Macclesfield Freeride

The Macclesfield Freeride meet was last Saturday and it was a great day with a phenomenal turnout (for mountainboarders...).

I’m not sure if it was because it is now an annual thing, a great way to get in the first ride of the new year or if freeriding is getting more popular…but there was a definate buzz about this meetup that we need to keep throughout the year.

Ade has a write up on his blog that I couldn't possibly top, so I would suggest you check out if you haven’t already (which has links to Remolitions pics and Rogers write-up).

Highlights for me:

• I got to ride my NoSno for the first time in decent conditions and I am a convert!
• Getting to meet a few new riders and catch up with some regulars.
• Finally getting a decent pic of me riding (it’s tough when you mainly ride solo…)

Macclesfield Forest Meetup

If you’ve not already been out for a ride this year – the Macclesfield Forest meetup this weekend looks like a perfect opportunity to blow away the xmas cobwebs and get in a new years freeride!

Lovely image borrowed from Remolition.com

It’s in the middle of the country as well – so no excuse about too far to travel!

Feel free to come along and check out the event on Facebook, Surfing Dirt and Rem’s write up of the last Macclesfield Forest meetup.

I’ll be there testing out the new NoSno and will be bringing my spare brake board (the ABS/comp 26x setup) if anyone wants to find out what brake-boarding is about firsthand.

On a side note, I was out last weekend trying some snowboard boots I’ve picked up. I managed to get them to fit in NoSno soft bindings, but found that without the back plate of a real set of snowboard bindings, heelsides were a nightmare…they were also a barsteward to walk up the hill in.

Anyone else managed to ride in snowboard boots without snowboard bindings?

Happy New Year from Freeride NW

Happy New Years guys!

In true New Years fashion I thought I would have a quick look back at Mountainboarding in 2011 and what I think/hope 2012 has in store for us.

2011 has been a good year for me – I haven’t been out riding half as much as I wanted to, but it was the year I started brake boarding and my confidence levels went up as well as my ability to ride more of the local terrain.

Placing 2^nd in the Novice Class at Dave has shown me that I’m possibly not the slowest rider out there…although I now need to prove that in the Masters Class in the 2012 comps.

2011 was obviously the year I started this blog, but here are some other things I’ve been checking out online this year: the Dirt Box, OneDayMedia, Project Doc, Kent ATB, Mountainboarding.uk.com, Remolition, Mountainboarding.info, Leapb4ulook and obviously Surfing Dirt.

2011 was what I hope will be the start of a Downhill revival and if last years competition at Dave and the talk about this years upcoming ATBA Downhill Series is anything to go by – it’s looking good for 2012.

After the Five Pass Challenge was completed successfully, the 2012 Challenge needs to be BIG!!! Or at least long (oooh errrr…).

What are my 2012 Mountainboarding resolutions?

1. To get rid of Santa Claus’ tummy-tum & get out riding a lot more
2. To enter four competitions this year. This should be an interesting as there are only three Downhill comps planned so far…and as the idea of me doing Freestyle is laughable (and physically impossible) it looks like I better get some Bordercross practice in.
3. To find at least one new riding spot in the NW each month.
4. To convert at least one new rider.