Mountainboarding
Encyclopedia
Mountainboarding, also known as Dirtboarding, Offroad Boarding, Grass Boarding, and All-Terrain Boarding (ATB), is a well established if little-known extreme sport
, derived from snowboarding
. A mountainboard is made up of components including a deck, bindings to secure the rider to the deck, four wheels with pneumatic tires, and two steering mechanisms known as trucks. Mountainboarders, also known as riders, ride specifically designed boardercross
tracks, slopestyle
parks, grass hills, woodlands, gravel tracks, streets, skateparks, ski resorts, BMX
courses and mountain bike trails. It is this ability to ride such a variety of terrain that makes mountainboarding different from other board sports.
the 'All Terrain Dirtboard', patented in 1989.
Mountainboarding (name coined by Jason Lee) began in the UK, the USA and Australia
in 1992. Unknown to each other, riders from other boardsport
s started to design and build, and eventually manufacture boards that could be ridden off-road. This desire to expand the possible terrain
that a boarder can ride created the sport
of Mountainboarding.
and Jim Aveline, whilst looking for an off-season alternative to surfing
and snowboarding
, began designing boards that could be ridden down hills. Inglis developed initial prototype
s, and in 1992 noSno was started. Extensive research and development produced the noSno truck system which enabled the boards to be steered and remain stable at high speeds. NoSno boards utilised snowboard bindings and boots, with large tyres for rough ground, and the option for a hand-operated hydraulic disc brake
.
, friends Jason Lee, Patrick McConnell and Joel Lee went looking for an alternative for the summer season. Not finding anything suitable they co-founded MountainBoardSports (MBS) in 1993 to build boards that they could use to carve down hills. The original MBS boards, known as 'Frame Boards' had a small wooden deck with metal posts to hold the rider's feet, a tubular
metal frame
connecting trucks which used springs to enable steering and thus create the carving sensation that the MBS co-founders were looking for.
The first recorded mountainboarding act occurred in the summer of 1978, when local skateboarder Mike Motta residing in Medford Massachusetts navigated down a hill known as Seven Bumps in Malden Massachusetts on a bet, using a standard Franklin skateboard.
for mountainboarding in the UK was born. As a non-profit making organisation it represented and promoted the sport by putting riders interests first, promoting safety, sanctioning events, providing training, and sourcing funding to put on the ATBA-UK National Series, an annual series of competitions. The competitions did much to promote the sport and in 1998 mountainboarding had an estimated participation of over 1 million athletes worldwide. The components evolved, and the sport continued to grow. MBS developed the open heel binding, the channel truck, the "eggshock" and the reverse V Brake system and sold boards in around 30 countries worldwide. In 1998 Maxtrack started distributing MBS mountainboards in the UK and Europe.
carbon and glass reinforced plastics, possibly with a wood
en core, similarly made to a snowboard deck. Basic decks are generally made using laminated wood pressed into shape, comparable to a longboard
deck with larger dimensions and a different shape. There are variable characteristics such as flex, weight, shape, length and tip angle that can be catered for in custom or stock boards from a variety of manufacturers.
s which attach the wheel
s to the deck. They also have the mechanisms required to allow the board to turn
.
Skate trucks have a rigid axle and a top hanger, with a single bolt and bushings, also called rubbers or grommet
s, that provide the cushion mechanism for turning the mountainboard. The bushings cushion the truck when it turns. The stiffer the bushings, the more resistant the mountainboard is to turning. The softer the bushings, the easier it is to turn. A bolt
called a kingpin holds these parts together and fits inside the bushings. Thus by tightening or loosening the kingpin nut, the trucks can be adjusted loosely for better turning and tighter for more control. Skate-style mountainboard trucks are similar to skateboard trucks but more robust and with a longer axle.
Channel trucks are common on mountainboards, and are made up of an axles mounted to the truck bottom piece, which is suspended from a top hanger by a kingpin. They are mounted to the deck using nuts and bolts through the hanger part, on an angle, (usually 35°
). When the board is tilted laterally the axles turn together to angle the wheels in the direction of the turn. Two polyurethane
damper
s sometimes known as "egg shocks" are mounted between the hanger and the axle housing on each truck to provide resistance to the lean of the rider during turning. Springs are mounted in the same place with the dampers inside them.
The 'shocks' present in channel trucks are there to dampen the turning system, and help reduce the oscillations of the trucks on the board commonly described as speed wobble
. The springs are there to return the deck to centre after a turn has been performed, neither are there to provide suspension
between the deck and axles. They have a kingpin that can't move vertically
which prevents this.
Also, the effectiveness of springs as employed in current (2009) channel truck designs is open to debate.
In a "Coil over Oil" shock, the extension of the spring is dampened as well as contraction. In a channel truck design, this is not the case as the damper sits freely inside the spring—therefore only contraction is dampened, not extension. This means that when a spring ceases to be under load and extends, it can extend past the equilibrium point.
