BKSA Kiteival - Ayr, Scotland

Top 10 Biggest and Best Jumps

SNOWWW AND JAMM..PING :P

PARTY NIGHT...!!

Latest tracks by dj sergi

Greenland 2010 Expedition-Sweet Winter..!!

Flysurfer X-Greenland 2010 Expedition from Flysurfer Kiteboarding on Vimeo.

DJ Mikele

ATTENTION....

The photo is the winner of the Pulitzer Prize in 1994, which was captured in Sudan during the famine. The photograph depicts a child who was hit by hunger that creeps towards feeding regimes on the United Nations, which was a mile away.
The vulture is waiting to die so the child can eat. This picture shocked the whole world. Nobody knows what happened to the child, including the photographer who left immediately after taking the photo.

(Tres months later committed suicide due to depression ...

The following were found in his diary:
"My God, I pray to protect this little boy to drive and to relieve the misery. I pray we all be more sensitive to the world around us and not blinded by our own selfish nature and interests."

I hope this picture will continue to function as a reminder to us of how lucky we are and that we should never think that given the chance

The Road to Merimbula!!!

The Road to Merimbula from Kitepower Australia on Vimeo.

Lenten - Hadlow Gran Canaria 2010

GROOOVE..

GOODNIGHT!!
 JORDIN   ;-)

Suit.. life...

attention...

G.MORMING!!!!

Hadlow Pro 2011

Hadlow Pro 2011 from Jean-Yves Puibaraud on Vimeo.

Welcome to Tijuana...XxX

Tijuana is a border town in Mexico with the U.S. and the control region of Arellano Felix cartel (CAF), one of the most powerful cartel in the world. In 2006, President Felipe Calderon declared war on seven drug cartels operating in the country. In a controversial decision, sent 40,000 soldiers to kill the Hydra of Organized Crime. Since then, the army gives battles on city streets


the movie...

http://www.ert.gr/el/play/eksantas/welcome-to-tijuana

ps its in greek...

KITE FOR SALE....JUST 444 EURO...

ITS JUST LIKE NEW....10 TIMES IN THE WATER....


Best Waroo 09 9m Review

THE HYPE:

The Waroo returns as Best's work-horse kite that will do anything and allow you to ride everywhere. Best claim that it’s the ultimate freeride kite, stating that 'The '09 Waroo doesn't just blur the lines between new school and old school, wake-style and freestyle; it erases them!' Huge depower, fast turning and easy handling will help riders of all levels to progress faster and further while simply having more fun kiteboarding. Surf tough build-quality keeps the Waroo resilient enough for whatever you can throw at it.
TEST TEAM NOTES:
We were so impressed with the Waroo last year and without a lot of attention it's difficult to tell the difference between the 09 model and last year's. Obviously not a bad thing as we were already big fans. Down to the nitty-gritty: the kite is very quick and responsive and feels really light in the sky, on the bar and is super nimble. Agile and nippy it delivers power in a really progressive, smooth way. You never get caught out with it doing something you don’t expect it to.
What's so impressive is that it’s probably the most all-round kite we've been on, (if not the most, then it's definitely up there). Whether you’re a Pimp Daddy freestyler or a beginner it’s a joy to use. Sure it's not a kite loop monster but you can have a lot of fun on it and it’s not for sissies either. It might not send you into orbit, but it will have a go. It’s a true all-round freeride/freestyle kite. Unhooking on it is so comfortable and you know it's not going to pull your arms off. Some of the most experienced riders may criticise the lack of feeling at the bar, but for most riders it’s great. Turns brilliantly, depowers well, jumps well, goes upwind with no fuss, is responsive and jumps high – it’s one of only a few kites out there that truly does everything well. It instils confidence and improves your riding because it keeps you in your comfort zone and doesn’t make you nervous. It’s well made. If there is a kite for everyone, it is this kite.
If there's a downside it's that there’s no one pump, but that keeps the costs down, and a few years ago, none of us had one pump!



MAIL ME GIWRGOS.MARKOS@GMAIL.COM....

An amazing video about spiders

An amazing video showing the reaction of a spider when seen herself in the mirror. This video might make you hate me and not so much afraid of spiders ...

GREEN ENERGY....ITS JUST A NEW WAY???

The sources are categorized as follows:

• Conventional or non-renewable energy is the energy which can not be renewed for a reasonable human time. Usually, the formation process, when it is repetitive, requires millions of years. Non-renewable energy sources include:

The solid fuel coal (lignite, peat, anthracite, etc.)

1. The liquid fuel, which is usually finished oil products (fuel oil, diesel, gasoline, kerosene, etc.)
2. Gaseous fuels (natural gas, LPG, etc.)
3. Nuclear energy from fission of radioactive materials (ouranio, plutonium, etc.)

