If you remember Dogtown and Z Boys, the early incarnation of skateboarding as a competitive sport was slalom. Eventually, the push towards freestyle would leave it in the dust, seeming like a relic from another age. However, the sport itself is still young, so there are many who still remember and practice it. No matter how you slice it, slalom is a skill. There is no fakery or trick to it, only precision and focus. Recently, there has been a resurgance which looks to be passed along to another generation.

Martin Reaves, 18, of Boulder, Colo., began racing in 2007. He finished second to Mitchell in the hybrid slalom pro class at the national championships last week and won the pro class in giant slalom Friday at the world championships. This summer he will compete in the Czech Republic, where slalom is more competitive and popular.

Four years ago, Reaves had never heard of slalom.

Technology has helped advance the equipment, especially from those early days, and with over 30 years of experience, some of the early slalom enthusiasts must be pretty damn good… or at least be damn good coaches. It may seem pedestrian compared to landing a 900 degree trick, but speed is a forgotten skill set. There’s hope for a rebirth yet.