Gravity

Buy your own ski resort- only one franc

2008-01-25T13:25:00.000Z

The Swiss ski resort of Ernen has suffered over the last few years and desparately needed investment to reverse its decline. So they put out a call for bids and sold themselves to Berkshire businessman Bruno Prior for one franc, on the condition that he could bring in £20million in funding.

Technorati tag: Skiing

Central Skate Park, Manchester

2007-04-09T23:43:00.000+01:00

Manchester's new skate venue. There used to be a park in an old mill in Ancoats, but as that area has been developed it closed down. The building either isn't there any more or is going to be flats. The Park mas a MySpace page, of course.

Technorati tag: Skateboarding, Manchester

Really, really off-piste

2007-03-22T19:43:00.000Z

Kashmir is the new destination of choice for skiers looking for spectacular and unspoilt runs.

Technorati tag: Skiing, Snowboarding, Kashmir

Steven Hamilton's gnarly BMX freestyle

2006-10-07T17:13:00.000+01:00

The sort of BMX stunts that would put mere mortals into hospital.

Technorati tag: Cycling, BMX

Skate Photos

2006-09-21T18:44:00.000+01:00

The 100 best skate photos on Flickr. Nice.

Technorati tag: Skateboard, Photo

Chill FActore

2006-08-15T22:55:00.000+01:00

A development near the Trafford centre is set to become the UK's biggest indoor alpine centre.

A consortium of backers are behind the project which also involves Trafford Centre owners Peel Holdings. They intend to build a rock-climbing wall, a toboggan run, an indoor skateboard park and a children's snowplay zone where youngsters can build snowmen and throw snowballs. A separate "warm" zone will feature Alpine-themed bars specially designed by Austrian craftsmen and restaurants with panoramic windows and balconies overlooking the slopes.

There was supposed to be a big indoor snow centre built in Salford a few years ago, but it never got beyond a billboard promising so much fun. I think they're building flats on the ground cleared for it now.

Technorati tag: Snow, Trafford Park

Faster by foot?

2006-07-24T14:40:00.000+01:00

Last year the Top Gear crew took on a mountain biker. And lost.

In yesterday's episode they had Captain Slow (aka James May) take on a couple of French Parkour runners through the centre of Liverpool.

Technorati tag: Parkour, Liverpool

Action Sports Environmental Coalition

2006-06-30T09:26:00.000+01:00

This is as well suited to How to Save the World for Free as here. The Action Sports Environmental Coalition "serves the action-sports community as the platform to educate and empower individuals, companies, and organizations regarding ecological sustainability and responsibility."

We strive to bring this community the power to implement creative, forward-thinking environmental and social strategies. As this community grows, ASEC utilizes its collective assets to broaden the horizons of conscious consumption--paving the way for skateboarders, surfers, snowboarders, BMX bikers, and those passionately involved in the sports to achieve lasting sustainable benefits for individuals and community institutions. Like these sports, ecological sustainability is not just a trend--it is your chance to get involved and take action in a movement, and to leave behind those companies that only take from you, unconcerned about your needs, your body, your mind, and the fact that you do have a choice.

This is your chance to lead, follow or be left behind.

via Treehugger

Technorati tag: Environment

3 feet high and rising

2006-05-16T10:10:00.000+01:00

3 Feet High is a display of skateboard decks decorated by artists. With prices in the hundreds of dollars it's unlikely any will ever be ridden, which is a shame in a way.

(3 feet high and rising- De La Soul)

via Drawn

Technorati tag: Skateboard, Deck, Art

Girls Get on Board

2006-05-14T11:59:00.000+01:00

Bicycle Retailer and Industry News-

Etnies Girl has launched Etnies Girls Get on Board (GGOB), a series of all-girls action sports instructional clinics. Etnies Girl has partnered with CosmoGIRL! magazine and Shark Energy Drink to produce the series, which will hit at least 11 locations across the country, including stops at the CosmoGIRL! Beach House, from May to September.

"Girls Get on Board is a great opportunity to introduce girls to the world of action sports," said Julie Shumaker, brand marketing manager for Etnies Girl. "These clinics will be a comfortable and inviting learning environment where girls can experience their sport of interest, while receiving firsthand tips from some of the best riders in the world."

via Blue Collar Mountain Biking

Technorati tag: Cycling, Etnies

Roam

2006-05-09T11:10:00.000+01:00

Roam could be the biggest mountain biking movie to date.

