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Four wheel dri
Now that winter’s approaching, many snowboarders and skiers are probably already planning trips to the Highland slopes. But Scottish winters just can’t be relied on to be cold — or snowy — enough. So what happens if your plans go sticks up because the slopes are more mud and slush than power snow? David Pollock finds out.
nstead of giving up and hitting the pub. why not try
an altogether new way ol‘ hitting the slopes'.’
Mountainboarding. el'l'ectively skateboarding with large pneumatic tyres. has been the lttslc‘st growing sport in the l7K lor the past two years. and requires and provides all the skill and adventure ot‘ snow and skateboarding while offering just as much opportunity to interact with the great outdoors. The sport talls into three separate disciplines. which equate heavily with the above. 'l‘here‘s downhill. which involves riding a predesigned track: l'reestyle. where boarders show ol‘l‘ their own tricks and jumps; and l'reeriding. which means heading out into the country and making your own track from the landscape. Real enthusiasts combine the sport with powerkiting. allowing huge jumps.
last year around 30.000 mountainboai'ds were sold in the l’K. and you‘ll lind that most mountainboard shops actually sell more during the winter.‘ says l)iana Shephardson ol the All Terrain Boarding .-\ssociation. ‘Most people actually pi'el'er to go riding during the winter. Generally this is when they go l'i'eei‘iding. not going to a centre but just heading out into the woods by themselves -< it‘s much nicer to go through the woods in the winter. btit it also doesn‘t hurt quite so much when you fall. because it‘s wet.‘
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The initial outlay is hardly negligible. but it's certainly cheaper than buying a snowboard. 'l’or a junior you‘re talking about L'lfil) l‘oi' board. pads and helmet.‘ explains Shephai‘dson. ’lt \aries l'or adults. though. You get bottom ol the range trucks through to intermediate and then pro. but most people spend around l; l 50 to L' l 70 on their lirst board. with pads and a helmet taking that over the £200 mark. .-\ lot ill people don‘t buy these accessories right away. because they We already spent on the board - but believe me. they’re important.‘
Shepardson's recommended brand is Mill". which is a pro setup starting at around £235. with names such as Scrub and Mongoose making better budget beginner options (although the latter has recently been discontinued). and Kheo and NoSho other makes to watch lor. liither way. the weather l'orccast jtist won‘t seem so important in l'uture.
Mountainboards range from 92100—52250. Full-face helmets start at around £70. Pads cost around £30. Wind and Water, Burghers Close, 141 South Street, St Andrews, Fife, 01334 560600. Wind Things, 11 Cowgatehead, Edinburgh, 0131 622 7032, www.windthings.co.uk. Wind Things 2, Duke’s Road, Troon, 01292 316611, windthings.co.uk.
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Shoplalk
Spend, spend. spend
I There are all sorts of trendy goingson across the central belt this month. First up. as part of Glasgow's Merchant Cll‘, Festival. is the Emporio Armani autumn and Winter collection 2004 on Thu 23 Sep at the Corinthian. Ingram Street. For the $225 entrance tee itickets from the venue or Emporio Armani, 9 John Street). you can expect cocktails. ‘eclectic‘ womenswear and a ‘SOphisticated urban metr'o' look lOl the men, Which sounds a bit tautological. but that's fashion, baby! The festival also features a French Market along Carir’lleriggs lrorii noon~6pm or: Sat 25 Sep. live music. and noodle making demonstrations. See City l_ll8.
I On Thu 30 Sep, meanwhile, London Fashion Week rocks up to Edinburgh, whereupon it will no doubt sit down gobsmacked and start taking notes. Modus Operandi, a ‘Celebration of Style’, will see a fashion show take over the Royal Museum’s main hall. it’s open to the public, and Cruise outlets are selling tickets at £15 a pop, with all money going to charity, natch.
I Hold the front page! The Edinburgh Evening News reports that Kinnaird Park shopping centre is to expand by nearly a quarter, raiSing fears that out of town retail outlets are sucking the lifeblood out of central shopping areas. Let's hope next month's opening of Valvona and Crolla's VinCaffe in the half~fu|l Multrees Walk next to Harvey Nicks (below). will persuade more people to do their Shopping in town.