Snowskate

A snowskate is a small, bindingless snowboard, or a skateboard deck with skis, depending on the brand or style of snowskate.The first snowskate traces its history to the Snurfer circa 1960. The Snurfer is considered to be the first snowboard to ever hit the market, but it could arguably be called the first snowskate, since it lacked any bindings.
Circa 1970, a product called the "Snow Skate" was sold in local toy and sporting good stores. They resembled the modern day bideck snowskate. There were two ski-like aparati that were attached to the area around the truck of a skateboard, allowing the skateboard to move through the snow. Other mentionable early snowskate brands were The "Skeeter"[1] and the "Snodad".[2] Designs of this early era ranged from two skiblades on the lower deck (Like the Skeeter) to four blades on the lower deck. Sometimes, the early snowskates used metal runners, similar to ice skate blades, enabling the snowskater to use the momentum to ride well.
[edit] Modern Snowskates
Modern snowskates now come in two varieties: the single deck variety and the bideck variety. Both the single and the double deck modern snowskates have either a waterproof top grip coating on the deck, or a textured deck to avoid slippage while riding.
[edit] Bideck
A bideck snowskate is a snowskate that has a top skateboard deck which the rider stands on and a lower ski deck, which is in contact with the snow. Bidecks come in single blade varieties and multiple blade varieties. Bideck snowskates were reportedly invented by a Stevens Pass (Washington) local named Steve Frink. He came up with the idea of a skateboard with skis in 1994 while burning his skateboard in a skateboarders' ritual. In the year 2001, after many prototypes, he completed a final and finished product which he marketed under the brand "Bi-Deck Snowskates".
Around the same time, snowboard manufacturer Burton Snowboards released the "Snowdeck". Burton has since stopped making snowskates. There are many bidecking skate communities in the world. Different bidecks are tailored to a different style of riding. Longer bidecks are favored for mountain snowskating, and shorter bidecks are favored for tricks and stunts.
Also, another variant of the bideck snowskate is a multiple ski. It is a skateboard deck with skateboard trucks but instead of one ski it has four.
[edit] Single Deck
Single deck snowskates are usually made out of laminated wood with a plastic bottom or are made of solid plastic, they have grooves on the bottom part of the deck for easy movement while riding in the snow and also for riding onto rails. Single decks are preferred for riding in snowskate parks and urban terrain but can also be ridden down hills, however, they are rarely permitted on ski resorts. These kind of snowskates are most suitable for winter skateboarding tricks.
Single deck snowskates first appeared on the market in 1998, manufactured by Premier Snowskates and marketed by Andy Wolf, former snowboarder for the Nitro snowboarding team.
Snowskate parks became numerous when the first single deck snowskates were being sold in stores. Word of mouth quickly spread about the single deck snowskate, lending to the popularity of snowskate parks around North America
The snowskate park moved snowskating from an urban underground winter sport to a mainstream winter sport. Many resorts have removed their snowskate parks, and snowskating has moved back to its underground winter sport roots.

Canyoning

In most parts of the world canyoning is done in mountain canyons with flowing water. Countries with established canyoning include: Portugal, Australia, New Zealand, Spain, France, Italy, Montenegro, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Reunion Island, Greece, Jordan, Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, Brazil, Ecuador, Japan, Croatia, Slovenia, Turkey, Israel, Mauritius and the United States. Many canyons in South Africa require jumping or scrambling which is called Kloofing. Even in Hong Kong, where there are numerous stream gorges, a similar activity called stream or river trekking is popular. In Japan and Taiwan it's called river tracing and typically involves traveling upstream.
In the United States, descending mountain canyons with flowing water is sometimes referred to as canyoning, although the term "canyoneering" is more common. Most canyoneering in the United States occurs in the many slot canyons carved in the sandstone found throughout the Colorado Plateau. Outside of the Colorado Plateau, numerous canyoneering opportunities are found in the San Gabriel, Sierra Nevada, Cascade, and Rocky Mountain ranges.
[edit] Hazards
Canyoning can be dangerous. Escape out the sides of a canyon is often impossible, and completion of the descent is the only possibility. Due to the remoteness and inaccessibility of many canyons, rescue can be impossible for several hours or several days.
[edit] High water flow / hydraulics
Canyons with significant water flow may be treacherous and require special ropework techniques for safe travel. Hydraulics, undercurrents, and sieves (or strainers) occur in flowing canyons and can trap or pin and drown a canyoner. A 1993 accident in Zion National Park, Utah, USA, in which two leaders of a youth group drowned in powerful canyon hydraulics (and the lawsuit which followed) brought notoriety to the sport.[1]
[edit] Flash floods
A potential danger of many canyoning trips is a flash flood. A canyon "flashes" when a large amount of precipitation falls in the drainage, and water levels in the canyon rise quickly as the runoff rushes down the canyon. In canyons that drain large areas, the rainfall could be many kilometers away from the canyoners, completely unbeknown to them. A calm or even dry canyon can quickly become a violent torrent due to a severe thunderstorm in the vicinity. [2] Fatalities have occurred as a result of flash floods; in one widely-publicized 1999 incident, 21 tourists on a commercial canyoning adventure trip drowned in Saxetenbach Gorge, Switzerland.
[edit] Hypothermia and hyperthermia
Temperature related illnesses are also canyoning hazards. In arid desert canyons, heat exhaustion can occur if proper hydration levels are not maintained and adequate steps are not taken to avoid the intense rays of the sun. Hypothermia can be a serious danger in any canyon that contains water, during anytime of the year. Wetsuits and drysuits can mitigate this danger to a large degree, but when people miscalculate the amount of water protection they will need, dangerous and sometimes fatal situations can occur.[3] Hypothermia due to inadequate cold water protection is cited as a cause of a 2005 incident in which two college students drowned in a remote Utah canyon.[4]
[edit] Keeper potholes
Some canyoneering, especially in sandstone slots, involves escaping from large potholes. Also called "keeper potholes," these features, carved out by falling water at the bottom of a drop in the watercourse, are circular pits that often contain water that is too deep to stand up in and whose walls are too smooth to easily climb out of. Canyoneers use several unique and creative devices to escape potholes, including hooks used for aid climbing attached to long poles and specialized weighted bags that are attached to ropes and tossed over the lip of a pothole.
[edit] Very narrow slots
Narrow slot canyons, especially those narrower than humans, present difficult obstacles for canyoners. At times a canyoner is forced to climb up (using chimneying or off-width climbing techniques) to a height where one can comfortably maneuver laterally with pressure on both walls of the canyon. This tends to be strenuous and can require climbing high above the canyon floor, unprotected, for long periods of time. Failure to complete the required moves could result in being trapped in a canyon where rescue is extremely difficult.
Narrow sandstone slot canyons tend to have abrasive walls which act as sandpaper as a canyoner moves or slides along them. This abrasion tends to rip clothing and gear, and can cause painful skin abrasion.

Ice climbing

Ice climbing, as the term indicates, is the activity of ascending inclined ice formations. Usually, ice climbing refers to roped and protected climbing of features such as icefalls, frozen waterfalls, and cliffs and rock slabs covered with ice refrozen from flows of water. For the purposes of climbing ice can be broadly divided into two spheres, alpine ice and water ice. Alpine ice is found in a mountain environment, usually requires an approach to reach, and is often climbed in an attempt to summit a mountain. Water ice is usually found on a cliff or other outcropping beneath water flows. Alpine ice is frozen precipitation whereas water ice is a frozen liquid flow of water. Most alpine ice is generally one component of a longer routes and often less technical, have more in common with standard glacier travel, while water ice is selected largely for its technical challenge. Still technical grade is independent of ice type and both types of ice vary greatly in consistency according to weather conditions. Ice can be soft, hard, brittle or tough. A mixed climbing is when ascending involve both ice climbing and rock climbing.[1][2]
Contents[hide]
1 Techniques
1.1 Rope systems
1.2 Tying in
1.3 Belaying
1.4 Leading
1.5 Abseiling
1.6 Lowering
2 Protecting ice
3 Ice climbing grades
3.1 Waterfall ice grading
3.2 Mixed ice grading
4 References
5 External links
//
Techniques

Top-roping
A climber chooses equipment according to the slope and texture of the ice. For example, on flat ice, almost any good hiking or mountaineering boot will usually suffice, but for serious ice climbing double plastic mountaineering boots (or their older stiff leather equivalent) are usually used, which must be crampon compatible and stiff enough to support the climber and maintain ankle support. On short, low angled slopes, one can use an ice axe to chop steps. For longer and steeper slopes or glacier travel, crampons are mandatory for a safe climb. Vertical ice climbing is done with crampons and ice axes (those specific to vertical ice generally being called technical ice axes, or ice tools); climbers kick their legs to engage the front points of the crampons in the ice, and then swing the axe into the ice above their heads. This technique is known as front pointing. The strength of the ice is often surprising; even if the axe goes in only a centimeter or so it is enough to pull up on. If a climber is leading, she/he will need to place ice screws as protection on the way up (see climbing system). Most mountaineers would only consider the last scenario true ice climbing; the less steep variations are routine aspects of winter mountaineering.
Some important techniques and practices common in rock climbing that are employed in ice climbing include knowledge of rope systems, tying in, belaying, leading, abseiling, and lowering. Beginners should learn these techniques before attempting to ice climb. It is highly recommended that one acquire knowledge from experts and experienced ice climbers.
Rope systems
Single, double, and twin rope are the three main rope systems used in ice climbing. The single rope system, which is suited for straight climbing routes, is the most commonly used system in the world. Also often used in climbing is the double rope system which is a more flexible system than the single rope system. Lastly, the twin rope system, which uses two twin ropes in a single rope system, is used for longer multi-pitch routes. However, this type is not often used in climbing.
Tying in
Tying in entails attaching your rope to the climbing harness. This technique is a must particularly when leading a climb or belaying. The commonly used tie-in knot is the Figure-of-eight follow through. Once you tie-in, you will create a belay loop which will contain your belay device when needed. This technique should be done properly to ensure your safety when ice climbing.
Belaying
In this climbing technique, you are going to use either running belays or fixed belays. A running belay on ice is similar to a running belay on rock or snow. The leader of the climb puts protection and clips the rope through it. The next climber puts away the protection. There should be at least two points of protection between the leader and the next climber. Fixed belays, on the other hand, require a belayer, belay anchor, and points of protection. A belay anchor is attached to a cliff in supporting a belay or toprope. In using either a running- or fixed belay, it is necessary that you have enough knowledge on boot/ice-screw belay techniques.
Leading
Leading refers to the act of leading a climb and thus, requires a leader and a follower. This ice climbing technique entails putting protection while ascending. In doing so, leading is done in sections. The leader places the protection as he/she climbs until he/she reaches the top of a pitch. At the top, the leader builds a belay anchor with which to belay the second climber. While the second climbs, he/she removes the protection placed by the leader. When the second climber finishes, they both proceed to the second pitch.
Abseiling
Also called rappelling, abseiling uses a fixed rope to descend. This technique is not only used to go down after a climb. It can also be used when trying new climbing routes and when there is a seemingly difficult access to the start of a climb. Careful execution is important in doing abseiling. There are the possibilities of jammed ropes, ropes becoming severed after getting in contact with sharp edges, and other cases of equipment failure.
Lowering
Lowering is one of the most common methods of getting down. A belayer at the base of the vertical wall ensures that the climber is lowered safely. This climbing technique is used when going down routes where there are short, steep walls. This is also used when you want to go down faster.
These are the different techniques used in climbing activities. Keep in mind, though, that it is very crucial to learn these skills from expert climbers before attempting them yourself.
Protecting ice

Ice screw
Today the most common protection for ice climbing is an ice screw. Ice screws are hollow tubes with sharp teeth on the front end, a hanger eye at the back to clip into, and threading around the tube. They are screwed into the ice and can provide very strong protection in solid ice.[1] However, because of the variable nature of ice, the strength of ice screw placements can vary greatly.[3]
Ice climbers also use the ice itself as protection. The two most common of such techniques are the V-Thread (also known as the "Abalokov" anchor, named after a Russian climber who popularised the technique) and the ice bollard. The V-thread is a method of protection in which two tunnels are bored into the ice so that they intersect at their ends, forming a "V" shaped tunnel in the ice. A sling or cordelette (rope used in anchors) is threaded through the tunnel and tied making a loop that is tied into the ice. An ice bollard is made when an horse-shoe shaped furrow is carved into less than vertical ice with the open end down. A lip is then sculpted in the lower wall of the furrow so that a loop of rope can be placed in the furrow that will stay in place in a somewhat less severe version of a loop of rope around saddle horn.[3]
Natural formations, as well as ice hooks and ice pitons are also used as protection anchors by ice climbers.
Ice climbing grades
Waterfall ice grading
This discussion focuses on the waterfall ice rating system as used in the Canadian Rockies.
Testpiece examples are given. Note that ice grading, even more so than other climbing media, tends to be subjective and often does not reflect the difficulty of a route at any given time. Routes become much easier after the first ascent of the season. This is due to the cleaning of chandeliered ice and creation of "hooks", which are pockets formed by the tools' picks, reducing the effort expended in cleaning and tool placement.
Routes with high-flow seeps also tend to become easier as the season progresses due to the increase in volume of ice. Low-flow seeps, however (e.g. French Reality, Banff; Moonlight/Snowline, Kananaskis), often form early in the season (September-November) when the flow is good from latent summer heat, and then slow down or even stop with the deepening winter frost; subsequent ablation (and destruction by climbing) of the ice often makes for thinner and brittler ice with time.
Grading in the Canadian Rockies, especially recently, focuses on the steepness of a pitch, and NOT on the more subjective "feeling of difficulty" (mental aspects, e.g. protectability, exposure, commitment, etc.) or "technical difficulty" (e.g. chandeliers, bonding, etc.) during the first ascent. Hence the downgrading of several notorious routes, e.g. Sea of Vapours, which were in poor conditions during the first ascents.
A common use of the "+" designation is to indicate a higher level of technicality than is typical for the grade (e.g. chandeliers, poor bonding, etc.) that is consistent from year to year (i.e Wicked Wanda, WI4+, has vicious mushrooms on an otherwise low-angled route, and these features always exist from year to year, probably due to the winds).
Finally, Canadian Rockies WI grading does NOT have anything to do with whether a climb is multi-pitch or not. Therefore, a 4-pitch WI5 is not granted WI6 just because it's long, and likewise a 4-pitch WI6 is not given WI7.
WI2 - low-angled (60 degree consistent ice), with good technique can be easily climbed with one ice axe. Grades beyond this generally require the use of two ice tools.
WI3 - generally sustained in the 60-70 degree range with occasional near-vertical steps up to 4 metres (Cascade Waterfall, Banff; This House of Sky, Ghost River)
WI4 - near-vertical steps of up to 10 metres, generally sustained climbing requiring placing protection screws from strenuous stances (Professor's Falls, Banff; Weeping Wall Left, Icefields Parkway, Banff; Silk Tassle, Yoho; Moonlight & Snowline, Kananskis)
WI4+ - highly technical WI4. (Wicked Wanda, Ghost River)
WI5 - near-vertical or vertical steps of up to 20 metres, sustained climbing requiring placing multiple protection screws from strenuous stances with few good rests (Carlsberg Column, Field; The Sorcerer, Ghost River; Bourgeau Left Hand, Banff)
WI5+ - highly technical WI5 (Oh le Tabernac, Icefield Parkway; Hydrophobia, Ghost River; Sacre Bleu, Banff)
WI6 - vertical climbing for the entire pitch (e.g. 30-60 metres) with no rests. Requires excellent technique and/or a high level of fitness (The Terminator, Banff; Nemesis, Kootenay Park; Whiteman Falls, Kananaskis Country; Riptide, Banff)
WI6+ - vertical or overhanging with no rests, and highly technical WI6 (French Maid, Yoho; French Reality, Kootenay Park)
WI7 - sustained and overhanging with no rests. Extremely rare, near-mythical, and widely accepted testpiece examples of this grade don't exist in the Canadian Rockies. Note that many routes (e.g. Sea of Vapours, Banff; Riptide, Icefield Parkway, Banff) have been assigned WI7- to WI7+ but have been subsequently downgraded in latter years as they don't meet the strict criteria of steepness. In fact some local ice climbers have argued for Sea of Vapours (WI7+ originally) to be downgraded to WI5 or even WI4 simply because it's not steep enough.
See Alpinist's Climbing Grades section for a variation on this discussion: http://www.alpinist.com/p//climbing_notes/grades

Mountain boarding

Morton Hellig's 'Supercruiser Inc.' was the first company to manufacture and retail the 'All Terrain Dirtboard', patented in 1989.[citation needed] Mountainboarding (name coined by Jason Lee) began in the UK, the USA and Australia in 1992. Unknown to each other, riders from other boardsports started to design and build, and eventually manufacture boards that could be ridden off-road. This desire to expand the possible terrain that a boarder can ride created the sport of Mountainboarding.[2]
[edit] UK
Dave and Pete Tatham, Joe Inglis and Jim Aveline, whilst looking for an off-season alternative to surfing and snowboarding, began designing boards that could be ridden down hills. Inglis developed initial prototypes, and in 1992 noSno was started. Extensive research and development produced the noSno truck system which enabled the boards to be steered and remain stable at high speeds.[citation needed] NoSno boards utilised snowboard bindings and boots, with large tires for rough ground, and the option for a hand-operated hydraulic disc brake.[3][this primary source citation needs verification]
[edit] USA
In 1992, after having snowboarded at Heavenly Valley Resort in Northern California, friends Jason Lee, Patrick McConnell and Joel Lee went looking for an alternative for the summer season. Not finding anything suitable they co-founded MountainBoardSports (MBS) in 1993 to build boards that they could use to carve down hills. The original MBS boards, known as 'Frame Boards' had a small wooden deck with metal posts to hold the rider's feet, a tubular metal frame connecting trucks which used springs to enable steering and thus create the carving sensation that the MBS co-founders were looking for.[4][this primary source citation needs verification]
[edit] Australia
John Milne developed a three-wheeled version of a mountainboard in 1992 in his spare time during periods of very poor surf. It used a unique steering system to emulate surfing on land. It had 3 wheels and a skate-style deck with no bindings.[5]
[edit] Mid-to-late nineties
From the early days of invention there has always been a competitive element in mountainboarding. Encompassing racing, freestyle and downhill, competitions have been organised in the USA since 1993 and in the UK since 1997. In the same year the ATBA-UK (All Terrain Boarding Association), the national governing body for mountainboarding in the UK was born.[6] As a non-profit making organisation it represented and promoted the sport by putting riders interests first, promoting safety, sanctioning events, providing training, and sourcing funding to put on the ATBA-UK National Series, an annual series of competitions. The competitions did much to promote the sport and in 1998 mountainboarding had an estimated participation of over 1 million athletes worldwide[1]. The components evolved, and the sport continued to grow. MBS developed the open heel binding, the channel truck, the "eggshock" and the reverse V Brake system and sold boards in around 30 countries worldwide. In 1998 Maxtrack started distributing MBS mountainboards in the UK and Europe and in 2000 ATBShop became to first mountainboard specialist store in the UK.[7][this primary source citation needs verification]
[edit] Equipment
[edit] Board Components
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[edit] Deck
Mountainboard decks are the part that most of the components are attached to, and provide the base for the rider to stand on. They are generally from 90-110 cm in length, and can be made from a range of construction methods and materials. For example high specification boards may be made from composite carbon and glass reinforced plastics, possibly with a wooden core, similarly made to a snowboard deck. Basic decks are generally made using laminated wood pressed into shape, comparable to a longboard deck with larger dimensions and a different shape. There are variable characteristics such as flex, weight, shape, length and tip angle that can be catered for in custom or stock boards from a variety of manufacturers.
[edit] Trucks
Trucks are the components made up of a hanger, damping and/or spring system, and axles which attach the wheels to the deck. They also have the mechanisms required to allow the board to turn.
[edit] Skate Trucks

Skate Truck
Skate trucks have a rigid axle and a top hanger, with a single bolt and bushings, also called rubbers or grommets, that provide the cushion mechanism for turning the mountainboard. The bushings cushion the truck when it turns. The stiffer the bushings, the more resistant the mountainboard is to turning. The softer the bushings, the easier it is to turn. A bolt called a kingpin holds these parts together and fits inside the bushings. Thus by tightening or loosening the kingpin nut, the trucks can be adjusted loosely for better turning and tighter for more control. Skate-style mountainboard trucks are similar to skateboard trucks but more robust and with a longer axle.
[edit] Channel Trucks

Channel Truck
Channel trucks are common on mountainboards, and are made up of an axles mounted to the truck bottom piece, which is suspended from a top hanger by a kingpin. They are mounted to the deck using nuts and bolts through the hanger part, on an angle, (usually 35°). When the board is tilted laterally the axles turn together to angle the wheels in the direction of the turn. Two polyurethane dampers sometimes known as "egg shocks" are mounted between the hanger and the axle housing on each truck to provide resistance to the lean of the rider during turning. Springs are mounted in the same place with the dampers inside them.

Shock and spring arrangement
It should be noted that the 'shocks' present in channel trucks are there to dampen the turning system, and help reduce the oscillations of the trucks on the board commonly described as speed wobble. The springs are there to return the deck to centre after a turn has been performed, neither are there to provide suspension between the deck and axles. They have a kingpin that can't move vertically which prevents this.
[edit] NoSno Trucks
NoSno trucks use two 'kingpin'-type bolts to create a floating pivot, an axle with a plate into which the bolts go, an angled base plate that attaches to the deck, and polyurethane bushings to dampen the turn. The amount of turn available in the trucks can be adjusted by tightening the bolts or by using bushings of different hardness. A similar design was adopted by Howla Mountainboards for the limited time that they manufactured boards.
[edit] Bindings

Snowboard Binding

Ratchet-strap Binding with Heelstrap

Velcro Binding with Heelstrap
Bindings involve adjustable straps that hold the rider on to the board while allowing room to move his feet.
Snowboard bindings
Ratchet-strap bindings
Velcro Bindings
Bar-Bindings
Heelstraps
[edit] Wheels

MBS wheel made up of an Aluminium hub and 8" Tire
Wheels are made up of plastic or metal hubs and pneumatic tires ranging in size from 8-13 inches. The 8" wheel has evolved into the best choice for freestyle riding, and also an all purpose wheel for general riding. Larger wheels (generally 9" and 10") are more useful to the downhill rider; granting the rider access to high-speed runs and more stability when travelling at speed.
[edit] Tyres
Various tyres have been made available by different mountainboard manufacturers, giving riders a choice of tyre specifications. For example, the thickness of the tyre is variable between tyres, usually either 2 or 4 ply. 2 ply tyres are lighter, but more susceptible to punctures the 4 ply tyres. There is a variety of tread patterns available, ranging from street slicks to deep tread designed for maximum grip with split centre beads to channel water away. Width and diameter is also variable.
[edit] Brakes
Brakes are generally reserved for big mountain riding where riders need an increased ability to control their speed over long runs. The brakes are most usually attached to both front wheels of the mountainboard rather than the rear to give greater braking efficiency and reduce the chances of the rear wheels locking-up and skidding. They are operated via a hand-held lever which when pulled causes both brake mechanisms to work simultaneously. There are four types of brakes used on mountainboards:
[edit] Mechanical Drum Brakes
Those brakes use brakedrums attached to the wheel with the 5 wheelscrews (Scrub). They are cheap and brake rigidly but get extremly hot and tend melt the plastic hub. Good emergency brakes only, not any good for long steep hills. There ist currently no heat resistant hub where they would attach to, wich could however easy to be made of e.g. alloy.
[edit] Hydraulic Disc Brakes
Hydraulic Disc Brakes use rotors attached to the hubs with hydraulically operated brake mechanisms that force ceramic pads against the rotors to effect braking. Advantages include high braking power and reliability. Disadvantages include cost, vulnerability of the discs, heat build up, and weight.
[edit] Hydraulic Rim Brakes
Hydraulic Rim Brakes use the hub, or preferably, a bolt on metal disc as the braking surface for hydraulically operated brake mechanisms that push polyurethane blocks against the braking surface. Advantages include good braking power, and good modulation. Disadvantages include possible damage to bearings.
[edit] Cable-pull 'V' Brakes
Cable-pull 'V' Brakes also use the hub or metal discs as a braking surface. The hand operated lever pulls a metal cable to push polyurethane blocks against the braking surface. Advantages include low cost, low weight, and easy installation and maintenance. Disadvantages include low braking power, and the need to be regularly adjusted.
[edit] Protection
Mountainboarders wear a range of protective equipment while riding.
Helmets are designed to protect the wearers head from impact during falls. There are two types; full-face, which provides more protection to the wearer, and open face, which provides greater visibility for the wearer.
Wristguards are designed to protect the wearers wrists from impacts. They come in two types, gloves and wrap-arounds, but both include plastic splints which prevent the wearers wrists from bending backwards during a fall and protect the palms aganist cuts and grazes.
Elbow pads are designed to protect the wearers elbows from impact during falls. Sometimes forearm guards are incorporated into the elbow pads.
Knee pads are designed to protect the wearers knees from impact during falls.
Padded Shorts are designed to protect the wearers hips, coccyx, and buttocks from impact during falls.
Body Armour is designed to protect the wearers upper body, arms, shoulders and back from impact during falls.
[edit] Disciplines
Mountainboarding has four main disciplines:
[edit] Downhill (DH)
Timed one-man descents. Usually relatively long courses (1 km+) in the mountains. Sometimes referred to as big mountain.
[edit] Boardercross (BoarderX, BX)
Two to four-man racing on a specifically designed track.
[edit] Freestyle (FS)
Slopestyle: Performing tricks on a slopestyle course consisting of multiple jumps, rails and innovative features.
Big Air: Performing tricks including grabs, spins and inverts over jumps.
Skate Park/Jib: Performing smaller and more innovative tricks with focus on self-expression and creativity.
[edit] Freeriding (FR)
Non-competitive riding over a range of natural terrain including woodland.
[edit] Similar Sports
Similar all terrain boardsports include Dirtsurfing and Kiteboarding.
[edit] Crossover Sports
Skateboarding
Surfing
Snowboarding
Wakeboarding
Mountain Biking
[edit] Media

The examples and perspective in this article may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. Please improve this article and discuss the issue on the talk page.
Mountain Boarding has had numerous stories in action adventure media outlets especially around the Mountain Board US Open that happens every year in Snowmass. The Ski Channel television network has stated publicly that they are going to be featuring the sport on air in 2009.
[edit] Webzines & Websites
Remolition[8] is the only mountainboard webzine based in the UK. Est. 2007. Regular features, articles, exclusive art and photos, interviews and much more, including THE comprehensive history of ATB, resources, links hub, guides and inspiration.
MountainBoard.net[9] Online mountainboarding magazine with how-to and lifestyle articles, news and event updates, gear reviews, videos and interviews.
The Dirt[10] Online mountainboarding news site.
HillBilly Social Club is a social networking site much like Myspace for mountain boarders.
DIRTboardMAG[11] is an online only bi-monthly mountain board lifestyle magazine. Original art and photos, stories, articles, product reviews, comics, music and more. Coming the summer of 2009.
Boarder Mag[12] stamps home the belief that riding is a reflection of attitude, aspiration, personality and even mood. The magazine is for everyone, from those just sneaking a peak and taking tentative first steps as much as it is the hardcore. It's a platform to share ideas, lessons learned, stories and images that make you want to head straight out the door to give it go, to push your own limits. It's about you guys and the simple joy of board riding. (No issues to date).
[edit] Historical Magazines
Off-Road Boarding Magazine founded in '99 with its editor Brian Bishop and other dedicated riders. It ran numerous pictorials, US riding spots, rider profiles and carried virtually no ads. It started small, and was given away at comps and shops. The last issue of the mag was printed in full color and a new name "Mountainboard Magazine". The new title was later adopted by a UK publisher.
All Terrain Boarding Magazine aka ATBMag: The longest running, 4 years, and only Mountainboard magazine to make it onto mainstream newsagent shelves. Distributed world-wide it ran to 39 copies and one photo album featuring the work of Paul Taylor. ATBMag was also responsible for the creation of the World Freestyle Championships, running it for the first 2 years. It also created the World Series, taking place in 12 countries. ATBmag sponsored a team of riders, who were later sponsored by EXIT. The team featured Tom Kirkman, Laurie Kaye, Alex Downie, Oli Morrison and Ig Wilkinson. The last year of the magazine saw the team take to Europe and ride in 7 countries following the World Series Tour.
Scuz Mountainboarding Zine was first published in July 2004 as a paid-for magazine, however subsequent issues were published and distributed for free both as a printed hardcopy version and on the internet as a downloadable PDF. It was announced in October 2006 that issue twelve would be the final issue.
Mountainboard Magazine was produced by the same people who created scuz, and it was re-branded to suit changing trends in mountainboarding, and a cover charge was introduced to help pay for the costs involved in producing the magazine as the advertising featured was sufficient. Only one issue was ever printed.
Mountainboarding Video Magazine (MVM) The only video mag to showcase mountain boarding from around the world. This publication only made nine issues, co-produced and edited by Justin Rhodes, Van DeWitt, and Brett Dooley.
[edit] Videos/DVDs
MBS Ride Guide (USA, reissued in 2008) is a great tool to learn how to ride and maintain your board.
Down And Dirty (VHS) (2001 - USA) Journey from Canada to Colorado all the way to the beaches of Southern California with mountainboarding's most progressive riders as they show you high speed descents, spin tricks, handrails, and flowing rhythm sections; this movie pushes the limits of mountainboarding way beyond what most will believe.
NoSno - US & Friends (VHS) (2002 - UK) It is a journey through 10 years of noSno and covers everything from initial riding and surfing to the latest competition racing and some top freeriding in the UK and Europe countryside.
Dangerous Brothers - Jubilee (2003 - UK) VHS based on the second UK All Terrain Boarding Series, witch was even bigger and better than last year.
Down And Dirty 2 - Rough Riders (2003 - USA) It blows every other mountainboard video ever made; it has truly pushed the envelope of extreme mountainboarding off the cliff, down the hill and into three consecutive rag-doll back flips to the head.
Dirty Tricks & Dirty Tricks 2 (2003 - UK) The first part contains "The noSno Ride the Hill Downhill Challenge" and the "Morzine Mountainboard Fest" featuring riders from all over the world. The second part contains "The Blinder" UK event.
Best Foot Forward (2005 - UK) A film following team Kite & Sk8 over the 2005 mountainboard season. This DVD shows some of the top racing in 2005 ATBA-UK series along with some freeride footage from dates over the summer months.
Big Air (2007 - UK) by Five Element Productions[13] - this DVD traces the origin of the sport and what makes it so appealing to those that take part.
Forest7.Org Mountainboarding The Netherlands (2007 - Netherlands) First Dutch DVD by Team Forest7.
Our Terrain (2007 - UK) DVD by Team Wx is a journey through the Chiltern hills showing what mountainboards do best - ride in the woods with your friends.
Sum Hills We Like (2007 - UK) is a film showing the sport and life of mountainboarding through the eyes of the ATBShop and Out to Grass Teams. The film covers all the rounds of the ATBA-UK Championships 2006 with a few extras thrown in too.
Siberian Ragga (2007 - Russia) Freestyle and freeride footages by Russian team «Grass Boards Family». There are Siberian Ragga 2[14] and Siberian Ragga 3[15] too.
8 Inchez (2005), Dirty Free[16] (2006), Hard Times[17] (2007) and Still Friends[18] (2008) — Russian DVDs, by «Pruzini Izz Ada» Team.
Five on One (2008 - UK) is a free DVD distributed around Bristol[19] - this issue covers Team B.A.D. freeriding.
Like This[20] (2008 - UK) A DVD distributed freely, documenting the UK scene and the mountainboarding antics of the BFC. Produced by the BFC and edited by Jack Johnston.
Revolve[21] (2008 - UK) A DVD made by Pete Hills Productions, featuring the ATBA-UK competitions.
Shralpdown![22] (2008 - USA) A video documenting mountain boarding in the Colorado, United States. Produced by One 5 Media.
Hot Action[23] (2009 - USA) One 5 Media's second annual DVD - a digital film documenting mountianboarding in the United States of America.
Let IT Happen[24] (2009 - USA) Another American mountainboard movie by DirtStar Army Team.
[edit] Movies
Johnny Kapahala: Back on Board[25] is the 70th Disney Channel Original Movie and is the sequel to the 1999 film Johnny Tsunami. The movie premiered on Disney Channel on June 8, 2007. 1.3 million viewers watched this movie in the U.L placing 3rd in its timeslot.
[edit] TV
Mountainboard Aux Saisies[26] TV coverage of the 2009 noSno World Downhill Championships, from the French TV channel Savoie ACTU.
History Channel[27]. The history of extreme sport on the History Channel. Featuring Mountainboarding and many other board sports.
They Think It's All Over[28]. Pete and Dave Tatham from noSno taking part in "Guess the sportsman" on BBC's sports comedy program "They think it's all over"
Park City TV: What is Mountainboarding?[29] The Utah DirtStar Army team on Park City TV in late 2005.
Good Morning Utah[30]. The DirtStar Army live on Good Morning Utah 2005.
US Open Mountainboard Championships[31] 2006, held in Snowmass, Colorado. JSP TV talks with the youth division winner and the director of the Dirt Dogs.
Toasted TV[32]. Interview with Munroboards team rider Ryan Slater on the Channel 10 show toasted TV.
Domino's Pizza[33]. "That was Puff" commercial featuring mountainboarders: Ryan Slater, Clint Farqhuar, Markus Lubitz, Adam Zemunic.
Horizon TV[34]. Willingen D-MAX World Series Mountainboard 2007.
Rockon[35]. TV report on WDR on the mountain board park opening in Winterberg.
At Your Leisure: The DirtStar Army[36]. TV report on Utah's DSA mountain board team ripping up the Park City dirt jumps.
[edit] Newspapers & Magazines
The Guardian[37]. What do snowboarders do when faced with the perennially powderless slopes of the UK? They find the nearest verdant hill and hurtle down it. Tim Moore and son go gung-ho in Surrey.
The Telegraph[38]. Jonny Beardsall loses balance and bottle as he faces a 40mph slalom on a mountain board.
Men's Health[39]. Fancy travelling at speeds of 60mph on a board down a mountain? Read on…
X-sport magazine[40]. Online 'extreme' sports magazine with regular mountainboard features.
[edit] Community
The worldwide community of mountain boarders has grown up over the internet through online forums and through riders taking road trips and going for seasons to other countries and making friends in various parts of the world.
[edit] Online Forums
Surfing Dirt (World Wide)
ATBSports (UK)
DirtBoard Riders (USA)
Mountainboard.fr (France)
Mountainboard.ru (Russia)
Mountainboard.be (Belgium)
Mountainboarditalia.it (Italy)
Mountainboarder.co.nz (New Zealand)
Polska Mountainboardowa (Poland)
ATB Club of Canada (Canada)
AUSATB (Australia)
[edit] Annual Competitions
ATBA-UK National Series consists of between three and six events a year with each event consisting of a two day competition. One day of the competition is given over to four man boardercross racing with the other day reserved for freestyle. The competitors are divided into groups based on age, gender and ability.
Championnat de France French national mountainboard series.
Russian Mountainboard Cup Russian national mountainboard series.
Japan MBA (Mountain Board Association) Champion Japan national mountainboard series.
Master of the Hill Polish annual downhill competitions.
European Cup features five events with four disciplines; big air freestyle, four-man downhill, freecross, and two-man downhill. Riders have to qualify to compete in an Open category.
Triple Crown of Mountainboarding Series Three events with an underlying points series. Consisting of Chaos in Kansas, US Open and the MBS Fall Classic.
US Open The USA's largest mountainboard competition and the sport's longest running championships. Features bordercross and freestyle.
IMFI Invitational Consisting of a mass start big mountain race down high drive pass and the International Mountainboard Ffreestyle Invitational. The IMFI brings together riders from around the world to participate in a big air event at the MBS Backyard park.
World Downhill Championships
European Downhill Championships
White Air UK extreme sports and music festival.
[edit] World Freestyle Championships
From 2005 to 2008 was named Fat Face Night Air WFC.
2004 (Weston Super X Arena, Weston Super Mare) — Leon Robbins, USA
2005 (SWMBC, Bideford) — Tom Kirkman, UK
2006 (SWMBC, Bideford) — Alex Downie, UK
2007 (SWMBC, Bideford) — Arno VDV, Belgium
2008 (Bugs Boarding, Gloucester) — Renny Myles, UK
2009 (Bugs Boarding, Gloucester) — Tom Kirkman, UK
[edit] Mountainboard Manufacturers

The neutrality of this section is disputed. Please see the discussion on the talk page. Please do not remove this message until the dispute is resolved. (March 2009)
Below is a list of companies who produce mountain boards and mountain boarding equipment.
Anarkite (Germany) land kite boards based on custom shaped Trampa decks and own trucks (Сoncentertrucks).
Be Unlimited (UK) are uniquely designed all terrain freestyle boards with the deck mounted under the trucks to allow the rider to grind more easily.
Blu Earth Boards (UK)
Biohazard Industries (BHI) (Czech Republic)
Boneshaker (Czech Republic)
DesignExtreme (UK)
Earthboard (USA)
ERBoards (Argentina)
Exit (UK)
F2O (Japan)
Flame (Germany)
Flexifoil (UK)
Ground Industries (USA) are a bunch of riders that want to share their passion and contribution to the sport with other riders, to make the riding experience better, thus evolve the sport. They show dedication for quality, fun, visual appeal, and put those things into each of their products.
Hyline (UK)
Howla (UK)
Kheo (France)
Kitedeck (UK)
Libre (Germany)
MBA Mountainboards (Italy)
MBS Moutainboards (USA) are manufacturers of mountainboards and kiteboards. Combining the carving & freestyle of snowboarding, skateboarding & surfing with the trail & mountain riding of mountainbiking & BMX.
Mongoose ATB (USA)
Munroboards (Australia) live and breathe all-terrain boarding since 1996.
NextOne (Russia) doesn't produce boards since 2005.
noSno (UK) are passionate about designing and riding, and develop the most advanced mountainboards on the market. Quality of design, product and service is their highest priority. Using hi-tech composites and specialist aluminium alloys, boards are developed in noSno’s dedicated workshops and the unique components are manufactured by aerospace engineers in the UK.
NPD All-Terrain Skateboards (USA)
N:XT (Germany)
RKB (Spain) is a brand of kites and toys company Eolo-Sport.
Scrub Boards (UK) was established in 2001, in the south west of England where the Scrub team develop and test downhill and kite boards.
Skysnake (Russia)
Tekny (Spain)
Terra Board (USA)
Terrano (Brazil)
Trampa Boards (UK) are the first mountain board & kite board manufacturer in the world to be able to produce a bullet proof, rider weight specific, custom handmade mountain and kite board deck, that can be super flexi or stiff. They fit to any type of truck system to replace old or tired wooden decks as an up-grade, or as complete units hand made to the customer's dimensions and requirements.
[edit] Other Mountainboard Related Companies
The BFC[41] UK's premier mountain board film crew.
HillBilly company is a supplier of safety gear with a product range for mountainboard, skateboard, mountainbike, bmx and snowboard enthusiasts. The company use techniques and materials to create high quality products with functionality and style. Based in the US.
Dirt Cloud Racing Event management, course construction, race day operations, consulting. Based in the US.
DirtStar Army [42] Clothing, video production, photography, illustration and design, event support, exhibition pro-team. Based in the US.
One5 Media[43] is an action sports orientated multi-media company with a focus on mountain boarding. They provide video production, photography, design and stock video/photos. Based in the US.
Maxtrack Distributor of MBS Mountainboards in the UK and Europe.

BMX

Bicycle Motocross or BMX is a name of a cycling sport in which the main goal is extreme racing on bicycles in Motocross style on tracks BMX started in the early 1970s when children began racing their bicycles on dirt tracks in southern California, drawing inspiration from the motocross superstars of the time. The size and availability of the Schwinn Sting-Ray made it the natural bike of choice, since they were easily customized for better handling and performance. BMX racing was a phenomenon by the mid-1970s.[1] Children were racing standard road bikes off-road, around purpose-built tracks in [California].[2] The 1972 motorcycle racing documentary On Any Sunday is generally credited with inspiring the movement nationally in the US; its opening scene shows kids riding their Schwinn Stingrays off-road. By the middle of that decade the sport achieved critical mass, and manufacturers began creating bicycles designed especially for the sport.
George E. Esser founded the National Bicycle League as a non-profit bicycle motocross sanctioning organization in 1974. before they set up the NBL, George and his wife, Mary, sanctioned motorcycle races with the AMA (American Motocross Association). Their two sons, Greg and Brian, raced motorcycles, but also enjoyed riding and racing BMX with their friends. It was their sons’ interest, and there being no BMX organizations in the East, that prompted George to start the NBL in Florida.
By 1977, the American Bicycle Association (ABA) was organized as a national sanctioning body for the growing sport. In April 1981, the International BMX Federation was founded, and the first world championships were held in 1982. Since January 1993 BMX has been integrated into the Union Cycliste Internationale.[3]
The sport of Bicycle Motocross - Freestyle BMX is now one of the staple events at the annual Summer X Games Extreme Sports competition and the ETNIES backyard jam, held largely on both coasts of the United States. The popularity of the sport has increased due to its relative ease and availability of places to ride and do tricks.
In 2003, the International Olympic Committee made BMX a full medal Olympic sport for 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China, and Māris Štrombergs (male, for Latvia) and Anne-Caroline Chausson (female, for France) were crowned the first Olympic champions.[4].[5]
Many great BMX riders go on to other cycling sports like downhill such as Australian Olympian Jared Graves, former "golden child" Eric Carter, and youth BMX racer Aaron Gwin.with inline start and expressive obstacles