Bike Biz points towards an Apple article premised upon The Collective's use of Power Macs and Final Cut Studio to edit the film.

Check out the trailer. The eye in the sky death-slide looks as much fun as the riding.

Don't Try This At Home!

2006-05-07T11:34:00.000+01:00

Time for another round up of videos. Today from Revver.

Wannabe Jackass

The roller-blader's guide to removing yourself from the gene pool

BMXer crashes into camera guy

Racing a train on a BMX

A big batch of BMX stunts

Basic BMX skills

£18k bike heist at Hamsterley hire centre

2006-05-07T11:25:00.000+01:00

Bike Biz-

Wood n' Wheels, the new cycle hire centre and bike shop at Hamsterley Forest, near Bishop Auckland, County Durham, was struck by thieves in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Amongst the plunder were 31 bikes, some rare in the UK. They include Norcos (Six-Twos, Shore 3, Sasquatch and Big Foot), two Magura test bikes (small/medium sizes) and a Gary Fisher Fat Possum (XO model).

"It's a set-back," said Martin Stout of Wood n' Wheels.

Ouch!

2006-04-16T09:48:00.000+01:00

Video of a very nasty face plant.

via Blue Collar Mountain Biking

From the site that provided the video-

A snowboarder crashes whilst grinding a rail.

Skateboarding off the roof is a bad idea.

Beware of low flying motorcyclists.

Compilation of inline skaters crashing.

Wipeout.

Bring Your Own Big Wheel

2006-04-15T10:41:00.000+01:00

Something to do if you're in San Francisco on Easter Sunday. The sixth annual Bring Your Own Big Wheel race sees adults hurtling down one of the city's most famous streets on kid's toys.

SIXTH ANNUAL BYOBW, neighbors and police permitting. There are always prizes, one year featured tighty-whities with custom denim iron-on Lombard Street Skid Marks and other years have featured paintings, string art, shellac plaques, and embroidered knit caps and t shirts, all made by me. Lombard Street is of course not the crookedest street, especially compared to Vermont Street in Potrero Hill, but with a built-in international audience and scenic landscaping, who could resist? Prizes are given for all sorts of reasons, occasionally for being first, always for being last, and as the race is designed for plastic children's toys which are prone to failure when carrying over 80 pounds, winning isn't the goal here - survival is. Watch a movie made by CTP about the race HERE. This is a free event!

via BoingBoing

Ray's Indoor MTB Park

2006-04-06T10:42:00.000+01:00

I think I need an abandoned warehouse, some wood and a few dozen volunteers.

Ray's Indoor MTB Park is located in Cleveland, Ohio. It was started by Ray Petro, who realised the dissolute lifestyle of his twenties was going to kill him and turned to mountain biking instead. It's an 80,000 square foot space with manufactured trails and jumps that is open over the winter for riders to keep their skills honed whilst the weather is poor. The Biking Hub visited for one of its last weekends of the season and did a long write up that had me jealous.

Bunny Hop

2006-03-29T07:34:00.000+01:00

Over at the Biking Hub they've been running a series on cross country skills for cyclists. The most recent post covers the bunny hop.

Zoobomb

2006-03-26T15:30:00.000+01:00

Zoobomb is a weekly bike event that meets every Sunday around 8:30PM across from Rocco's Pizza (949 SW Oak) in Portland OR. Bring a bike if you have one, MAX fare, bike lights, and any saftey gear you want to wear. You are welcome to bring snacks and drinks but you must clean up everything you bring with you. Its a good time and you WILL have fun!

via This place on Platial

Icycle

2006-02-24T10:03:00.000Z

Photos and video from the Icycle Race 2006. There's no mention of just what it's all about, but it seems to have been cycle speedway on ice.

via Blue Collar Mountain Biking

Comet Skateboards- eco friendly decks

2006-02-23T11:52:00.000Z

Crossing over with How to Save the World for Free we have Comet skateboards, a company that makes its boards from renewable materials and is working with other companies to develop bio based epoxies to laminate the layers that go into a deck.

