What is a Mountainboard?

It’s a cross between a skateboard and a snowboard, they look a bit like a snowboard but with wheels. They are generally used to go down grassy slopes but can be used for any terrain, hence they can also be known as All Terrain Boards (ATB’s). When the wind is strong enough some people also use them with power kites and can be seen zipping along our local beaches.
Mountainboards have been around in some form or another since the early 1970’s. Snowboarders, Skaters, Mountain Bikers and other Extreme sports enthusiasts have all given their own contributions to the sport.

Our intrepid reporter Kerry Burn went along to meet Suffolk Allterrain, a mountainboarding group from near Ipswich who have recently taken up the sport.

I met Em one of the co-founders of Suffolk Allterrain on a gorgeous and hot Saturday afternoon in Rushmere.

Together with the other members (Pete, Simon & Claire, Mark and David) we started our walk to the grassy hill where I was to take my induction in Mountainboarding. Having just returned from a Skiing trip I was quite looking forward to having a go but was apprehensive about what to expect. At least with skis you can fall over in the snow if you want to stop quickly! Somehow I wasn’t sure it was going to be that simple or painless on a hill in Suffolk, especially following the dry weather we’ve been having.

Suffolk Allterrain left to right - Clive, Mark, Mark, Simon & Claire, Pete, David & Em

During the walk I had the opportunity to speak to Em to find out how she and her friends got started.

Em says “Pete & I started mountainboarding in June 2006. After another frustrating no-wave surfing holiday, we bought a mountainboard.”

After a week of sharing one board in the local parks, they were hooked and following interest from a friend they then bought two more boards and Suffolk Allterrain was born.

“We started our blogspot (www.suffolkallterrainsquad.blogspot.com) to share information and videos with our friends and to get other people out with us on the hills. We also handed out our web address to anyone who stopped to watch.” Em explains.

Suffolk Allterrain also has a site with onesuffolk which can be found at www.onesuffolk.co.uk/suffolkallterrain and they also publish videos at www.youtube.com/suffolkallterrain

Suffolk Allterrain now has eleven official members and numbers are growing fast. “We have also met quite a few other boarders locally and often have several guests on the hill.”

When we reached the hill we were met by member Mark (another one) and his guest Clive, who were already showing off their skills down the hill. Although this was also Clive’s first outing he certainly looked like he was taking to it like a duck to water, and I was sure I was not going to progress to his standard in just one afternoon. I may be a bit of a daredevil but the ground hurts that little bit more now I’m getting a bit older!

So I took to sitting on the grass in the sunshine watching the others showing how it was done. I must admit they all made it look quite easy and Mark explained to me that this was only his second outing and Simon’s third.

Kerry Burn all padded up and ready to go!!! Eventually the time came for me to kit up with elbow pads, wrist protectors, knee pads and helmet and have a go for myself. Em very kindly explained the basics to me which all sounded fairly straight forward but then came the difficult bit, putting it in to practice!!!

Watching the others, I thought they weren’t going really quickly so it wouldn’t be too hard. But believe you me, it’s a totally new ball game when you’re the one on the board.

I quickly realised that I was actually going too fast and tried to stop myself by taking one foot out of the straps but my other leg just carried on and I ended in a heap on the grass. But if at first you don’t succeed….. so I tried again and again and although I could manage turning one way I had real difficulties in turning the other way and just kept ending up going into the longer grass - which at least slowed me down.

Mark showing off his flying skills I settled down to watch Mark, and Em looking like real pros going over a jump. Clive - who had only just got on a board for the first time about half an hour ago - was already joining them and getting some amazing height over the jump and even the other Mark was giving it a go and this was only his second trip out. Are they all mad!?!

Mind you this does seem like a sport you can get hooked on, as even I tried to have a go at the ramp but needless to say I didn’t quite make it. However by late afternoon I had managed to progress from the top of the hill to the bottom without falling off and I decided that was where I would leave if for now even though I was sorely tempted to give it another go.

It seems that anyone who tries it just can’t get enough, the only one drawback is that once you’ve negotiated your way down the hill you’ve got to trudge back up again if you want another go!

Anyway a great afternoon was had by all and we could not have wished for a better day, on the way back I asked Em about getting started with the sport.

“The most expensive part is getting yourself set up with a board, £150 upwards for a new complete board. Occasionally you can get a good deal if you buy secondhand.” Em explains “It’s a good idea to try a board to see how you like it and do a bit of research before you buy.”

Then all you need is some safety equipment, a hill, and you’re away.

If you would like to find out more then visit the Suffolk Allterrain website at www.onesuffolk.co.uk/suffolkallterrain or email vamachara@hotmail.com to find out where they are next riding.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Em and all the members of Suffolk Allterrain for a great afternoon and who knows I might be up for giving it another go.

If you belong to or run a group or organisation in Suffolk that you’d like to see featured on onesuffolk then please contact Kerry Burn (kerry.burn@onesuffolk.co.uk) or (01473) 583891.

Suffolk Allterrain Members boarding off into the sunset