NoSno trucks use two 'kingpin'-type bolts to create a floating pivot, an axle with a plate into which the bolts go, an angled base plate that attaches to the deck, and polyurethane
bushings to dampen the turn. The amount of turn available in the trucks can be adjusted by tightening the bolts or by using bushings of different hardness. A similar design was adopted by Howla Mountainboards for the limited time that they manufactured boards.
of the tyre is variable between tyres, usually either 2 or 4 ply. 2 ply tyres are lighter, but more susceptible to punctures then 4 ply tyres. There is a variety of tread patterns available, ranging from street slicks to deep tread designed for maximum grip
with split center beads to channel water away. Width and diameter
is also variable.
Mechanical drum brakes
Hydraulic Disc Brakes
Hydraulic Rim Brakes
Cable-pull 'V' Brakes
.
and the Twighlight Showdown Mountainboard Championships.
KentATB- Mountainboarding in Kent UK and much more.
National Competitions
Other competitions
World Freestyle Championships
From 2005 to 2008 was named Fat Face Night Air WFC
World Downhill Championships
Male
Female
European Downhill Championships
European Mountainboard Tour
The IMA aims to help worldwide mountainboard scenes promote their events, identify the best dates, find some useful guidelines, and promote their sponsors.
The ATBA-UK is a non-profit making organisation that represents and promotes mountain boarding in the UK by putting riders interests first, promoting safety, sanctioning events, providing training, communicating our actions and decisions to members and sourcing funding.
The French Mountainboard Association is a community that publicise events, news, and other information relating to French mountainboarding.
It's the site of the Portuguese community that publicise events, news, and other information relating to Portuguese Mountainboard and Kitelandboard community. They also organize "Demo Days" when they provide material that will give people a new experience and thus promote the sport!
It's the site of the Official Italy Association and community that publicise events, news, and other information relating to Italian Mountainboard and Kitelandboard community. The mountainboard Italian association (MIA), is the network for the local mountainboard community (Bergamo www.ambg.it, Pavia-Piacenza www.progettopenice.it, Torino, Brescia, Parma). Mountainboard in Italy is official present in the CONI (Italian National Olympic Committee), within the FIHP (Italian hockey and skating federation), and MIA is the contact officer for the Mountainboard.
The Australian Mountainboarding Community.
Associació Catalana de Mountainboard (Catalonian Mountainboard Association)
Extreme sport
An extreme sport is a popular term for certain activities perceived as having a high level of inherent danger...
, derived from snowboarding
Snowboarding
Snowboarding is a sport that involves descending a slope that is covered with snow on a snowboard attached to a rider's feet using a special boot set onto mounted binding. The development of snowboarding was inspired by skateboarding, sledding, surfing and skiing. It was developed in the U.S.A...
. A mountainboard is made up of components including a deck, bindings to secure the rider to the deck, four wheels with pneumatic tires, and two steering mechanisms known as trucks. Mountainboarders, also known as riders, ride specifically designed boardercross
Boardercross
Snowboard cross is a snowboard competition in which a group of snowboarders start simultaneously atop an inclined course, then race to reach the finish line first...
tracks, slopestyle
Slopestyle
Slopestyle is a popular type of competition for winter action sports; which originated as a snowboarding competition format. Today, there are many sports that are considered to have this style of competition, of which skiing and snowboarding are two of the most common...
parks, grass hills, woodlands, gravel tracks, streets, skateparks, ski resorts, BMX
Bicycle motocross
Bicycle motocross or BMX refers to the sport in which the main goal is extreme racing on bicycles in motocross style on tracks with inline start and expressive obstacles, and it is also the term that refers to the bicycle itself that is designed for dirt and motocross cycling.- History :BMX started...
courses and mountain bike trails. It is this ability to ride such a variety of terrain that makes mountainboarding different from other board sports.
Origins
Morton Hellig's 'Supercruiser Inc.' was the first company to manufacture and retailRetail
Retail consists of the sale of physical goods or merchandise from a fixed location, such as a department store, boutique or kiosk, or by mail, in small or individual lots for direct consumption by the purchaser. Retailing may include subordinated services, such as delivery. Purchasers may be...
the 'All Terrain Dirtboard', patented in 1989.
Mountainboarding (name coined by Jason Lee) began in the UK, the USA and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in 1992. Unknown to each other, riders from other boardsport
Boardsport
Boardsports are sports that are played with some sort of board as the primary equipment. These sports take place on a variety of terrain, from paved flat-ground and snow covered hills to water and air. Most boardsports are considered action sports or extreme sports, and thus often appeal to youth...
s started to design and build, and eventually manufacture boards that could be ridden off-road. This desire to expand the possible terrain
Terrain
Terrain, or land relief, is the vertical and horizontal dimension of land surface. When relief is described underwater, the term bathymetry is used...
that a boarder can ride created the sport
Sport
A Sport is all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aim to use, maintain or improve physical fitness and provide entertainment to participants. Sport may be competitive, where a winner or winners can be identified by objective means, and may require a degree...
of Mountainboarding.
