Two weeks ago we had a huge snowstorm in Seattle. Some areas got more than 12″ of fresh pow making for some rad urban snowboarding. Sam was the only one to make it into work to make sure another batch of Omen Pike longboards made it to the presses. Speaking of which, next week we’ll be doing a little spring cleaning to make room for 2012 longboard decks. So to celebrate we’ll be selling off a bunch of factory second Omen Pikes and Carbon Matrixes so stay tuned.
Archive for the ‘News’ Category
-
Video Sneak Peak-Omen Blem Sale
-
Want To Work at Motion Boardshop?
Hey we need some Help over here!!
Recognized as Seattle’s Number one Skate shop, Motion Boardshop is growing Rapidly.
We want to find great people to join us along the way.The Motion Boardshop Seattle Headquarters (our Seattle longboard store), our physical and digital Media Design Groups, Online Media (Facebook and Youtube etc.) Shipping Center, and Accounts Management teams are all expanding.
What do you need to play on the Team?
If you have a passion for your work (that means you like to do a really good job)
If you are coachable and trainable (that means you can follow directions)
If the average desk job is a little to Blaaah (that means you’re cool)
If you are ok with working for your pay (that means you know nothing is free)
If you Love promoting Fun and Everything Awesome (That means you are like Us)…we would like to meet you! We have Full Time, Part Time, Interns, and Volunteer positions available.
Please send your resume* to ariel@motionboardshop.com (he is the acting manager and he has great hair).* A resume is simply a brief history of what you have done. For the purposes of Motion Boardshop this can include your work history or just the things that you do, love, and are really good at. Our goal is to get a general Idea of what moves you and why we would be excited to see you everyday.
Thanks
Ariel Stamm
206-372-5268
“Be Great” -
Win a $300 Gift Card in Our T-Shirt Contest!
Here at MOBO we’re looking for some help designing our new lineup of t-shirts and hoodies. We know there’s a ton of creative, artistic and talented longboarders across the world with ideas just waiting to be put to use. And since we’re too busy coning our wheels, we figured you all could lend a hand coming up with some fresh designs for longboarding clothes. Here’s the gig:
1. It needs to go on a t-shirt.
2. It can only be three colors (black and white count as a color unless that is the color of the actual t-shirt)
3. Must say Motion Boardshop in the design (but doesn’t need to be our actual logo)
4. It can be a simple drawing with pencil or an actual computer image such as a .pdf or .jpg
5. You can enter up to 3 different designs
6. Entries are due by 11:59pm on Sunday January 15th.
7. Email your entry to contests@motionboardshop.com with the subject “t-shirt design competition”On January 16th, we’ll take all the entries and put them in an album on our Facebook page (so make sure you “like” us). The entry with the most amount of “likes” will win a $300 gift certificate redeemable on our website or in our brick-and-mortar Seattle longboarding store. All of us at MOBO will also pick a favorite of and award them with a $300 gift certificate. Both winners will get 10 shirts for free to hand out to all their friends. So get crackin’ on your designs cause you only have two weeks left to get your submissions in!
-
Big Party at MOBO on 12.28 @ 7pm
Tomorrow night at our Seattle longboard shop we’ll be kicking off a night of music at Motion Boardshop and we hope you all can make it! Yeah we know it’s last minute but don’t pretend like you have something better to do on a Wednesday night. : ) Our nephew, DJ Q, has put together this event for his senior project at Shorecrest High School. Ryan “Theory” Cutright has been helping to mentor him these past couple months as he has learned the art of spinning the wheels of steel. Theory will kick the night off with the first set starting at 7, then DJ Q at 8 and Noisemaker at 9 to finish the night up. For the big kids, we’ll have a VIP room upstairs with a keg courtesy of Redhook Brewery and some non-alcoholic beverages for the young ones. This is an all ages event and the whole family can come if you don’t mind the bass! We’ll be showing videos throughout the show and DJ Q has decided to have this event benefit the VH1 Save the Music Foundation. RSVP for the event on our Facebook page.
-
New Rayne Threads Hit Our Shelves
Rayne longboards just unveiled a new lineup of graphic tees, hoodies and hats. When the guys from Vancouver came down to our shop last month for our longboard deck art show, they brought along some swag with them and a lot of this clothing made its debut. They use bamboo material for their tees and I must say mine is the softest t-shirt I own! I practically live in it. Fresh graphics make these even more awesome. You can check out the latest Rayne clothing here.
According to Rayne: “These shirts are incredibly comfortable, wick moisture, dry quickly and won’t smell like sweat when you’re finished a long day of skating because they are naturally anti-microbial.”
If you “LIKE” our facebook page you can get a discount code to save a little extra on these threads.
-
Abec 11 Centerset Freerides, Finally!
Abec11 has finally released its 72mm centerset freeride longboard wheel! Similar to the 72mm classic freeride, with a few new features. Clearly as the title suggest it offers a centerset core rather than the offset of the classic freeride, allowing the wheel to be flipped as it begins to cone. Also the new Abec11 Centerset Freeride wheel features a 39mm contact patch, which is 7mm wider than the classic freeride.
photo courtesy of Sunnyside Longboarding
This wheel is offered in abec11′s classic thane in 78, 81, and 84a covering all of your needs! The most popular duro is by far the 81a since it offers that perfect balance of grip and slide. With these wheels, Abec11 has bridged the gap between freeride and downhill, offering a wheel that covers everything in between. If you haven’t had a chance to check out these wheels be sure to do so! They may be $3 more than their original classic, but they’re worth every penny since you don’t have to worry about coning them out.
-
FREE Unhooked/Slider/Strapless Pro Clinic at Jetty Island!
Motion Boardshop and Best Kiteboarding have put together an afternoon at the Jetty featuring a free unhooked riding and slider clinic taught by International Best Pro rider Joe Ruscito. He’ll be offering tips to riders of every level, whether you are just learning to unhook or want to dial in your s-bend. Or if sliders are more your style, there will be a 2nd clinic dedicated to pressing it out. Joe was in Hood River last weekend for the RoShamBo event and we were lucky enough to convince him to hang around for a few extra days in the Pacific NW. If that wasn’t enough, local legend “Sick” Nick Ward will be teaching a strapless riding clinic so you can learn anything from duck jibes to shov-its.
All the hottest 2011 Best Kiteboarding Gear will be available for demo including the Taboos, Kahoonas and Nemesis. We’ll have some Best Profanity Kiteboards setup for unhooked load and pop, and some Best Short Stick surfboards waxes up for light wind fun. Hopefully there will be a little something for everyone! Remember, it’s all free and open to everyone no matter your skill level!We know it’s a little last minute but it looks like this Friday will bring some warmer temps and hopefully some of that buttery smooth Jetty Island wind as well. We’ll plan to start as early as 2pm if the wind cooperates. But even if the wind doesn’t pan out, we’ll still do a Q&A style session where you can pick Joe and Nick’s brains about tips and tricks for finally nailing the latest move you’ve been working on. This is just an impromptu demo day & riding clinic to take advantage of having a world-renowned pro rider in town.
Afterwards, join us at the new Scuttlebutt Brewery next to the Jetty for some after-sesh pitchers and happy hour appetizers.
-
Earthwing Slide B’s: The Latest and Greatest
A new wheel you may or may not of heard about is the Earthwing Slide B Superballs. These wheels are 72mm and come in red (78a), blue (81a) and black (84a). They have a offset hub and a thick outer lip. A wheel that is comparable to the Earthwing slide B’s are the legendary blue Krypto. Blue Kryptos are notorious for being one of the best freeriding wheels around, sadly they were made in Europe and Krypto stopped making them a long time ago, so finding them is a challenge. Both of these wheels are very distinct, they have the same outer lip attributes, the only difference between them is that the Kryptos bearing hub is side set. Earthwing did a really good job with these wheels, they are some of the most consistent wheels I’ve ridden. We have been using the red (78a) set and so far they leave gigantic thane lines and have no flatspots or any vibrations, the urethane wears very evenly. Hopefully you enjoy them as much as we do! -
Win a Taboo! All You Have to do is Review!
Best Kiteboarding is offering an amazing deal right now. You have the opportunity to win a Best Taboo kite, and all you have to do is demo one and write up a review about it. They really have to twist your arm, huh? Out of all the entries, Best will be picking one winner based on how well they expressed their love for the Taboo, and a second winner will be picked by random out of all the participants.
