We are in the middle of winter season but when it ends and we do not have the possibility of being able to surf in the distance, or any other circumstance, we will have to invent something to continue enjoying the sport, right?
Create a device to go down all types of terrain and not stop feeling the sensations of the snowboard and the surf, in a field dominated by mountain bike, was the great challenge for the creators of MBS.
The mountainboard or if you prefer, the mountain board, was designed and built by a group of young people who no longer wanted to wonder what they could do with their sport. favorite when the snow ended. In 1992, the first mountainboard model, an alternative for the summer, was presented in the Colorado region, United States. Thanks to this new invention, many young people did not consider the sensations of snowboarding to be over at the end of April. With years of experience in the US, the level acquired is much higher than other European benchmarks. Jumps, radical descents, with mud, dirt, grass, asphalt...
To our country, mountainboarding came from the hand of Fitenia (a Madrid Surf and Snowboard store) and already has a group of unconditional fans. The driving system is similar to snowboarding. The body adopts a semi-flexed position, with the weight in the front and the execution of the turns is carried out by shifting the weight to one side or the other. The most notable differences are felt in the terrain you descend. From the snowy mountain without excessive potholes and with comfortable sliding, we move on to the mountain in its most "virgin" aspect. Roads with potholes and stones where irregularity is the predominant note. Not everything is countryside and rough terrain, since there are models for the street.
Equipment
There is a minimum of safety that you must comply with, as in all risky sports, to avoid harming yourself and finishing the event ahead of schedule. discovery of a new sensation.
As an action and risk sport, where the body is exposed to falls, the first thing we must do is provide ourselves with the following material for our safety:
- Knee and elbow pads for hitting the ground.
- Sneakers that protect the ankle area. The anchors of the board usually rub our ankles and end up suffering.
- Some gloves are not bad to avoid injuries from stones or any element on the field.
- Goggles never hurt in outdoor action sports.
- If you are going to go down doing a bit of "the goat" put on a helmet. One of those used for skateboards or mountain bikes is enough to avoid any problems.
Boards and accessories
The Grasshopper model is one of the smallest and is designed for jumping. It is 116 centimeters long, easy to handle and does not include a brake. The axles are made of 4130 Chrome, they measure fourteen inches and it is the only one that does not have a crossbar between the two axles.
The next model called Gremlin is divided into two lengths, short (117 centimeters) intended more for freestyle and long (152 centimeters) simpler and aimed at going down slopes.
The Reactor model can be considered an intermediate model between the simplest (Gremlin) and the intermediate (Grasshopper). In fact, this was the first model that was sold out in the distribution store, Fitenia.
Finally, the top model called Supercharger measures 1.5 m and weighs slightly more than 15 kg. This model is designed to descend the slopes or mountain slopes without any fear. By the way, the brand of shock absorbers included in this model is Rock Shox, highly prestigious in mountain biking.
"The ABS"
Almost all models range between 13 and 15 kilos. The brake consists of a cable directed from the rear wheels to a conventional brake lever located with a bicycle grip included. The braking system is very similar to mountain bikes. Brake cams inside the wheels with their respective shoes, which brake them when activating the brake lever that we carry freely in our hand.
Grip
The wheels are made up of an air chamber and a rubber cover. The difference between the models is in the type of cover and diameter. The Airliner model has eight inches in diameter, is oriented towards freestyle and produces good grip on dirt. Spidertread is a model with nine inches in diameter with excellent tread for the field. The Enduro model has nine inches of diameter and is oriented to be an all-purpose, mainly on paved terrain. The Big Knobby, with ten inches in diameter, can dare the most radical descents on the mountain slopes.
