Capital Bocking USA: June 27-28th

[davidtheamazing1]

Hey All, I'm setting up the Capital Bocking USA Website:
http://www.dcpowerstilts.com/capitalbock.php

Book the hotel in advance for a special rate (about $100/night)

I have some good terrain features picked out and photographed.  I am scouting out some more spots.  Any initial thoughts on the informational 1st draft?

[dominion]

Looks good to me so far, David.  If you need any assistance, please let me know.

I think that less of an emphasis on "touring" and more of an emphasis on specific bocking areas would be a better thing to focus on.  I am not saying that cutting out all the walking tours is necessary, but adding specific stops on route for some serious terrain bocking would be greatly appreciated/preferred.

What alternate plans do you have in place for Rain?  Do you have any indoor gym facilities for us to play/practice in, in the event that it does end up pouring?

What other hotels are in the immediate area?

[XarnuSonci]

less tours more bocking

as far as i can tell to get the $100 rate we have to tell them there's only 1 or 2 people in the room.

the last question is who's coming? can we start to get an attendance list so we can sort out room sharing.

[davidtheamazing1]

The cool thing about the Hyatt is that it's directly above the metro station, and in a happening urban area.

Nearby Hotels (walking distance to Hyatt):
Double Tree: http://www.doubletreebethesda.com/
Bethesda Court: http://www.bethesdacourtwashdc.com/
Residence Inn: http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/wasbr-residence-inn-bethesda-downtown/

The Embassy Suites - Chevy Chase http://www.embassysuitesdc.com is one metro stop closer and is cheap when there are 6 or more people in the various sizes suites.

Interestingly enough, Bethesda is home to the Marriott Word Headquarters, and Chevy Chase has Corporate HQ for the Ritz-Carleton.

[XarnuSonci]

any updates on this, still waiting for pics of the planned route, anyone else planning on coming, there's gotta be  more than dave, dominion and I.

[rav]

I'm planning on coming but it all depends if my dad will get these 2 days off...

[davidtheamazing1]

I went out and took pictures of some cool spots... will post soon

[davidtheamazing1]

Preview the 2009 Capital Bocking USA Challenges
http://www.dcpowerstilts.com/capitalbock.php

• Freedom Plaza - http://www.dcpowerstilts.com/locations/dc-freedom.php
        Challenges:
            - Group Jumps (Small Stairs, Small Ledge, Medium Ledge)
            - Running relay
            - Flips
• Pershing Park - http://www.dcpowerstilts.com/locations/dc-pershing.php
        Challenges:
            - Obstacle Course (small stairs / bench)
            - Stairs
• Pennsylvania Ave - http://www.dcpowerstilts.com/locations/dc-penn-ave.php
        Challenges:
            - Slalom Race
            - Small Vault
            - Running
• US Capitol - http://www.dcpowerstilts.com/locations/dc-capitol.php
       Challenges:
            - Group Jump (big stairs)
            - Photo Shoot
            - Government Trivia
  
• US Courthouse - http://www.dcpowerstilts.com/locations/dc-us-courthouse.php
        Challenges:
            - Poweriser Street Polo
            - Running Leaps
            - Hops
  
• Department of Labor - http://www.dcpowerstilts.com/locations/dc-dept-labor.php
        Challenges:
            - Big Jumps
            - Runs up/ Run down
  

It's not all set yet... any Thoughts?

[lilspeedsk8ter]

here are some ideas maybe:
Highest jump
best Split Kicks
downhill bounding (My personal favorite)
some even like dance moves on stilts

Kicking things with stilts on such as rocks or basketballs and the cheap $2.00 kids ball such as the ones Wal-mart sells in the big bins.
See how far we can kick a ball (Safer) or even a rock etc.

I practice kicking rocks out of the road where I live at as I am right in the middle of a big road work area called the I79 gateway connector, or the Road to the Hot Dog stand (nowhere) as I refer to it in Fairmont.

Even better how about jump over gaps such as one would find like drain ditches and culverts most span like 6 inches up to a couple of feet, or just mark out a spot in the road and see who can Kanga jump the largest gap distance.

Hopscotch on stilts anyone? I have tried this one too takes a lot of balance but it is fun as heck to try. (Shows my skill to the school kids when I advertise the stilts to them).

Basketball on stilts?

180's or 360's jump and spin in the air etc.

Run and jump up on a ledge or try to balance beam style walk on a low ledge such as a parking lot cement stopper (not sure what they are called( it looks like a 3 foot long by 6 inches wide cement curb but they are found for cars to pull up to and stop mainly in the mall parking lots.

Jump over or walk across the speed bumps maybe the same idea too,

Plastic trash cans jump over one or try to jump up and land in one even? just don't land on one it hurts , already did that one once grabbed a trash can in my yard thought it was full and it was empty it and I fell over, lol.

Here is a some what dangerous one but with the right skill it can be done, take a skateboard and put it near a fence or a tall wall and try to stand on it without it flying out from under us with stilts on, I can do this as long as I don't move the board after I am fully up on it with both legs.

If it moves a little bit and you balance just right you can ride it safely but push too hard and it will slide right out from under us, so good idea to have a fence or a wall just in case.

Swimming noodles put on stilts and have a safe fun as heck sword fight with the noodles, see who can knock the other person down first or a group of us do this and the last man standing is the winner.

