| Thrill-Seekers Have New Summertime Option
Snowboards with wheels? A motor-cross style dirt track snaking down a
mountainside? Roller blades with 6-inch, inflatable, all-terrain tires?
A lift-accessed BMX jumping course?
Sounds like some sort of strange parallel universe for those who can't
seem to squeeze enough excitement out of established athletic alternatives.
In fact it is Boreal Mountain Playground's new Action Sports Park.
The park, which opened (June 26, 1999), features some of the newest "action"
sports to spring from the collective mind of America's adrenaline-addicted
youth.
While no one at the Donner Summit ski area wanted to say for sure, most
think that Boreal's outdoor park is the first of its kind in North America.
A two hour session at the park with a rental pass will cost $30, while
an all-day ticket with rentals will run $40. Anyone who rents gear from
Boreal will also be equipped with a full compliment of safety gear.
"In the past there have been various different things (going on during
the summer at Boreal), but as we move into the future this whole adventure
sports park thing is catering to giving our winter skiers and boarders
something to do in the summer," said Boreal's Director of Marketing Jody
Church.
All of the activities offered at Boreal this summer will have a familiar
ring, but the off-road, alpine setting adds a unique twist to such Generation
X staples as snowboarding, in-line skating, and skateboarding.
Take All-Terrain Boarding.
With large pneumatic tires and heavy-duty steel frames - some even have
brakes, shock absorption systems and rudimentary bindings - the boards
vaguely resemble oversized skateboards on steroids. Careening down a mountainside,
arcing through banked turns and over whoop-de-doos, all terrain board
riders use very similar body movements to snowboarding.
Park designer Todd Melinn (of 2010 enterprises), rides all-terrain boards
professionally for Mongoose, said the sport is the best summer training
he has found for his winter-time passion, snowboarding.
"It's really similar to snowboarding. It's probably the closest thing
to snowboarding off-season. It's a good cross training tool," Melinn said.
Melinn, a Southern California native, started riding all-terain boards
four years ago, when there was just one company building the mutant skateboards.
He said that while all-terrain boarding has developed a strong following,
especially in Southern California, no resort, until now, has been willing
to take the next step and build a (permanent) park specifically designed
for the boards.
"Ever since the advent of the sport, (the manufacturers) have been pushing
to get resorts to accept all-terrain boarding and build tracks like this
one. Because the sport is new, resorts have been hesitant to get on board,"
Melinn said, "Boreal by taking the lead and building this track will hopefully
show other resorts it is a viable summer business and can help ski resorts
stay open all year round."
To the uninitiated the sport can look dangerous. But Jonathan Scott,
Boreal's summer rental supervisor and a beginning all-terrain boarder,
said that controlling one's speed is not as difficult as it looks. Flatter
training slopes and underinflated tires will enable beginners to pick
up the sport without inflicting too much damage upon their bodies. While
the dirt and scrub brush is definitely less forgiving than two feet of
new snow, it is kinder to the body than the asphalt to which many of these
sports had previosly been limited.
For experienced in-line skaters the beefed-up Rollerblade Coyote skates
will bring a whole new dimension to the sport. Equipped with three, 6-inch
diameter tires and a cuff-activated brake which can lock up the two rear
tires, these skates are definitely more at home off the pavement and asphalt.
Boreal will also be renting high performance mountain bikes (by Mongoose),
including downhill-style, full-suspension rides and ultra light titanium
bikes. Avariety of BMX bikes will be available and though not completed
as of yet, there will be a BMX track as well as a (downhill) jumping course
that will be accessed via the same lift used for the all-terrain board
course.
Also on tap are a climbing wall, which will be run separately from the
sports park, and a playground for younger children.
Greg Hansen of Grass Valley's Free Flight Sports said that while retail
sales of all-terrain boards and the all-terrain skates have not developed
to the point where Free Flight has them in stock, the interest is growing.
"Kids are always looking for something new and out of the ordinary,"
Hansen said. "Snowboarding they like a lot, but it's now become so popular
kids are looking for something new and different, more extreme."
|
The boards they ride are
called All-Terrain Boards or Mountainboards and weigh over 20 lbs. The
tires are pneumatic, that's right air filled. The board rides exactly
like a snowboard on dirt, grass, or street. With help from Ken Martin,
Chuck Allen from the USASA, and Jeff Grell from Snowsurfing International,
Snow Valley Ski area hosted Durt Duel 98.
After 3 days of competition
the awards ceremony started with the riders showing off their best wounds,
from elbows to the best bruised butt! Jenny Romans from TEAM HYLINE
ATB dominated the Womens' division winning all three events, Boardercross,
Slalom, and Big Air. Jason Lee had the fastest Dual Slalom time and
Kevin Delaney had the fastest Boardercross time. Brandon Stieg from
Squaw Valley Lake Tahoe busted..."and I mean BUSTED"...a perfect back
flip to win the Big Air contest. WOW!