For buggy's sake...

No video cameras, just a couple of kites and a buggy - it's all about me today...

And avoiding the showers!

Video - the art of big air

Amazing...

The Art of Big Air - Big Day @ Schillig from FLYSURFER Kiteboarding on Vimeo.

Nicked..?

Whats missing?

My Garmin etrex! I have had the buggy, kites, board, helmet, pads and harness stored in my car for the last few days  - just in case!

Unloaded it all today and there was no etrex! I did leave the car unlocked for an hour or so at the shops the other day so presume it went then, lucky everything else was there.

Video - Sideways...

I was playing around with trailers on iMovie and came up with this...

Sideways from Mark Crook on Vimeo.

New Banner...

I have once again updated my banner using the banner fans website and a screen shot from my latest video...

Video - buggy blast

Easter Monday at the salt lake, playing in the buggy and with the board...

Chose a part of the lake with a softer surface to board, which was good as I did end up on the floor a few times and ended up bruising my backside!

buggy blast from Mark Crook on Vimeo.

Is kite buggying dangerous..?

Not if you keep to the defined areas!

track from Friday 17th April 2014

Gravel rash...

After a couple of hours of fun in the buggy yesterday I had a seat full of gravel.,,

I think I also had the same amount in my shorts - a little uncomfortable!

Video - Happy

cool...

Buggy Kite Hd03 2014 from marc.g on Vimeo.

No work...

...for me, until the 28th April...

I'm hoping to get plenty of buggying and boarding in over the holiday, just need the wind to cooperate, probably going to give tomorrow arvo a go...

Kite fix- part 2....

Well it's not going to happen this weekend, bugger all wind...

Anybody got a fifteen metre Flysurfer Speed 3 they want to donate!

Video - Funrace

From MG kites...

Funrace BCH @ Brouwersdam from MG kites on Vimeo.

Kite fix...

I'm hoping that I might be able to get out and play with my kites soon...

It's been good fun going downhill, but I need a kite fix!

Video - ride the hill - part deux!

Not much wind again this weekend so just went out for some downhill action...

ride the hill - part deux from Mark Crook on Vimeo.

Review - MBS Comp 90

When I was looking at new ways to maim and injure myself and also wanted something fun for my birthday the first thing that sprang to mind was a new mountainboard...

Having previously owned an MBS comp 16 pro which was also one of the favourites when we reviewed a group of boards I decided to shop for another MBS. As I was intending to play downhill and with the kite I opted for the MBS comp 90, which has the lighter MBS Vector trucks, rather than the comp 95 which has the matrix channel trucks.

After some advice from Adam at Munro Boards a shiny new MBS comp 90 was on its way...

The board comes with instructions, a ride guide and multi-tool and the only assembly required was to attach the wheels/bearings and put some air in the tyres.

As standard the board has-

Vector channel trucks

F4 ratchet bindings

Twistar hubs 

T3 Tyres

Powerlam maple deck

The graphics are slightly dodgy, but overall the board looks great with the white and black hubs, tyres and bindings.

The vector channel trucks are lighter than matrix but still provide the same sort of stability (no rotation) and are more suited to the lighter or freestyle rider. I have had some pretty decent speeds on the tarmac as well as on the dirt and they feel completely stable - no hint of speed wobble. They can be adjusted either by tightening the king-pin nut as well as changing the bushings to suit your riding style.

The T3 tyres have a different tread pattern to the T1's with a central bead and is designed for multi-surface use, they are also supposed to be harder wearing, on grass and tarmac I have ridden with them at maximum pressure, allowing me to dig in and carve without any loss of traction. On dirt and the surface of the Lake Walyungup I have dropped the pressure to provide a smoother ride and more traction and so far they have felt totally secure and aren't yet showing any signs of wear.

After my previous experience with mountainboarding I would never go for anything other than ratchet bindings (and in my previous life would always use heel straps as well) and once again the MBS F4's don't disappoint, ergonomically designed, they are secure and comfortable. The ratchet system is quick and effective to tighten and loosen them. For my tries with the kite I keep them loose enough to step in and out of then lock my feet against the posts.

The deck has a great feel with enough flex and pop to suit my weight and riding style, enough to cushion the landings, smooth out the bumps, but provides plenty of stability and isn't twitchy. The coating is holding up to the abuse of the terrain and being in the car with all the other kite I carry with me!

Overall the board is already proving loads of fun, wether it is carving down a tramac road, or throwing myself down the dirt of a local hill over sticks and stones, through sand and over gravel. It feels great, stable and responsive, with plenty of traction. The bindings allow you to lock in so you maintain maximum control.

I am just starting out on my kite-land-boarding but so far I have traveled further and faster than back in the UK when I first tried it out. Already the board is helping me hold the power and as I gain in confidence and experience I can see i may want to try and get some air with this board! Lets hope I get it on video...

Overall a great board with nice equipment and a nice feel to the ride. I'm lovin' it! Especially as the wind has been pretty crap recently and the forecast for the weekend is crap, but I still get to play!

boarding... from Mark Crook on Vimeo.

ride the hill... from Mark Crook on Vimeo.

forty-three...

Today is my 43rd birthday...