Still for sale...

$300 plus postage!

Equipment checks...

The forecast is still looking good for the weekend. Got everything out this morning to check it was ready to go.

Tyre pressures, bolts tightened, both kites checked, pads, helmet, gloves and harness ready...

Then inside to make sure I have all my GoPro mounts and both GoPro cameras are fully charged...

All good just bring on the wind!

Lake Walyungup...

Is dry! 

A bit of wind, 9-11 knots. Just unpacking the 10m ozone manta.

GoPro, UGC...

User Generated Content.

A couple of weeks ago I was approached by somebody from GoPro, having watched my video Sideways on Vimeo, they wanted to see if they could add my video to the GoPro Channel!

I thought about it for all of about 3 seconds and said yes please, had a minor worry that it maybe dodgy, but after receiving an email from GoPro I knew all was above board.

Licence agreement signed, 18GB of raw video uploaded to GoPro's wiredrive (which took over 24 hours!) and now its wait and see if they will use it...

I do get some mounts for sharing my video with them and if they add my video to their channel then I get a GoPro HDHero3+, so fingers crossed.

GoPro gooseneck

GoPro suction cup

(images courtesy of GoPro.com)

Lake Walyungup...

Muffin, the dog!

Walking the dog on lake Walyungup, the wind is blowing and wishing I had the buggy with me!

A good opportunity to check the surface after the recent rain. It's pretty soggy and soft in places. There is a fair bit of standing water on the approach to the recreational area. The main recreational is still pretty firm with no puddles.

Panorama

Raining...

I'm sat in my car at Langford Park, all padded up, waiting for the rain to clear...

I did manage a couple of small runs on the board before it really started to come down!

Video - Flysurfer Lotus 15m

More huge air and incredible hang-time from the flysurfer crew...

Flysurfer Lotus 15 m2 from www.kite-freaks.nl on Vimeo.

Winter winds..?

Looks like we have got a week of typical winter winds, not much unless there is a storm! Forecast for this week - after today it isn't going to get over 10 knots all week!

I didn't get out in the buggy or on the board, over the weekend, not much wind and had family things on (yesterday was Mother's Day!).

My 10m Manta II will get me moving in 7-10 knots, but maybe its time to consider one of these...

Flysurfer Speed 3 12m CE

Straight Jackets...

No not one of those - Oakley Straight Jackets!

I have just taken delivery of a pair of polarised Oakley Straight Jackets. I have been wearing Oakley's for about the last 10-12 years and wouldn't buy any other brand of sunnies.

Building a buggy...

I would love to, but wouldn't know where to start.

Popeye the Welder has put his Dominator kite buggy plans online, free for anybody to download, save and build an incredible looking buggy...

Free PPTW Dominator Plans

PPTW Dominator
(courtesy of popeyethewelder.com)

Can you build me one too..?

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.

New Banner...

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

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...

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...

75kgs...

A while back (Link) I was trying to lose some weight - I seem to have stabilised at about 75kgs! Which I am very happy about as I now fit 32ich waist - again!

Pay me..?

I wish somebody would pay me for doing what I love, rather than having to work for a living!