It was a battle of youth and athleticism versus age and superior equipment in the Inline Downhill event at the Zolar Mammoth Downhill Festival in Mammoth Lakes, California on Saturday, July 31 and Sunday, August 1. Inline Downhill is similar to the Alpine snow ski racing Downhill event. The difference is that racers compete using inline skates instead of skis.
Courses are on paved mountain roads instead of ski trails.
Another important difference is that, unlike in snow ski racing, four to six racers start at the same time. Thus drafting and passing are important aspects of the race. A surprise entrant in the inline event was Travis Tripp, an experienced luger who has placed well in several luge races. He was also at one time and, perhaps, is still, the world record holder in the gelandesprung. For those who don't ski, gelandesprung is a jumping event done on alpine skis off kickers of piled up snow.