The sky is the limit when it comes to how you choose to present your review. You can use photos, video, or just make a nice write-up. As you may or may not already know, each Taboo size is dialed in to optimize performance specific wind-range and riding style that accompany it. At Motion, we’re really lucky to have a solid team of Best sponsored riders who have the Taboos available for demo, practically any windy day of the week. Joaquin, Eric V. and Nick Ward are all at your disposal so you can take advantage of their Taboo quivers. And if you ask extra nicely, you may be able to pry away one of the new Nemesis HP V3 kites away from them for a quick spin. : )
Click on this link for more info on submitting your review!
-
Spring Kick-Off Party! Shadies Launch & DROP Film Premiere
Spring is here, the pavement is drying up and the days are getting longer. Time to celebrate MOBO style! On Saturday April 30th Motion Boardshop will be hosting a special event at our Seattle longboarding shop in order to show the Drop: My Life Downhill DVD from Orangefiist. But even more exciting, we’ll be launching a sweet new local clothing line called Shadies, started by well-known longboarder Ken Barrett (organizer of the Dragonfly Jam). Shadies Street Gear is a Seattle-based company that specializes in hip, gritty, apparel for skateboarders, bikers, and other heavy duty urban missions.
DROP is a one hour documentary on downhill skateboarding directed by Marc McCrudden. It is by far the hottest skate film of the year with epic cinematography and top level longboarding. If you longboard, it’s a must see movie. Did we mention it’s FREE too!?!?
In typical MOBO style you can expect plenty of sneak-attack Freebie Throws, a video contest, grub, refreshments and LOTS MORE!! Dress for Shadiness and Steeze and Let’s Party Up!!
Come longboarding with Motion, the SHADIES and Marc McCrudden’s jaw-droppingly beautiful film, ‘DROP: My Life Downhill’, Saturday, April 30th, 2011!! See you there! If you RSVP then we can make sure and have enough grub and freebies for everyone!!
-
Blowout Sale! 2010 Slingshot Octane 13m Kites for $899
We just wanted to let you know about a screaming deal on a light-wind kite for the quickly arrive spring/summer Jetty Island kiteboarding season. We’re blowing out last year’s 2010 Slingshot Octane 13m kites for only $899. If you do the math, that’s almost $1000 off their original price. I’m no economist but I do know a good deal when I see one, and this is a darn good one. You can fly the SS Octane with any 4-line bar that features equal line lengths. So if you already have other SLE kites in your quiver, there’s a good chance that you can use your existing bar on the Octane. You will want a bar that’s around 23″ in length in order to get that snappy reaction time and quick turning.
However, for only $100, you can add on a 2010 Comp Stick Control Bar which was basically a $450 bar last year. Did I mention that the kite and bar are brand new too?!? So for a 2010 Slingshot Octane 13m complete with bar, lines, bag and pump, you’re only in $999 which is down from the original price of $1949. These kites are going fast and we don’t expect them to stay in stock long.
The 13m is an efficient light-wind machine that’s perfect for even a 200lb guy in the lightest winds. The bar itself is a feat of engineering featuring a center line swivel so you can backroll to your heart’s desire without having to untwist your lines manually. It also has a streamlined push away chicken loop safety release, 800lb lines and below the bar sheeting. See it in action for yourself…
**Note: We also have 1 2010 Slingshot Octane 9m complete left in stock for $899 total
-
2011 Landyachtz Longboard Release
It’s only been two weeks since the official spring premier of the 2011 Landyachtz longboards lineup and some of our shelves are already empty. The two obvious heavy-hitters for this season are the much talked about Landyachtz Switchblade longboard and Wolf Shark. The Switchblade is the answer for everyone who loves the double-drop concept behind the Demonseed but found the standing platform to be just a little too long. It’s got really aggressive concave to lock you in too. We blew through a record 20 decks in only a weeks time which makes us think that the Switchblade is going to be the most popular board of 2011.
The Landyachtz Wolf Shark deck plays on the latest topmount speedboard craze but takes it a step further than other longboards. The sanded gas pedals are a nice feature and you can’t go wrong with that 9two5 rocker/concave combo. When you add in the multiple wheelbase options with corresponding “shark bite” wheel wells you have a clear winner. At the moment, we only have a few left in stock and they’ve been flying off the shelves.
Most of the other decks from Landy feature updated graphics from last year and let me just say the colors pop! Their finish work on the graphics is really top notch compared to other manufacturers. You may not like all the artwork but you can’t disagree that they did an awesome job laying up the graphics. The Wolf Shark is either a love it or hate it graphic and I happen to love it for how tacky it is.
We’ve also been flying through their new wheels, especially the zombie hawgs which now come in 78,80,82,84,and 88 durometers. Since Landyachtz has been so busy trying to keep up with demand for these hot new products, we’re going to drive up to their Vancouver-based factory ourselves and pick up more Switchblades, Zombies, and other goodies. So you can expect to see those out of stock items available again later this week.
-
Five Mile Reps the NW at NYC Longboarding Expo
Check out our boys from Five Mile reppin’ the Northwest with their revolutionary longboarding decks at the first annual Longboarding Expo in New York City. Dancin’ Dan speaks briefly about how Five Mile is dedicated to providing hand-crafted decks with controlled surfaces so skaters can ride with ease at higher speeds. From triple drops to centered rocker and angled pockets, the guys at Five Mile longboards have thought of it all. One of our favorites right now is the A-6 Intruder which is a fun freeride deck that almost all of our shop guys own themselves.
If you don’t want to watch the whole thing, you can fast forward to 20 minutes to see Dancin Dan in action.
-
The 2011 Mystic Shadow Harness Hits the Shelves
Just last week we got our shipment of the 2011 Mystic Kiteboarding lineup. While Mystic is known for their kick ass kiteboarding harnesses, they have tons of other amazing accessories this year. We stocked up on everything from the Shadow and Warrior III harnesses to wetsuits, hook knives, layering jackets, impact vests, travel bags and even waterproof car seats.
The Mystic Shadow harness was first introduced last year and instantly became a bestseller. And if you ask me, it has everything to do with it’s ultra lightweight design that allows for mobility while still providing substantial back support. When you factor in the affordable price, it’s no surprise that this harness is a winner.
Thankfully Mystic saw how much everyone loved the Shadow last year so they stuck with the whole “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” attitude and didn’t over-tweak the design. They made the smart decision to stay with a proven product and managed to make it better than before. Instead, you’ll notice that the 2011 Mystic Shadow harness comes with the updated spreader bar pad and a beefed up covering for the spreader bar straps. It comes complete with the double-blade Mystic safety knife and back safety leash for clipping on your kite leash. The safety leash comes in particularly handy if you’re practicing handle passes. Come on in, try one on for size, and you’ll know what everyone has been raving about.
-
MOBO Exclusive: 24-Grit “Gnasty Gnar” Grip Tape
One of the best parts about being in the longboarding industry is that there is a constant flow of cool new products being introduced into the market. There’s no shortage of innovative ideas taking shape and hitting the hands of consumers. The sport is growing faster than shops and manufacturers can keep up with even! One product that we are suuuper excited about and just happen to have exclusively at Motion Boardshop, is a new grip tape: 24-grit gator grip tape.The standard 36-grit gatorgrip which is known around town as “gnar grip” has a new 24-grit cousin that we’re stocking. The lower the number, the gnarlier the grip, so we’re calling this stuff “gnasty gnar”. It’s a real knuckle buster and not for the faint of heart. Made out of mineral abrasive double sealed with an epoxy resin, this grip will make your longboard deck stick to your feet like peanut butter.
And on top of that, it’ll take longer to wear down than standard grip. Considering that it’s only $3 more for a board length than regular gnar grip, you’d be a fool not to just go for the gold. Just be smarter than we were when applying your grip and wear some beefy gloves. Never gripped a board before? No problem. Just follow our step by step guide on how to grip tape a longboard deck.
-
Kyle Martin Joins the Eh Team-New Video
Sounds like Landy has a few new names to add to their already impressive roster. Kyle Martin and Billy “Bones” Meiners to be exact. Here’s what Landyachtz had to say about their new addition…
“We are super excited to announce that Kyle Martin and Billy Meiners will be joining the EhTeam!
Kyle Martin has become one of the planet’s most progressive and influential longboarders. He has undeniable style and a serious level of gnar that we can all be inspired by. Thanks to Kyle’s new deal with Landyachtz, he’ll be able to spend more time progressing and blowing our minds. Check out the New Eh-Team episode featuring Kyle’s insane skills.”
Kyle absolutely rips it up in this video, taking freeriding to a whole new level. He’s rocking the Landyachtz 9two5 longboard deck with 80a Zombie Hawgs longboard wheels.
