Surfing Dirt Mountainboarding

Mountainboarding Community Forums, and Information

SurfingDirt and Dyad Clothing Team up to give away some fresh gear

Posted By McCarver on August 21, 2010

SurfingDirt and Dyad Clothing are teaming up to give away some fresh new boarding apparel and all you have to do to qualify is A) have a SurfingDirt account and B) know how to have fun on a mountainboard. Obviously we are going to need some sort of evidence that you are out there having fun on the hill so that’s where C) sombebody with a camera comes in.

DyadClothing wants to see how we represent so we’re asking you to post the highest quality pictures you have got of you doing Shredding, Crashing, and just having Fun(one of each) in this thread, and sit back and wait for your prizes!

Ok maybe there is a little more to it….

(more…)

How to install MBS V5 Brake kit

Posted By SurfingDirt Crew on August 8, 2010

Originally posted by Pigryder on the SurfingDirt How-To Forums

Ok first you’ll need a few essentials :

Starting with a board you wanna put brakes on, a brake kit, 9mm, and your favorite board forum. Next you will want to go thrugh your brake kit and review the instructions and make sure you have everything you need….. (more…)

Devin Garland Diagnosed with Severe Altitude Sickness

Posted By McCarver on August 1, 2010

Great job by DirtStarArmy Pro-rider Devin Garland and the crew at Altitude Sickness for generating even more postive exposure in the media this week.

The segment appeared on Metromix Denver and spotlighted Colorado’s premier mountainboarding track ”Altitude Sickness” Terrain Park in Empire, as well as some sick riding and a couple historical inaccuracies.

Devin finds Zen before dropping in at Altitude Sickness in Empire, Colorado

All and all it turned out to be a nice piece that continues Devin and the DirtStarArmy’s tradition of increasing the sport’s visibility and always presenting the image of mountainboarding in a positive a realistic light.

Click the screenshot above to watch the vid then click HERE to join in on the discussion.

“Moore” Mountainboarding in the Media

Posted By McCarver on July 31, 2010

Back in may DirtstarArmy Pro Rider Mason Moore was filmed for an add by Journeys Shoe Store  I finally saw it for the first time today and personally I think it looks more like an add for mountainboarding than a shoe store add but good for them, it actually made me watch the whole thing(twice). Great job by all involved, the commercial shows mountainboarding in a positive light and is going to be shown on television. :D

I dont know about you but this video makes me want to buy some new shoes

To join in on the discussion of this topic click HERE

Reviewed: 2010 Jereme Leafe Pro Model

Posted By McCarver on July 10, 2010

This week Surfing Dirt finally was finally able to get our hands on the highly anticipated 2010 MBS Jereme Leafe Pro Model and give it some good test runs and we were not disappointed. Although ours and everyone’s first reaction when the Pro95 was released was that the new graphics are not very pretty, and upon closer inspection I’m not going to lie, it definitely isn’t the best effort MBS has put forth in recent history but from the first time you pick it up you instantly realize what you really knew all along, and that is that graphics don’t mean squat it’s all about how she rides.

I was a little skeptical of the length of the board in the beginning since I have been riding a Leon Pro for so many years so I instantly assumed I wouldn’t like the shorter deck of the Pro95 which is a couple inches shorter than my current ride, but boy was I wrong. That extra inch of width in the foot area really makes a difference in the way the board feels and handles. I actually had to check my bindings a couple times because felt so strange not having my toes hanging off the edge of the board for once. The RCC construction by MBS felt solid as always, and the extra stiffness really gives you amazing pop off the jumps.

The new trucks seem to be built pretty solid, and seemed extremely light despite the fact that MBS has dropped the plastic hanger this year in lieu of an all metal design. Unfortunately the orange eggs that come standard on the Pro95 are a little too stiff for my taste, but once I change them for some yellows I quickly noticed the difference. Although it feel much more responsive than when it had the oranges it still didn’t quite offer as much carve as the plastic topped Matrix trucks.

The board came stock with Black Rockstar Pros and yellow T3 tires. The hubs themselves are solid, and look great, a huge step up from the plastic Rockstars and Twistars that come standard on some of the other boards from MBS but I personally am not a huge fan of the tires. They really offer a nice amount of grip while still making it easy to break traction when you want to, but if you do much carving or skate park riding you will probably be looking for some new tread in a couple months as they tend to wear down very quickly.

All and all I think the 2010 Pro 95 really lives up to the hype. It’s a solid board that’s easy to throw around and performs well both on the dirt track as well as the street. It’s definitely more of a freestyle board than a big mountainboard but if you are looking for a good all around mountainboard then the Jereme Leafe Pro Model might just be the board for you.

