| Mountainboarding |
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Information AboutMountainboarding |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT MOUNTAIN BOARDING | |
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BOARD DESCRIPTION A mountain board is similar to an oversized Skateboard . The size of the deck is shorter than the average Snowboard , approximately 100 Cm in length with either three or four wheels. The wheels consist of small plastic hubs with tyres of between 8" and 12" Diameter . The wheel size varies depending on which type of riding is done. For example, an 8" wheel would be for Freestyle riding and jumping. The larger wheel is used by the downhill rider. Like a snowboard (and unlike a skateboard) the feet of the rider are attached to the board deck with bindings, however boots are not required. Most mountain boards these days also have 'channel trucks' which are a little like skateboard trucks but are spring-loaded to stiffen up turning. RIDING STYLES The two main styles of riding are downhill (either BoarderX or freeride) and Freestyle . Freeride is done on a variety of terrain, from ski resorts, when the snow has melted away, to downhill Mountain Bike courses, to woodlands and forests. More and more dedicated centres are being opened around the world specifically for the sport of mountain boarding. Racing tends to be either of Slalom , two riders weaving between poles, or boarder cross, a category of racing that is similar to BMX courses, with berms and jumps. Freestyle riding consists of ramp jumping; performing tricks which can be rotations (180, 360 and more Degree turns), inverted tricks (back flips, front flips), and board grabs Tail Grab And Front Grab . A variation of mountain boarding is known as Kiteboarding . This involves using a Power Kite to pull the rider on a mountain board and gives them the ability to use the kite to generate enough power to get some lift, normally several feet up in the air. HISTORY Rick Wilson of San Diego, California invented the first wheels used for mountain/dirtboarding in the early 1990's. Rick's wheels, known as "XT Wheels", were composed of a plastic core with rubber tractor tire style tread. The wheels were typically mounted on standard skateboards. Early dirtboarders customized longboards (about 36") using uncut skateboard decks from Vision Skateboards and configured them with 215 mm Independent trucks and German sealed bearings. Sky Hooks where often used for bindings facilitating increased control with the ability to quickly change stance. EXTERNAL LINKS
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