Tony Hawk Time
Hi Chwa fans!
This week it's all about Tony Hawk, his skateboarding tour has been everywhere from Rome to Berlin and Barcelona - but we're with him at the UK leg in Brighton.
Tony was a world champion skateboarder when he was only 16 and has pioneered some of the skate world's awesomest tricks - the Ollie 540, kickflip 540 and varial 720. But he was the only person to achieve a 900 at the '99 X-Games (it's when a rider spins two and a half times in the air).
I got to talk with Sandro Dias too, five times world champion - it was an amazing day, made evern better by scoffing ice-creams on Brighton beach!
Alex's Summer
Hi!
Hoe yiou've all enjoyed the series so far - it's been a crazy summer for the Chwa team, we've been travelling around some of the world's best extreme sports events in Wales, the UK and Europe.
We've been at the Pontypridd Break Dancing comp, with international BBoys showing their talents. We went oevr to Pembrokeshire's Quiksilver open surf competition and saw Beth Mason take the women's title again - catch up with her in Programme 9.
We had an amazing time at the Roxy Jam in Biarritz too - with start like Kelia Moniz, Kassia Meador, and ex worls champ Jennifer Smith all competing. It was Cori Schumacher from the US that took the prize this time with an amazing display, well worth the travelling"
Alex's First Blog
Wel, Chwa's new series has started off well, and I've been really enjoying mysels in the different events we've been covering recently.
I was at the Big Welsh Weekender at Margam Park for episode 1, it's part of the qualifying for some of the international MTB competitions,and so the pressure was on the Welsh riders competing. The Saturday weather was horrendous, but it all came good for the Sunday, and the spectators had a great time, phew! We're back in Margam Park in episode 2, talking with Lee Williams, the 17 time winner of the event, and the UK's no.3 rider, we're all crossing fingers that he'll get up to first position this year.
I'll be covering a Ponty BBoy event, and getting down to the Quicksilver Welsh Open in Pembrokeshire ove the next weeks. Can't wait! Bye,
Alex
x
Your guide to Mountain Biking
If Chwa! has persuaded you to get into MTB, here's a quick guide to getting started
What is Mountain Biking?
It's a sport that involves riding a specially made bike accross rough terrain and steep hillsides. You'd be better off starting on professionally made paths in specialist centres first, as these are a lot safer than attempting a mountain first time.
There are many categories of MTB competition - like cross country, free ride, downhill, jumps, and trail riding competitions.
To be a successful MTB Cyclist you need strength, core stability, good balance and confidence.
You can ride MTB anywhere, from your back garden to high mountain peaks. As you might be riding far from civilisation, you'll need to know how to fix and maintain your bike too.
Don't forget your...
· Helmet - it's important to wear a helmet on MTB tracks, as the risk of crashes is higher on rough terrain or a sandy trail.
· Gloves - to protect your hands from gravel and the elements
· Sunglasses - or any type of glasses, to protect your eyes from dust or strong sunlight
· Shoes - use shoes with tough soles, ones that are similar to walking shoes are best
· Bike Tools - so you can carry out any emergency repairs yourself
· Knee and elbow guards - in case you hit any obstacles along the track
Wales' best MTB tracks are...
Coed y Brenin near Dolgellau
Nant Yr Arian near Aberystwyth
Afan Forest Park in Neath Port Talbot
Glyncorrwg Centre near Swansea
Cwmcarn near Newport, South Wales
You can get information about all of htese on the National Welsh Mountain Biking website, MB Wales - www.mbwales.com
Places to practice your riding...
Biking around Abergavenny
www.abergavennyrc.org.uk
Biking around the Llyn Peninsula
www.beicio-llyn-cycling.com
Biking around Merthyr
www.merthyrcyclingclub.co.uk
Biking in Pembrokeshire
www.pembs-velo.co.uk
Biking around Rhyl
rhylcyclingclub.org.uk
Biking around Aberystwyth
Ystwythcc.org
Biking around Cardiganshire
www.velo-teifi.com
Get better at MTB by training with The Athertons -
www.animalcommencal.com
S4C is not responsible for the contents of external websites.
Chwa! Lingo: What's a B-Boy?
B-boy - originaly this was a term for anyone who dedicated themselves to hip-hop culture. By now the term has evolved into the name for a tye of dance that evolved from breakdance competitions in the US. B-boy dance and lifestyle has spread far outside the US, with Korea now the force to beat in global B-Boy competitions.
There are fourmain elements in any B-boy performance
1. Toprock – the shuffle move to bring the dancer into the arena.
2. Downrock/Footwork – dancing that takes place on the ground.
3. The Freeze – the quick freeze move used on certain beats within a performance, and used to gove a final ending to a sequence of moves.
4. Power moves – acrobatic moves performed close to the ground or up in the air.
SurfCult Porthcawl
Rest Bay's Grand Pavilion plays host to Surf Cult '08 - September marks the end of the summer, but the beginning of Porthcawl's Surf celebration! The Surfer's Ball is on the 13th of September, with GLC's Eggsy and Rhys DJing and a live set from Jasper. As well as surf and skate comps, there will be two British surf film premieres and an incredible light show inside and outside the Grand Pavilion
Even if you're not a surfer, the event will be a mecca for South Wales' extreme sports fans - with any profits from the Tsunami Weekend (21st of September) going to Sport Relief 2008.
For more info on the event go to http://www.surf-cult.co.uk.
Was this the biggest wave EVER ridden?
Cape Town, South Africa: Grant ‘Twiggy’ Baker has possibly ridden the bggest wave ever according to reports from Cape Town. Grant and his fellow Billabong rider, Greg Long, were riding off the SA coast, and towed out to waves that could have been over 70ft (22 meters) high.
Baker (35, of Umhlanga, near Durban) and Long (25 of San Clemente, California) were riding out on the famous Dungeons reef, outside Hout Bay near Cape Town. Baker recently won the 10th Red Bull Big Wave Africa competition on Dungeons, and so is well used to the monster waves to be had there.
“The waves were definitely the biggest I’ve ever seen in South Africa and possibly the biggest anywhere,” Baker said. “Greg towed me into one giant wave that was so big I was terrified and started hyper-ventilating.”
“Later, when we saw the photos taken by Craig Kolesky with a large lens from Chapman’s Peak, we realised that those were possibly the biggest waves ever recorded, on a par with the rides we had a Cortes Bank in January which were measured at well over 70 feet.”
For more info on Greg Baker ond the Billabong XXL Big Wave competition visit the Billabong South Africa Site - www.billabong.com/za.