Slalom skateboarding is a form of downhill skateboard racing that first appeared in the 1960s and 1970s and reemerged in popularity in the 2000s. Slalom racers skate down a course usually marked by plastic cones, with the winner doing it the fastest.
USA Slalom Skateboarding, Inc. (USASSI) is the official governing body for slalom skateboarding in the United States and an affiliate of USA Skateboarding (USAS). It sanctions three qualifying events nationwide for nationals. Racers from all over the country are coming to Brandon, MS, for a chance to head to nationals by competing at the annual Luna Slalom Jam, hosted by The Mississippi Grassroots Slalom group.
The Mississippi Grassroots Slalom is a group that started slalom skateboarding in the 1990s in Mississippi, contributing to the sport’s resurgence. The founder, Ricky Byrd, was introduced to slalom skating in the 70s through a magazine and has been sharing his love of slalom skating with his friends, family, and greater community ever since.
“I picked up a Skateboarder magazine from a tote some store across from Calloway High School,” shared Byrd. “I’ll never forget taking that magazine home and going, Oh, yeah, I can do this. So I got my first skateboard at the Kmart over on Briarwood in Jackson, and I still have it.”
Byrd eventually introduced his children to skateboarding and slalom, and they have skated their way to become national-level slalom skateboarders and will compete in the Luna Slalom Jam. Sarah Byrd-Compton won the 2023 Amateur Women’s World Championship, and Josh Byrd placed 5th in the 2022 U.S. Nationals.
Skateboarding is popular among tweens and teens on the West Coast due to the abundance of skateparks. But skating enthusiasts, like Bryd and the Mississippi Grassroots Slalom group, are trying to change that by encouraging more communities to see the positives of investing in skateparks. Skateparks offer numerous benefits, including promoting physical activity, fostering a sense of community, and providing a safe and controlled environment for skateboarding.
Mississippi has roughly a dozen or so skateparks statewide, including ones in Vicksburg, Tupelo, Laurel, Caledonia, West Point, Wiggins, Hernando, Oxford, Pascagoula, Petal, Hattiesburg, Gulfport, and the latest one in Crystal Spring. Any town interested in creating a space for people young and old to explore the sport of skateboarding can give the Mississippi Grassroots Slalom group a call. They’re ready and willing to answer your questions and guide you in your next steps.
Don’t think that skateboarding is just for kids. Byrd, who is now in his sixties, still races and competes.
“I just finished competing at the Sizzler in Houston, Texas,” shared Byrd. “I can’t say I’m as fast as I used to be, but I still enjoy it like I used to.”
Byrd will compete at this year’s Luna Slalom Jam against 20 other racers, including his children. The course is 185 yards long, and the start drops at a fast rate that can reach 15-20 MPH.
The Luna Slalom Jam started in 2003, this year’s race taking place in Brandon, MS, and supported by the Brandon Main Street Association and Mayor Butch Lee.
“Brandon Main Street Association and Mayor Butch Lee see the potential of bringing visitors to the event and are supportive and getting the word out,” shared Byrd. “Looking forward to a big crowd for something as unique as slalom skating.”
Anyone wanting to learn more about slalom skating in Mississippi can visit Mississippi Grassroots Slalom Skating’s social media pages.