-
Omen Carbon Matrix Longboard Teaser Video
RAAAAR! The long awaited Omen Longboards Carbon Matrix Deck has finally been unleashed from it’s cage. You’ve probably noticed we haven’t posted many videos lately but that’s because we’ve been busy perfecting this longboard, going through numerous prototypes, and tweaking every little angle. We finally nailed it down with what we think could be the perfect board. We had so many questions from longboarders who were looking for a board that could do it all, freeride and downhill. We built this longboard deck specifically to fill that need. It’s stiff, light, underflushed, has 3/4″ drop and .666 concave, symmetrical and has amazing pockets to lock your feet in. Check out this teaser with more videos of the Omen Carbon Matrix to come.
For a limited time, you can snag one of these beauties for only $299 as part of the pre-production limited edition promotion. The decks don’t come with a graphic but they do come with a red texalium top that will only be produced in this batch. So everyone will know you got one of the few pre-production Omens. Once this batch is gone and the graphics are on, the price will go up to $349 so get em now and save a few bucks.
-
Longboard Wheel Review: 70mm Fireball Incendo 84a
Fireball just came out with a little brother for the Beast by launching the Fireball Incendo wheel (70mm and 84a). The Beast is one of our favorite longboard wheels for freeriding because it has a big ‘ol contact patch with a really nice sugary sliding urethane which allows it to wear consistently (no chop and hop feeling as you slide).
The only problem with the Beasts is that topmount riders inevitably get wheelbite because of the size. Now, you can just use the 70mm Incendo version though. It’s a little smaller and a little driftier because the wheel is rotating faster.Here are a few solid reasons why we’re really loving the Incendo…
-The wide contact patch means they still grip really solidly
-They have a really sugary urethane that wears consistently
-The large bevels on the outside will decrease any chance of chunking or having an odd wear pattern
-They get driftier as you wear them down becasue the contact patch gets even bigger and the actual wheel gets smaller (you’re applying less vertical leverage to a larger contact patch which makes it driftier)
-The fact that they are pre broken in really sets them apart from a lot of other really wide wheels (most pre-broken in freeride wheels are pretty narrow)
-Even though they aren’t the grippiest wheel, they are still wheels that will never be the wrong wheel to be riding, whether you’re commuting or standup sliding, we’ve even DH’d on them too
-Even though they are an 84a, the lips are progressively tapered to soften the lip and still grip and it doesn’t feel as hard as most 84a wheels even though they still slide like an 84a wheel.
-
Tomorrow’s Forecast? Rayne-ing in Seattle!
We just got word that Rayne longboards has a new sponsorship and marketing guru named Les. He just happens to be traveling around the Pacific NW and is visiting our friends in Portland right now. Tomorrow, he’ll be up in our neck of the woods and plans on visiting our Seattle longboard shop. And while he’s at it, he’ll be handing out tons of Rayne swag to anyone who shows up. So get your moms to bring you by our shop after school tomorrow because Les will be here around 4 o clock. Or, figure out the bus route to get here and be the first in line. Afterall, who doesn’t love free t-shirts and other goodies?
We’re pumped to meet Les and finally show the guys at Rayne what MOBO is all about. Hopefully they’ll bring us a sweet banner we can put up on our longboard wall! In the meantime, check out our video on the Isis, Hustler and Vendetta if you haven’t already seen it:
-
The Boots vs. Straps Debate
I think I can safely say now that kiteboarding with boots is a trend that is here to stay. I think a lot of people are turned off initially by the fact that boots can be hard to get into. However, that’s the same thing that draws most people to boots in the first place: they’re hard to get out of so you lose your board less, allowing you to spend more time practicing tricks and less time body dragging upwind for your kiteboard. Kiteboarding magazine recently published this article which breaks down the pros and cons of riding with boots.
If you’re into wakestyle riding, boots will improve your style and performance. If you find a good pair of boots, they’re usually more comfortable than straps and they will allow your feet to connect with your board like none other. You don’t have to worry about having one or both of your feet some out of your straps while you’re mid-air. That fact also makes it safer for hitting sliders too. Since you can load up with a lot more power when you’re rocking boots, you can explode off the water for maximum wakestyle performance.
The downside, like I mentioned before, is that they can be hard to get in and out of. Most companies make an entry-level boot without laces but since they’re designed to be snug on your feet, you will have to work to get locked in. In the event that you have a really gnarly wipeout, there’s a chance that one or both of your feet may come out of the board. It’s even hard to get boots on in the water than it is on land because you don’t have a solid surface to push against. Since boots come up to your calf, it can restrict your mobility making it harder to do grabs.
At the end of the day, we love boots because they’re a whole new aspect to the sport of kiteboarding. Just like riding strapless, it’ll be a new challenge to reinvigorate your love of kitesurfing. If you want to get into wakestyle riding, we recommend a kitesurfing kite than can perform well unhooked, like the Best Taboo kite.
-
Win a Rayne Avenger By Playing S.K.A.T.E
Wanna win an Avenger from Rayne Longboards? I know I would. All you have to do is play a game of S.K.A.T.E. put on by Kyle Martin. He’ll be picking a winner based on the video submitted with the most GNAR, which he will determine by your style and the number of tricks you complete in your video. Just get your buddy to shoot some video of you sticking a pendy, stalefish, early grab, or whatever you do best. Then upload that video to the Facebook “Game of S.K.A.T.E. Video Page” and get all your friends to “like” it. The top ten video entries with the most likes will then be evaluated by Kyle to see who has the most gnar.
He’ll be monitoring the page so if you have any questions on how to do a certain trick, he’ll try and give you some pointers. Just like our video contest, you have to wear a helmet, and Rayne wants you to wear gloves too. You have until October 7th to make your video and pimp it out to all your friends so get going! That Avenger longboarding deck could be yours!
-
Spokane Showdown Recap
We helped sponsor the Spokane Showdown Outlaw Race put on by Nate Braks by sending out some longboard wheels and other goodies. Here’s what he had to say about the event:
“Everybody was REALLY stoked on th race and all of the prizes. People loved the motion boardshop package. RipCity Skate’s team and Cody from Five Mile came out and ripped the local Spokane hills like they were nothing in the race. Cody from five mile took 1st in the DH, local Spokane Rider David Uhlenkott from Dopamine Longboards took 2nd, and Jay from RipCity took 3rd.
After the Downhill race we all went out for lunch, picked a hill to ride, and went free riding on a local hill. Using the Dan Dengler Longboards van, we shuttled 13 skaters up and down a great hill and got a ton of runs and footage. On Sunday, everyone met up out at the location for the push race, which was seven miles of hard pushing and fast hills. The push race ended up being an all Spokane podium with Nick Boyd taking first, Nate Braks from Dan Dengler Longboards (me) taking second, and Stan Dumbrouski taking 3rd. After that we all played a large game of ninja, which Garai one, and went to Dan’s to chill and watch footage. “
Since the event was such a huge success, we hope to make it out for the next one! Hopefully we’ll have some longboard decks to donate to the next outlaw too.
-
Helmets For a Promise
We’ve been working closely with the Ian Tilmann Foundation to support their cause for helmet safety. If you’ve seen any of our longboarding videos on Youtube then you’ve probably heard us mention at the end that if you can’t afford a helmet, contact us and we’ll help to get one in your hands. Well, that’s all thanks to the Ian Tilmann Foundation, started by the parents of a young skater who lost his life after a skating accident without a helmet. Remember you don’t have to be going fast or get hit by a car to have fatal injuries if you’re not wearing a helmet!
-
Vote MOBO As the #1 Skate Shop in Washington!
We are totally stoked to be a part of this year’s King5 “Best of Western Washington” competition that lets local Northwesters vote on everything from the best burger joint to the best auto body shop. And guess what lies between those two categories? BEST SKATE SHOP! In fact, our Seattle longboard shop just happen to be in the #1 position so far….but who’s counting.
All our favorite people rallied behind us to inch us past the corporate behomth Zumiez. We still need your votes though! Cause when the guys over at Zumiez find out that we snuck ahead of them to snag 58% of the votes, they may opt for guerilla warfare tactics. In all seriousness though, we are still blown away by the support we get from not just our local skate scene, but people all over the world that watch our longboarding videos on our Youtube Channel. Moving into the new shop was a huge milestone in our lives and we couldn’t have done that without you all. And we wouldn’t be the #1 skateshop without all the MOBO love either. So give us a vote please!