Low VOC Coatings

We at COMET can name lots of ways to get a head rush, sniffing our freshly opened boards is not one of them. We use all water based low VOC coatings. Most paints and laquers contain up to 65% solvents by volume which results in several million tons of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) being released into the atmosphere every year. VOCs accelerate the effects of global warming and are extremely dangerous to workers. Several companies world-wide are working to stop the use of these unnecessary compounds. COMET is one of them. Check for a different smell when you open your COMET board. (Those of you who like the smell of solvents, don't worry, we are still down with a can of spray paint).

via Sustainablog

DIY hoverboard

2006-02-23T10:53:00.000Z

It probably wouldn't work on anything but flat even surfaces, but it's still tempting to build your own hover board. Build a fleet and you could start your own hover basketball league or something. The Gadget Show reckons they put theirs together for about £150 utilising the following-

Basic tool set:

* A relatively heavy-duty stapler
* Hacksaw
* Jigsaw
* Drill and a bunch of drill-bits. (A special wood drill-bit that's the same diameter as your plumbing pipe).
* An electric screwdriver. (Believe me, you'll need one if you want to save your fingers and palms from bruising).
* A craft knife or scalpel
* An insurance policy with good fringe benefits.

Materials:

* A 30cc Petrol driven leaf blower engine.
* A bunch of rainwater piping and connectors - whatever size best fits the nozzle of your leaf blower.
* Some form of handy clips that will eventually secure your leaf blower to your board as you might need to put it on and off during building.
* More duct tape than is healthy.
* Serious amounts of screws - small enough to fix through your plastic grommet (see below) or the fastening for your engine without penetrating the underside of your board.
* Plywood - cut to150cm x 60cm
* A very large piece of plastic sheeting - like the stuff they use to line ponds (thick enough to repel sharp stones, thin enough to fold and bend to your will easily)
* A Plastic 'Grommet' 100cm x 10cm - made out of three joined-up strips of plastic from the bottom of a storage box and duct taped together (so, three plastic strips 33cm x 10cm that make up one big one.)

via BoingBoing

Airdome

2006-02-16T08:55:00.000Z

I want to go to Canada.

Summer Gravity Camps (SGC) at Whistler Blackcomb will introduce a new 10,000 square foot, covered mountain bike facility this summer. The Air Dome features a foam pit, resi ramp and trampoline. Located at Base II on Blackcomb Mountain, and scheduled to open this summer, the Air Dome is the first mountain bike training facility of its kind in Canada.

Summer Gravity Camps

via Blue Collar Mountain Biking

SkyRide

2006-02-14T20:30:00.000Z

It gets cold in Minnesota at this time of year. Even the normally hardy mountain bikers want to come into the warmth. But it doesn't have to stop them riding.

Fifty mountain bikers participated in the first Red Bull SkyRide, racing between office buildings on the "skyway" network that lets pedestrians get around downtown St Paul without venturing outside.

Even the mayor of St. Paul -- accompanied by his 11-year-old son -- took a spin through the course before the hard-core racers started pedaling.

Bikers snaked through about fifteen blocks of carpeted and tiled pathways that sported wickedly sharp turns in tight hallways padded with big blue bumpers. There were even a couple of stairwells for riders to negotiate -- though organizers required racers to dismount on the stairs, in one of the less gnarly aspects of the competition.

But the race was by no means watered down. Riders sucking dry office air reached breakneck speeds heading into 90-degree turns on marble flooring. A few guys bit it only to hop right up and keep trucking. Some taller riders barely cleared under door frames as they zipped through automatic sliding doors held open by volunteers. One guy even took a wrong turn into the dining room of the ritzy University Club.

I want to do this in the Arndale, or even the Trafford Centre. Who do I ask?

133 feet 6 inches

2006-02-07T18:41:00.000Z

British motocross rider Jason Rennie has set a new record for jumping a bike, clearing nearly 134 feet on a Kona Stab Supreme in Llandegla Forest. He was pulled up to 80 mph by a motor bike before being released to hit the ramp. More info here, and video here.

via Blue Collar Mountain Biking

Bikes + Snow = PAIN

2006-01-23T20:31:00.000Z

I came across this link the other day, which im sure you will agree looks quite painful, its of Gee Atherton again, but this time he isnt racing a car. http://www.winterandsummer.com/gee.mov