Where Gravity Takes Over
World Downhill Skateboarding Championship Returns to Ergan Mountain
Most mountains invite you to climb them. Ergan invites you to race down them.
For three days in June, the World Downhill Skateboarding Championship returned to Erzincan, bringing 64 riders from 18 countries to one of the fastest and most technically demanding courses on the international circuit. On a mountain more commonly associated with winter sports, gravity became the main attraction as skateboarders, luge athletes, and inline skaters launched themselves down a course where speeds regularly exceeded 120 km/h.
In the downhill community, Ergan is no longer a hidden discovery. It is a track riders talk about long before they arrive.
A Mountain That Demands Respect
The course begins near the summit of Ergan Mountain, just steps from the gondola station, before plunging toward the valley below through a sequence of sweeping corners, steep gradients, and unforgiving hairpins. Stretching more than three kilometers and featuring some of the most technical sections on the tour, the track has earned a formidable reputation among elite riders. Organizers introduced additional hairpin turns for 2026, adding another layer of complexity to a course already known for testing both courage and precision.
From above, the scene felt almost surreal. The road twisted down the mountainside like a ribbon, framed by vast Anatolian landscapes stretching toward the horizon. One moment, riders disappeared into a corner; seconds later they reappeared at highway speeds, inches from one another and centimeters from the edge of the course.
This is downhill skateboarding at its purest. There are no engines. No second chances. No room for hesitation. Only gravity, technique, and nerve.
More Than Speed
What makes Ergan special is not simply how fast it is. It is how unpredictable it can be. Throughout the weekend, races were decided in the final corners. Riders who appeared in control for most of the run suddenly found challengers emerging from behind. Leads disappeared in seconds. Victories remained uncertain until the finish line came into view.
One of the event's most memorable moments wasn't about winning at all. During a dramatic race incident, a rider briefly lost balance and instinctively grabbed a competitor to avoid crashing. Moments later, realizing he had gained an unintended advantage, he eased off and allowed the affected riders to reclaim their positions. In a sport often defined by risk and split-second decisions, it was a reminder that respect still travels at the same speed as competition.
A Global Community on an Anatolian Mountainside
The championship brought together athletes from Europe, North America, Asia, and Oceania, turning Ergan Mountain into one of the most international gathering points of the downhill season. French, English, Italian, Spanish, German, and countless other languages mixed in the paddock. Riders exchanged advice, inspected equipment, studied racing lines, and shared stories from previous stops around the world.
Despite the intensity of competition, the atmosphere remained remarkably close-knit. That sense of community has become part of Ergan's identity. For many athletes, returning to Erzincan feels less like arriving at a new event and more like returning to a familiar meeting point on the global downhill calendar.
Champions Crowned on the Mountain
After three days of qualifying runs, eliminations, and finals, the 2026 Erzincan stop concluded with champions emerging across multiple disciplines.
CT Open Skate
🥇 Antoine Carlotti (France)
🥈 Nick Broms (United States)
🥉 Adrien Paynel (France)
CT Open Luge
🥇 Andy Lally (United States)
🥈 Abdil Mahdzan (Malaysia)
🥉 Phil Spencer (Great Britain)
Women's Open Skate
🥇 Lisa Peters (Netherlands)
🥈 Sabrina Ambrosi (Argentina)
🥉 Selina Theiler (Switzerland)
Open Inline
🥇 Carlos Quiroga (Colombia)
🥈 Tiziano Ferrari (Italy)
🥉 Filippo Radaelli (Italy)
Why Riders Keep Coming Back to Ergan
Long after the timing systems are packed away and the mountain road reopens to everyday traffic, certain images remain.
Maybe it's the sight of riders dropping into the first corner with an entire valley spread out beneath them.
Maybe it's the sound of wheels carving through hairpins at speeds most people associate with motorsport.
Or maybe it's the realization that some of the world's most respected downhill courses are found far from the traditional centers of action.
For one weekend every year, Ergan Mountain becomes exactly that kind of place. A mountain where gravity takes over, where every corner tells a story, and where riders from around the world keep coming back for another run.
Photos by @wdschampionship
Photos by @erganextreme
Photos: Source – @_morganowens_ncmb
Photos: Source – @paul.vogl
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