Mountain boarding information for mountain boarding enthusiasts
Thursday, May 19th, 2011
Here you may find some mountainboards for sale at a great price. If you want to buy a cheap used mountainboard, eBay is definitely one place worth checking. Below is a list of current mountainboard auctions on eBay.
You can often find a few different kinds of brands, both new and used boards, boards that are out-of production, and you may even see a piece of early mountainboarding history being sold.
Friday, January 20th, 2012
With the addition of rubber wheels and risers you can convert any skateboard to an off road skateboard, however it still won't be able to ride on that rough of terrain, and the ride won't be all that stable. If you really want to skateboard off road you may be more interested in a mountain board.
A mountain board is basically a large version of a skateboard with pneumatic tires and foot straps. When you are riding rough terrain, foot straps become essential as they make it easier to control and stay with the board when you hit bumps. The large pneumatic tires make it so you can ride over bumpy terrain and not get thrown off when you run over small rocks or sticks.
There are larger trucks that place the wheels on either side of the deck. This provides the benefit of increased stability while riding. The size of a mountain board deck is much wider and longer than a skateboard - also for stability purposes.
To skateboard off road you first need to wear the proper protective gear. Helmet, knee pads, and elbow pads are strongly recommended. Other than that, you can also get padded shorts, and upper body protection.
Mountain boarding can be as extreme as you want to make it. If you want to freeride, carve down hills, and go on trails, you can get a board made specifically for freeriding that will have larger wheels and maybe even a brake so you can better control your speed.
If you want to go off jumps and tackle tricks, there are boards made specifically for that. They are shorter and lighter so doing tricks is easier.
Whatever your riding style or terrain preference, be it the back country, ramps and grind rails, or if you want to do it all, you can find a mountain board made for it.
Riding a mountain board is similar to riding a skateboard. To turn one direction you put weight on your toes, and to turn the other direction you put weight on your heels. While riding, make sure you keep your center of gravity (think belly button) over the middle of the board. Also, turn so that your shoulders face where you are going.
When you can skateboard off road, the world becomes your skatepark (within reason of course, hah). I've been mountain boarding for over 8 years, and I love it. There's always something new to try, somewhere new to ride, and it's just plain fun. If you are a skateboarder, it should be easy for you to pick up, and if you are haven't ever skateboarded, mountain boarding is easier than skateboarding to learn.
Friday, January 20th, 2012
While dirtboarding (aka mountainboarding, all terrain boarding) isn't anywhere near the popularity of skateboarding, there's still plenty of a selection of dirtboards out there to make any rider happy. There are many different styles, and you'll find that the differences make certain boards better suited for different styles of riding, and different sizes of riders. The trick is figuring out how to choose one, and it can be especially tricky if you are new to the sport.
What you look at when choosing a dirtboard depends on the style of riding you plan on doing most, your price limit, and what specific features you want. The basic types of riding include freeriding (riding trails, grass hills, etc), and freestyle (doing lots of tricks, hitting ramps, rails, etc).
Test as many different ones as you can. If you can, take advantage of testing out different models. This is the best way to determine which kind of dirtboard is best for you. If you have friends that have their own boards, try them out and see which type of board you feel most comfortable riding. If there is a store that sells them near you, even if they don't let you take it for a spin, at least see if you can strap your feet into it and see how you feel standing on it.
Know where and how you plan on riding. The terrain you plan on riding most and your preferred riding style will play a big part in your board selection.
If freestyle riding, mastering tricks, or kite landboarding is your thing, you might prefer a smaller and lighter model because tricks are easier to land when the board is lighter and smaller.
If you plan on freeriding most of the time and bombing and carving down long slopes, a longer board with bigger wheels may better suite you. Also, bigger wheels will help to absorb bumps and a longer board will give you a more stable ride.
Another factor to consider is bindings. Some people like the kind where you can step in and step out without having to unstrap, while others like the full blown snowboard style bindings where you are stuck until you let yourself out. NoSno makes dirtboards with this type of bindings, although most boards out there will let you swap out the bindings for different ones.
One more thing to note is deck stiffness. If you plan on landing big jumps a lot, you will want a stiff deck so that when you land, you don't bottom out. Also, some mountainboards come with a weight limit, so make certain that the board you are looking at can handle your weight. Larger riders may need bigger and beefier boards that can safely support their weight.
Know your price limit. Probably the biggest factor in choosing a dirtboard is how much you want to spend. As a mountainboarder I've tried many different boards and to be honest, there isn't much junk out there. Unlike most other products where the cheapest option is usually garbage, in this sport even the cheapest models made by the top companies still provide an awesome riding experience. I still own the dirtboard I started on (MBS Jeep Renegade) over 8 years ago. Although I've changed boards since then, as much as I used it, it still is in usable condition.