UK
Dave and Pete Tatham, Joe InglisJoe Inglis
Joe Inglis is a veterinary surgeon in the United Kingdom. Inglis is well known for his appearances on television, advising viewers on pet issues.-Professional career:Inglis qualified from Bristol University to be a vet in 1996....
and Jim Aveline, whilst looking for an off-season alternative to surfing
Surfing
Surfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...
and snowboarding
Snowboarding
Snowboarding is a sport that involves descending a slope that is covered with snow on a snowboard attached to a rider's feet using a special boot set onto mounted binding. The development of snowboarding was inspired by skateboarding, sledding, surfing and skiing. It was developed in the U.S.A...
, began designing boards that could be ridden down hills. Inglis developed initial prototype
Prototype
A prototype is an early sample or model built to test a concept or process or to act as a thing to be replicated or learned from.The word prototype derives from the Greek πρωτότυπον , "primitive form", neutral of πρωτότυπος , "original, primitive", from πρῶτος , "first" and τύπος ,...
s, and in 1992 noSno was started. Extensive research and development produced the noSno truck system which enabled the boards to be steered and remain stable at high speeds. NoSno boards utilised snowboard bindings and boots, with large tyres for rough ground, and the option for a hand-operated hydraulic disc brake
Disc brake
The disc brake or disk brake is a device for slowing or stopping the rotation of a wheel while it is in motion.A brake disc is usually made of cast iron, but may in some cases be made of composites such as reinforced carbon–carbon or ceramic matrix composites. This is connected to the wheel and/or...
.
USA
In 1992, after having snowboarded at Heavenly Valley Resort in Northern CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, friends Jason Lee, Patrick McConnell and Joel Lee went looking for an alternative for the summer season. Not finding anything suitable they co-founded MountainBoardSports (MBS) in 1993 to build boards that they could use to carve down hills. The original MBS boards, known as 'Frame Boards' had a small wooden deck with metal posts to hold the rider's feet, a tubular
Tubular
Tubular may refer to:*the form of a cylinder or tube*Tubular, a television-related entertainment blog on the Houston Chronicle website*Tubular, a level in the video game Super Mario World...
metal frame
Frame
A frame is a structural system that supports other components of a physical construction.Frame may also refer to:-Engineering & construction:* A-Frame, a basic structure designed to bear a load in a lightweight economical manner...
connecting trucks which used springs to enable steering and thus create the carving sensation that the MBS co-founders were looking for.
The first recorded mountainboarding act occurred in the summer of 1978, when local skateboarder Mike Motta residing in Medford Massachusetts navigated down a hill known as Seven Bumps in Malden Massachusetts on a bet, using a standard Franklin skateboard.
Australia
John Milne developed a three-wheeled version of a mountainboard in 1992 in his spare time during periods of very poor surf. It used a unique steering system to emulate surfing on land. It had 3 wheels and a skate-style deck with no bindings.Mid-to-late nineties
From the early days of invention there has always been a competitive element in mountainboarding. Encompassing racing, freestyle and downhill, competitions have been organised in the USA since 1993 and in the UK since 1997. In the same year the ATBA-UK (All Terrain Boarding Association), the national governing bodySport governing body
A sport governing body is a sports organization that has a regulatory or sanctioning function. Sport governing bodies come in various forms, and have a variety of regulatory functions. Examples of this can include disciplinary action for rule infractions and deciding on rule changes in the sport...
for mountainboarding in the UK was born. As a non-profit making organisation it represented and promoted the sport by putting riders interests first, promoting safety, sanctioning events, providing training, and sourcing funding to put on the ATBA-UK National Series, an annual series of competitions. The competitions did much to promote the sport and in 1998 mountainboarding had an estimated participation of over 1 million athletes worldwide. The components evolved, and the sport continued to grow. MBS developed the open heel binding, the channel truck, the "eggshock" and the reverse V Brake system and sold boards in around 30 countries worldwide. In 1998 Maxtrack started distributing MBS mountainboards in the UK and Europe.
Deck
Mountainboard decks are the part that most of the components are attached to, and provide the base for the rider to stand on. They are generally from 90–110 cm in length, and can be made from a range of construction methods and materials. For example high specification boards may be made from compositeComposite material
Composite materials, often shortened to composites or called composition materials, are engineered or naturally occurring materials made from two or more constituent materials with significantly different physical or chemical properties which remain separate and distinct at the macroscopic or...
carbon and glass reinforced plastics, possibly with a wood
Wood
Wood is a hard, fibrous tissue found in many trees. It has been used for hundreds of thousands of years for both fuel and as a construction material. It is an organic material, a natural composite of cellulose fibers embedded in a matrix of lignin which resists compression...
en core, similarly made to a snowboard deck. Basic decks are generally made using laminated wood pressed into shape, comparable to a longboard
Longboard (skateboard)
A longboard is a surfing variant of a skateboard, similar and related to a surfboard or snowboard with wheels. It is used for cruising, downhill racing, slalom racing, sliding, and/or transport. However, most stunts, and the boards themselves are very different from that of a typical skateboard...
deck with larger dimensions and a different shape. There are variable characteristics such as flex, weight, shape, length and tip angle that can be catered for in custom or stock boards from a variety of manufacturers.
