The Chief Ladiga Silver Comet 188 mile Sk8 Challenge is a 3 day event of distance skateboarding through the Taladega National rainforest. The ride spans 2 states, 2 timezones, 5 counties and about 188 miles.
Starting in Smyrna, GA, the first day is a chill 38 miles under a canopy of trees before stopping in Rockmart, GA. Day 2 consists of 56 miles and spans the rest of the trail ending in Anniston, AL. Most of this section is open to the sun and passes through some of the most remote parts of the south-eastern United States. For the third day, riders will do the whole 94 miles back from Anniston, AL to Smyrna, GA.
participants at the end of Day 2For those who are opting for a more mild experience, there is an option to ride just Day 1. This first section is pretty mellow. There are no hills and riders will be mostly covered by the sun. This is also the most populated part of the trail, and therefore one of the safer parts to be riding.
We've had riders as young as 12 and as old as 56 participate in this event. If you're interested in joining in one of the most unique rides you can do on a skateboard, then you've come to the right place.
Recommendation is 24-32 oz of water per hour and 40-60g carbs per hour to fuel yourself. Everyone is different. Be sure to train for this type of endurance.
This includes having a cell phone to call for aid if needed. You should also have an understanding of the terrain that can be expected on each day as well as the distance between pitstops.
There are many sections of the trail that are more than 15 miles from any aid. It could take 30 minutes for someone to reach you if you called 911.
At a minimum you must have a skateboard, shoes and a helmet. Knee & elbow pads as well as slide gloves/wrist guards are recommended, especially for the sections with steep hills. The minimum speed on some sections is around 20mph (32kph), but some riders could be going twice that.
If you have any questions at all about preparation, please do not hesitate to reach out to the event director at sk8188challenge@gmail.com. The Facebook page is also a great place to ask questions and keep up to date with any news regarding the event.
We welcome any support for the Sk8 Challenge. Please email the event director at sk8188challenge@gmail.com for any inquiries involving support or sponsorships.