Vote Here to make us the #1 Skate Shop in Washington
-
Update On the Video Contest
We’re officially ten days into the first-ever Motion Boardshop Video Contest and it’s time for a little update. When we first decided to do a video contest, we expected maybe 25 entries. That’s what everyone told us to expect. What a bunch of skeptics. By the time midnight on August 31st rolled around, we’d received *60* entries, and most of them kicked totally @ss.
We made the brave decision to allow entries from all over the world, which for us meant the possibility of a heft shipping shipping tab in addition to the already expensive prize. Longboarders from Spain, Norway, Sweden, Puerto Rico, Canada, Australia, and our own backyard in the Pacific northwest all entered. It’s amazing to watch them all and see the common thread of longboarding throughout the world. Continue Reading →
-
Motion Boardshop Has a New Location!
After 9 days of building walls, painting, polishing floors and moving in shipping containers (not to mention moving hundreds of longboard decks, wheels, trucks, kites, kiteboards, standup paddleboards, wetsuits, and a heavy-ass flat screen TV) we are finally moved into our new Seattle longboard shop! We tripled the size of our old building and the parking lot which will be a huge bonus for customers. Plus, we’re easily accessible from the 2 biggest arterials in Western Washington, the I-5 freeway and Aurora Avenue (aka Highway 99), along with being about 4 blocks from Greenlake.
We’re super excited to have the space to expand our inventory to offer our customers all the latest and greatest new products including skateboard decks and accessories. Plus, Black Dog Longboards will be manufactured at our shop which means if you want a custom Black Dog longboard with a specific wheelbase, width, or length, we have a direct source to getting you your ideal deck.
-
Motion is moving to 84th and Aurora!
Motion Boardshop announces new Greenwood location
Seattle neighborhood central to eco-friendly board sport destinations
Lake Forest Park, Wash. – August 23, 2010 - Motion Boardshop (MOBO) is moving to a new location on Sept. 3, 2010 and will celebrate its grand opening on Sept. 12. MOBO’s new address is 8316 Aurora Avenue North, Seattle, 98103 (formerly a Karin’s Beauty Supply Store).
The Seattle longboards shop will have a larger selection of products like longboard decks thanks to the increased space, as well as more parking, and easy access from I-5. Since its arrival to Lake Forest Park in 2008, the business has quickly outgrown its location.
“We’re going to miss the tight-knit community we came to know and love in Lake Forest Park,” Jason Clack, MOBO owner said. “We’re excited to establish MOBO as a similar staple in the Greenwood neighborhood.”
The new store, located near the intersection of 85th and Aurora, is close to many longboarding, paddleboarding, and kiteboarding destinations including Green Lake, Golden Gardens, Carkeek Park, Richmond Beach, and Magnusson Park.
Based on its proximity to Green Lake, Clack expects the new location to be especially convenient for standup paddleboard rentals and the Woodland Skatepark in Lower Woodland Park at 5201 Green Lake Way North. Clack plans to sell skateboards with the increased retail space of the new store.
“We love board sports because they are so eco and green friendly,” Clack said. “They use water, wind and gravity (or pavement) as opposed to sports that need gas or whatever else.”
Offering kiteboarding lessons while the sport was in its infancy, Clack opened Seattle Kiteboarding Center (now Motion Boardshop) almost 10 years ago in Everett, WA. Today he still operates his kiteboarding school under the same name. It wasn’t until the shop moved to the Lake Forest Park neighborhood that MOBO became a local mecca for longboarding and downhill speedboarding. The business also expanded into areas of stand-up paddleboarding and skimboarding.
Having grown up in the greater Seattle area and collectively skating and longboarding for 40 years, Clack and his wife Katie have centered their business on sharing their passion of board sports and living life to the fullest. The Clack’s have grown their business from the ground up, thanks to the support of their YouTube following and local crew. MOBO has been a welcoming place for many skaters to meet, talk shop and watch video footage.
“Our local crew has not only helped our success, but they have invoked the excitement of board sports in this community,” Clack said. “Without them, we definitely would not be having as fun. We wouldn’t be MOBO without them.”
For more information, call (206) 372-5268 or email Shannon@motionboardshop.com. To see the massive selection that Motion Boardshop offers, check out their online store at http://motionboardshop.com.
*Many thanks to our new neighbors from mygreenlake.com, greenlakeloop.com, phinneywood.com, and auroraseattle.com for posting us on their blogs!
-
Free event featuring photographer Clark Little
Thought everyone might want to know about this free event featuring Hawaii North Shore Photographer Clark Little’s Movie/Slideshow at REI Seattle on Friday, September 3 at 7:00 pm.
Clark Little’s photography has recently been featured in National Geographic, Nature’s Best Photography, Geo, Nikon World, Sierra Magazine and
on TV shows Good Morning America, Today Show and Inside Edition.As a pioneer of surfing the Waimea Bay shorebreak, Clark’s photography captures the oceans waves from the inside out. It’s pretty spectacular work, and if you’re an ocean lover like us, definitely worth checking out.
2010 Clark Little Slideshow & Book Signing Tour
We would love to attend ourselves but since we’re moving our Seattle longboards shop to a new location, we might not have enough time. : ( Hopefully we can finish up the move quick to make it to this aevent!
-
Watch MOBO Teamrider Jerica on Tru TV Tonight!
Tonight, one of the MOBO teamriders, Jerica Green, will be featured on the one and only Tru TV as part of their 20 Most Shocking Series. Last year, Jerica took a nasty fall while navigating a corner in one of our local neighborhoods and the longboard wheels on her Five Mile longboard deck didn’t grip enough. Though she didn’t break any bones, she tore up the ligaments and tendons in her arm pretty extensively. When you watch this video, you’ll understand why. Luckily she was smart enough to wear pads and a full face helmet when she was out riding. Though the injury took her out of the running for the Maryhil Festival of Speed last year, she’s now fully recovered and was able to compete this July. It’s a lot easier to watch now that I know she’s okay but this video still makes me cringe every time I see it.
-
Driven By Wind Photo Contest
There is still time to enter the Best Kiteboarding Driven By Wind Photo Contest! Get your photos in by August 31st for a chance to travel with four friends in the Cape Verde Islands on the Best Odyssey. It’s the kiteboarder’s trip of a lifetime!
To enter, simply purchase a Best kiteboarding kite, board or bar online at www.bestkiteboarding.com, or from your favorite local retailer ; ) and you’ll be eligible to submit your photos!
All submissions are available for viewing and voting, so tell you friends! Photos will also be judged by a professional panel on their originality/creativity, humor, and prominence of the Best Kiteboarding product. A winner will be picked on September 15,2010.
We’ve got tons of Best gear to get you started! Check out the Best Kahoona kite, Nemesis HP, and Bularoo V2 kites! Not to mention the Spark Twin Tip kiteboard, available in 124, 130, 135 and 140 sizes, or the Best Performance Redline Bar.
The trip will take place sometime between January 15 and March 15, 2011. Secure your spot! Participants can enter up to five photographs for each qualified purchase. It’s a winning combination—buy new kite, take picture with new kite, go on cruise with new kite. It doesn’t get any better than that!
-
Maryhill featured in the New York Times
Maryhill, the 2.2 mile speedway for downhill located in Goldendale, Washington, has graced longboarders with her many gifts. Smooth pavement, tricky turns, and best of all, an amazing view with an escape from traffic. But Ms. Mary, oh Ms. Mary. This is too good. A featured video in the New York Times? Big high five!!!
“With an inclusive, do-it-yourself ethic, longboarding has grown as a grass-roots movement mostly outside the established skateboard industry and spread from Southern California to places like Brooklyn and Bend, Ore.”
— Skateboarding Glides Into a New Phase, The New York Times, July 20, 2010.
This article is one to check out for sure. Not only does it feature a killer video on Maryhill, it mentions some of the sweet beginnings of longboarding. Venom. Longboard Larry. Earthwing. Orangatang. Sector9. Definitely the bread, butter, eggs and milk to our industry.
Photo Courtesy of the NY Times
“There’s no stigma,” said Larry Peterson, who made 2,500 boards in a dairy barn in Salem, Ore., last year under the brand Longboard Larry. “It’s one of the sports where someone who’s 40 can go skate with someone who’s 13 and nobody thinks it’s weird.”
We couldn’t agree with Larry more, and that’s the very reason we love longboarding so much. Even guys who are “older” and grew up pushing around on longboard decks 30 years ago feel comfortable when they join the local crew at the parking garage.