Trucks
Trucks are the components made up of a hanger, damping and/or spring system, and axleAxle
An axle is a central shaft for a rotating wheel or gear. On wheeled vehicles, the axle may be fixed to the wheels, rotating with them, or fixed to its surroundings, with the wheels rotating around the axle. In the former case, bearings or bushings are provided at the mounting points where the axle...
s which attach the wheel
Wheel
A wheel is a device that allows heavy objects to be moved easily through rotating on an axle through its center, facilitating movement or transportation while supporting a load, or performing labor in machines. Common examples found in transport applications. A wheel, together with an axle,...
s to the deck. They also have the mechanisms required to allow the board to turn
Turn
Turn may refer to:In music:* Turn , a sequence of several notes next to each other in the scale* Turn , an Irish rock group* Turn LP, a 2005 rock album by Turn* Turn , a 2004 punk album by The Ex...
.
Skate Trucks
Skate trucks have a rigid axle and a top hanger, with a single bolt and bushings, also called rubbers or grommet
Grommet
thumb|right|250px|Some rubber grommets.A grommet is a ring inserted into a hole through thin material, such as fabric. Grommets are generally flared or collared on each side to keep them in place, and are often made of metal, plastic, or rubber. They may be used to prevent tearing or abrasion of...
s, that provide the cushion mechanism for turning the mountainboard. The bushings cushion the truck when it turns. The stiffer the bushings, the more resistant the mountainboard is to turning. The softer the bushings, the easier it is to turn. A bolt
Screw
A screw, or bolt, is a type of fastener characterized by a helical ridge, known as an external thread or just thread, wrapped around a cylinder. Some screw threads are designed to mate with a complementary thread, known as an internal thread, often in the form of a nut or an object that has the...
called a kingpin holds these parts together and fits inside the bushings. Thus by tightening or loosening the kingpin nut, the trucks can be adjusted loosely for better turning and tighter for more control. Skate-style mountainboard trucks are similar to skateboard trucks but more robust and with a longer axle.
Channel Trucks
Channel trucks are common on mountainboards, and are made up of an axles mounted to the truck bottom piece, which is suspended from a top hanger by a kingpin. They are mounted to the deck using nuts and bolts through the hanger part, on an angle, (usually 35°
Degree (angle)
A degree , usually denoted by ° , is a measurement of plane angle, representing 1⁄360 of a full rotation; one degree is equivalent to π/180 radians...
). When the board is tilted laterally the axles turn together to angle the wheels in the direction of the turn. Two polyurethane
Polyurethane
A polyurethane is any polymer composed of a chain of organic units joined by carbamate links. Polyurethane polymers are formed through step-growth polymerization, by reacting a monomer with another monomer in the presence of a catalyst.Polyurethanes are...
damper
Shock absorber
A shock absorber is a mechanical device designed to smooth out or damp shock impulse, and dissipate kinetic energy. It is a type of dashpot.-Nomenclature:...
s sometimes known as "egg shocks" are mounted between the hanger and the axle housing on each truck to provide resistance to the lean of the rider during turning. Springs are mounted in the same place with the dampers inside them.
The 'shocks' present in channel trucks are there to dampen the turning system, and help reduce the oscillations of the trucks on the board commonly described as speed wobble
Speed wobble
Wobble, shimmy, tank-slapper, speed wobble, and even death wobble are all words and phrases used to describe a quick oscillation of primarily just the steerable wheel of a vehicle. Initially, the rest of the vehicle remains mostly unaffected, until translated into a vehicle yaw oscillation of...
. The springs are there to return the deck to centre after a turn has been performed, neither are there to provide suspension
Suspension (vehicle)
Suspension is the term given to the system of springs, shock absorbers and linkages that connects a vehicle to its wheels. Suspension systems serve a dual purpose — contributing to the car's roadholding/handling and braking for good active safety and driving pleasure, and keeping vehicle occupants...
between the deck and axles. They have a kingpin that can't move vertically
Vertical direction
In astronomy, geography, geometry and related sciences and contexts, a direction passing by a given point is said to be vertical if it is locally aligned with the gradient of the gravity field, i.e., with the direction of the gravitational force at that point...
which prevents this.
Also, the effectiveness of springs as employed in current (2009) channel truck designs is open to debate.
In a "Coil over Oil" shock, the extension of the spring is dampened as well as contraction. In a channel truck design, this is not the case as the damper sits freely inside the spring—therefore only contraction is dampened, not extension. This means that when a spring ceases to be under load and extends, it can extend past the equilibrium point.
NoSno Trucks
NoSno trucks use two 'kingpin'-type bolts to create a floating pivot, an axle with a plate into which the bolts go, an angled base plate that attaches to the deck, and polyurethane
Polyurethane
A polyurethane is any polymer composed of a chain of organic units joined by carbamate links. Polyurethane polymers are formed through step-growth polymerization, by reacting a monomer with another monomer in the presence of a catalyst.Polyurethanes are...
bushings to dampen the turn. The amount of turn available in the trucks can be adjusted by tightening the bolts or by using bushings of different hardness. A similar design was adopted by Howla Mountainboards for the limited time that they manufactured boards.
