Photo: Scott Davis

With the sport progressing and riders pushing the limits on skateboards, the events too have been keeping up with the pace to suit the high-speed demands of today's downhill riders. The Downhill Throwdown at Killington in June this year was of no exception. This IDF race track was grouped up in with the fast tracks on the tour, featuring speeds up and over 100km/h into mondo breaking zones before turns. Long straights for drafting made this game of balls also a game of brains as it seemed there were many places to make some fast-paced moves.

Photo: Harfang Wheels

One of Ozzie's very own Jayden Mitchell has come out of hiding and returned to the race track and landed himself a spot on the podium next to some of the world's very best. Here is what he had to say about his time at Killington.

Jacko: Good to see your back skating again, you disappeared for a while there, what were you doing for the past year or so?

Jayden: Thanks man it's good to be back! Last year I spent working and saving back home in Adelaide. Also skating a little but just keeping it real low-key.

Jacko: Last time i saw you we were racing at Yarra Ranges, and you got yourself on the podium. How does it feel to step it up and snag a podium at a bigger level event? Jayden: It feels great obviously, Yarra Ranges for me was a warm up to test the waters and see if I could actually still ride a skateboard competitively fast after almost 3 years of no racing. To then be able to take some good skating form and perform overseas, it feels great and I hope I can just keep doing what I'm doing and just having fun! Jacko: Tell us about the track, it looked pretty fast and fun! What was the best sort of style to attack that hill.

Jayden: The track was super fun and super fast, definitely the fastest track I have raced before. My top speed was 64mph or a drop over 100kmh. The way you attacked that hill was just balls out, but you also had to be smart because there was a long sandbag straight to finish.

Jacko: Were the many top competitors at this race? was the competition tough? Jayden: Always, every event nowadays has tough competition, the heats are stacked from the start.

Jacko: Is there anything you have learned from skating back home in Oz that helped you out at this race?

Jayden: Adelaide has such a range of hills that i found I can take things from each hill at home and apply them to different parts of each course. Killington was like Ironbank on steroids and practicing fast toe sides definitely helped me.

Jacko: You have been cruising around the states for a little bit now, tell us about what you have been doing and where you have been.

Jayden: Well I started 2 and a half months ago on the west coast. I flew into Cali to visit Orangatang and hang out with Bustin homie Noah Fischer. Then hit the Catalina Classic before heading up to Canada for Jake's Rash and Britannia. Hung out with Tony Graves, saw Juicy J and partied. Then headed east to Visit Bustin in NYC and go on a tour for Killington and Burke. Currently I'm in Portland about to head to the Maryhill Festival of Speed.

Jacko: Are we going to see more Jaydos on the podium representing Oz any time soon? More big races coming up?

Jayden: Hopefully I can do well at Maryhill but after that unfortunately I gotta head back home to start uni. But I'll be working and saving and visiting yo big ass soon in Sydney for some sessions!

Check out the raw run from 4th placer Aleix Gallimo: