The hybrid adventure sports begin on day two of the 2012 World Alternative Games; as Saturday's schedule features a downhill mountainboarding competition. The games are being hosted by the town of Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales, and run through Sept. 2. Other events also scheduled for Aug. 18 are woolsack carrying and hay bale throwing.
What is Mountainboarding?
Mountainboarding is a board sport that marries snowboarding, skateboarding and BMX. Only instead of shredding powder or grinding a curb, mountainboarders take on the rugged terrain of hills and mountainsides. Sometimes on a rough track, sometimes not.
Track Details
The mountainboarding competition is one of the events that will take place a little outside of Llanwrtyd Wells, the nearest town . It is set to take place on a forest road in Esgair Dafydd , a fairly remote upland conifer woodland. The firetrack, known as 'Dave,' is near Sugar Loaf Mountain, between Buith Wells and Llandovery.
Dave is a nine-cornered track that runs for 1.4 miles. The corners vary from tight to wide, some rocky. Check out video of the entire track seen from a helmet camera here and mountainboarders going down Dave here.
The Race
The fastest rider down Dave wins the race. It would be disastrous to send everyone off at once, so the games will be using synchronized-watch clocking, sending riders out every minute. Competitors can go down the track as many times as they are physically able, with their fastest time counting. The three quickest riders will be awarded medals.
Other Aug. 18 World Alternative Games Events
The World Alternative Games will also be hosting three other events on Friday: woolsack carrying, hay bale throwing and the second day of the Ritchey TrailMasters Bike Event.
The Woolsack Carrying Championship is an endurance of 240 yards of up and downhill racing. All while carrying 35 pounds (for women) or 60 pounds (for men) of wool.
Not only will balers have to ring a bell during the hay bale throwing event, but they have to do it while using a pitch fork to toss the hay over a bar. The bar height starts at seven meters for men and five meters for women. The bar keeps raising and if it is hit the athlete is out of the competition.
Ritchey TrailMasters Bike Event is a ride around interrupted by two surprise timed challenges. Winners are determined by the best challenge times.
Sources:
Great Britain Forestry Commission
International Mountainboard Association
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