Bindings
Bindings involve adjustable straps that hold the rider on to the board while allowing room to move his feet.- Snowboard bindings
- Ratchet-strap bindings
- Velcro Bindings
- Bar-Bindings
- Heelstraps
Wheels
Wheels are made up of plastic or metal hubs and pneumatic tires ranging in size of 8–13 inches. The 8" wheel has evolved into the best choice for freestyle riding, and also an all purpose wheel for general riding. Larger wheels (generally 9" and 10") are more useful to the downhill rider; granting the rider access to high-speed runs and more stability when travelling at speed.Tyres
Various tyres have been made available by different mountainboard manufacturers, giving riders a choice of tire specifications. For example, the thicknessThickness
Thickness may refer to:Thickness may refer to:* Thickness in graph theory* Thickness of layers in Geology* Thickness The difference in height between two atmospheric pressure levels* Thickness planer a woodworking machine...
of the tyre is variable between tyres, usually either 2 or 4 ply. 2 ply tyres are lighter, but more susceptible to punctures then 4 ply tyres. There is a variety of tread patterns available, ranging from street slicks to deep tread designed for maximum grip
Grip
Grip may refer to:* Handle , a part of, or attachment to, an object, allowing it to be moved or used by hand* Grip strength, a measure of hand strength* Grippers, exercise machines used to increase hand strength- In sports :...
with split center beads to channel water away. Width and diameter
Diameter
In geometry, a diameter of a circle is any straight line segment that passes through the center of the circle and whose endpoints are on the circle. The diameters are the longest chords of the circle...
is also variable.
Brakes
Brakes are generally reserved for big mountain riding where riders need an increased ability to control their speed over long runs. The brakes are most usually attached to both front wheels of the mountainboard rather than the rear to give greater braking efficiency and reduce the chances of the rear wheels locking-up and skidding. They are operated via a hand-held lever which when pulled causes both brake mechanisms to work simultaneously. There are four types of brakes used on mountainboards:Mechanical drum brakes
- Those brakes use brake drums attached to the wheel with the 5 wheel-screws (Scrub). They are cheap and brake rigidly but get extremely hot and tend to melt the plastic hub. Good emergency brakes only, not any good for long steep hills. There is currently no heat resistant hub where they would attach to, which could however be easily made of e.g. alloy.
Hydraulic Disc Brakes
- Hydraulic disc brakes use rotors attached to the hubs with hydraulically operated brake mechanisms that force ceramic pads against the rotors to effect braking. Advantages include high braking power and reliability. Disadvantages include cost, vulnerability of the discs, heat build up, and weight.
Hydraulic Rim Brakes
- Hydraulic Rim Brakes use the hub, or preferably, a bolt on metal disc as the braking surface for hydraulically operated brake mechanisms that push polyurethane blocks against the braking surface. Advantages include good braking power, and good modulation. Disadvantages include possible damage to bearings.
Cable-pull 'V' Brakes
- Cable-pull 'V' Brakes also use the hub or metal discs as a braking surface. The hand operated lever pulls a metal cable to push polyurethane blocks against the braking surface. Advantages include low cost, low weight, and easy installation and maintenance. Disadvantages include low braking power, and the need to be regularly adjusted.
Protection
Mountainboarders wear a range of protective equipment while riding.- Helmets - are designed to protect the wearer's head from impact during falls. There are two types; full-face, which provides more protection to the wearer, and open face, which provides greater visibilityVisibilityIn meteorology, visibility is a measure of the distance at which an object or light can be clearly discerned. It is reported within surface weather observations and METAR code either in meters or statute miles, depending upon the country. Visibility affects all forms of traffic: roads, sailing...
for the wearer. - Wristguards - are designed to protect the wearer's wrists from impacts. They come in two types, gloves and wrap-arounds, but both include plastic splintSplintSplint may refer to:* Splint , a medical device for the immobilization of limbs or spine* Splint , a device for checking computer programs...
s which prevent the wearers wrists from bending backwards during a fall and protect the palms aganist cuts and grazes. - Elbow pads - are designed to protect the wearer's elbows from impact during falls. Sometimes forearm guards are incorporated into the elbow pads.
- Knee pads - are designed to protect the wearer's knees from impact during falls.
- Padded Shorts - are designed to protect the wearer's hips, coccyxCoccyxThe coccyx , commonly referred to as the tailbone, is the final segment of the vertebral column. Comprising three to five separate or fused vertebrae below the sacrum, it is attached to the sacrum by a fibrocartilaginous joint, the sacrococcygeal symphysis, which permits limited movement between...
, and buttocks from impact during falls. - Body Armour - is designed to protect the wearer's upper body, armArmIn human anatomy, the arm is the part of the upper limb between the shoulder and the elbow joints. In other animals, the term arm can also be used for analogous structures, such as one of the paired forelimbs of a four-legged animal or the arms of cephalopods...
s, shoulders and back from impact during falls.
