Newsletter: May 2011 - Spring Stilt Season

Dear Friend,

Thank you for being part of the powerbocking community, and for your support of DC Power Stilts. We have already attended the first national bocking meetup (Bock The South) and we are gearing up for the biggest meet ever: Capital Bocking USA.

Please Join us @ Capital Bocking USA: June 24-26, 2011
Experts on stilts from across the country will again descended upon Washington DC, leaping, bounding and performing acrobatics in competition. You can join us to compete, learn, spectate or help!
Lets us know that you are coming:
> Learn More
> Order your shirt and/or RSVP on Facebook

Schedule a Private Lesson...
DC Power Stilts is the only business on the East Coast to offer beginner, advanced, and intermediate instruction. You can skip the awkward beginner phase, jump into impressive tricks, or get live, video analysis so your big stunts are smooth and graceful!
> Private lessons and Free Tips

Bring an Unforgettable Experience to your Next Event
DC Power Stilts can bring an unforgettable stilts try-out experience to your next event. People at your event will partner up to share a new exciting and memorable experience. 100% interactive and fun.
> Lets set something up

5-Star Service
Customers love us, and we strive to provide consistent 5-star service! Our goal is to offer quality goods at fair prices and upfront shipping rates to anywhere in the continental USA. We also offer free customer pickup.
> Unfiltered Feedback (let DC Power Stilts try to earn your 5 stars too.)
> DC Power Stilts Web Shop

Start a Local Powerbocking Club
> We'll help! Become a DC Power Stilts Affiliate

You're Invited to go Stilting

May 2010 - Spring into Summer!

Yes, its soon going to be a fabulous day to go stilting. Whether you're doing jumps in your local park, running around town, or going going for a hike in the country, power stilts are a fun, aerobic way to actively enjoy a lovely day.

Get Into It!
If you have been waiting to try it, now is a great time. What is it all about? Some of the latest activities have been posted about below on the Powerbocking Blog. It's easy to sign up for a free try-out lesson.

Connect With --or Become-- An Affiliate
DC Power Stilts believes that you should be able to connect with us at a local level. That is why I support a network of affiliates all across the country who are promoting the sport, having some fun and even earning cash. Affiliates want to help you learn more about the sport.

We are looking for people who want to organize groups, make friends, and have fun on stilts. DC Power Stilts Affiliates get generous commissions, special benefits, and unbeatable prices on gear. A new online affiliate management site even makes it easy to create tracking codes, track earnings and measure your success in real-time when a customer enters your codes.
> Find an affiliate
> Apply to become part of the team

You're Invited to Attend: Capital Bocking USA 2010
Friday, June 25- Sunday, June 27
Last year's largest meet-up event in the USA was featured in the Washington Post and other news. This year it looks like it is continuing to grow. Join with experts on stilts from across the country in Washington DC, leaping, bounding and performing acrobatics in our iconic city. We'll have several events that will include various challenges, for an enjoyable weekend of powerbocking. Suitable for beginners who have their own stilts and can walk on them unassisted.

Last year's comments: "150% fun", "learned alot", "don't hesitate to come!"
> Hurry! Pre-order the shirt for just $20, ($30 after June 3rd)!
> Learn more + RSVP today

Get Outfitted With Our 5-Star Service
Our customers love us, and we strive to provide consistent 5-star service! Our goal is to offer quality goods at good values and upfront shipping rates to anywhere in the continental USA. We also offer free customer pickup. (For shipping rate, add something to the DC Power Stilts Web Shop, and click on shipping.)
> Unfiltered Feedback (let DC Power Stilts try to earn your 5 stars too.)
> DC Power Stilts Web Shop

Upcoming Meetup: Stiltwerks Annual Bock Off
June 18-20 - Las Vegas, Nevada
> Learn More

Upcoming Meetups: XD Bockers (DC Power Stilts Affiliate)
Weekly - Savannah, Georgia
> Learn More

Safety Note:
First-Generation PowerStrider Olympic Stilts came with a clamp screw and wing nut that easily becomes stripped. Stripped clamp screws will negatively affect the performance of the cuff. PowerStrider will replace this part for affected Customers.
> Notice on the Powerbocking Blog
> Contact PowerStrider

Join us on Facebook!
> DC Power Stilts
> XD Bockers (Georgia and Midwest)

Do you know someone who should try walking on stilts? Please FWD this newsletter along!
> Share this note on Facebook!

Capital Bocking USA Report

There were nine participants that showed up (that found us) and we came from impressive swath of the country. US States represented were: TX, VT, WV, MA, PA, MD, NY. Also represented was the UK. Most importantly, everyone had fun and no one got hurt.


