3 minute 20 read.
Scribbled by Jonesy.
Hey guys! Long time no blog! So we thought a quick news update was in order to kick it off again.
With less than a week to go to Switchback 2025 – best get to it then hey?!
ANNOUNCING OUR HOST
First and foremost – the ATBA must hereby announce the host of the Switchback UK Mountainboard Championships 2025 is the one and only Bugsboarding Mountainboard Centre!
Bugsboarding as we all know is second to none, and is pulling out all the stops as we speak to make this a successful event, with the best tracks… and ducks… to make it a weekend to remember for the mountainboard community at large.
THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE
We must give a massive shout out to those hitting the hills hard already in preparation! Excitement is mounting all over the show, so big up those giving us the hype on your socials!
The UK Mountainboard Championships have been held since 1997, since then year on year, competitors travel from all corners of the globe to compete. Hopefully we’ll see a few of you international riders this year as well, everyone always appreciates your vibes, skills and temporary glasses.
WHAT CAN BE EXPECTED
The competition days this year are August 2nd-3rd, with practice and warm-up invited in the week prior to the champs.
If you do arrive early, you’ll certainly be encouraged to take part in the Friday evening’s Quick Pickle Jam hosted by ATBoarders, for which there’s some awesome rewards!
Last year’s Quick Pickle Jam went off an absolute storm, so be prepared to pull out your best moves down in the Quarter Pipe to win a host of spot prizes, and of course – the kudos of pulling off the most inventive tricks!
Will we see pickle juice all over the place again?! Who knows?
Visitors can enjoy high-energy boardercross and downhill races on the Saturday, and gravity-defying freestyle competitions on the Sunday, with entertainment among it all to celebrate the coming together of so many mega hearts and minds.
Competitors, not only go head to head for the glory of attaining a UK Title, they will also be vying to bag themselves some goodies from the following sponsors along the way: MBS Mountainboards , Trampa Boards , ATB Shop, Tracktor Mountainboard Company, REKD Protection , Krom Kendama, Jimmy’s Iced Coffee, Go Pro, UK Mountainboarding, Bugsboarding, ATBoarders and MORE! Yes team… there’s prize loot for days! So please give these companies all the love they deserve for supporting the event with their wares!
Please also give some love to the food vendors we’ve sorted by showing your support on the day. This year will have a mega mix of caterers, changing day by day, so if its there, grab it before its gone! Pre-orders will be available on the gate for breakfast and other meals, so please note your interest when you’re registering to give us an idea of numbers.
This year is really going to be an awesome celebration of mountainboarding and the community we all love, so bring yourselves, your smiles, and the whole family for a belting time!
“But for how much” you ask?
Well! Read on.
PRICES FOR SWITCHBACK 2025:
Board owner – £70 for the weekend with competition entry included if you wish, use of the whole centre, hot showers and lift pass and all entertainment – Thurs-Mon or any days in between.
Non-board owner – £30 for the full weekend or any days in between, with FREE Mountainboarding lessons, grass sledging, and Dirt Scooting, lift pass, hot shower and equipment, and all entertainment (No, that is not a typo! Yes it is just £30 for all that!)
Spectators – entry free.
THE LIVE STREAM
Those unable to attend can watch the global live stream going out on MBS Mountainboards Youtube channel (see below) – which will be produced by “The Nicest man in Mountainboarding” Tim Jones and his Camera Innovations team, whose clients usually include The Olympics and Wimbledon! Hosted by the one and only Dan Watson and Paul Sloggett of The Dirt Podcast we can only expect on point commentary and great banter.
Go find them out there on the hill to provide stoke.
All these efforts will enable not only overseas viewers to join the party, but will allow us all to re-watch the thrill of the Championships, and of course whatever Renny Myles pulls this time for years to come.
A CELEBRATION
We should probably announce that Switchback this year is a weekend to celebrate for two of our long-term mountainboarding compadres.
The first celebration is seeing off the much-loved Harthill Crew member and ATBoarder Piers Sutton as he leaves us all for foreign lands. His banter will be a very much missed part of the community at large, where will we get our Welsh Language tips from now?!
News just in – the second celebration is one we’ve come to love and know at the Champs for the past few years – its the birthday of the ATBA and Bugsboarding’s very own cheese hating, board riding, boogie bustin, loveable receptionist – ClaireBear Sloggett!
The third celebration to mention is the 60th birthday of the legendary Mr Steve Birkbeck! You may know him for abandoning pogo-sticks for mountainboarding, “Panda Facts”, and for hosting the mic at innumerable competitions from the Early 2000s. Giving hours of time and scores of vocal chords for the greater mountainboarding cause.
It sounds like many of you are hooked in for this alone!
All of these legends will appreciate you gathering round the campfire this year to toast their successes and future endeavours!
VOLUNTEER ROLES
Many of you will already be aware of this, but for those new to the fold – the Switchback UK Mountainboard Championships are completely driven forward on a not-for-profit basis by a whole host of volunteers, so we always appreciate anyone with a keen drive getting on board to help it forward.
If you feel you may have something to offer this year’s champs, contact us at switchbackmountainbording@gmail.com, or contact Bugsboarding via social media to offer your skills.
There are a multitude of volunteer opportunities to get involved, especially at the event itself. We’d love to have you aboard.
Whatever happens, whether you’re riding, helping, or cheering from the hill, we look forward to seeing you there for what is set to be a stellar year for the Switchback UK Champs!
As ever, see you on the hill!
Peace <3
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