Downhill (DH)
Timed one-man descents. Usually relatively long courses (1 km+) in the mountains. Sometimes referred to as big mountain.Freestyle (FS)
- SlopestyleSlopestyleSlopestyle is a popular type of competition for winter action sports; which originated as a snowboarding competition format. Today, there are many sports that are considered to have this style of competition, of which skiing and snowboarding are two of the most common...
: Performing tricks on a slopestyle course consisting of multiple jumpJumpJump may refer to:* Jumping, to propel oneself rapidly upward such that momentum causes the body to become airborne* To get attacked by a group of people e.g...
s, rails and innovative features. - Big Air: Performing tricks including grabs, spins and inverts over jumps.
- Skate Park/Jib: Performing smaller and more innovative tricks with focus on self-expression and creativityCreativityCreativity refers to the phenomenon whereby a person creates something new that has some kind of value. What counts as "new" may be in reference to the individual creator, or to the society or domain within which the novelty occurs...
.
Freeriding (FR)
Non-competitive riding over a range of natural terrain including woodlandWoodland
Ecologically, a woodland is a low-density forest forming open habitats with plenty of sunlight and limited shade. Woodlands may support an understory of shrubs and herbaceous plants including grasses. Woodland may form a transition to shrubland under drier conditions or during early stages of...
.
Crossover Sports
- SkateboardingSkateboardingSkateboarding is an action sport which involves riding and performing tricks using a skateboard.Skateboarding can be a recreational activity, an art form, a job, or a method of transportation. Skateboarding has been shaped and influenced by many skateboarders throughout the years. A 2002 report...
- SurfingSurfingSurfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...
- SnowboardingSnowboardingSnowboarding is a sport that involves descending a slope that is covered with snow on a snowboard attached to a rider's feet using a special boot set onto mounted binding. The development of snowboarding was inspired by skateboarding, sledding, surfing and skiing. It was developed in the U.S.A...
- WakeboardingWakeboardingWakeboarding is a surface water sport which involves riding a wakeboard over the surface of a body of water. It was developed from a combination of water skiing, snow boarding and surfing techniques....
- Mountain bikingMountain bikingMountain biking is a sport which consists of riding bicycles off-road, often over rough terrain, using specially adapted mountain bikes. Mountain bikes share similarities with other bikes, but incorporate features designed to enhance durability and performance in rough terrain.Mountain biking can...
- SandboardingSandboardingSandboarding is a board sport similar to snowboarding.It is a recreational activity that takes place on sand dunes rather than snow-covered mountains....
- DirtsurfingDirtsurfingDirtsurfing is the term used to describe the sport of riding a Dirtsurfer brand inline board. This new Australian boardsport is correctly known as inline boarding because Dirtsurfer is a trademark protected brand name....
Media
The following are some of the numerous publications Mountain Boarding has had in various news media outlets and other media, including for the annual Mountain Board US Open in SnowmassSnowmass (ski area)
Snowmass is a part of the Aspen/Snowmass ski resort complex located in western Colorado near the town of Aspen, Colorado. It is owned and operated by the Aspen Skiing Company. Snowmass is the largest of the four Aspen/Snowmass mountains, comprising . The mountain is most notable for its wide...
and the Twighlight Showdown Mountainboard Championships.
Webzines & Websites
- Remolition is the only mountainboard webzine based in the UK. Est. 2007. Regular features, articles, exclusive art and photos, interviews and much more, including THE comprehensive history of ATB, resources, links hub, guides and inspiration.
- PUATB are a sports society at the university of Plymouth, that specialie in all forms of transport that use a board and wheels to travel downhill.
KentATB- Mountainboarding in Kent UK and much more.
- MountainBoard.net Online mountainboarding magazine with how-to and lifestyle articles, news and event updates, gear reviews, videos and interviews.
- Surfing Dirt An International Community based Webzine. Rider contributed news, event results, write-ups, rider interviews, product reviews, advice from veteran riders, and the most active Mountainboarding Forum on the net.
- The Dirt Online mountainboarding news site.
- HillBilly Social Club is a social networking site much like Myspace for mountain boarders.
Historical Magazines
- Off-Road Boarding Magazine founded in '99 with its editor Brian Bishop and other dedicated riders. It ran numerous pictorials, US riding spots, rider profiles and carried virtually no ads. It started small, and was given away at comps and shops. The last issue of the mag was printed in full color and a new name "Mountainboard Magazine". The new title was later adopted by a UK publisher.
- All Terrain Boarding Magazine aka ATBMag: The longest running, 4 years, and only Mountainboard magazine to make it onto mainstream newsagent shelves. Distributed worldwide it ran to 39 copies and one photo album featuring the work of Paul Taylor. ATBMag was also responsible for the creation of the World Freestyle Championships, running it for the first 2 years. It also created the World Series, taking place in 12 countries. ATBmag sponsored a team of riders, who were later sponsored by EXIT. The team featured Tom Kirkman, Laurie Kaye, Alex Downie, Oli Morrison and Ig Wilkinson. The last year of the magazine saw the team take to Europe and ride in 7 countries following the World Series Tour.
- Scuz Mountainboarding ZineScuz Mountainboarding ZineScuz Mountainboarding Zine was at one time the only mountainboarding publication in the world for the sport of mountainboarding. It was first published in July 2004 as a paid-for magazine, however subsequent issues were published and distributed for free both as a printed hardcopy version and on...
was first published in July 2004 as a paid-for magazine, however subsequent issues were published and distributed for free both as a printed hardcopy version and on the internet as a downloadable PDF. It was announced in October 2006 that issue twelve would be the final issue. - Mountainboard Magazine was produced by the same people who created scuz, and it was re-branded to suit changing trends in mountainboarding, and a cover charge was introduced to help pay for the costs involved in producing the magazine as the advertising featured was sufficient. Only one issue was ever printed.
- Mountainboarding Video Magazine (MVM) The only video mag to showcase mountain boarding from around the world. This publication only made nine issues, co-produced and edited by Justin Rhodes, Van DeWitt, and Brett Dooley.
- UKATB ran for 6 years between 2000 and 2006 and was the first website to feature in-depth advice and tips from board maintenance to ramp building and trick tips. At its peak the site attracted over 10 000 unique visitors a month.
Videos/DVDs
- Dirty Tricks & Dirty Tricks 2 (2003 - UK) The first part contains "The noSno Ride the Hill Downhill Challenge" and the "Morzine Mountainboard Fest" featuring riders from all over the world. The second part contains "The Blinder" UK event.
- Best Foot Forward (2005 - UK) A film following team Kite & Sk8 over the 2005 mountainboard season. This DVD shows some of the top racing in 2005 ATBA-UK series along with some freeride footage from dates over the summer months.
- Big Air (2007 - UK) by Five Element Productions - this DVD traces the origin of the sport and what makes it so appealing to those that take part.
- Forest7.Org Mountainboarding The Netherlands (2007 - Netherlands) First Dutch DVD by Team Forest7.
- Sum Hills We Like (2007 - UK) is a film showing the sport and life of mountainboarding through the eyes of the ATBShop and Out to Grass Teams. The film covers all the rounds of the ATBA-UK Championships 2006 with a few extras thrown in too.
- Shralpdown! (2008 - USA) A video documenting mountain boarding in the Colorado, United States. Produced by One 5 Media.
- Hot Action (2009 - USA) One 5 Media's second annual DVD - a digital film documenting mountianboarding in the United States of America.
- Let IT Happen (2009 - USA) Another American mountainboard movie by DirtStar Army Team.
- Master of the Hill (2009 - Poland) Movie from the biggest mountainboard competition in Poland.
- Breath In (2010 - Russia) An absolutely documentary movie about Russian mountainboard scene.
Movies
- Johnny Kapahala: Back on BoardJohnny Kapahala: Back on BoardJohnny Kapahala: Back on Board is the 70th Disney Channel Original Movie and is the sequel to the 1999 film Johnny Tsunami. The movie premiered on Disney Channel on June 8, 2007. 1.3 million viewers watched this movie in the U.L placing 3rd in its timeslot...
is the 70th Disney Channel Original Movie and is the sequel to the 1999 film Johnny Tsunami. Its popularity encouraged people to take interest in the extreme sport.
TV
- Mountainboard Aux Saisies TV coverage of the 2009 noSno World Downhill Championships, from the French TV channel Savoie ACTU.
- History Channel. The history of extreme sport on the History Channel. Featuring Mountainboarding and many other board sports.
- They Think It's All Over. Pete and Dave Tatham from noSno taking part in "Guess the sportsman" on BBC's sports comedy program "They think it's all over"
- Park City TV: What is Mountainboarding? The Utah DirtStar Army team on Park City TV in late 2005.
- Good Morning Utah. The DirtStar Army live on Good Morning Utah 2005.
- US Open Mountainboard Championships 2006, held in Snowmass, Colorado. JSP TV talks with the youth division winner and the director of the Dirt Dogs.
- Toasted TV. Interview with Munroboards team rider Ryan Slater on the Channel 10 show toasted TV.
- Domino's Pizza. "That was Puff" commercial featuring mountainboarders: Ryan Slater, Clint Farqhuar, Markus Lubitz, Adam Zemunic.
- Horizon TV. Willingen D-MAX World Series Mountainboard 2007.
- Rockon. TV report on WDR on the mountain board park opening in Winterberg.
- At Your Leisure: The DirtStar Army. TV report on Utah's DSA mountain board team ripping up the Park City dirt jumps.
- Top Gear. TV item showing a staged race between Tom Kirkman and a MitsubishiMitsubishiThe Mitsubishi Group , Mitsubishi Group of Companies, or Mitsubishi Companies is a Japanese multinational conglomerate company that consists of a range of autonomous businesses which share the Mitsubishi brand, trademark and legacy...
Evo rally car and Bowler WildcatBowler WildcatThe Bowler Wildcat is an off-road vehicle originally made by Bowler Offroad, it is an evolution of the Bowler Tomcat which is not based on the Land Rover Defender against common belief...
.