“It’s really all new,” Marcus Bandy, 37, the Orangatang team manager claimed. “It’s like when punk rock or hip-hop first came out. It’s a whole new thing, and the kids are loving it.”
He added: “People are always going to create their own stuff and that’s what’s happening here. These guys are creating skateboarding and reinventing skateboarding.”
As a Seattle longboard shop, we’re excited to be a part of the movement and can’t wait to see what the future brings.
-
Kids into Kiteboarding? Leave it to the Pros!
Youth Empire: The Future Generation of Kiteboarding
Cabrinha Northwest Race Series features pro riders, youth enrichment
Lake Forest Park, Wash. – July 14, 2010 - Cabrinha kitesurfing brand will host “Youth Empire,” an event in conjunction with the 2010 Cabrinha Northwest Race Series kiteboarding competition on July 24 and 25 at Jetty Island.
Youth Empire aims to ignite the interest of younger kiteboarders. Youth under 18 years old are invited to learn about kiting, ride together, and gain tips from professional riders including Damien Leroy, Jesse Richman, Matt Collins, Andre Phillip, Brandon Bowe, Matt Elsasser and Kirsten Ulmer. The children and teens will learn how to fly kitesurfing kites during the day.
“We are excited to show kids the kite scene and see what the future generation of kiteboarding will be,” Ulmer, a team rider for Cabrinha, said.
Motion Boardshop will also host a “Meet the Riders” event at 8 p.m. on Saturday, July 24 at Lombardi’s Italian Restaurant, 1620 West Marine View Drive, in Everett. Locals will get a chance to shake hands with Cabrinha’s professional kiteboarders. The event is free and open to the public.
Spectators are encouraged to view the kiteboarding races. Parking is available at the 10th Street Boat Launch and Marine Park for $3. The Everett Yacht Club will provide free transportation from the boat launch to the island.
“Youth Empire is truly a once in a lifetime chance for kids and teens to come out to Jetty Island and try the sport of kiteboarding. The fact that they’ll be learning from the best riders in the world is an unbelievable opportunity for them,” Motion Boardshop co-owner, Katie Clack, said. “I wish something like this was around when I was learning how to kiteboard. We are so excited to be part of this organization.”
Youth Empire participants do not need to register in advance. For more information, go to www.motionboardshop.com or visit the Youth Empire Kiteboarding Facebook page. If you want to meet the pros behind some of the hottest products on the market like Andre Phillip’s Cabrinha Custom kiteboard, you can also come to the Meet and Greet later on Saturday night.
-
Maryhill FOS Wrap-Up!
Just wanted to make a quick shout-out to congratulate Motion’s junior teamriders, Ryan Heffernan and Jack Neffner for finishing 1st and 2nd place, respectively, at the Maryhill Festival of Speed this weekend! Our guys were leading the pack all five days and finished strong in the end. Since Ryan held the fastest qualifying time out of all the junior 1′s, he also took home a sweet Never Summer longboard skateboard deck too. Both riders scored TONS of swag during the week long event and we’re stoked for them. They deserve it all!
The weekend was full of big upsets with lots of riders noting that they had bad starts which made it so they didn’t qualify for the next round. Mischo Erban claimed his shoe got stepped on at the starting line and after taking a tumble he wasn’t able to catch up to the pack. Kevin Reimer snagged a new record time on the course but after running off the road during the finals, he ended up in 2nd place, even though he consistently finished first in all his heats. Scoot Smith finished 3rd with venom bushings creator, Zak Maytum, scoring a 1st place finish.
Since the event took place on the 4th of July, I was stoked for America to win! Brianne Davies took first pace for the women and local Portland rider Alex Tongue finished first for the junior 2 division. Thanks for a great weekend everyone! More to come later.
-
Landyachtz riders coming to Mobo June 29!
The Landyachtz Loco Express will be screeching into MOBO on Tuesday, June 29, 2010 at 2 p.m.
Landyachtz has been carting around the EH Team riders in a refurbished retro red van, taking them to locations like Albuquerque, San Francisco, and Berkeley for different events and filming along the way. Follow their adventures at http://www.locoexpress.ca
If we are lucky, they might bring their mascot, Chewy the African Pygmy Goat.
The EH Team will meet with our very own MOBO team to rip some local hills. Lookout for footage to come. In the meantime, check out this video of the team’s latest adventure: LOCO on the Road Update #4.
Come down and meet the team!
-
Jetty Island Kiteboarding Summer Race Series
Leading kitesurfing brand Cabrinha will host the first annual Cabrinha Northwest Race Series kiteboarding competition at Jetty Island in Everett on June 26 and 27, and July 24 and 25, 2010.
Kiteboarding, the new age golf for many, is a sport similar to windsurfing. Instead of a sail, a large inflated kite towers 80 feet above a rider to power their board through water.
With a strong community of kiteboarders frequenting its local restaurants and hotels on weekends, the sport has brought new life to Everett’s waterfront. Sponsoring partners Motion Boardshop, in Lake Forest Park, and the Everett Yacht Club organized the competition to give the local scene at Jetty Island national exposure.
Jetty Island is a backyard playground for many kiteboarders in the Northwest. Dubbed the “Steady Jetty,” the area is known as one of the best locations for the sport because of its warm, shallow waters and smooth, predictable winds.
“This race is a big deal for the local kiteboarding community,” Walter Young, race director said. “It will be the first of its kind for the area.”
Spectators are encouraged to attend the event. The start time of each race will be wind dependent, beginning as early as 2 p.m., and lasting until 8 p.m. Parking is available at the 10th Street Boat Launch and Marine Park for $3. The Everett Yacht Club will provide free transportation from the boat launch to Jetty Island.
The race area will be set on the Northwest side of the island. Two classes will be held for racing; an open race board class, and a twin-tip, surfboard and skim board class. An awards ceremony will be held on July 25, the final evening of the race series.
Competitors interested in racing can enter by registering on race day, or online at http://pskite.org, in General Kiteboarding Discussion under the topic 2010 Cabrinha Northwest Race Series.
Kiters must be entered in the Season Series to be eligible for season scoring and cash prizes. Participants must pay a $60 entry fee for the Season Series or $25 per Night Drop In, in addition to a $25 jersey fee. A mandatory skippers meeting will be held at 4 p.m. each day of competition to review the race start time, race course, safety, rules and regulations. Rules of the competition will be defined as in The Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) in ISAF Appendix BB-Experimental Kiteboarding Competition Rules (available from http://www.sailing.org/28163.php).
The event is sponsored by Cabrinha, the Everett Yacht Club, Motion Boardshop, The Kiteboarder Magazine, PSKite.org, Dakine, Hyperflex Wetsuits, Transcend Apparel, the Port of Everett and the Everett Parks and Recreation Department.
For more information about the event, contact Motion Boardshop at (206) 372-5268 or Walter Young, race director, at walteryoung1@comcast.net.
To register for the race, click here.
Motion is a local authority on kitesurfing with a huge variety of kitesurfing kites and a renowned kiteboarding lesson program. We carry manufacturers such as Best Kiteboarding, Slingshot, Cabrinha, and Wainman Hawaii.
-
MOBO Takes the Podium at Gold Rush 2010!
MOBO team riders Spencer Smith and Max Wipperman placed first and second in the 16 and under group at the 2nd Annual Gold Rush Challenge 2010, a downhill longboard skateboard race in Britannia Beach, B.C., on May 29 and 30, 2010.
“It’s one of the best organized races I’ve been too,” Smith said.
The 2.2 mile downhill course featured 10,000 vertical feet with three hairpins and five hay bale corners. According to UNKLE.ca, the Gold Rush course is “building a reputation as one of the most intense and extreme longboard skateboard races in the world,” and in North America, known as one of the most aggressive.
About 120 riders competed. Reigning champ Kevin Reimer from Vancouver, B.C., took first overall. Unfortunately, a lot of riders hurt themselves during qualifying and had to drop out for the final heats. Despite the wet pavement, Gold Rush was surprisingly fun in the rain, race participant and MOBO rider Chip Wood said.
“Max was rippin’,” Smith said. “He killed it in the juniors and was keeping up with the guys in the rain.”
Smith said the pavement was a little more worn than Washington’s Mary Hill, which made sliding and drifting easier.
His setup for race day? A Rayne Longboards Killswitch, handcrafted trucks made by his father, and Abec11 ZigZags, helping him pre drift and grip corners.
“Lee put on a pretty great event,” Smith said. Smith took home a deck, an Arson sweatshirt, and his first fatty check, for $250.
Look out for upcoming races, including Mary Hill, Seattle Slope Style, and the World Cup IGSA.