• Renewable energy:
Are energy sources that are available over time, either because it is practically inexhaustible, either because renewed in due time through natural processes. Renewable energy sources include:

1. Solar energy

2. Wind Energy
3. The energy of waterfalls, sea currents and tides (hydraulic)
4. Biomass energy that all plant products
5. Geothermal energy, energy that is coming from inside the earth

• Renewable energy:
Are the sources whose use can be made with respect to the environment. Mild forms of energy does not coincide with renewable. For example, the use of biomass causing pollutants, while the hydropower plants are often destroyed the ecosystem of sites that work.
The ideal is therefore a source of energy would be mild and renewable, with low operating costs, negligible environmental impact and low technology necessary for its operation.
Pros and cons of wind energy

In recent years the great growth of wind power in our country has been accompanied by concerns of local communities in the impact it may have to install a wind farm in their area. The advantages and disadvantages of using wind energy are given below:

Advantages of using wind energy

Ø The wind is an inexhaustible source of energy, which also provided free.

Ø It pollutes the environment with hazardous air pollutants such as carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, carcinogenic particles, etc., in contrast to conventional power plants.

Ø It is a technologically mature, economically competitive and environmentally friendly energy option.

Ø Helps decentralized energy system by reducing transmission losses.


Disadvantages of using wind energy

Noise.

Beauty charge of the landscape.

Electromagnetic harassment in telecommunications, radar, television, etc.

Generally it should be noted that the benefits of using wind energy both locally and globally to outweigh any disadvantages to the development of technology increasingly restricted. The wind is now competitive with other fuels in areas with high wind potential, it is estimated that by 2012 will be fully competitive with the purely economic sense.

Disco pop fever by XDJ PANAGIOTIS----ENJOY

Disco pop fever by xdjpanagiotis

http://djpanagiotis.blogspot.com/

Get ready for the Wind or No Wind Board Jam 2010!

Get ready for the Wind or No Wind Board Jam 2010! from Susi Mai on Vimeo.

CARTOON FOTO IN FACEBOOK BROSSS...!!

NOT A GAME, READ THIS...


This whole issue with the cartoon put on profile photo is an initiative to support the week of children's rights, which will culminate in the ...
Saturday, November 20, in memory of the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which occurred November 20, 1989.! The effort is in the area of social networking is good. Thousands of users have changed their picture .. You?

THE TOP-GUN!!!

2011 Fuel Review


POP/UNHOOKING: I honestly believe this is the kite thats going to take me to the next level. The pop is AMAZING!, every time i landed i had so much line slack its exactly what i need to start trying to pass. I'm so stoked i literally just got back in and you cant get the grin off my face. No i haven't landed one yet but this is the first time i have really felt like I've been close.

KITELOOPS: Man this is one powerful beast when u loop it and it doesn't seem to stall back on the way to the top of the window like other kites have. My only problem is i have to get used to boosting on C kites again .. its been a while and more pendulum swing than im used to.'

RELAUNCH: well i didn't believe that a 4 line c kite was a good idea, thought i would have to go old school on it and swim towards the kite to get it on its back. But it relaunched exactly how the bow kites do.. Hold an outside line and bang up she pops. (I'm yet to do this in light winds though i don't feel it would be the same outcome)

BOOSTS: like i said have to get used to that c kite boost again its pretty different i have to swing the kite so much more. But what i do like is how even at like 2 or 10pm it still seems to hold you in the air and keep pulling very different to any of the hybrids/ delta kites im used too.

SAFETY: Yeh.. definitely use suicide the safety if activated is awful. Yes its a 100% depower but there is no stopper ball so if you do let it go it shoots up all the way to the kite and made it unlaunchable. I had to bring it back to the beach and re rig it. As for the depower rope.. don't leave it on all the way out. Its almost impossible to move. Before you go out pull just the tiniest bit of rope through (if you still want to be powered) so you can adjust the power while your out on the water.

Dead honest ive got access to heaps of kites working in the school, and this is going to be the only kite im going to want to use between 15-20 knots when im trying any wake style/ unhook tricks. If like me your frustrated with being stuck at the same level i cant recommend this kite enough. I'm sure soon you will here me all over perth screaming in extacy as i land my first slim chance or back mobe :)

Overall rating:

8.3
Performance:

10.0
Build Quality:

7.0
Control Bar:

8.0
Depower:

6.0
Relaunch:

7.0 

IN LOVE...!!WITH 2 STARS...:O

BECAUSE...

I NEED...



DIFFERENT I LL BE...



AND I NEED ONLY THIS...



KAI TELOSSSSSSSSS

DOLFINS IN SOS...

The Cove is a 2009 American documentary film that describes the annual killing of dolphins in a National Park at Taiji, Wakayama, in Japan from an ocean conservationists point of view.The film highlights the fact that the number of dolphins killed in the Taiji dolphin hunting drive is several times greater than the number of whales killed in the Antarctic, and reports that 23,000 dolphins and porpoises are killed in Japan every year in the country's whaling industry. The migrating dolphins are herded into a hidden cove where they are netted and killed by means of spears and knives over the side of small fishing boats.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan's most recent progress report 1,569 cetaceans in Taiji were killed during the 2007 season, including methods other than drive hunting. The Ministry claims that only 1,239 cetaceans were killed by drive hunting, and that a total of 13,080 cetaceans were killed throughout Japan in 2007.
The film was directed by former National Geographic photographer Louie Psihoyos.Portions were filmed secretly during 2007 using underwater microphones and high-definition cameras disguised as rocks.
The documentary won the U.S. Audience Award at the 25th annual Sundance Film Festival in January 2009. It was selected out of the 879 submissions in the category.On March 7, 2010, The Cove won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature at the 82nd Academy


watch the movie right now...http://www.divxstage.net/video/zxe7136jeozws

Probably the shot of the year ...