Newspapers & Magazines
- The Guardian. What do snowboarders do when faced with the perennially powderless slopes of the UK? They find the nearest verdant hill and hurtle down it. Tim Moore and son go gung-ho in Surrey.
- The Telegraph. Jonny Beardsall loses balance and bottle as he faces a 40 mph slalom on a mountain board.
- Men's Health. Fancy traveling at speeds of 60 mph on a board down a mountain? Read on…
- X-sport magazine. Online 'extreme' sports magazine with regular mountainboard features.
Competitions
Annual World and Continental CompetitionsNational Competitions
- US Open - USA largest mountainboard competition and the sport's longest running championships. Features bordercross and freestyle.
- ATBA-UK National Series - consists of between three and six events a year with each event consisting of a two day competition. One day of the competition is given over to four man boardercross racing with the other day reserved for freestyle. The competitors are divided into groups based on age, gender and ability.
- Championnat de France - French national mountainboard series.
- Russian Mountainboard Cup - Russian national mountainboard series.
- Japan MBA (Mountain Board Association) Champion - Japan national mountainboard series.
- Campionato Italiano - Italian national mountainboard championships (Overall and Under 16).
- Master of the Hill - Polish annual downhill competitions.
Other competitions
- European Cup - features five events with four disciplines; big air freestyle, four-man downhill, freecross, and two-man downhill. Riders have to qualify to compete in an Open category.
- Triple Crown of Mountainboarding Series - three events with an underlying points series. Consisting of Chaos in Kansas, US Open and the MBS Fall Classic.
- IMFI Invitational - consisting of a mass start big mountain race down high drive pass and the International Mountainboard Freestyle Invitational. The IMFI brings together riders from around the world to participate in a big air event at the MBS Backyard park.
- White Air - UK extreme sports and music festival.
World Freestyle Championships
From 2005 to 2008 was named Fat Face Night Air WFC
- 2004 (Weston Super X Arena, Weston Super Mare) - Leon Robbins, USA
- 2005 (SWMBC, BidefordBidefordBideford is a small port town on the estuary of the River Torridge in north Devon, south-west England. It is also the main town of the Torridge local government district.-History:...
) - Tom Kirkman, UK - 2006 (SWMBC, BidefordBidefordBideford is a small port town on the estuary of the River Torridge in north Devon, south-west England. It is also the main town of the Torridge local government district.-History:...
) - Alex Downie, UK - 2007 (SWMBC, BidefordBidefordBideford is a small port town on the estuary of the River Torridge in north Devon, south-west England. It is also the main town of the Torridge local government district.-History:...
) - Arno VDV, Belgium - 2008 (Bugs Boarding, GloucesterGloucesterGloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
) - Renny Myles, UK - 2009 (Bugs Boarding, GloucesterGloucesterGloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
) - Tom Kirkman, UK
World Downhill Championships
Male
- 2009 (Les Saises, FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
) - Pete Tatham, UK - 2010 (Bardonecchia, ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
) - Pete Tatham, UK
Female
- 2009 (Les Saises, FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
) - Giuseppina Plebani, ITA - 2010 (BardonecchiaBardonecchiaBardonecchia is an Italian town and comune located in the Province of Turin, in the Piedmont region, in the western part of Susa Valley....
, ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
) - Karin Kerkenbusch, ITA
European Downhill Championships
- 2009 (BardonecchiaBardonecchiaBardonecchia is an Italian town and comune located in the Province of Turin, in the Piedmont region, in the western part of Susa Valley....
, ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
) - Pete Tatham, UK - 2010 (BardonecchiaBardonecchiaBardonecchia is an Italian town and comune located in the Province of Turin, in the Piedmont region, in the western part of Susa Valley....
, ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
) - Jonathan Charles, UK
European Mountainboard Tour
- 2010 Arno VDV, Belgium
Governing Bodies
Below are a list of organisations who act as governing bodies for mountain boarding around the world.The IMA aims to help worldwide mountainboard scenes promote their events, identify the best dates, find some useful guidelines, and promote their sponsors.
The ATBA-UK is a non-profit making organisation that represents and promotes mountain boarding in the UK by putting riders interests first, promoting safety, sanctioning events, providing training, communicating our actions and decisions to members and sourcing funding.
The French Mountainboard Association is a community that publicise events, news, and other information relating to French mountainboarding.
It's the site of the Portuguese community that publicise events, news, and other information relating to Portuguese Mountainboard and Kitelandboard community. They also organize "Demo Days" when they provide material that will give people a new experience and thus promote the sport!
It's the site of the Official Italy Association and community that publicise events, news, and other information relating to Italian Mountainboard and Kitelandboard community. The mountainboard Italian association (MIA), is the network for the local mountainboard community (Bergamo www.ambg.it, Pavia-Piacenza www.progettopenice.it, Torino, Brescia, Parma). Mountainboard in Italy is official present in the CONI (Italian National Olympic Committee), within the FIHP (Italian hockey and skating federation), and MIA is the contact officer for the Mountainboard.
The Australian Mountainboarding Community.
- [ A.C.M ]
Associació Catalana de Mountainboard (Catalonian Mountainboard Association)