Landboarding

I'm now planning to try land-boarding just for fun, but right now I don't have the equipments that will let me play landboarding. do you guys have an idea where can I buy cheap but reliable and durable landboarding equipments? I can't seem to find one in our place and on the internet. please let me know guys. thanks!

Where are you located?

Check out the shop directory
http://www.extremekites.com.au/directory.html

Briskites have a pretty good selection of Landboards and Kites

Briskites Landboards

I bought all my gear online, either from Biskites, Kitepower, Ebay and Trampaboards.com, id suggest to buy a Quality board though, because as soon you progress it keeps you happy longer than a cheap one..

regards
alex

thanks for the suggestions guys, this is a big help for me.

Do you plan on just downhill runs (landboard only) or do you want to use a kite as well (landboard + kite)?

Best to hook up with a local kite store to get advice on board selection and all the other safety gear. Naturally you can ask the same questions here.

I started out on skate trucks but soon hit the bump stops on it's limitations and upgraded to a matrix or channel trucks. I've seen some of our local kiters+landboarders start out with the matrix trucks and they progressed very quickly.

Cheap landboards, well they wear out quickly. The foot straps become loose, the bushings on the skate trucks -- well they only last a year. The MBS Comp95 are a great board, very well made, no speed wobbles (not yet any way), track very well. That's what I use, very pleased.

Tell us more of what you want to do with the landboard and we can offer better advice.

Forum rules prevent me from telling you where I get my MBS boards from, but if search on google you will find a store quickly. I would be inclined to use a store where you can talk to the people, ideally visit the store.


Regards,
Norman.

Hey Norman, I am interested in your opinion on the Zebra boards. How do the components stack up?

Do you plan on just downhill runs (landboard only) or do you want to use a kite as well (landboard + kite)?

Best to hook up with a local kite store to get advice on board selection and all the other safety gear. Naturally you can ask the same questions here.

I started out on skate trucks but soon hit the bump stops on it's limitations and upgraded to a matrix or channel trucks. I've seen some of our local kiters+landboarders start out with the matrix trucks and they progressed very quickly.

Cheap landboards, well they wear out quickly. The foot straps become loose, the bushings on the skate trucks -- well they only last a year. The MBS Comp95 are a great board, very well made, no speed wobbles (not yet any way), track very well. That's what I use, very pleased.

Tell us more of what you want to do with the landboard and we can offer better advice.

Forum rules prevent me from telling you where I get my MBS boards from, but if search on google you will find a store quickly. I would be inclined to use a store where you can talk to the people, ideally visit the store.


Regards,
Norman.

Im also riding the Mbs Comp95 and very happy with the board, could be a touch longer though but good Quality. Started on Skate Trucks too but IMO id go straight to Channel Trucks def worth the extra cash.

Regards
alex

+1 for matrix trucks! Another happy comp95 here too

Bones,

I haven't seen the Zebras in the flesh, nor tried them out. All the riders in my area ride the MBS matrix trucks, Trampas or the GI's (Ground Industries), all high quality boards. I noticed some of Zebras boards have weight limits. By the time you get matrix trucks on the Zebras you are at about the same price if you were to get an MBS (well almost $100 difference).

My Son landboards as well (age 12). He likes the matrix trucks but for his weight, he prefers a lighter board, so for the moment he is sticking with skate trucks (MBS). So if you are more into free style rather than speed runs, then the skate trucks are lighter.

Personally I like my board to be an all rounder, freestyle and for speed runs, so I'm sticking with the Matrix trucks.

Do you plan on just downhill runs (landboard only) or do you want to use a kite as well (landboard + kite)?

Best to hook up with a local kite store to get advice on board selection and all the other safety gear. Naturally you can ask the same questions here.

I started out on skate trucks but soon hit the bump stops on it's limitations and upgraded to a matrix or channel trucks. I've seen some of our local kiters+landboarders start out with the matrix trucks and they progressed very quickly.

Cheap landboards, well they wear out quickly. The foot straps become loose, the bushings on the skate trucks -- well they only last a year. The MBS Comp95 are a great board, very well made, no speed wobbles (not yet any way), track very well. That's what I use, very pleased.

Tell us more of what you want to do with the landboard and we can offer better advice.

Forum rules prevent me from telling you where I get my MBS boards from, but if search on google you will find a store quickly. I would be inclined to use a store where you can talk to the people, ideally visit the store.


Regards,
Norman.

Hi Bro!

It would be really fun if I try both downhill runs and lanboard + kite, but which do you think would suit best for beginners like me? sorry for the many questions, just want to hear from the experts.

Where are you located?