This image brings good chance to be voted as the photo of the year. It shows a mother, which from a chest of nursing her little child and the other a newborn monkey. The caption of the photo published in the Indian press enter:


"Only anyone who is poor and knows what they say hunger is acting with such generosity ... What bad that man is not always so"

LET'S MAKE A GREEN WORLD!!

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

The original slogan for the modern treehugger still applies. Amazing technological developments are exciting, but it’s the day-to-day actions, and the habits you cultivate, that matter most. When you change your thinking, you change your life. Adapting to a greener lifestyle is worth it for all kinds of reasons and it’s not all about the planet. Green habits often save you money and improve your health and life, as well.

How to change your thinking? Simply start practicing some mindful observance of your routines, purchases, and other aspects of your lifestyle. It’s a good idea to keep a “lifestyle journal” for a week where you note the following major areas where it’s easy to go greener:

- Amount and type of meals eaten out of the home

- Grocery shopping habits (what, how much, where)

- Commute

- Type of vehicle you drive

- Size of family

- Home carbon footprint (use a calculator)
- Travel (type, how often, how far)
- Where you buy your clothes, electronics, and furniture
- What kinds of cleaning products and personal care products you use
- Any existing environmentally-aware habits: biking, recycling, using energy-efficient lights, a canvas grocery sack, carbon offsets when you fly, and so forth.

Once you have a better determination of your lifestyle, it is easy to begin “tweaking” every day actions. And that starts with being aware of how much and what you consume – and what you do with things after you’re done using them. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle is a very easy method for integrating actions and awareness. Some starting tips:

Simple Tips to Reduce
1. Did you know 1/3 of food goes to waste? (Some say half!) The first thing you can do is reduce your food waste. Keep better track of grocery shopping – here’s another place where a journal will help.
2. Buy higher-quality clothing in seasonal cycles rather than trendy, cheap clothing several times a month. Example: buy one good coat this year; a good wallet next year. Aim for purchases that may be a bit more up front but will end up saving you cash in the long run because they will last you a lifetime.
3. Most entrees at restaurants are big enough for two. Save money and prevent food waste by splitting meals (warning: do this with close pals only or you may get accused of being cheap!). Brown bag your lunches, too.
4. Force yourself to always wait one day on non-essential purchases in order to avoid impulse buys.
5. Order online or direct from companies rather than driving to a store. This helps reduce fuel and energy waste at many points along the production-consumption chain.
6. Look for ways to go digital to reduce waste: books, magazines, music, and movies.
7. Keep your car longer. Instead of a 2-year lease, finance a car with a 5-year loan and keep it for 10.
8. Reserve one day for your shopping and errands instead of making multiple trips all the time.
9. Carpool as often as you can or ask your boss if you can telecommute.

10. Become a zealot about turning things off: the water, the lights, the electronics.

Simple Tips to Reuse

1. Buy vintage everything. From electronics to furniture to fashion, vintage is the most eco-friendly choice you can make.
2. For vintage furniture and electronics, try Craigslist, Amazon and eBay. You’ll save the earth’s resources…and your own.

3. Check out garage sales and estate sales, too.

4. Try community barter trading sites like Freecycle and Ecoflip.

5. Wash and save glass jars for handy use as storage, vases, and food leftover containers.

6. Use cloth napkins and towels instead of disposable ones.

7. Use old t-shirts for yardwork and vehicle cleaning tasks. Try to find a use for everything you’d normally throw away. You can get pretty creative! There are dozens of things you can reuse.

8. Reuse paper. Printer misprints make great to-do-list scratch paper.

9. Shoe boxes and yogurt containers can be turned into herb planters, file storage and more.

10. Check out this helpful list for more ways to reuse household items.

Simple Tips to Recycle

1. Recycle all glass, metal, paper, and plastic.

2. Compost everything – a lot more than food can go into the compost bucket. By recycling the basics and composting, you will drastically reduce your waste.

3. “Recycle” things you don’t want anymore by donating them – old toys, clothes, furniture, decor, games, movies, books, and tools.

4. Recycle paint, motor oil and other toxic household cleaning supplies.

5. Recycle batteries.

6. Recycle every type of plastic.

7. Recycle your electronics for cash.

8. Recycle your computer.

9. Recycle your cell phone.

10. You can even recycle your car.

THE SECRETS OF THE NUMBER 11.....

