusiness, they were able to make speeds of 20 to 30 miles per hour over rolling country. By late afternoon, the team had arrived at Monterey Bay, where surfers were taking advantage of another kind of free ride off in the distance. The Wind-Skaters sailed the road along the bay and entered the I7-mile drive around Monterey Peninsula. Diminishing winds left them skating, not sailing, into Carmel. The team arrives under sail at Monterey Bay. The segment from Carmel to Morro Bay would prove to be the endurance test of the marathon. The distance was more than a hundred miles, and the narrow mountainous road made it impossible to sail. Near Big Sur, the highway alternately climbed from sea level to 700 feet and dropped to sea level again. Uphill climbs on skates were made at the pace of a walk he following downhill runs would take them to speeds near 30 miles per hour, and had to be handled with the skill of a ski racer. The vivid scenery through Big Sur seemed to keep spirits energized and endurance levels high. By late afternoon, they had raced down their last hill toward San Simeon. Here the roadway seemed to be made for roller skates and sails, and they experienced a few miles of twilight WindSkating before making it to Morro Bay shortly after dark. The next day seemed bland by comparison, as they skated the back country roads through San Luis Obispo County. Their arrival in Santa Barbara that night, however, meant that they could make it home to Venice, California, by the next night. The homecoming at Venice was complete with public acknowledgement at a promotional event for the movie "Skate Town U.S.A." The wind-skaters put on demonstrations in a parking lot amid a warm reception. The day seemed a fitting finale to 1,300 miles of skating. Unfortunately, their ultimate destination was still some 140 miles away in San Diego. Late in the afternoon, the wind-skaters were the only sailors to leave Marina Del Rey without using the ocean. Instead, the crew used the 15-mile-long bike trail that weaves across the sands of Playa del Rey and becomes the beachfront promenade to Redondo Beach. The trail is one of the best WindSkate distance runs in Southern California and the conditions were perfect. Brisk winds and blue skies turned to iridescent pink as they finished their sailing with the sun disappearing into the horizon. The next day was an example of beach city speed skating, with the crew working their relay system to maximum advantage. By late afternoon they had left the Camp Pendleton Bicentennial Bikeway in Oceanside, arriving later at Cardiff-by-the-Sea, where they camped for the night. The skate into Mission Beach, San Diego, was a fast-paced leisurely stroll. Only the up-grade to La Jolla reminded the crew of the uphill agonies at Big Sur. And the downhill run to the beach restored their enthusiasm. At 1P.M. on October 16th 1979 the crew skated by Crystal Pier to end the marathon three hours ahead of schedule. By 4 P.M. the reporters had arrived and the wind came up for a grand finale WindSkating demonstration. The skaters recounted their 17 days 12 hours per day, 1,440 miles. Heroic, perhaps. But for the everyday skater with a bike path or parking lot, WindSkating is as available as the next windy day.

For More Information Contact: Windskate Santa Monica P.O. Box 3081 Tel: 310.453.4808 FAX: 310.829.9511 email: windskate@windskate.com