From the DC Power Stilts Youtube Channel

The DC Power Stilts Challenge Format
Basically the format consists series of mostly easy/ intermediate "challenges" which participants could opt to participate in for points. Some challenges were harder and worth more points, and some were team or head-to-head competitions. Bonus points were awarded to the farthest traveled, the youngest, the oldest, the most feminine, knowledge of congressional procedures, and even for coming to the pizza party. The "secret point swap" made it partly a survivor-style, team strategy game as well. With a variety of skill levels represented and an emphasis on participation, all those in attendance were energized throughout each of the activities.

The first part of the competition was structured challenges on DC's great bocking terrain. Some people tried the terrain challenges for the first time.

DC Power Stilts threw down a good pizza party to start the weekend, and hopefully we indoctrinated everyone with our business philosophy and commitment to powerbocking.



From the DC Power Stilts Youtube Channel

The afternoon consisted of walking/touring in a popular and historic area of town with ice-cream treat. Points were awarded for crossing the bridge from VA into DC. It was hot, but weather stayed dry.

Sunday was a relaxed format where we had breakfast together and hung out in a park near a big farmers/craft market. We got breakfast, played with the camera a bit, and relaxed. Then we did the secret point swap followed by a somber awards ceremony. With obstacle courses, races, group challenges, quizzes, bonus awards, and point swapping, the winners really earned their prizes. I'll profile the event winners in a future blog.

One thing that stands out is that the DC event was a huge success in terms of publicity and local awareness. We were prominently featured with a full color photo and listing on the first page of the Washington Post Weekend Section. I'm estimating that at least 50 people came to spectate the various challenge events, and there were also about 50 that attended the Free try-out lessons after the competition event, which quickly reached capacity. (Thanks to Dominion for pitching in to help teach and organize the crowd!). It seems that about half of those taking lessons were youths, so it was very nice to see that level of interest in our sport.

Powerbocking was extremely visible throughout the city this weekend, as evidenced by a number of local acquaintances who contacted me after seeing people on stilts. I was even riding up the elevator when I overheard two people talking about "people jumping on stilts... in the park".

It was some work to organize and host everyone but I wish I had you all in town every weekend! Be sure and attend next year.

How Can You Afford to Offer Free Lessons and Low Prices?

A customer asked this, and another asked me if I planned to stay in business long term or even into the next year. The funny thing is that both questions had the same answer. DC Power Stilts has competitive prices because we buy stilts in bulk. Powerbocking is our business, and DC Power Stilts is invested in the sport... As of mid-Spring, we have nearly a hundred pairs of spring stilts to sell. Our business is growing, and we're committed to serving customers! Our instructors actually have fun teaching people and enjoy giving them a higher perspective on things.

When doing free lessons, we keep the overhead low. As a result, if you are taking a free lesson, It will usually be with just one instructor. He may ask you to help with minor logistics such as moving a box, holding items, opening a door... it allows the lesson to be free and it saves you money.

Of course, things would go much smoother with a lesson helper. Let us know if you would like to volunteer :-)

"Bock" Obama Inaugural Festivities

In less than two weeks, DC will be "the place to be" with the much anticipated Inauguration of Barack Obama. Many DC businesses will be shut down for the Inaugural Festivities, but DC Power Stilts will be OPEN!

Whether you are from DC or if you are visiting over the inaugural weekend, it will be a good time to schedule a tryout lesson. (click on >>> to select times/days.)

DC Inaugural Meetup
During the holiday weekend, we will meet and take to the inaugural route on our stilts. We will show our new leaders, and others what it looks like to take the high road (from 18" higher).

On inauguration day, imagine the crowds fighting for a view of the parade route. If only you could rise above them and see the acts and the new presidential Cadillac for yourself... DC Power Stilts will be watching the historic event from on high, spring-loaded stilts with extra mobility for the long walks and a vision for the future.

Join us and go powerbocking into history! (Contact DC Power Stilts if interested)

Sign-Up to Join Us

Given the unpredictable weather this time of year, I'm not generally scheduling promotional events, but I am doing tryouts evenings and weekends by appointment. I'm based out of Friendship Heights and if you can make it here, I'm very open on the available day/times.

New: There's now an online signup form that streamlines the process.

Use our new form to:

• sign up for a free tryout
  
• schedule a lesson
  
• sign up for news and discounts
  
• send us a message
  

Free In-Person Pickup

I just wanted to clarify some things about the DC Power Stilts free in-person pickup. It's a unique feature of our business that is a combination of savings, convenience, and service. When you place an order at the , specify the "free pickup" delivery option. I'll email you once I have your item here. If your item is in-stock, you can arrange to pick it up right away! We are based in in Friendship Heights. For extra convenience, I can bring it to your neighborhood if I have business there (for example, weekend lessons or promotional try-outs). When you pick up your stilts, you may get them adjusted, fitted and even try them on prior to committing to the payment. A 10-min intro lesson is included also.

FYI, No Try-out lessons next weekend

I'll be at the annual Hang Gliding and Paragliding Festival.

Also, don't forget to visit the DC Power Stilts web site. Thanks and have a great day!