1) The New York City has 11 letters 
2) Afghanistan has 11 letters 
3) The Ramsin Yuseb (o terrorist who threatened to destroy the Twin Towers in 1993) has 11 letters
 4) The George W Bush has 11 lettersThis could be a coincidence, but this gets more interesting:
1) New York is the 11th state.
 2) The first plane crashing against the Twin Towers was flight number 11. 
3) Flight 11 was carrying 92 passengers. 9 2 = 114) Flight 77 which also hit Twin Towers, was carrying 65 passengers. 6 5 = 11 
5) The tragedy was on September 11 or 9 / 11 (as it is now known. 9 1 1 = 11 and since the Americans have such a superstitious attitude to numbers). 
6) The date is similar to telephone 911 U.S. emergency services.Pure coincidence? Read:1) The total number of victims inside all the planes were hi-jacked was 254. 2 5 4 = 11 
2) 11 September is the 254th day of the calendar year. 
3) The Madrid bombing took place on 3/11/2004. 3 1 1 2 4 = 11. 
4) The tragedy of Madrid happened 911 days after the fact of the twin towers.This is where things get a mysterious air:The most recognized symbol for the U.S., after the Stars & Stripes, is the Eagle.The following verse is taken from the Koran, the Islamic holy book, says that a son of Arabia would awaken a fearsome Eagle. The wrath of the Eagle would be felt throughout the lands of Allah while some of the people trembled in despair still more rejoiced for the wrath of the Eagle cleansed the lands of Allah and there was peace. The line corresponds to number 9.11 of the Koran.Open a Microsoft Word document and do the following:1) Enter in capital letters Q 33 NY. This is the flight number of the first plane to hit one of the twin towers.
 2) Make a bold Q 33 NY. 
3) Change the font size to 48. 
4) Change the font in WINGDINGS.

The rubble of the Twin Towers, shows a controlled explosion?

 

 

Specific information on the theory argues that the fall of the Twin Towers is a controlled explosion, erchontai disrupt America again.
This view is not made by a group of conspiracy theorists, but by an international team of scientists, led by University of Copenhagen, considered "debris" from the wreckage of the Twin Towers.

The conclusion reached impressive:

"The dust from the ruins of two buildings, containing elements that have similar characteristics to those of sophisticated explosive materials manufactured in American laboratories, the period before September 11!

As explained by the chief scientists, Niels Harrit, that the dust from the debris analyzed contain traces of explosive, matter can not be explained either by the impact of aircraft, or from any natural cause. The only reason for the explosive was to be used as a pyrotechnic material to achieve the fall of the towers from the inside, he said.

Not long ago Professor Harrit, publicly presented their studies and artefacts caused anyone wishing to examine and prove that not apply to what the team. To date the study was only in the form of publication was made in 2009 (you can find here) and had been questioned sharply.

This discovery, in line with that of the U.S. Geological Survey, who had reason for high concentrations of iron pellets in the dust of the ruins that require much higher temperatures than those achieved from the combustion of aviation fuel or a fire building to form.

If we accept the statements of scientists "traces of explosive powder found in the rubble, then automatically reversed the official version of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, attributing the collapse of the towers on fire caused by kerosene aircraft.

LONGBOARDING ROCKS....

What is a Longboard?

A longboard is a longer version of a skateboard. Longboards are most commonly used for either downhill racing, slalom, or transportation. Due to its longer and wider base, a longboard is more stable, making the ride generally safer and more comfortable than on a shortboard, although it may be hard for beginners to ride down hills at high speeds. Their greater weight makes them less suitable for many tricks, but contributes to a fluid motion by giving more momentum. Thus, a longboard will roll farther with a single push of the foot. Many people therefore prefer longboards to normal skateboards for cruising on streets and sidewalks. Longboarding is often compared to surfing on concrete, and the size gives riders the option of performing big turns and quick short carves just like on a surfboard. Carving is way of turning that is mostly used when one is going 12 mph or more.

Choosing a Longboard

Beginners to the sport of longboarding are frequently overwhelmed by the number of choices and perceived specialization of different varieties and brands of decks. However, there is some common advice that is often offered to beginners.

Beginners should avoid models marketed as "beginner" or "disposable." As in many sports, low quality equipment can turn beginners away from a sport before they even have a chance to experience it. Quality longboards should cost about $130 US, but there are some less expensive models.

Mid-length boards, 39 to 50 inches) are the most versatile. Beginners should avoid overly long or overly short boards, which are better for certain styles, but are less versatile, and may be more difficult to ride.

There are several different shapes of longboards including: pintails, flat nose riders, and boards shaped like a longer shortboard. People who have had some experience skating in the past may feel more comfortable on a board that has a tail as it will be easier to turn. Pintails permit looser trucks and larger diameter wheels better suited for carving or a "surfy" feel.

Deck Types
Depending on their purpose, longboards exist in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. The differentiation between a short skateboard and a longboard usually depends on their application and configuration. Most longboards measure between 90 and 150 cm (35.4-59 inches). Longer boards are rare because the longer board requires more room to maneuver.

Transportation

Boards used for transportation or commuting are the most common types of longboards. The boards are usually 100-130 cm (39.0-50.3 inches) long and do not have a shorter nose. The boards are flexible to provide a more comfortable ride and are often shaped to resemble surfboards. Their trucks are set up loosely to allow for narrow turns.

Longboarding for its own sake is often called cruising or, when going down a hill, carving. It can be a convenient alternative to walking as you only need to push one time to move several feet.