MOBO Teamrider Spencer Smith took first in 16 & Under in the Gold Rush 2010 Challenge.
MOBO Teamrider Max Wipperman took second in 16 & Under.
MOBO Teamrider Liam Kearney also participated in the race.
-
Slingshot Octane Sale Blowout!
We just posted an unreal Slingshot Rev2 sale last week and some RPMs that we were dumping prices on. Well we were able to get our hands on the only remaining Slingshot Octane kites that were left in the warehouse. Once these babies are gone, that’s it folks. Til next year at least.
With the light wind season kick in, you’ll want to take advantage of these 13m Slingshot Octanes for ridiculous prices. Only 2 9m Octanes left in stock and a handful of 13s. That being said, you can score a sweet deal on pretty much any Slingshot kite we have in stock right now. Don’t forget we price match too in case you find anyone with a lower price. We won’t be undersold! : )
Keep in mind these prices are for a complete Octane with the hottest item on the market, the 2010 Comp Stick Bar from Slingshot. It’s the safest, most versatile control bar you’ll ever own. Even if you have other kite brands in your quiver, chances are you can use this bar on those kites as well. If you have any questions about the compatibility just give us a shout and we’ll let you know.
2010 Slingshot 9m Octane With Comp Stick Bar (orig. $1549) NOW $1095
2010 Slingshot 13m Octane With Comp Stick Bar (orig. $1749) NOW $1195
**Remember! Once they’re gone, they’re gone!**
Here’s how Slingshot defines the Octanes:
“Characteristics such as massive boost, unmatched range, light bar pressure, quick turning, kite loops without consequence, and solid surf performance are what define the design and engineering behind the 2010 Octane. It has a unique ultra compact stablilizing bridle and comes complete with the NEW Comp Stick control bar setting the performance level at the peak.”
-
Closeout- Slingshot Rev2 Kite and Board Package
Ahh, time for some spring cleaning. For us, that means blowing out out last years gear to make room for the latest and greatest 2010 has to offer. Right now, we’re dropping prices like hot tamales. We still have a few remaining Slingshot kites from 2009 that we need to move. So if you didn’t think you could afford new gear this year and you’d have to settle for someone else’s sloppy seconds, think again! With our latest package, we can save you over $1149 all together on a brand new kite (with new bar!) and board as well.
Need a harness too? We’ll cut you a deal and throw in either a Dakine Renegade harness or a Best Waist Harness for only $100 more, that saves you an extra $50 right there.
This particular package features the Slingshot Rev 2 from 2009. A major improvement on the original, the Rev2 is solid with unparalleled stability, relaunch and responsiveness. You can ride this kite in any condition from flat water to big waves, without having to sacrifice any performance. You also get to snag a top of the line board from Slingshot’s lineup, such as the SX, Misfit or Lunacy
This Slingshot Rev2 Kite and Board Package is an in-shop special that we’re making available for only our favorite customers. You’ll find this package online but if you really want the good pricing, you’ll have to either call, email or hit us up on our LiveChat.
**Must purchase kite with board to get the SUPER SUMMER SAVINGS!
Board (complete with straps, pads and fins)
SX (originally $599)–$400
Misfit (originally $650)–$425
Len10 (originally $750)–$500Rev 2 Kite Only
7m (originally $1349)– $725
9m (originally $1399) –$749
11m (originally $1499) –$799
13m (originally $1599) –$825Rev2 Complete
7m (originally $1599)–$850
9m (originally $1649)–$875
11m (originally $1749)–$925
13m (originally $1849)–$950On a 13m Rev 2 Complete with brand new bar and a new 09 Slingshot Lunacy kiteboard this package saves you $1149.
kiteboard package
-
Holesom Longboard Review
Holesom Longboards is a new, green-friendly company based in Laguna Beach, California. The company uses fresh bamboo, hemp and 8 holes along each side. Holesome joined up with legendary custom longboard shaper, “Longboard Larry” to perfect the shape and construction. The idea for the Street Sweeper longboard deck was inspired by everyone’s favorite youtube classic, the Whirling Dervish, with Adam Colton.
It took about 15 months of going through 16 different prototypes and playing around with various hole placements before they finally agreed on the final product. Wonder what the holes are for? They decrease weight, add extra grip for your feet, lock in your feet during standies, and make for a snappy rebound.
Nate says the board rides similar to a Dervish but is able to carve more. Top mounting gives more vertical leverage to your wheels during turns, increasing grip, and really powering you out of the turn with its balanced flex pattern—which means the board doesn’t want to slide as much.
“It’s a super nice, versatile board,” Blackburn says. “ Multiple wheel base options also makes it easy to customize.”
Board Features:
40 x 9.25 inch
Multiple truck mount bi-directional
Cambered and concave
Constructed of hemp and bamboo
-
Shoreline Outlaw Downhill Longboard Race Recap
Thirty riders packed the house at Motion Boardshop for the Shoreline Outlaw at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 22. Luckily the sun was out all day for some Downhill and Old School races.
The race was held locally in Shoreline on Andrews, Sherrill and Ya Gotta Listen Hills. After warming up with two practice runs, riders took to the streets for seven heats of downhill pavement. Each heat featured four riders, with six riders in the final two heats.
The final heat standings:
- Max Wipperman
- Trevor Preston
- Gabe Trainer
- Nate Blackburn/Ryan Heffrenan, Kaleb Haddish
First place rider Max Wipperman walked away with a brand new Comet VooDoo Doll longboard deck. Other prizes included a set of Lime 70 mm wheels, and set of bushings. Prizes were hooked up by Motion Boardshop
-
2010 Bear Grizzly 852 Trucks On Our Shelves
Woop woop! Yeah that’s right. Bear Grizzlies are in the HOUSE! We got a huge shipment from Landyachtz and unpacked a case of their improved 2010 Bear 852 Longboard Trucks. Our teamrider Trevor said it best: “Landyachtz is one of the few companies that’s always moving in the right direction with their products. They listen to what people say and make the improvements.” Amen. These trucks are super sexy too, even the new baseplates look like the hourglass shape of a woman’s body.
According to Landyachtz, “The new geometry and bushing seats will give you the best combination of lean, rebound, and response possible. All the goods of the 2009′s are still here, including the sweet-spot 181mm axle width, flipable hanger for cruising and bombing options, and a baseplate shape/hole pattern to mount to just about any board out there today including drop-through’s.”
Skate[Slate] did a comprehensive report on the trucks (here) and found that they are….
- -10 grams lighter than before
- -twice as strong (less chance of bending your axles)
- -wider bushing seat to accommodate any bushings
- -thicker pivot cup wall
- -graphite impregnated pivot cup
- -oval shaped bushing seats for better turning and less restriction
The best part is that they’re still only $47 for a set of these longboard skateboard trucks.
-
MOBO Now Carrying Surf-Rodz Trucks!
At Motion Boardshop, we’re on a constant mission to find the best products available. We look for longboard gear with amazing performance, long-lasting durability, a great warranty, and an affordable price. Our latest and greatest find are Surf-Rodz trucks and we’re super stoked to carry them in our shop. They’re one of the few companies out there using an eco-friendly manufacturing process to create technically advanced and innovative products.
I was surprised to find out that they also make highly technical parabolic snowboards designed specifically for serious carving. Not only that, but they also produce classic 9′ and 10′ longboard surfboards. Most of you probably know Surf-Rodz by their axle extension products which will transform your average randal longboarding trucks into wide, stable, downhill machines. You can also convert that dusty pair of slalom trucks into something more useful now too.
Surf-Rodz are precision, CNC’d trucks made in the US of A. With 6 different colors, various finishes, 8mm or 10mm axles, and 3 different baseplate degrees, the combinations are endless!
Here’s what Surf-Rodz and Motion Teamrider Trevor Preston had to say about their trucks:
“Surf-Rodz are cranking out of Seymore, Connecticut and model themselves on their motto, “performance, adjustability, and availability”. When I got a hold of their product, they did just that. The performance was fantastic. Created by some of the greatest engineers and machinists in the country, with a mind set on skateboarding and skills worthy of Dragster racing parts (which they do), they have created one of the highest performing trucks on the market. They are one of the first companies to create a precision truck that has racing in mind but is actually designed for carving, freeriding, and aggressive skating. With this all-around skating mentality, Surf-Rodz has created a truck that is not only stable, high traction, smooth and predictable, but FUN. They have the turning radius of your favorite carving trucks, and the stability of your favorite downhill trucks. With bushings seats that are set deep within the hanger you get unparalleled rebound out of your bushings, making high speed cornering feel extremely comfortable. The axles of the trucks are incredibly true and the pivot cups are 100% slop free, leaving no room for error and giving the rider’s wheel full contact on the pavement which results in superior traction. Whether you’re a downhiller or a soul-carver, these trucks are you!”