Free-diving

Freediving is a technique used with various aquatic activities. While in general all aquatic activities that include breath-hold diving might be classified as a part of freediving, some sports are more accepted than others. Examples of recognized freediving activities are (non-) competitive freediving, (non-) competitive spearfishing, freediving photography and mermaid shows. Less recognised examples of freediving include, but are not limited to, synchronised swimming, underwater rugby, underwater hockey, underwater hunting other than spearfishing, and snorkeling. The discussion remains whether freediving is only a synonym for breath-hold diving or whether it describes a specific group of underwater activities. Freediving is often strongly associated with competitive breath-hold diving or Competitive Apnea. The remainder of this article will discuss only competitive freediving as an athletic sport.
[edit] Competitive freediving
Competitive freediving is currently governed by two world associations: AIDA International (International Association for Development of Apnea) and CMAS (World Underwater Federation). Most types of competitive freediving have in common that it is an individual sport based on the best individual achievement. An exception to this rule is the bi-annual World Championship for Teams, held by AIDA, where the combined score of the team members makes up the team's total points. There are currently nine disciplines used by official governing bodies and a dozen disciplines that are only practiced locally. In this article, the recognized disciplines of AIDA and CMAS will be described. All disciplines can be done by both men and women and, while done outdoors, no differences in the environment between records are recognized any longer. The disciplines of AIDA can be done both in competition and as a record attempt, with the exception of Variable Weight and No limits, which are both done solely as record attempts.
The following official disciplines are recognized by AIDA, CMAS, or both.
[edit] Pool disciplines
Static Apnea is timed breath holding and is usually attempted in a pool (AIDA).
Dynamic Apnea With Fins. This is underwater swimming in a pool for distance. For this discipline the athlete can choose whether to use bi-fins or the monofin (AIDA, CMAS).
Dynamic Apnea Without Fins. This is underwater swimming in a pool for distance without any swimming aids like fins (AIDA).
[edit] Depth disciplines
For all AIDA disciplines, the depth the athlete will attempt is announced before the dive. This is accepted practice for both competitions and record attempts.
Constant Weight Apnea. The athlete has to dive to the depth following a guide line that he or she is not allowed to actively use during the dive. The ‘Constant Weight’ (French: "poids constant") refers to the fact that the athlete is not allowed to drop any diving weights during the dive. Both bi-fins and monofin can be used during this discipline (AIDA).
Constant Weight Apnea Without Fins follows the identical rules as Constant Weight, except no swimming aids such as fins are allowed. This discipline is the youngest discipline within competitive freediving and is recognised by AIDA International since 2003 (AIDA).
Free Immersion Apnea is a discipline in which the athlete uses the vertical guiderope to pull him or herself down to depth and back to the surface. It is known for its ease compared with the Constant Weight disciplines, while the athlete is still not allowed to release weights (AIDA).
Variable Weight Apnea is a record discipline that uses a weighted sled for descent. Athletes return to the surface by pulling themselves up along a line or swimming while using their fins (AIDA).
No-Limits Apnea is a record discipline that allows the athlete to use any means of breath-hold diving to depth and return to the surface as long as a guideline is used to measure the distance. Most divers use a weighted sled to dive down and use an inflatable bag to return to the surface (AIDA).
The Jump Blue also called "The Cube" is a discipline in which an athlete has to descend and swim as far as possible in a cubic form of 15 x 15 meters (CMAS).
Each organization has its own rules on recognizing an attempt. These can be found on the website from the respective organizations.
[edit] Recreational
Freediving is also an intriguing recreational sport, celebrated as a relaxing, liberating, and unique experience. Many snorkelers may technically be freediving if they perform any sort of breath hold diving - it is important to stress the importance of training and supervision when making this association.
Like other water sports, freediving is associated with therapeutic properties. The experience of freedom in an underwater environment makes free-diving somewhat of a personal and spiritual journey for many. Yoga is used by many practitioners to increase focus, breath, and overall performance. The 'art' of freediving and the waterpractice outside the athletic and competitive sphere goes beyond the scope of this article.
[edit] Physiology of freediving
The human body has several adaptations under diving conditions[1][2], which stem from the mammalian diving reflex. These adaptations enable the human body to endure depth and lack of oxygen far beyond what would be possible without the reflex.
The adaptations made by the human body while underwater and at high pressure include:[1][2]
Bradycardia: Drop in heart pulse rate.
Vasoconstriction: Blood vessels shrink. Blood stream directed away from limbs for the benefit of heart, lungs and brain.
Splenic contraction: Releasing red blood cells carrying oxygen.
Blood shift: Blood plasma fills up blood vessels in the lung and reduces residual volume. Without this adaptation, the human lung would shrink and wrap into its walls, causing permanent damage, at depths greater than 30 meters.
[edit] Training
Training for freediving can take many forms and be done on the land.
One example is the apnea walk. This consists of a preparation "breathe-up", followed by a short (typically 1 minute) breath hold taken at rest. Without breaking the hold, the participant then initiates a walk for as far as they can, until it becomes necessary to breathe again. Athletes can do close to 400 meters in training this way.
This form of training is good for accustoming muscles to work under anaerobic conditions, and for tolerance to CO2 build-up in the circulation. It is also easy to gauge progress, as increasing distance can be measured.
Before diving, performance-oriented freedivers hyperventilate to a certain degree, resulting in a lower level of CO2 in their lungs and bloodstream.[3] This postpones the start of stimulation to the breathing centre of the brain, and thus delays the warning signals of running out of air. As the oxygen level of the blood is not increased by hyperventilation, this is very dangerous and may contribute to shallow water blackout and deep water blackout.[2][4] Trained freedivers are well aware of this and will only dive under strict and first aid competent supervision. However this does not, of itself, eliminate the risk of deep or shallow water blackout. All safe freedivers have a 'buddy' who accompanies them, observing from within the water at the surface. Due to the nature of the sport, safety is an integral part of free-diving, requiring participants to be adept in rescue and resuscitation. Without proper training and supervision, free-diving/apnea/breath-hold diving is extremely dangerous.
[edit] History
Archaeologists said that people have been earning their sustenance from freediving since the 5th century BCE. The first nation which was famous for it was the haenyeo in Korea. They collected, with bated breath, shells and sponges to sell to others. The Ama Divers from Japan began to collect pearls with bated breath 2000 years ago.[4][5] But also the spearfishers around the Mediterranean Sea were important for the historical background for the movement of the apnea sport.
[edit] AIDA recognized world records
As of May 27, 2009 [1]
[edit] Constant Weight Apnea (CWT)
Men
122 m
Name: Martin Štěpánek
Date: 2009-05-22
Place: Sharm, Egypt
Women
101 m
Name: Natalia Molchanova
Date: 2009-09-25
Place: Sharm el Sheikh Egypt
[edit] Constant Weight Apnea Without Fins (CNF)
Men
88 m
Name: William Trubridge
Date: 2009-04-10
Place: Dean's Blue Hole, Long Island Bahamas
Women
60 m
Name: Natalia Molchanova
Date: 2008-06-12
Place: Dahab, Egypt
[edit] Free Immersion Apnea (FIM)
Men
110 m
Name: Martin Štěpánek
Date: 2009-05-23
Place: Sharm, Egypt
Women
90 m
Name: Natalia Molchanova
Date: 2009-09-27
Place: Sharm el Sheikh Egypt
[edit] Variable Weight Apnea (VWT)
Men
140 m
Name: Carlos Coste
Date: 2006-05-09
Place: Sharm, Egypt
Women
122 m
Name: Tanya Streeter
Date: 2003-07-19
Place: Turks and Caicos
[edit] No-Limits Apnea (NLT)
Men
214 m
Name: Herbert Nitsch
Date: 2007-06-14
Place: Spetses, Greece
Women
160 m
Name: Tanya Streeter
Date: 2002-08-17
Place: Turks and Caicos
[edit] Static Apnea (STA)
Men
11 min 35 sec
Name: Stéphane Mifsud
Date: 2009-06-08
Place: Hyères, Var, France
Women
8 min 23 sec
Name: Natalia MOLCHANOVA
Date: 2009-08-21
Place: Aarhus, Denmark
[edit] Dynamic Apnea With Fins (DYN)
Men
250 m
Name: Alexey Molchanov
Date: 2008-10-05
Place: Lignano, Italy
Women
214 m
Name: Natalia Molchanova
Date: 2008-10-05
Place: Lignano, Italy
[edit] Dynamic Apnea Without Fins (DNF)
Men
213 m
Name: Tom Sietas
Date: 2008-07-02
Place: Hamburg, Germany
213 m
Name: Dave Mullins
Date: 2008-08-12
Place: Wellington, New Zealand
Women
160 m
Name: Natalia MOLCHANOVA
Date: 2009-08-21
Place: Aarhus, Denmark
[edit] Some famous competitive apnea divers
Deborah Andollo
Gaspare Battaglia
Sara Campbell
Carlos Coste
Robert Croft
Mandy-Rae Cruickshank
Yasemin Dalkılıç
Francisco Ferreras
Pierre Frolla
Gianluca Genoni

