Spectators' joy gives skateboarders 'goosebumps'

Riders were left with "goosebumps" as crowds cheered them on during the third round of the World Downhill Skateboarding Championship, organisers said after the event was held on the Isle of Man for the first time.

About 20 competitors took to the winding slopes of the Tholt-y-Will Road, with the 0.8-mile (1.3km) course providing a short but steep challenge for the racers from around the world.

Spectators lined the hedges on parts of the 0.8-mile (1.3km) course, which has an average incline of 8.5% but reaches 22% at its steepest.

Promoter Selim Kemahli said those taking part in both the stand up and luge classes had been "overwhelmed" by the support from the spectators.

"We have never been received anywhere like we have on the Isle of Man," he said.

"We've never seen the likes of it, everyone went out of their way to help us."

Sunday's races saw Frenchman Adrien Paynel win the CT Open Skateboard contest.

German racer Ulrich Becker took the top spot on the podium in the CT Open Luge final.

Mr Kemahli said the championship, which is in its third year, was continuing to grown in popularity.

He said while organisers were determined to return to the island next year, the Tholt-y-Will route was one of the shortest of all the stages the event was held on.

The "ideal" section would be to race down part of the Isle of Man TT course from the Gooseneck into Ramsey Hairpin, he said.

"To be on that famous racetrack would attract a lot of riders," he said.

However, he said organisers were keen to return either way, adding "if it's the same course as this year then so be it".

As the event grows, he said he hoped so would the numbers and eventually it would "turn into a festival of speed".