-
New Earthwing Supermodel Graphics
Earthwing Skateboards finally released the new, highly sought after, batch of the Supermodel Longboard Deck. It’s still available in an 8ply and 9ply version, depending on if you want a soft, flexy ride or a stiffer deck. Of course, your weight and riding style will determine which ply will suit you best. As you can obviously tell, this latest batch is much lighter in color but still has the same routered channels for torsional flex, drop through cutouts, deep concave and wheelwells. In the picture below you can see there’s a faint brown outline around the channels and wheelwells. The decks come with either brown, red, green, blue, or purple. We only have a few Supermodel decks left at this point and Earthwing themselves are already sold out so we won’t be far behind! We found they ride especially nice with the new Venom SHR bushings.
-
Mobo Updates-New in Stock
I love springtime! Not only is the pavement drying out enough that we can start to skate around here, but all the longboard companies are releasing their hot new products.
Earthwing (one of our favorite longboard makers out of Brooklyn NY) has been tweaking their manufacturing process to lower costs and make their products more affordable. As of now, they are the only brand we carry that offers a drop-through deck for $100! It’s the new Earthwing Supermodel deck that comes in two versions, 8-ply and 9ply Supermodels. It offers a deep elliptical concave, routered channels on the bottom for a little torsional flex (though still super stiff) and even weight distribution. The channels are also perfect for grabbing rail. I still can’t get over the price though!
Other than that, we have the new Divine Wheels, Cult Wheels, Retro Freerides in the classic urethane formula, Paris 195mm Trucks, the new David Price Madrid deck and the freeride Sayshun Mania deck. Be sure and check ‘em out!
-
Used Kite Gear Blowout!!
After a successful teaching and demo season over the summer, it’s time for us to drop pricing on all of our personal kites to get them out of the shop and make room for exciting new 2010 gear like the Best Nemesis NXG and the Slingshot Octanes.
Most of the used kites we have at the moment are Slingshots, like the REV2s, RPMs and even some ’09 Fuels. However, we have an 09 Waroo and a few Kahoona’s left that are aggressively priced and won’t last long! Here’s a quick breakdown of what we have, all are priced as kite only unless stated otherwise.
2008 Slingshot Rev 7m blue/black/white $300
2008 Slingshot Rev 7m green/blue/grey $580
2008 Slingshot Rev 9m complete grey/green/grey $700
2008 Slingshot Rev 11m complete blue/green/blue $725
2008 Slingshot Turbo3 7m blue/green $550
2009 Slingshot Rev2 5m dark brown/white $725
2009 Slingshot Rev2 7m red/white/black $750
2009 Slingshot Rev2 7m blue/white/black $750
2009 Slingshot Rev2 9m blue/black/white $690
2009 Slingshot Rev2 13m black/white/blue $690
**The RPMs are in A condition and have hardly been used at all
2008 Slingshot Fuel 7m complete black/red $550
2009 Slingshot Fuel 9m black/grey $700
2009 Slingshot Fuel 9m white/dark blue $890
2009 Slingshot Fuel 11m maroon/black $890
2009 Slingshot Fuel 13m $900
2009 Best Waroo 13m blue/white $500
-
GoPro HD Camera Sneak Peak
The HD GoPro POV cameras (point-of-view) are being released at the end of the month and we couldn’t be more giddy with anticipation. They just leaked the most killer video to showcase the clarity of this camera so I had to share it with you. The cameras will be available on October 31st but we’re taking preorders now so you can be sure we don’t sell out before you get yours. At only $299 for the HD HERO Helmet camera, it’s a steal of a deal.
<object width=”400″ height=”300″><param name=”allowfullscreen” value=”true” /><param name=”allowscriptaccess” value=”always” /><param name=”movie” value=”http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=6825217&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1″ /><embed src=”http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=6825217&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1″ type=”application/x-shockwave-flash” allowfullscreen=”true” allowscriptaccess=”always” width=”400″ height=”300″></embed></object><p>
-
Rayne Isis Arrived!
We just got our first shipment of the new Rayne Isis which is the pro model for women’s downhill longboarding champ Brianne Davies. So far it has exceeded all our expectations. It’s like a smaller, but topmounted Demonseed. The Isis has a really comfortable downhill feel to it when tucking. It’s less expensive than the Killswitch and the drop locks you in really nicely since the drop extends the full width of the board.
The w-concave is a little bit more correctly positioned for freeriding and downhill (it starts further back which feels really nice for pushing). It also has more mounting holes so you can shorten or lengthen the wheelbase and really customize your ride. One of our longboard pros describes it as a deck he would actually pay full price for and not just nab the shop demo.
-
Mosquito Drop Release
Insect just unveiled their new Mosquito Drop deck. Now the Mosquito has a .5″ drop for even more stability. Plus, it has a full radial concave to really lock your feet in during slides. They’ve improved their mainline construction to make the decks stronger by laterally distributing the energy and allowing more of that energy to be transferred through the nano instead of the wood. The concave is a little bit deeper and the slight camber creates pockets between the drop and the camber so you always know where your feet are. They now have a gloss finish over the nano to help protect the composite and make it look extra pretty.
We are in the process of putting together a video with Steve Hopper, the mastermind behind Insect Longboards, explaining the new construction and design behind the Mosquito Drop. Watch for that to be released soon! For now, come by the shop and try out our demo so you can see what the hype is all about for yourself.
-
Yellow 86a FreeRide Wheels are here!
After much anticipation, Orangatang finally released another duro for their freeride wheel family. This time, they’ve produced a super slidey yellow 86a durometer for the freeride longboard junkies out there. So far, only the 75mm Durian and 70mm Stimulus wheels are available at the moment but the 66mm Fat Free isn’t far behind. If these 86a wheels are too hard for your liking, you may want to try the original 83a purple Freeride wheel.
Unlike the Retro Freeride wheels, the Orangatang Freerides come pre-broken in so you don’t have a long break-in period. We haven’t had a chance to try them out yet but a review will be on the way soon! We only have limited quantities at the moment so get ‘em while they last!
-
Concrete Wave Evolutions 5 DVD
Concrete Wave Magazine (the longboarding/skateboarding Bible) just released their annual DVD called Evolutions. This is the fifth one they’ve done. They compile 4 minute video clips from skateboard manufacturers, shops, teams, communities….basically whoever wants to get on the video can do so for a small chunk of change.
After seeing last year’s Evolutions DVD, we’ve been counting down the days until we could have our own installment, especially since videos are such a big part of what we do. We have a small stack of DVD’s available for free with your next order but only while supplies last! For now, you can at least watch the Motion Boardshop video here:
Downhill longboarding CW Evolutions 5 – motionboardshop from Motion Boardshop on Vimeo.
-
Push the Point-Push Race
Just spreading the word about the Push Race in Tacoma this Sunday September 27th. It starts at 9am at Point Defiance in Tacoma and will consists of 2 laps through the 5 mile loop. This is a chill event for riders of all skill levels to participate in. Prizes will be awarded to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishers and those prizes are donated by Bentley, Roe Racing, and Five Mile Longboards.
Hope to see lots of familiar faces there!
-
We joined the Rabbit Gang!
So the AWSI industry trade show last week allowed us to try kites and boards from about 90% of the manufacturers, from all the big companies to lesser known up-and-comers. After trying almost everything that was available, along with a team of other retailers around the country that we work with, the consensus was that HANDS DOWN the most impressive kites were the Wainman Rabbit Series.
They have a different name for every size, like their 14m is the Big Mama and the 9m is The Smoke. They only make one style of kite and then they tweak each size individually to perfect it (as opposed to making a perfect 9m and then sizing it up or down like other manufacturers do)
It’s a delta shaped kite that performs like a mix of the RPM and Fuel with fast turning and Slingshot-esque durability. It’s one of the smoothest kites we’ve ever tested and the design is the future of kiteboarding in our opinion. It’s low aspect ratio makes it good for users of all skill levels. It will likely be our school kite of choice because of it’s excellent relaunch, stability while flying and the fact that it won’t oversheet. So beginners learning to put the board on their feet won’t find it sneaking off to the side of the window. It also has small tags on the pigtails which clearly label “more power, less power, better upwind” etc. making it easy for even a former blonde like myself to tune their kite to the conditions and their riding style.