Slalom

Slalom skateboards are sometimes used for racing through courses set up with small cones as quickly as possible. The boards are usually 63-89 cm (24.6-34.7 inches) long, and often made of high tech materials such as carbon fiber. The shorter boards are used on tighter courses, and longer boards are used on steeper, faster courses and giant slalom. Many slalom skateboarders have several different boards set up for different types of courses. The trucks are attached to the very ends of the board and the boards often have narrow ends to allow a tighter turning radius. Slalom skateboards are used almost exclusively for competitive skateboarding. Slalom wheels differ from other longboarding wheels because they often have a much larger contact patch for better traction, which is a requirement in slalom situations. Slalom trucks are often much narrower than normal longboard trucks to allow a tighter turning radius, and may differ in design.

Downhill
Downhill skateboards are used for riding down mountain roads as fast as possible. The boards are usually 95-110 cm (38 - 43 inches) long and very stiff. The trucks are attached to the ends of the board to maximize the wheelbase. In order to lower the center of gravity, downhill longboards sometimes feature a lowered platform, by mounting the deck below the baseplate of the axles, or by the shape of the deck itself. Downhill skateboarders sometimes use streamlined helmets to reduce aerodynamic drag. A longer wheelbase will increase stability, when a shorter one increase the turning potential of the board.

cruisers
Cruising is often used to show off skill and control over the longboard. Cruising is a relaxed style, usually performed at slow speeds and involving tricks imported from classic surfboarding such as hanging ten, cross-stepping, and drop-knee-turns. Cruising longboards are typically much longer then the usual longboard, 150 - 200 cm (60 to 80 inches) or more, and often closely resemble the surfboards that they borrow their style from.

Trick boards
Trick boards are similar to the short skateboards in shape and construction but are longer and usually wider. The trick boards are seldom longer than 110 cm (42.9 inches). Tricks that can be performed on these boards are the same tricks that can be performed on a short skateboard but the heavier weight and larger size of the board require more skill and strength from the skater.

Hybrids
A relatively recent development in the longboarding world. Companies have been experimenting with unconventional wheeled-board designs, modifying decks, trucks, and even the number of wheels on the board. These boards typically have improved downhill performance (control and/or turning radius) when compared to longboards, but are often slower or more hindersome to push on flat surfaces.

Techniques
Drifting

A drift is when the board loses traction around the turn. It is a controlled movement designed to reduce speed or to impress spectators. The same equipment is used as for a slide; the only variation is in hand positions. Drifting is most commonly used in downhill racing, to negotiate turns that are entered at high speed or are too tight to make. Controlled sliding (drifting) is also common in slalom competition and is used for similar reasons. Drifting can also occur accidentally when carving.

Air Brake
Air braking involves standing upright on your board as tall as possible with arms outstretched to catch as much wind resistance as possible. This is primarily done in speed boarding to reduce speed but is not an effective way to stop. This only works at high speeds.

Foot Brakes
Foot braking involves putting one foot on the road while balancing on the board with the other foot. This technique can be used to reduce speed or come to a full stop.

Carving
Carving is an effective way to control speed when traveling downhill. Instead of coming to a complete stop, the rider makes a continuous "S" path by leaning left and right. By making so many turns the speed can be controlled and maintained.

Slide Brake
Slide braking or sliding is very important skill for longboard skaters who regularly downhill. To slide brake the skater quickly turns his/her board sideways into a controlled slide, to stop. A slide can be performed backside or frontside. With practice a skater can burn off speed very quickly in a relatively narrow roadway. Generally a skater sliding should have gloves because a hand is often placed on the ground for balance and control in the slide, however it is possible to slide to a stop, while moving less quickly, either hands-free or with minimal hand to ground contact.

Boardwalking
Boardwalking is a technique that consists of moving ones feet, in front of, or behind, the other (cross-stepping) up and down the deck. Usually this technique is practiced by a longboarder with a longer deck (40+ inches). Different variations of boardwalking depend on the imagination of the rider. Twists, turns, hopping, jumping etc. can all be considered more technical variations of boardwalking.

Equipment
Longboard equipment is very similar to comparable shortboard equipment, but with modifications suitable for the application. For an introduction to skateboard equipment in general, see Skateboard.

Decks
Longboard decks are made of shaped wood or composite materials, designed to balance properties of weight, stiffness, flex, and twist, while offering a secure stance, and accommodating the height and weight of the rider. The simplest decks are made from 7 to 10 plys of 1/16" thick birch or maple. These plys are glued together, and pressed into the desired shape with a vacuum, hydraulic, or manual press. More complex decks include the use of fiberglass and carbon fiber for decreased weight and increased stiffness, solid hardwoods for stiffness and aesthetics, foam cores for rigidity and light weight, and even exotic woods, like bamboo.

Decks are often given curvature that enhances their use. A board that is bent up in the center (when viewed from the side), is said to have camber, while a board that bends down in the center is said to have rocker. Camber makes a board 'bouncier' which is a good quality for some styles. Rocker allows a lower center of gravity, and a sensation of being 'cradled' by the deck during riding similar to the rocker in a surfboard. Decks may also be curved up at the edges (when viewed down the long axis), which is called concave. Concave bends add stiffness, leverage, and allow the rider to feel the edge of the deck without looking. Other bends, such as a bend up at the tail or nose (kicktails), or a deep drop at the center of the board to dramatically lower center of gravity are common on more specialized decks.

