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We had a fantastic Easter. The XD Bockers went out to the park. Totting bunny ears, and baskets full of easter eggs. We had a fantastic time handing them out to kids of all ages at the park. Not to mention enjoyed hopping around.
A couple weeks back the XD Bockers of Savannah, Georgia. Attended a charity event for the Children's Miracle Network. Two Local Members showed up, as well as a guest from the Midwest portion of our group.
Savannah Now a local paper highlighted the fundraiser with a notice towards us in it.
Fishing wasn't the only activity of the day at The Farm. D.J. Bothwell entertained the crowd by doing stunts on his power stilts,
"I saw people doing this on YouTube," Bothwell said. "I started a club in Savannah and I teach people how to do this. I'm here today entertaining the kids."
Bothwell was getting mixed reactions. The kids were delighted, the parents - not so much.
"Some of the kids ask about it, and their parents tell them, 'It's not for kids,'" Bothwell said. "I say, 'Well, actually, it is,' and the parents say, 'No, it isn't.'"
The leaps and somersaults were certainly impressive, and even just running, it was obvious Bothwell was having fun. "It's a full body workout," he said. "I don't think of it as exercise when I'm doing it. It's a lot of fun and you get a good workout as a benefit."
You can view the entire article Here. The online article doesn't have any pictures of us. But the printed paper has a picture of DJ landing from a jump.
On Monday April 26th 2010. The XD Bockers had another meet up in Savannah, Georgia. Our local official members Doug, and Josie turned out for the event. So in total there was three bockers up off the ground.
We drew a rather large crowd by Forsyth Parks Fountain. We performed various tricks, and answered tons of questions.
Before the big crowd hit however. A Local photographer from Dream Weaver Photos captured these pictures of yours truly.
The pictures were taken both by the fountain, and over on the stage. Overall the meet was fun. After the photos, the crowd. The three of us ran and walked all the way to the end of the park before stopping for the day. Which itself is likely a quarter mile or longer.
We'd love to have more people to join us. So don't forget, try outs are available here in Georgia!
We've had a great few weeks here in Savannah, Georgia. The XD Bockers have held weekly try outs and powerbocking meet ups. Where we have taught many interested individuals how to walk, and to start them on there way into the powerbocking world.
On one weekend, Tancy came out and tried out walking. She ended up snapping a picture of myself, and Doug before she left.
Doug gave a walking lesson to Erica. After just a little while she was up and going on her own. See it IS easy!
Finally, today at our most recent meet. We captured this video (from stilt height!) of another person learning to walk.
Overall we've had dozens of try outs, and hours of our own time out on powerstilts showing off for the crowds and answering questions. If you're local to Savannah, Georgia we encourage you to come out and give it a try!
This last Sunday on the 27th of September. The Midwest area had a small meetup. We all traveled to Plainfield, Illinois to get together and Powerbock, and discuss all things Powerbocking.
The local members of the XD Bockers, Chris and myself meet up with BboyVC at Renwick Skate park. We each had a 2 and half hour drive. But it ended up being well worth it. Despite the low turn out (this time).
Arriving at just after 11AM. We all checked out the park on what it had to offer.
Free public park, features: mini ramp-funbox-4ft quater- 6ft quater with declining hieght. Pyramid with down rail and ledge. Cement hips allow you to roll into the park, there are two down rail down the hips. no running water no electric port-o-johns
Strapping our Powerstilts on. We headed to a nearby basketball court to essentially warm up. After several minutes of jumping, bounding, and stretching our muscles. We headed to the park to jump off a grind box, attempt to walk along a grind rail, and to each take turns showing off tricks, and our jumping technique.
It was a real good time. For about an hour or so, split kicks, spring grabs, straddles, toe grabs, 180s, and 360s could be seen in the park. Which was surrounded by two local soccer games. After taking turns jumping off the 6 foot ramps, and attempting to vault their back guard rails.
I actually broke a stopper coming down from a split kick to toe grab. So I had to put my powerstilts up for the meet. At which point we all attempted a new method of getting off the ground unaided called the "Eltovator" (I'll get a tip guide to this soon).
Here is videos of my success.
Here is XDbockerChris
After pulling that off several times. We moved to other zany antics in the grass as shown...
BboyVC took the chance to show off his flips. He actually landed nearly all of them. Of course the videos I have are of his bails.
following that he attempted a cartwheel.
Needless to say at around 4pm we were all pretty much wearing down. Practicing that weird method of getting up turned out to be very taxing. I'd strongly urge anyone else that attempts, to try it in the grass first. The chance for injury is far greater.
After cooling off by a closed concession stand for half an hour. We all headed off to Mcdonalds for some dinner before heading our own ways back home. Overall the meet turned out to be a good time. Hopefully, with more planning our future meets will be even bigger, and better. Keep an eye here for more future announcements of meet ups, and be sure to keep an eye on the XD Bockers facebook group for more planning details.
For more details on the past event. Please check out it's official event page here.
If you are unable to view the videos. Please click the "View original post" button in the note section on facebook.
This last weekend, this local affiliate from Davenport Iowa. Spent a short time bocking for the crowds at River Roots Live, and Ribfest. A local street festival which has combined with previous years paid concerts, and a crazy rib eating event. To create some super finger licking, and tapping goodness for free.
On August 22nd, I went out during a spare hour and bocked around the closed streets. Taking in the sights, and sounds of the free concert.
I just so happened to be captured by a photographer taking in pictures of the event.
D. J. Bothwell of Davenport bounces along second street in downtown Davenport wearing his jumping stilts while taking in the music and food Saturday afternoon at the River Roots Live Music Fest and Ribfest.
XDvandalDJ here yet again. With an exciting, yet long over due. Bock report! How did invading Red, White, Boom of Davenport, Iowa go? What about this Bix 7 Streetfest thing? Or what else have I and my fellow XD Bockers been up to? Well continue reading for full details.