Loïc Leferme
Enzo Maiorca
Jacques Mayol
Audrey Mestre
Karol Meyer
Natalia Molchanova
Dave Mullins
Patrick Musimu
Guillaume Néry
Herbert Nitsch

Umberto Pelizzari
Tom Sietas
Aharon Solomons
Maria-Teresa Solomons
Martin Štěpánek
Walter Steyn
Tanya Streeter
Bill Strömberg
William Trubridge
Danai Varveri

[edit] Freediving in fiction
In the Canadian television series Corner Gas, the character Karen Pelly (Tara Spencer-Nairn) competed in static apnea, ranking fifth in Canada with a personal best of over six minutes.
The Big Blue starring Rosanna Arquette, Jean Reno, and Jean Marc-Barr is a romance film about two world-class freedivers, heavily fictionalized depiction of the rivalry of freedivers Jacques Mayol and Enzo Maïorca.
Into The Blue starring Paul Walker, Jessica Alba, Scott Caan, and Ashley Scott. A group of divers find themselves in deep trouble with a drug lord after they come upon the illicit cargo of a sunken airplane.
The Freediver (2004) Starring Camilla Rutherford, Alki David, Dominique Swain, and Adam Baldwin. A talented free-diver woman is discovered and brought to an island where she is trained by an ambitious scientist to break a free-diving world record currently held by an egocentric American woman.
The Greater Meaning of Water (2010) Starring Justin Williford, Mark Brunetti, and Holly London. An independent film about competitive constant weight free-diving focusing on the "zen of freediving".[2]
In the computer game The Secret of Monkey Island, the main character, Guybrush Threepwood, boasts being able to hold his breath for ten minutes. Although not exactly freediving, Guybrush ends up underwater in a certain point of the game, and he dies if the player doesn't solve the puzzle in ten minutes.
In Greg Iles' novel Blood Memory, the main character Cat Ferry is an odontologist and a free-diver.
In the video game Splinter Cell, the opening cutscene shows Sam Fisher, the main character, free-diving in the ocean.
The children's novel "The Dolphins of Laurentum" by Caroline Lawrence, which takes place in Ancient Rome, describes the applications of free-diving (sponge and pearl diving), and its hazards, as one of the principal characters, as well as the main antagonist, try to beat each other to a sunken treasure.
In the TV show Lilo and Stitch, Lilo swam to the bottom of the ocean to save her friends (before she went she said that she was a freediver).
[edit] References
^ a b Brubakk, A. O.; T. S. Neuman (2003). Bennett and Elliott's physiology and medicine of diving, 5th Rev ed.. United States: Saunders Ltd.. pp. 800. ISBN 0702025712.
^ a b c Lindholm P, Pollock NW, Lundgren CEG (2006). Breath-hold diving. Proceedings of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society/Divers Alert Network 2006 June 20-21 Workshop.. Durham, NC, United States: Divers Alert Network. ISBN 978-1-930536-36-4. http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/5612. Retrieved 2008-04-30.
^ Neal W. Pollock, Richard D. Vann, Edward D. Thalmann and Claus EG Lundgren. (1997). "Oxygen-Enhanced Breath-hold Diving, Phase I: Hyperventilation and Carbon Dioxide Elimination.". In: EJ Maney, Jr and CH Ellis, Jr (Eds.) Diving for Science...1997. Proceedings of the American Academy of Underwater Sciences (17th Annual Scientific Diving Symposium). http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/4647. Retrieved 2009-04-16.
^ a b Lundgren, Claus EG; Ferrigno, Massimo (eds). (1985). Physiology of Breath-hold Diving. 31st Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society Workshop.. UHMS Publication Number 72(WS-BH)4-15-87.. Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society. http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/7992. Retrieved 2009-04-16.
^ Rahn, H.; Yokoyama, T. (1965). Physiology of Breath-Hold Diving and