Many people have explored outside the realm of brand name equipment and find making their own decks as highly beneficial. A great variation that some riders enjoy is in the covering over the top of the deck. Some decks will have grip tape, basically a sheet of sandpaper covering the deck itself. Some decks are covered with sand and a liquid fiberglass that makes the deck extremely rough and easy to grip. Many riders enjoy adding their personal touch to their boards, oftentimes painting or carving in their own artwork straight on the deck.

Wheel types
Longboards are usually fitted with urethane wheels between 60 and 100mm, available in various durometers. A larger wheel provides a higher top speed compared to a smaller wheel, while the latter accelerates quicker. A larger wheel will also be able to ride better on rougher surfaces. The durometer is typically in the 75a to 90a range. Typical shortboard wheels are much harder, about 98a. Some softer wheels will have inserts called cores made of a harder plasic to retain the bearings.

Longboard wheels also come in many different shapes to suit the different disciplines. Wheel size may be a concern due to the type of deck and hardware installed on the longboard. As the longboard is turned, the deck may touch the wheels if the trucks are not far enough from the deck. This is known as wheelbite and can stop the longboard quickly, causing the rider to be thrown off the board. This problem usually occurs with larger wheels, as they are more likely to hit the deck. There are several ways of solving this problem, wheel cut outs on the deck let the board turn and the cut out sections of the deck are no longer there to hit the wheels. Increasing the distance from the trucks to the deck using riser pads can also stop this problem, as the deck no longer gets low enough to touch the wheels.

Bearings
There are many different choices of bearings for a longboard. The bearings sit inside of the wheel, and attach to the ends of the truck hangers. Various types include steel ball bearings, and ceramic bearings. Steel ball bearings are mainstream bearings that are in widespread use, and readily available in skateshops and online distributors. Steel ball bearings are meant for the average skateboarder. Ceramic bearings are meant for the riders who have more stringent demands. They cost much more than steel ball bearings, but have less friction. The advantages for ceramic ball bearings include a smoother roll (if kept clean), and a lighter weight as compared to steel. Their thermal resistance makes them ideal for high speed downhill runs. Two of the main materials used in manufacturing of the ceramic balls is ceramic Cerbec® silicon nitride, and ceramic Zirconium Oxide.


Trucks

There are several different types of longboard trucks, differing from shortboard trucks in many ways. The primary difference is that the hangers are often wider to accommodate the different sized decks, with 150mm and 180mm being two of the most common widths. There are also different longboard trucks for different disciplines, as well as all-purpose trucks. Many trucks are equipped with special features, such as inverted kingpins, as well as spring-loaded trucks, and variable tilt designs. Trucks designed for manuverability will have a softer urethane bushing or spring, which allow the truck to turn with ease. A downhill-type truck will usually have a harder bushing or spring to stabilize the board at high speeds. Urethane bushings are also rated on the durometer scale; the harder the bushing, the harder it is to turn the truck.

All trucks have different turning angles. This is known as the truck's geometry. The geometry of the trucks affects how much the board will turn. The geometry can be adjusted through the use of angled risers or "wedges" between the deck and the baseplate. The turning angle will increase if the trucks are angled toward the outside of the deck. If the trucks are angled to the inside of the deck, turning angle will decrease, which can improve stability. Randal R-II trucks come stock at 50 degrees on the hangers. This is a typical angle for general purpose trucks as it allows the board to turn well at a variety of speeds. Randal Downhill style trucks have a turning angle of 35 degrees which is better suited to high speed skating.

Another type of truck, unique to longboards, is the torsion truck. Torsion trucks operate differently from standard trucks in that they twist a urethane bushing or metal spring rather than using two compression bushings to return the truck to a straight position. The design allows for a much tighter turning radius at the expense of high-speed stability.

Possible Risks
Due to the greater speed involved while going downhill (often 30+ MPH), riders should wear padding and protection at least as protective as that used for a short skateboard. However, for higher speeds and riskier courses, professional riders often use safety equipment on the same level as that used by motorcyclists and dirt bikers, such as full Kevlar suits. Other than traffic, the greatest danger to any board rider is a "speed wobble," a situation where excessive speed combined with a less experienced rider and/or a poorly suited board for the course causes the board to swerve rapidly from side to side, throwing the rider off. This risk can be minimized by using a longer, less "turny" board with a lower center of gravity and harder bushings, as well as controlling one's speed or making a very soft side-to-side weave down the course. If one is thrown off the board by a speed wobble, one can minimize possible injury by leaping for soft dirt or grass when available, performing a running stop, or performing a rolling stop.

Longboards are banned in many public areas such as boardwalks and parking garages due to the risk of an unskilled longboarder injuring a pedestrian or damaging property. *As a result, it is often a good idea to longboard at night and avoid crowds/law enforcement so as not to draw negative attention to longboarding.* However, if one rides at night, there is a higher likelihood of being hit by a car or failing to see obstructions. Even the smallest crack in the road can throw off a longboarder, and at speeds of 60+ MPH, such a mistake could be deadly. Ideally, night-time boarding should be done in a well-lit, low activity, suburban setting to ensure maximum safety. Furthermore, if you choose to board in less than optimal lighting conditions, make sure you make yourself familiar with the road during daylight hours so you are aware of any potential obstacles that you may not be able to see in the dark. It is also a good idea to practice power slides in order to stop quickly while moving fast.