The invasion on the 4th previously planned Here and mentioned in this very blog. Went fairly well. I along with JosieFailed, and XDbockerChris(As ground crew) had a blast. Excitement was high, we gathered on friday evening. Grilled out, and showed hundreds what Jumping Stilts were really like, with a marvelous backdrop of fireworks to boot! However, I regret to inform you that we had no pictures or videos taken for this event.
Onward to the Bix 7 Streetfest! This was a couple weekends ago. The Streetfest is in celebration of a massive 7 mile uphill, downhill, crazy marathon ran in honor of an old jazz musician. In downtown Davenport several streets were closed for this to happen. Many tents erected, many venders to sell, and a few concerts here and there. In the midsts of the thousands that gathered. I personally set forth into the crowds. Enjoying the ease of moving through them at a full head and shoulders taller than the rest.
I spent my time walking through the crowds, and jumping like a madman in available clearings. I really took advantage of the closed streets and really loved the intersections. I was invited to perform at a concert, and even walked past a newsreporter on bocks which briefly captured me.
JosieFailed later joined me for another go the final day of the festival. We bocked in front of even larger crowds, and were actually given free toy light sabers by some other attendees. Overall we had a very great time at this second "Invasion" event. Next year will be another planned event for sure.
Other than those two larger events. On this last Wednesday Josiefailed and I traveled to Burlington, Iowa to meet with XDbockerChris, and XDvandalJake. Myself, Josiefailed, and XDbockerChris all put on a short demo for a local camp for the mentally disabled that XDvandalJake helped run. We wowed many young kids that afternoon, and were just completely jazzed by the interest and energy these kids put out. We conducted this demo at Dankwart park, and later moved it to the skatepark there. When some local skaters expressed great interests. We were also photographed for the local paper. Check back at this blog for an updated entry, if and when those photos are published.
When XDvandalJake got off work from the camp, we all rounded the evening off with personal practice, and all around having fun on our jumping stilts.
For any one local looking to meet for a try out. Or to just have fun with us. Visit our group page, email me. Or check out this thread for short announcements of our day to day meetings. here
The end of June is upon us. Barbecues and summer events are currently growing in occurrence. Capital Bock is just days away from happening in Washington, DC. BUT! The start of July is just around the corner, more picnics, more barbecues... and was that an explosion?
Yes, that's right the 4th of July weekend is coming up! Currently, the XD Bockers are planning on "Invading" Red, White, BOOM! The Quad Cities Fireworks Festival for the 4th of July. It's hosted in Davenport, Iowa, and Rock Island, Illinois. Fireworks are shot off over the Mississippi River for a super cool show. We plan to attend the cities official events on our PowerStilts. We'll meet up on the river front, bock down the 3 mile bike bath. Head over to the crowds, do some jumps in the 30 thousand square foot skate park (Which has a great view), and just spontaneously enjoy the 4th of July.
We welcome any one to come out and join our small gathering. For more information, please visit our Facebook Event Page to check it out. Don't forget to RSVP if you can make it. If all goes well, we plan on more "Invasion Events". They'll be full of good laughs, good times, and good height. xD
Well sirs and ladies, ACEN 2009 has come and gone. Many a sad con goer awakes with tired sleep deprived eyes today, fully aware they had to return to their day to day routine. Can you hear the collective groan?
Well let's not fret, and look back with fond recollection!
On the Bocking side of things, the convention really got started Saturday afternoon, when myself, and XDvandalJake (I'm in the blue, he's sitting down in the picture, taken before the con) put on my bocks, and hit the street outside a MASSIVE Naruto photo gathering. We first just started warming up, bouncing this way and that, being greeted with many surprised faces, and approving shouts.
Unsure if we were going to be ejected from the convention or not, we chose this location due to it being out of sight of the main area, and Incident Response Team. By the time an IRT guard ran up, he just smiled, and we knew it was time to run off to the larger areas.
For the next few hours we picked a parking lot directly out front of the Hotels main entrance. We pulled of a ton of jumps for the hundreds, into thousands of con goers walking past us. Many a photograph was taken, tons of questions, just lots of general interest in the sport. I even let a few people try out my other set of stilts. One guy in particular impressed me greatly, he works with regular stilts, so he took to jumping almost immediately.
By the time XDvandalJake, and myself were completely bent over with exhaustion, we moved base and began walking through the crowds, towards the entrance to the Stephens Convention center, where the cons dealer room was being held. We did a few jumps for the crowd, by the large fountains, and then to walk the art gallery, and then dealer exhibits.
Due to us being indoors for the last portion, all we did was walk and I answered questions, we remained inside for a long while, until other non bocking friends of ours met up with us. In which case we headed back to the second area we bocked, and removed our stilts.
Over all it was a very fun experience, and I hope to get more PowerBockers to accompany us next year.
Check back another time for pictures of the con. if they become available to me xD
Spring weather is starting to consider taking a hold of things here in Davenport, Iowa. After getting out of work early. This bocker decided to go do some springing of his own. I took a quick run to the nearby Mississippi River. Only to discover a small flea market of sorts.
Taking the chance to promote the sport. I spent the last two hours walking through the crowds, doing kangas, pogos, split kicks, tucks, grabs and stars in clearing for any that asked. Oh did they ask!
Times like these really make you recall the thrill you yourself got your first time seeing bocks. To bad I was alone with no camera. So I cannot share pictures today. Maybe if some pop up online? I was photographed randomly quite a bit.
Again, if there are any in the area that would like a demostration please look me up.
The art of using Power Stilts; Jumping, Running, Moving aggressively and artfully; performing super-human feats while wearing stilts; bocking, having fun!
