Talented scooter riders from Bermuda showed their skills on Friday at the first ever world figure-scooting championships, taking top honours in mens, womens, juniors and synchronized classes.
The contest, held at various locations around Hamilton, drew a high level of local and international competitors. It was Bermuda’s depth of talent that showed through, keeping other countries almost entirely out of the medals.
Competitors were marked for their technical ability, artistic impression, outfit and the decibel level of their mopeds in each of a formal and free program. Overall mens winner Kevin James Brown, 17, of Pembroke, executed the day’s most impressive move, a one-foot-drag wheelie with a 45 degree lean while talking on his cellphone, drinking a beer and calling out to a pretty girl. This move, with a 9.97 degree of difficulty, was the clincher in a close competition against established competitors Antony Furbean of Somerset (silver) and Marcus Webb of Hamilton Parish (bronze).
"I knew I had to do something spectacular when I heard Furbean’s 90 decibel modified Peugeot come up de road," said Brown. "Fortunately, I remembered to say a polite good morning to the judges, but Webb almost trumped that by stopping mid-intersection to pass the time of day with Auntie. If he hadn’t lost points for fastening his helmet, he may have been here instead of me."
Another highlight, the pairs figure-scooting won by the new partnership of Lakeisha Berry and Marlon Da Mann, was marred by the ejection of Canadian judge Pierre le Quebecois. After seeing Canadian pair Marc Campbell and Mary-Lou Breton, usually considered to be the Torvill and Dean of figure-scooting, receive surprisingly low scores from the Bermudian judges, le Quebecois was incensed. After showing his displeasure by awarding only 3.4 to a Southampton duo achieving full scores of 6.0 from all other judges, le Quebecois was ushered from the judges box and arrested for participating as a judge when it wasn’t on his work permit. Campbell and Breton were also deported for similar offences.
Pointing out that, after independence, Bermuda’s other sports teams could achieve similar success, a government spokesperson said that, "This proves that our social, economic and housing policies are working and that, if we become independent, our isles will be a utopia full of high-spending tourists and affordable condos." *
*complete fabrication
Helmet with chin strap undone, flip phone wedged in the side, baggy clothes (extra points for underwear showing over the top of pants) - one leg straight down and a sort of crooked lean.
I'm just jealous that I get road rash when I try to emulate this...where can I take lessons?
Posted by: Cool in bda | Sep 17, 2005 at 03:12 PM