Likewise, longboarding is also banned in many public areas due to its association with the property damage and liabilities caused by street/trick skaters. Boarders should use caution and good sense at all times to keep longboarding from being banned on further hills and parking garages, as the sport is practiced almost entirely on public roadways. If you spend the majority of your boarding time in the realm of a neighborhood, be as considerate as possible. Watch out for cars backing out of driveways and, especially, small children that may be entirely unaware of you or the damage you could cause them.

Insane kitesurfing safari holidays down in Cape Town

My friend, Gabe Webber of The Kite Life is doing these safaris down in Cape Town. Super fun and cool guy, I really want to go take one of these safaris. Anyone want to go with me?

He says you can download brochure at www.thekitelife.com/kitesurfing-safaris


Here are the full details on these unique and full of adventure safaris (click image to enlarge)

AWESOME RIDE....!!

just skateboarding 1 from alex campet on Vimeo.

LIKE POETRY...!!ENJOY :-)

R-E-S-P-E-C-T THE RULESSS ;-)

RIGHT OF WAY   

The rules for kitesurfing are mainly based on sailing and windsurfing.

Coming from windsurfing, the term "starboard tack" is quite known around the world. This is the same as "right hand in front".

It means, if you are riding and someone rides towards you, with the exact upwind course as yours, someone has to give the right of way. In this case, the starboard or right hand in front rule gets used by the majority of the kitesurfers worldwide.

If you are riding towards someone, and you have your right hand in front on your bar, you have the right of way. The rider coming towards you, then has his right hand at the back part of his bar, and his left hand in front.

The rider with the left hand in front, should give the right of way to the rider with the right hand in front.

Practically, the rider with the right hand in front, should fly his kite further up and stay on his course. The rider with the left hand in front, should ride downwind and fly his kite low, so both kites and riders can pass without any problems.

Now if a rider is more upwind of you, and even if you have the right hand in front, you should lower your kite, and let the other rider keep riding on his course, since you will not make as much upwind to be facing him, and you shouldn't even try. Meanwhile the other rider should fly his kite further up, to avoid any collisions.

Use your common sense to judge the situation correctly. Don't insist on your right, even if you know the other rider is more upwind than you. Understand, that beginners have no ideas of the rules, so once you ride towards someone, analyze their skills quickly and judge accordingly. You can also give signals, that you will insist on your right of way. Sometimes the other rider cannot change course due to other riders or hazards, this you should anticipate and then act accordingly.

To avoid collisions, anticipate, and do a turn before problems may arise or just stop in the water with your kite high up and wait, until a dangerous situation gets solved.

Never do a sudden change of course directly before the other, this can lead to very bad accidents.

The above rules may be different if you ride On the Wave.

PASSINNG OTHERS RIDERS

Inexperienced riders are stressed by passing other riders, or getting passed by experienced riders who fly their kite very close to your own. That is normally no problem, if you act accordingly and don't do anything no one would anticipate. This is key when passing some and their kites.

Never steer your kite quickly in a way, no one anticipates it. This can lead to very dangerous situations.

MOVING RIDERS

Make sure to know the rules of Right of Way when you go riding. This already explains how you should behave if a rider comes towards you on the same upwind course.

Two riders can pass each other without any problems. Both just need to know what exactly to do.

The normal rules are:

• the kiter further upwind flies his kite high and stays on his course
• the kiter further downwind flies the kite low and corrects his course a bit downwind if needed to avoid any collision

It is important, that once you fly your kite high or low, you try to keep that kite position, so both kites can pass. If you suddenly move your kite, you can cause many problems.

If you see, that the kites are coming close, you can slowly steer it away from the other kite, but make sure to keep riding and not steer it to another direction.

STANDING RIDERS

It happens quiet often, that kiters are standing still with their kite high up in the sky.

These are:

• beginners who are learning
• someone with a gear failure 
• someone recovering from a crash
• someone relaxing

When you approach a kite high up in the sky, you should know before you pass the kite, what kind of rider the one in the water is.

Ride slowly towards the rider and make sure you have enough distance to pass the other one's kite.

Be aware, that when you fly your kite above someone else's kite, you will need to fly it high, and this way you cannot edge anymore and you will ride downwind, which may lead to a crash with the standing rider.

The standing rider should keep his kite on one position, or slowly fly the kite to one side, so the moving rider can easily pass without getting into danger.

Make sure that you pass no beginners downwind, since it can happen easily, that they crash their kite on you. Before passing a beginner downwind, you should either wait until he is up and riding again, but the best is to do a turn and go to the other direction and try to go further upwind to pass the beginner with more distance, upwind of him.

RELAUNCHING OR UPWIND 

BODYDRAGGING

Relaunching

Riders with a dropped kite want their kite up as fast as possible.

Never get close to a kite, that is about to relaunch, nor fly your kite close to the dropped kite.

You should pass a dropped kite and the rider only upwind, or with good distance you can do it also downwind. But keep an eye on the kite, so you can act, if something goes wrong.

Pass upwind with a kite that flies pretty high, and don't ride too close to the rider.