Pros:

Light weight
Solid construction
Loads of Pop
More room in the foot area
Bindings really lock you in

Cons:

Terrible graphics
Matrix Pro do not carve as well as standard Matrix trucks
T3 tires are not designed to last

Reviewed: Mountainboard Street Slicks by Cheng Shin

Posted By McCarver on July 10, 2010

After some soul carving sessions last week aboard the Sidewinder replica out for some “surf style” action I decided to throw the Cheng Shin slicks on my stick and take it for a ride. The “stick” to which I refer of course being my trusty Leon Pro, F3 bindings, and Matrix trucks with yellow eggs in the outside position.

I was actually a little nervous and skeptical at first, the tires look extremely bulky, and are really heavy, add that to the fact we fit them onto an old set of MBS Tri-spoke hubs the wheels alone seemed to weigh as much as the rest of the board. The tire pressure was still just a little under 30 PSI from our previous session on the blue Sidewinder, it seemed like a good starting point so I left it as it was.

I must admit, as soon as I dropped in I fell in love. The board gripped the street better than I imagined and the heaviness of the tires actually felt like a good thing(this before I tried jumping anything of course), it really made the board feel like it was floating on a softer more malleable surface, and the trucks seemed much more responsive. Also I was able to hold my arc at much faster speeds without the fear of sliding out.

The tires handled well both on street and on dry grass, I assume they would work on dirt if the terrain was grippy enough, just one look at them and it is pretty obvious they werent designed with on mud or other slippery surfaces in mind.

One problem that quickly became apparent was that if you didnt properly connect your turns, the now more responsive trucks were quick to punish you with a quick single speed wobble which is easy enough to correct assuming you didnt get freaked out and send yourself into a wobble frenzy.

 Another thing I noticed, and was mentioned by BG in another thread is that if these tires are wet they are a little bit hard to manage, it is recommendable not to hit wet spots at high speeds because they do get slippery, but will dry out litterally within five or ten feet of getting wet assuming the rest of the street is dry. I do not recommend these tires under wet conditions.

My final complaint was pretty obvious from the start, and that is the weight. Although you can jump with them, it is not that fun to do. Also personally I felt that the board got really squirrely after landing just small drops, due to the trucks feeling softer from the heavier tires.

Pros:
———-

Extremely grippy
Great for carving
increased responsiveness
Built to last

Cons:
———-

heavy
doesnt grip when wet

You can join in on the discussion by clicking HERE

Alpine Braking Systems Reviewed

Posted By SurfingDirt Crew on July 4, 2010

The Alpine Braking System
 
originally posted by GoofyMark  
 

I know brakes are a contentious issue it mountain boarding, but I’m a self confessed gear head, and a nice big brake board has been on my wish list for a while so…..

A few weeks ago I decided it was time to invest in a brake for my NoSno board. Unfortunately for me the £600 price tag for the NoSno disc brakes was just too much. Having looked at the alternatives the solution seemed to be an Alpine Brake systems setup. However this presented a problem, as they did not appear to make a brake for the type of axle I have.

So late one Friday evening I sent an email to Nick at ABS, expecting to wait a few days for a reply, and be told that ‘no they don’t do a brake for that axle’. So I was very surprised when a few minutes later I got a reply, saying, no we haven’t made a brake for that axle, but can you send me some pictures. I won’t bore you with the details, but basically a very brisk email exchange resulted in me sending my axle to Nick, and a few days after that it came back with a ‘first of its kind’ brake attached!!!!!!

All I had to do was attach the discs to my trispokes with the included bolts, and screw on a retaining clip for the brake line, and away I went.

The brake system is constructed using Magura hydraulic brake components, and custom made brake lines. The build quality is exceptional. The brake lines have a steel wire running along their length to take any stress caused by pulling away from the lines, and then brake line and wire is wrapped in plastic tubing to protect it. The brake components all sit on top of the axle, giving them maximum protection, unlike the NoSno brake, where some feel the ground clearance is compromised by the disc assembly.

I’ve ridden with the brake a few times now, and I have to say I love it. It’s nice and responsive, and has a really progressive feel. Ok it won’t stop you in a few feet, but that’s good, it means that I’ll never come to rely on it as a means to stop quickly. What it has done is open up runs which I wouldn’t have attempted before, and allowed me to link separate runs up, where the intermediate sections were just a bit too gnarly for me. It also allows me to ride for longer, as I don’t have to expend all my energy scrubbing speed.