Check out the shop directory
http://www.extremekites.com.au/directory.html

I'm actually from the Philippines bro, aside from looking for landboarding equipments, I'm also looking for good place to perform the activity.

The Zebra Zulu and Mamba have Matrix trucks. They also have aluminium rims.

I presume the MBS Comps have better decks and bindings?

If you are just starting out I would go with a zebra deck.
start out in the mid range and as you develope you will have more of an idea of what sort of board is suited to you. matrix or skate trucks, shorter or longer, stiffer for downhill or a bit lighter for kiting freestyle. Then if you think that you need to update you haven't wasted alot of money on a top of the range board, that isn't really suited to you.

I started out and still have a $400 ground industry prodigy board (mid price range). I got it to use with the kite, but never really got into it. I only get it out about every 6 months for a play and it does the job, but I would of been kicking myself though for spending $800+ on a board and never using it.

Which to do, downhill or landboard+kite, well actually both. Here's the reason.

You first want to be comfortable with riding the landboard, so keep it simple and just do some downhill runs. You pick a nice gentle slope with grass -- it's soft so it doesn't hurt (so much) when you fall, and you will fall often. Learn the balancing, the turning, and power slides. You will need to master those if you want to stop. Power slides only needed for downhill, not for kiting+landboard.

Once you have mastered the above, then find a flat grass paddock some where with clean winds and add the kite into the mix.

Then you can decide whether you want to do one or the other or both.

Personally I like both, so when the wind is no good, there are the hills to have fun with.

Where to do these activities. With the kite: any where clear of power lines, tree etc, and with clean winds. For me this is a local park and the occational beach run when the tide is low enough. With the landboard only: parks with hills, Mountain Bike trails, fire trails (dirt roads), and some times skate parks (but these are usually full of kids that get in the road, so you need to pick you times). When starting out don't go on the asphalt for downhill runs -- you can end up with some serious abrations if you fall. For downhill runs on dirt roads and especially asphalt you will need gloves in addition to the usual helmet.

For the gloves just visit your local hardware store and pick up a set of riggers gloves (thick leather), should be around 5 to 7 dollars a pair. If your gloves are going to be used for sliding alot, a set of plastic (12mm) pucks can be glued on. My son and I made up a pair just the other day, used the YouTube instructions from the "Original" skate board people. Original is the brand name.


Here is a link to a session my son and I had: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEcjPBJwdWc to give you an idea about downhill runs.

Which to do, downhill or landboard+kite, well actually both. Here's the reason.

You first want to be comfortable with riding the landboard, so keep it simple and just do some downhill runs. You pick a nice gentle slope with grass -- it's soft so it doesn't hurt (so much) when you fall, and you will fall often. Learn the balancing, the turning, and power slides. You will need to master those if you want to stop. Power slides only needed for downhill, not for kiting+landboard.

Once you have mastered the above, then find a flat grass paddock some where with clean winds and add the kite into the mix.

Then you can decide whether you want to do one or the other or both.

Personally I like both, so when the wind is no good, there are the hills to have fun with.

Where to do these activities. With the kite: any where clear of power lines, tree etc, and with clean winds. For me this is a local park and the occational beach run when the tide is low enough. With the landboard only: parks with hills, Mountain Bike trails, fire trails (dirt roads), and some times skate parks (but these are usually full of kids that get in the road, so you need to pick you times). When starting out don't go on the asphalt for downhill runs -- you can end up with some serious abrations if you fall. For downhill runs on dirt roads and especially asphalt you will need gloves in addition to the usual helmet.

For the gloves just visit your local hardware store and pick up a set of riggers gloves (thick leather), should be around 5 to 7 dollars a pair. If your gloves are going to be used for sliding alot, a set of plastic (12mm) pucks can be glued on. My son and I made up a pair just the other day, used the YouTube instructions from the "Original" skate board people. Original is the brand name.


Here is a link to a session my son and I had: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEcjPBJwdWc to give you an idea about downhill runs.

wow..thanks for these tips bro, definitely a big help for me..and I enjoyed watching the video too.

You're welcome.

I saw your post regarding the Air Rush. Just some further tips, if you are thinking about the water action as well, consider the closed cell foils, you can then do landboarding and water action with them.

I would be inclined to recommend to start off with a small open celledfoil, with just handles. Some thing like a 3 or 4m^2. That way you can learn how to fly the kite, then mix in the landboard. Once you mastered the flying of the foil, any water action will be a lot easier (whether you go for LEI's or Foils).

The large depowers especially the high performance kites can generate huge amounts of power and in the wrong/untrained hands can go terribly wrong for you and bystanders.

Try and meet some kiters (and/or kiting stores) in your local area, they can also give you advice.

Regards,
Norman.