Good riders should always keep an eye on the relaunch situation of the rider's kite, and if it looks like trouble to relaunch, ask the rider if he needs any help, then try to flip his kite or untangle bridles etc.

Bodydragging

Since no one should use a board leash, people need to bodydrag back to their board.

Normally anyone who bodydrags flies their kite on the same position and slowly turns it if they want to go to the other direction.

Always give a bodydragging rider the right of way, so they can quickly recover their board.

Many times it is good, when you see someone bodydragging for their board, and the distance is big, to just bring the rider the board, so they can get on it faster and be out of the way.

The rider bodydragging should always move their kite out of the way of moving riders, and the best is to keep it low over the water level, to block as little room as possible.

Be aware, that once a bodydragging rider reached his board, or shortly before, steers his kite into the zenith.

ON THE BEACH..

The beach is alway a place with many dangers.

• kites launching
• kites landing
• people rigging their gear
• people walking by
• other water sports users
• beach goers
• obstacles
• gusty winds
• little space

Always follow local rules, be sure to know them before you start to rig your gear.

Accept the designated rigging, launching and landing zones.

Never endanger other people.

The rules is to use a little space as possible, specially if you are having a break, roll up your lines and move your kite out of the way.

You should always launch with a launch helper, if one is around. It is no problem to ask someone to give a quick assistance. Make sure to give the same assistance back if you get asked.

Control your setup and gear before the launch, while you launch, and then quickly go into the water.

It is strongly advised to launch and land your kite standing in the water, that will give you an extra space to avoid any accident.

Once you come back to land your kite, observe the beach and how packed it is. Wait until there is enough space to safely land your kite and get the attention from a assistance on the beach.

Do not come to the shore and wait for space. This can be very dangerous for many people, including yourself. Wait on the water with enough distance.

Let the riders come off the beach first, then come to the beach to land your gear.

If you are about to launch your kite, and someone comes in and wants to land, get his kite down first, then launch your kite.

COMING TO OR LEAVING THE SHORE

Depending on the different beaches, some conditions may need different rules for the right of way.

Some launches are dangerous, therefore people shouldn't be waiting for another rider to slowly come to shore and land his kite, while the other rider is waiting to get out onto the water, being in a gusty wind in front of obstacles.

Always ask locals before you rig your gear, if there are any local rules regarding the right of way of an incoming or outgoing rider.

Some locations require a rider to come in quickly, without getting onto the beach to land the kite.

Some beaches have very strong shore breaks, which makes it hard to leave the beach, therefore the outgoing rider should always have right of way.

ONE THE WAVE

Taken from windsurfing, a different rule applies if you are riding waves.

The rider in the wave should always be given the right of way.

You should not interfere any wave riding session of any board sports, like windsurfing, surfing, wave kiter. They are concentrating on the wave and nothing else around, knowing they have the right of way in the wave.

Look out for someone dropping into a wave and then either let the rider pass or ride to the direction.

The one who drops in first into a wave, has the right of way as well.

BEGINNERS

Beginners or "Newbees" should always keep a big distance to anyone else.

Don't get in the way of experienced riders, just stay clearly away.

Don't ride in the best parts of an area, specially where good riders are jumping or riding waves. Normally beginners cannot appreciate the excellent conditions to train tricks, once they are up to that level. But they can spoil a good session of good riders.

A kite can get quickly out of control, and no one wants to get hurt, so always make sure you keep the according distance.

Good riders will also not give right of way, since they fear riding downwind of a beginner, to get a kite dropped on their head. Always keep this in mind when you come into a situation like this. If you are not sure what to do as a beginner, simply stop, fly your kite high and wait until you have space again.

A beginner should never try to ride more upwind when facing a good rider, just to keep their rights of way, just give it to the better rider, and you will prevent accidents.

Experienced riders should not ride or jump too close to beginners, since they don't know that experienced riders have a pretty good kite control.

EXPERIENCED RIDERS

Experienced riders are very likely to have a good kite control.

This should always be used to avoid any problems on the water or land.

Always keep enough distance to anything else, and try to anticipate any possible problem that could happen.

Normally experienced riders went through a lot of different situations, and heard/read a lot about dangerous situations.

An experienced rider should always be more cautious and leave enough room for others, as well as being ready to help others in an emergency situation

SWIMMERS

Many locations have marked swimmer zones. Not all swimmer zones exist throughout the year. Make sure before you rig your gear, you know where these are. Normally they are well marked with buoys or signs.

In some areas violating and ignoring those zones will lead to bans of the sport or expensive fines by the officials.

In areas without swimmer zones, common sense is needed. You will find areas with many swimmers, but no official swimmer zones. Here common sense comes into play, staying as far away as possible.

You should also not be riding upwind of swimmer zones or swimmers, since if something happens, you will be dragged into those zones and endanger the swimmers.

Never be too close to swimmers. If you leave or enter a beach, always ride slow, specially when swimmers are close, so they don't get hurt.

Observe the swimmers before you go out or come in, since sometimes swimmers play in the shore break or dive, so you won't see them.

Normally, swimmers are very scared by kitesurfers, so don't scare them even more. And they don't know your skills, control, and where you can go/fly. Keep this in mind.