The main benefit is it lets you ride faster??? Yes faster, the security of the brake means you can nail stuff you would other wise be a bit cautious on. ( this probably says more about me as a rider )

There are a couple of negatives with the rim braking system, you need to check your bearings regularly, as it puts extra pressure on them – although I expect it is comparable to the lateral pressures put on bearings by kite boarding.

I have also heard mixed stories about there performance in wet conditions – I will post my experiences when we have had some rain.

Apart from that I’m chuffed to bits with my purchase. The service I received from Nick was exceptional. The ABS system can be fitted to various truck systems including, matrix, scrub and NoSno, check out their website for more info.

 

Salty Peaks/Dirtstar Learn 2 Ride Mountainboards

Posted By SurfingDirt Crew on April 30, 2010

Date: Saturday, May 8, 2010
Time: 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Location: USA, Salt Lake City Utah @ Sugarhouse Park on the Big Hill

This is a free to the public event catered to teaching individuals how to ride and have fun on a Mountainboard! All L2R’s are hosted by seasoned pro’s with advice for anybody looking to start a new hobby. Bring your friends!

—-Please keep in mind—-

The D.S.A will be providing the boards, pads, helmets, etc.

Some boards are equipped with brakes, some are not.

All participants must be at least 18 or older w/ID or have a guardian that can sign for them.

If you have pads and a board you are encouraged to bring them and ride.

You must wear closed toe shoes or you will not be allowed to ride.

We look forward to seeing everybody!

for more information contact the DirtStarArmy

related

Boyscout’s take to the dirt at this years Jamboree

Posted By SurfingDirt Crew on April 22, 2010

Attendance was big, and smiles were a mile wide this past weekend as hundreds of boy scouts lined up for a chance to try their hand at the exciting sport of mountainboarding at the “Northern California 100th Anniversary Jamboree” at the Alameda County Fairgrounds this past weekend.

It was the Venturing Crew 1811(Boy Scouts of America) who suggested the idea of presenting mountainboarding to the masses at this years Jamboree to their troop leader Craig Corson. After a little searching around Corson was referred to local dirtboarding legend Don Baker who jumped at the opportunity to help introduce yet another generation to this adrenaline charged pass time.

For Baker the art of introducing people to the sport is nothing new, he has been riding his heart out and converting people over to the world of dirt riding on experimental rigs since 1979. He was also a big player in the early US Mountainboarding Scene as well as a co-founder of Team Dirtheads who have inspired countless teams and pro-riders over the years.

After some instruction and some discussion on the importance of safety from Don on Friday, Troop 1811, who had no prior mountainboarding experience, were quickly shredding up course and ready to start helping with the instruction of the other troops over the next couple days.

By time Saturday morning rolled around the other troops were chomping at the bit for a chance ride down the newly constructed course, with the boards and protective gear provided by Boulder Creek Scout Reservation. The one hour wait didn’t seem to even be a factor as many of the scouts finished their last of three runs just to run to the back of the line to give it another go.

 

All in all the event was quite the success with and estimated 1000 rider’s participating, some of which had already ridden before, and those who hadn’t were soon vowing that they soon would be purchasing boards for use on their own local hills.

A big thanks to Don Baker for making these kids dreams of dirtriding reality, as well as Kevin Delaney (DIRTHEADS), Chris Pincetich (NPD), and Brian Southard (HillBilly Dirtgear) who also attended on Saturday to ride and sign autographs, and most importantly a big thanks to “Venturing Crew 1811” who’s visions of adventure opened a thousand minds to the most exciting action sport on the planet this past weekend.

to see more pics or join in on the discussion click  HERE

Dirt Flirt Girly Camp 2010 dates announced

Posted By SurfingDirt Crew on April 21, 2010

It’s that time of the year again and us boy’s here at SurfingDirt are happy to help spread the good word that soon even more girls will be riding mountainboards thanks in no small part to a very dedicated girl named Alli and her friends at Boardology who have recently announced the dates for the 2010 Dirt Flirt Girlie Camp.   

 

 For a small fee The Girlie Camp will  provide your girly friend or girly loved one with a board, protective gear, camping supplies, expert tuition, and a course presented in a fun way that will have her begging to go out with you for some freeride sessions afterwards. And since the camp is open to all levels so it is also a great opportunity for girls who have already mastered the basics to progress as riders. 

 The first Camp will be on run Friday through Sunday, July 9-11 at the Hales Superbole Centre in Chester. Or if she cant make that one there will be another camp running Friday through Sunday August 6-8 at Haredown Mountainboarding Centre in Chichester.

 

Two locations means two great opportunities  to get your girl having fun in the sun, making new friends, and opening her mind to the most exciting sport on the planet.   

 

For more information contact alli@boardology.co.uk or pay your entrance now by clicking HERE