The Big Vote!

 I don't like having two names associated with this blog.  Do you think I should:

• Change the URL to "The-Dirt-Box"
• Change the banner to "notanothermiddleagedboarder"
• Change them both to something shorter/less rude e.g, "The Board Room" or similar?

Eagle eyed regular readers will have spotted the poll that's been running down the right hand edge of the screen and so far the voting is pretty close.  Have your say and I'll implement the results when the poll closes in the new year.

In other blog related news, one to keep an eye on is http://www.freeridesessions.blogspot.com/.  From the creator himself, Marvin writes, "The idea is to pick a place post pictures maps video's onto the blog for everyone to enjoy and to inspire them to make the journey and then we will see you there on the date announced!

Have a say into where the next meet should be on the Surfing Dirt forum here.

Meanwhile, we're sat here in work watching the skies, watching the weather reports, wondering if a bit more snow is on it's way.  If you're wondering how the recent Macclesfield freeride meet-up went, there's the promise of a write-up on the rem-extra blog here.

If you've no place to go....

...let it snow, let it snow, let it snow (and go snowboarding!)

Sorry for the lack of updates recently, but I really have been out having too much fun.  Turns out that buying snowboard kit in August was a very good move indeed and that being snowed in has plenty of advantages.

However, all play and no work makes for a very rubbish blog, so please make do in the meantime with a few words and lots of pictures, plus a bonus video from Rob who sacrificed his camera in the process.  I think he thinks it was worth it..... 

Cannock Chase in brief.......14th November 2010

Three times I've been to Cannock Chase now.  Any more and I'll feel qualified to produce a 'Mountainboarders Guide to the Chase', or at very least a small pamphlet.....

That aside, here's that days write-up.  If I get opportunity, I'll produce some maps as well, but only if I get a good opportunity or if someone asks for them in the meantime.

Longboard-Sessions Safety Guide

http://longboard-sessions.co.uk/p/safety

A nice longboard safety guide from the people from longboard-sessions.co.uk website has recently surfaced, with good information and common sense that also crosses over into other board sports.  All round, a good guide into surviving another day in environments where hard things come into contact with soft things and bad things happen....

All good advice here, reminding us that situational awareness for you and those around you is never a bad thing, and a system where everyone knows the rules before setting off makes total sense.

"Don't use 'go' - sounds like 'no'"

...personally, I quite like a good old 'left' or 'right' so at least people know which side I'll be hitting them from :-)

For everyone else who doesn't know longboard-sessions.co.uk, it's worth registering just to see if there are any other groups in the region as well as getting occasional heads-up reminders about any sessions taking place in the near vicinity.  I'm sure the code could be simply applied to other social sports such as mountain boarding with a little bit of of time, unfortunately, the one thing I don't have loads of :-(

Macclesfield Forest - Sunday 12th November - Don't Forget!

Macclesfield Forest: Mid December Free Ride?

Just think about it.....

The Monday Papers....

(....because Sundays are for riding)

ATBA International Series Dates (and new pricing structure)


http://www.atbauk.org/internationalseries.html
...contains information about each of this years four competitions, namely Hales Superbole, The Edge, Out To Grass and Ironsides Court Farm.

Interestingly, there's been a big old shake-up to the entry fees with the price per competition per discipline being £10/£20 for members/non members accordingly and if you haven't competed before, then your first comp is free.

Lets hope for better weather next year and a good turn out.

A rumour doing the rounds is the possibility of a downhill comp sometime early next year at a presently undisclosed location.  Watch this space, and of course the ATBA space for details.


The Return to the Chase - Maps and Videos coming soon

It was early morning and it was cold, and the effects of maybe a couple too many beers the night before were taking effect, but Mark, Clayton, Phill and myself managed to arrive at the right location at the right time for a further expedition into the wonders that Cannock Chase had to hold.

No harm to state once again how much there is to do here with tracks to be found round every corner, and yet on this, my third visit to the chase, how much there is left to discover.

We bumped into an interesting chap with several piercing and 4 large dogs with weird eyes who told us about 'Telegraph Hill', the highest point of the Chase.  Perhaps worth a look at for next time....

Anyway, big cheers to those that turned up; was a cracking session!  Phill took some footage on his Flip video so hopefully that'll turn up soon.  I'm also using a combination of google maps and bing maps to work out where we've covered this time round so a separate combined post will hopefully emerge soon.

New Russian Video: Breath In


Vdoh from Daria Sherlaimova on Vimeo.

...is worth a viewing.  With this and Inshredible doing the rounds right now, there's some great boarding action for your viewing pleasure for those night off.

Using an ultrasonic cleaner to clean bearings?

Londonskaters.com seem to thing it's a good idea...

http://www.londonskaters.com/review-ultrasonic-cleaner-cleaning-skate-bearings.htm

but if you have to do it the old fashioned way, then they also have a guide...

http://www.londonskaters.com/article-speed-skate-bearing-cleaning.htm

But then maplin are doing some cleaners for £25, might be worth a punt?

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=223108

hmmm.....