Know what specific features you need. There are a couple of features you may want to consider depending on your riding style. The preferred method of stopping on a dirtboard is called a powerslide. If you don't know how to do this yet, or if you are planning on riding down trails and freeriding most of the time, you may want a hand brake. Stopping on a mountainboard on a narrow trail is extremely difficult, and for safety reasons, a brake is an excellent idea.
There are a few different trucks to choose from. One kind is basically a skate style truck, and the other uses springs and urethane dampeners. If you want the best carving/turning experience, the spring trucks are the best option. If you just want to get started and need to save money, skate trucks are the cheapest option, and they still work fine - but just like skateboards you'll just need to make sure to replace the bushings in the trucks as they will wear out.
Decide what you can live without. There are plenty of features that you probably won't need, especially if you are just starting out. From fancy bindings that may just look cooler or be a tiny bit more comfortable, to the lightest most high tech trucks, it is good to know what you can live without. For most riders, low to mid-range boards are going to be more than enough. Unless you are planning to go pro, you really don't need a pro-level board.
In the end, your decision ultimately depends on how much money you are planning on spending, where you plan on riding most, and what your preferred riding style is. Once you know these, choosing a dirtboard is a whole lot easier. Just remember that bigger wheels are better on rougher terrain, stiffer decks are better for landing big jumps, brakes are recommended for trails, trucks with springs are better for turning, shorter and lighter boards are better for freestyle riding, and if you plan on doing it all then just shoot for a board that falls in the middle of the pack.
Saturday, May 21st, 2011
The Kitewing is a handheld sail that can be used to pull someone on a variety of different boards, skates, and whatnot. For instance, I have seen the Kitewing used with a snowboard, skis, longboard, mountainboard, inline skates, all-terrain skates, and ice skates.
The Kitewing can be used during all seasons- winter, spring, summer, or fall, you can use it any season as long as there is enough wind.
There are five different models of Kitewings that are made to be used on land. The amount of wind you need depends on what model you have and what you are being pulled on. You need a stronger wind to be pulled on a mountainboard on grass then you would need on a snowboard on packed down snow.
The Kitewing collapses down into a carrying case, so after you take it out of the case and assemble it, you stand with your back to the wind and with the Kitewing in both hands, you let it pull you perpendicular to the wind, so that you can continue to ride in the same spot all day. There's more to it than that, but that's it in a nutshell.
When the conditions are just right, using one of these with a mountainboard is nothing but fun. They are a lot easier to pick up and start using than a power kite, and they can be used with a kiteboarding harness to make holding on to it a bit easier. If you don't have a harness, a leash is a must have, as if this thing gets away from you, it will fly... and then crash...
With a mountainboard you can use a kitewing on packed sand on beaches. A windy beach that has long stretches of hard packed sand is a great place to ride. Also, open fields with short grass on strong windy days work great too. When using it with a mountainboard you need a really strong steady wind. When the wind isn't strong enough to use on grass, a big open area of pavement may work better.
How much will a Kitewing cost you? Depending on which model you are looking at, they cost around $1,000-$1,700.
Thursday, May 19th, 2011
What is it? It's an extreme sport similar to snowboarding and skateboarding. A mountainboard is like an oversized skateboard complete with large inflatable pneumatic tires and bindings.
Who can do it? Anyone that is physically able and durable enough to handle the occasional spill can mountainboard. You can make the sport as challenging as you want. Male and female, 6-60 years old, there are riders of many ages that are out there tearing it up.
Why do it? Yeah, you may fall over, and you may get some scrapes or bruises, but that comes with the sport. Mountainboarding is a lot of fun. The thrill and the experience of riding down a hill, landing a new trick, or going off a jump is what makes this sport worthwhile. So why do it? Because it is fun!
Where do you ride? You can ride on grass hills, dirt roads, trails, skateparks, terrain parks, and more.
How do you do it? You stand on your mountainboard with your knees slightly bent and your feet placed in the bindings or foot straps. Then you shift your weight to your toes or heels to make turns. That's how you ride a mountainboard in a nutshell.
Is it dangerous? With the right protective gear, and common sense, this sport can present little risk. Many are afraid of falling over and hurting themselves, but the idea isn't to just jump on your board and tackle the biggest hill you can find. Everyone starts at a level they can handle, and then when they are comfortable, they continue to challenge themselves as they gain experience. When you approach mountainboarding with this in mind, the risk of hurting yourself lessens. It can be dangerous if you make it dangerous. It's all about knowing your current limits.
