The rodeo’s in town! Except this wasn’t your regular type of rodeo. No broncos, brahmas, or rodeo clowns. The competitors in this showdown wore helmets instead of cowboy hats and their horses were of the two-wheeled variety. Perfect sunny weather greeted riders representing 13 law enforcement agencies from around the state vying for top honors in the Central California Police Motorcycle Skills Competition. Competitors included both police and CHP departments from Alameda, Folsom, Fresno, Gilroy, Livermore, Madera, Manteca, Modesto, San Jose, San Leandro, Tulare, and Visalia.
The annual event, in its fourth year, was held in downtown Visalia. Through ticket sales and donations from the city’s merchants, the event raised money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Those in attendance munched on tri-tip sandwiches and were also treated to a kids bicycle rodeo; raffles and prizes; and a women’s roller derby demonstration by Visalia’s V-Town Derby Dames. After the demonstration, one of the skaters commented that the course was tough even on skates!
The competition is broken into 2 categories, Harley and Metric, with trophies going to those placing first through fifth of each class. An overall “Best of the Best” prize is also awarded to each category. The course was separated into three different sections: slow-straight, slow-slalom, and regular slalom. Riders in the slow-straight and slow-slalom are scored on avoiding obstacle cones and completing the courses with the longest time. Balance is the key factor in slow-racing. The winning time in the slow-slalom covered a course distance of 60 feet in 2 minutes and 59 seconds! Riders on the regular slalom negotiate several different challenges from the “Wagon Wheel” to others with more menacing names like “Hell’s Kitchen” and “The Devil’s Pitchfork.” Riders here are judged on avoiding obstacle cones and completing the course while recording the quickest time, with the best scores being a result of both agility and speed. In watching the various riders take the course, I was both amazed and humbled with the motorcycle skill and prowess being demonstrated by the participants.
This year, top finishers in the Harley category included: Nick Obligacion, Manteca P.D. – First Place; Shawn Cardoza, Tulare P.D. – Second Place; Nick Corti, San Leandro P.D. – Third Place. Shawn Cardoza earned the Best of the Best prize. Leading the pack for the Metric category were Craig Howard, Fresno P.D. – First Place; Paul Rice, Folsom P.D. – Second Place; and Brian Bradshaw, Fresno P.D. – Third Place. Paul Rice was the Metric category’s Best of the Best winner.
The competition, one of several held around the state, was conceived by Officers Brent Miller and Mark Feller of the Visalia Police Department. After attending other events, they wanted to create a competition that was unique. “The first competition we attended, the contestants were graded mostly on uniform and motorcycle appearance. They spent countless hours preparing the bikes. Taking them apart, cleaning everything, and then reassembling them. After they had them back together, they wrapped them in plastic and loaded them on the trailer. Then they wrapped the trailer in plastic as well. After getting to the competition, they removed the wrapping, disassembled, cleaned, and reassembled the bikes one more time before inspection. That’s just the bikes. Their uniforms also had to be perfect. After observing that ordeal, we wanted to have a competition based and judged primarily on riding skill,” Brent explained, “Our first year drew fifteen riders from just a few agencies. This year we are up to 36 riders from 13 departments. It’s a perfect event and venue that allow us to get to know each other, building camaraderie and confidence.”