If you fall during the noodle game you are out can't get up and continue in the game, lol.

Another strange one I have tried, prob not a good one unless it rains, find a lake or pool that we are allowed to swim in and try to swim with stilts on, I tried a while back in a lake in Parkersburg it works with a kids set on but the adult set you have to super strong legs and YES the Springs do float, so it helps to keep your legs up near the surface of the water, Just fresh water rinse and dry them off good and re oil when done.

The hardest landing, jump as hard as we can and upon landing for the next jump try to land as hard as possible bottom out the stilts even, (Each person gets say 10 tries total) this way we have time to build up the highest jumo and make the hardest landing at the end of 10 tries....(not recommended for skyrunners unless you are skinny like me, lol).

Here is a cool one Balloons put a few on the ground and we have to either step on them to pop them or we can fall or sit/fall down on them to pop them or maybe put them in our stilts some way and try to pop them.
The person who pops say 3 balloons the fastest is the winner but the trick is we must include the use of the stilts somehow such as step on or fall on or trap the ballon say in the rod D area and pop it by bottom the stilts out etc?

Pop cans we know there will be a lot of them empty around us all weekend.
Try to crush pop cans with our stilts by stepping on them or even use one leg to stomp down and crush a pop can, takes more skill that we think too.
Pop can salsa anyone, put a lot of cans in a small area and just let everyone run all over them and crush the heck out of them, fun?

How about the best safest fall, pad up good then try to fall, yep sounds wrong but hey it will help us all learn what not to do wrong.

How about the most unique way to get up say after a fall or you just put on your stilts on the flat ground who can get up the fastest and most effective way.
Especially if there is no wall/fence or car to gain the help of?


Some stilts will leave a black marks on concrete, may not be a good idea but, see who can leave the longest black mark by sliding etc?

Empty Water bottles, this is very fun, fill the bottles with water and then lay them on the ground and try to stomp right on the center of the bottle it will bust and spray water all over anyone who is about 3 feet away from you!!
DON"T try this with any GLASS bottles they bust and make a mess, lol.
We could even fill pop cans with water (Rinse first) then try to crush them etc.

That is about all I can think of at the moment feel free to use any of my ideas or even add or change them as needed?

We for sure need some down hill runs as this is the fun part of Bocking I think.

One more how about walk in sand or gravel or mud or even add this to the whi can safely yet get thought the different terrain better course, concrete, pavement (dry and wet).

One thing is a MUST (WRIST GUARDS PEOPLE), just wanted to leave with this as a reminder broken bones hurt, lol.

Be safe everyone and as for who is going to be there for sure, I got myself (Larry) and (Tyler) on the list to make it,
Oh yeah bring Cameras as there will lots to take videos and pictures of I am sure.

LKP

[masterking09]

i might be able to make this.  my parents just booked our vacations in August instead WOOHOOOO.

Now i need to get some flips so i dont disappoint XS

[XarnuSonci]

the spots look great dave, the crazy steps spot looks awesome.  Given the high number of government buildings we'll be bocking i hope you have bocked all of these places in advance and not been asked to leave.  I know we did the front of the capital building at CB  07 and the secret service guys up on the balcony were asking us to jump more so we'll be good there.  But good to check everywhere.  I'm guessing all the places where there are pics with skaters we'll be fine.  Though skate wax is very slippery to try to bock on so everyone watch out for that.

I guess i'll get on booking a hotel room.

LPK you just listed a lot of random competitions, most of which have nothing to do with bocking other than the fact that you're doing them on bocks.  You can kick all the rocks you want, i'm gonna jump on stuff.  As for suggested comps I'd rather just go and see what every one can do and what we can come up with on the new terrain.  We don't need to plan events if we've got things to bock.

So who else is coming so far it looks like we've got
Dave
XS
Dominion
lilSpeedSk8ter

rav?
MK?
Zan?

[CShaver]

I might be going. I'm not sure if I can get off work for those days but if I can, I'll definitely be going

[dominion]

lilspeedskater,

I understand that your screen name is a bit deceiving, and that you're really an adult....

but some of the stuff you listed is just downright dangerous, and shouldn't really be attempted by anyone. 
I'm sure I speak for David as well, when I state that if i see anyone trying to skateboard on bocks I will have a word with them... and I won't want anything to do with them for the duration of my time in DC in a group setting. 

Littering or damaging public property is never a good idea either. 

I know that the things you listed were in good fun, and weren't meant to be harmful... but please consider that you're going to be somewhere that you've likely never been on bocks before.  Take this into consideration, and make sure to put your best hoof forward, as you're promoting a new activity that isn't all too common for the area.  Also take into consideration that David will have to deal with the aftermath, as this is his town and area where he sells bocks, so bad press isn't the kind of press that any of us want. 

[masterking09]

those spots do look really nice.  I might actually get a chance to finally try some decent stair jumps.  I havent really done any urban bocking yet, just some street and skate park stuff.  This should be awesome.

Oh, and Nick.  If i can get down to your place in Boston do you thinhk you could give me a ride up to DC?

[XarnuSonci]

Oh, and Nick.  If i can get down to your place in Boston do you thinhk you could give me a ride up to DC?

yup