Some features include:
-above the bar sheeting
-colored line sets (good for kook proofing and snowkiting)
-a plastic sheath over the chicken loop (to ensure minimal wear on the sheeting line)
-push away chicken loop release
-suicide ring option on chicken loop
-beefed up LE with Dacron which goes into the wingtip itself for extra durabilityWe also carry the Kahoona which is a delta kite and you may wonder what the main differences are…The Wainman kite is a little more expensive but that’s because the construction on it is so beefy. It’s also created on more of a freestyle riding platform, so even though it will loop good, it’s not as fast turning as the Kahoona. Both have excellent relaunch.
NOW ONTO THE BOARDS…
The Wainman boards are out of this world. They have great upwind capability, surprisingly so since they have insane concave on the bottom and added rocker too. This concave allows for the feeling of a larger volume board so you can get away with riding a size smaller than usual. Very predictable, excellent pop and is probably the lightest board we’ve ever tried. Squishy, soft, comfy footpads are great for hot landings and long sessions. Just like the kites, the boards are very durably made with high quality. Overall, we wouldn’t tweak a thing on the boards.
The Wainman surfboards are something we weren’t able to try out first hand but they’re so beautiful they could be mistaken for a piece of art. They are shaped and finished by renowned board maker Jimmy Lewis and have a distinct gun shape making then good in heavy surf. Oh yeah, and they also come with a padded board bag to make sure it stays in good condition.
FOR DEMO we have a 9m and 12m Rabbit Kites and a Blunt 130 twin tip and the Surfboard. This is what we were able to snag at the trade show and more will be arriving shortly. But you can consider us your Wainman connection. After talking with other shops around the country, I’m sure you’ll be hearing a lot more about this brand in the very near future.
-
Five Mile Longboards!
After much anticipation, Five Mile Longboards are finally in production and available for sale. And for the time being, you can only get them here at Motion Boardshop! Lucky us. : ) Five Mile made a big showing at the Maryhill Festival of Speed this year and their demos gained a lot of attention. We love Five Mile for their support and participation in the Northwest Longboarding scene, as well as their overall infectious stoke of riding.
Their freeride deck is the A-10 Warthog, which is everyone’s favorite board at the moment. It’s 39.5″ long with a little bit of drop, rocker, camber AND concave if you can believe it.
The downhill model they’ve produced first is the B-17 Fortress. As you can tell, their boards are all named after attack aircraft. It’s 37.5″ long with spooncave and shape-tapered cave. Here’s what Micah Bartel had to say in his review of the Fortress on our website:“It has very deep concave that locks your front foot in, as well as a “gas pedal” edge on the back to keep your back foot in that “sweet spot” every time you go back into a tuck. It is a very comfortable feeling speed board. However, my feet are on the bigger side so when I am out of a tuck and my feet are sideways, it feels a bit funny, although I don’t plan on using it as a carving board.
The top mount design and the convace make for a board that corners like a dream. That “gas peddal” in the back locks your back foot in so it’ll never slip on either heel or toe side cornering. I’ve always felt that top mount boards can corner really well and presise, and this one meets that description.”
We’re working on an informational video featuring Cody Shea, boardmaker and teamrider for Five Mile so keep a look out for that in the near future.
-
New Decks From Sayshun Longboards
We just received a shipment from our favorite Eastern Canadian longboard manufacturer, Sayshun. They’ve introduced a few new decks to their line-up including the symmetrical freeride decks, Compass & Polar, which are the same shape but the Polar deck is 2″ longer. For the Speed and Crisis decks, they’re now making them with a dyed red veneer sheet on the top and bottom.
They’ve also started using a CNC machine to cut out the wheel wells for extra precision. We have demo boards in from Sayshun as well so you can come try them first hand. The Plasma O+ wheels are also available to demo.
-
MOBO Now Carrying Subsonic Longboards
After a long wait, we just got a small shipment in for super-custom Oregon-based Subsonic Skateboards. Not only do we love Subsonic for it’s chill owner, Scott Moore, who goes to pretty much every event in the NW but they have some sic boards to boot. We hope to get all of the Subsonic decks in at some point but for now we were at least able to get a few of the Buckshot 41 and a Barrage 40. With small, custom board builders it’s harder to stay stocked up on items so get ‘em while they last!
-
Earthwing Boards Back In Stock
Some of our all-time favorite longboard decks are back in stock, yay! Earthwing Skateboards out of Brooklyn, NY is our favorite company to work with and owner Brian Petrie knows how to make a legit longboard. The EW Boomerang is one of the most versatile, do-it-all decks we have in the shop. It’s the first board we guide people to when they mention that they’re looking for something that they can carve, commute, freeride, slide and do a little downhill with. Now available in black, blue and white.
Also back in rotation is the Earthwing Superglider. It’s an inexpensive deck that’s great as a first-time longboard, or if you just want to bust sidewalks around town. At $80, it’s not only affordable, but it’s super versatile like the boomerang. They’re only available for a limited time and we don’t expect our stock to last long!
-
MOBO Now Carrying Eastside Longboards!
Motion Boardshop welcomes Eastside Longboards to our shelves! With our shop being based in Seattle and Eastside running their operation out of Portland, OR, carrying their decks was an easy decision for us. We pride ourselves on supporting our local longboarding scene and we’re stoked to have Eastside in the shop. Only available for phone and shop orders at the moment, you’ll have to give us a call if you want a deck. We currently have the Eastside Zion Cruiser, Rocky Bomber, Super Kicker, Tabor, Mini Kicker, Drop Board and Drop Kick.
Don’t mind MOBO Junior Teamrider Enzo Narcisso modeling the decks!
A little more info from the Eastside Longboard website: Portland native and creater Robin McGuirk originally introduced a line of shorter longboards that could go fast with control but also stiffer and more responsive to manuever quickly through the city. This lead to perfecting the concave and tail in order to maximize control and urban mobility. Next came the need for speed as the Racing Scene exploded in 2005. Eastside then introduced, after many modifications, the Eastside DropBoard. It has been refined further into one of the best speedboards on the market today.
-
New Plasma O+ Wheels In!
We just got a big shipment of the new Plasma O+ wheels from Sayshun, the Candian Speedboard masters. The plasmas are Sayshun’s contribution to the traction wheel revolution that is taking place right now. With a contact patch that is wider than that of a zigzag and a urethane that is driftier, the O+ is great combination of grip and smooth drift. The wheel break traction before a zigzag normally would and drifts as smooth as an orangatang. The combination makes a versatile DH wheel built for speed and control in straights and through turns.
The Plasma O+ urethane is resilient to wear, so the wheel will maintain a consistent grip throughout its long life, however once the lips begin to round the wheel is great for freeriding and controlled sliding. The wheel diameter is 70mm, a versatile size that allows more lean on topmounts without bite but large enough to maintain momentum. The urethane is 100% unique to Sayshun, fast, grippy and predictable these wheels are for great for someone looking to nail a technical turn with no room for error. The red look is also more aerodynamic and will be faster than your sister was last night! : ) -
Comet Longboards Video
Here’s yet another video from MOBO. This time we’re featuring Comet Longboards, an eco-conscious company out of New York that is dedicated to using renewable, sustainable, biodegradable materials. With most decks starting at $99, they’re great quality at a killer price. The FSM-Flying Spaghetti Monster will have it’s own product video in the near future so keep an eye out for that. I think the video turned out really well and is an awesome mix of product information and riding. Hope you like it too!
-
Munkae Trucks are in!
We just got a big shipment of 10mm Munkae Trucks from the Downhill Dragon Clan. What I love is the wide variety of colors they have available. You can either pick from what we have in stock or you can let us know what you want and we’ll order it up for you. Keep in mind that with these 10mm axles you will need 10mm bearings but luckily they’ll only run you about $16 (or for ceramic 10mm bearings, $52).
Here’s what Seattle local longboarder Barrett had to say about his new pair of Munkaes:
“They have lots of agility, a quick response, good articulation and great leverage. The traction they provide going around corners is like a whole different sport. They’re awesome and I’ve been loving riding them.”
Since Munkaes come stock with venoms, at least you won’t have to spend any extra to upgrade your bushings. They have a 42.25 degree baseplate and are like a cross between Bear Smokies and Kahalanis. Josh Rolf, the mastermind behind Munkaes, recommends that the kingpin go through the bottom of the baseplate. This helps reduce damage to the thru hole due to heavy turning and road vibrations. Threads will eat a hole in aluminum in a hurry.
