Scouting out routes for Capital Bocking USA

So we just had a nice weekend in DC... with 80 degrees and sunny, hopefully it was a "weather" preview for Capital Bocking USA which is in less than two weeks. The mission was to go bocking and scout things out. I was running across Key bridge at full speed when I tripped and fell as the bridge transitioned to slightly uneven brick sidewalk. I skidded on the smooth bricks for about 20ft, going from about 20mph to zero. It was a very bad fall, and I was stunned, wind knocked out of me, laying on the ground. After a moment, I sat up and assessed the damage: fresh skid marks on my kneepads, elbow pads, and wrist guards plus a minor scratch along the edge of one wrist guard. The moral of the story is: Although falls are rare, always wear protective pads and a helmet while bocking! Bocking looks dangerous, but it doesn't have to be.

And yes, we now have some good, tested routes! See you all in two weeks. It's going to be a great time!

XD Bockers

Hello sirs and madams!

Your Davenport, Iowa Affiliate here. I am sitting here writing this after just getting in a while ago from a nice warm up bock over at LeClaire Park on W River DR. I'm winding down now, finally not sweating as profusely and just wanted to announce the formation of our local group (Still small, but hey you can help!)

The XD Bockers

The XD Bockers has a total of 4 members currently. Our aim is to take an enjoyable approach at bocking. To focus on laughs, and good times first and foremost before the rest. To do it the xD way!

You can check us out on our Facebook Group. The XD Bockers!

If you're local and are a bocker, or looking to become a bocker. Please look us up, I'll be more than happy to help you out.

DC Parkour + Testimonial Tuesday

Over the weekend, I upgraded a customer who had a tilting footplate to the Poweriser Advanced bindings and hardware. While watching people practice and perform stunts at the DC Metro Parkour Meet-up, I actually got to try out the newly upgraded stilts, and was impressed with how the tilting footplate improves running without hindering the usual moves. It took me a minute to get use to the different mobility, but as an experienced bocker it was quite easy to start running, jumping, and leaping right away. Who knows... we may see a tilting footplate on a future Poweriser model.

Testimonial Tuesday,
Reminding you that service is one of our four business foci:

"I would just like to thank you for the prompt responses and such. You conduct your business with the finest customer service I've ever received"

After a shipping mistake a customer realized he didn't have the correct order. Not only did I apologize but I let him know that we would take care of fixing the mistake. Upon learning that he would not have to worry about the mistake, he responded:

"Thanks for being an awesome dealer."

And in case you didn't notice, our business foci are:
Instruction > Sales > Service > Community

Capital Bocking USA: June 27-28, 2009

If you haven't seen dozens of people on stilts leaping, bounding, and doing acrobatics throughout an urban jungle, then you will not want to miss this: Capital Bocking USA is an annual USA meetup for powerbocking in the Capital City, Washington, DC. Experts and professional acrobats from across the country plus abroad will meet in DC for a weekend of leaps, bounds, and various challenges. Suitable for beginners+ (requires ability to walk), it's sure to be a great environment for learning a few new tricks. Click here for the event information and then RSVP if you might want to attend so that I can send you the followup information.

We could use the help of a good "ground crew", or volunteers to film and help organize some of the challenges and logistics. If you would bring a friend or want to participate without stilts, let me know!

Meet Our Affiliates

I'm happy to announce that DC Power Stilts has recently established our first four affiliates who are organizing local communities and otherwise promote this exciting new sport! Let us know if you would like an affiliate to contact you.

The first DC Power Stilts Affiliates are:

• Bacchanal Promotions (Andrew), in Auburn Hills, Michigan
• Brian in Salinas, California
• DJ in Davenport, Iowa
• Larry in Fairmont, West Virginia

Learn more about the Affiliate Program.

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 :-)

Anime Central 2009 Bock Report!

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

PowerBocking at the Frieght House Market

Hello again Sirs and or Madams!

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.

Anime Central May 8th - 10th

Hello Sirs, and Ladies too!

Quickly approaching us is the upcoming month of May. With it comes many things, increase in heat, longer days, and a random thunderstorm. But what does that mean for you and me? A greatly increased, and exciting time to bock! It's truly a great time for us.

But best of all, it brings one more thing! Anime Central, the Midwest largest Anime Convention. One of the best places to gather, and talk about all things Anime, Manga, Comics, Movies, Sci-Fi, video games, and so so much more. I propose that we make that "more" be about Powerbocking.

Imagine walking about the convention center, and streets in Rosemont, IL. Heads above the daily thousands of convention goers. Every year the convention proves to be a blast. This year shall not disappoint.

If any other bockers, or those interested in learning about jumping stilts and the like. Please feel free to check out www.acen.org for the conventions information. Then either look for the tallest people there, or hit me up at XDvandalDJ@gmail.com

After the con, be sure to check back here for the full report

Visiting the National Cherry Blossom Festival on Stilts

The Cherry Blossom Festival is a wonderful event that happens in DC when the Japanese Cherry Blossom Trees bloom and surround the tidal areas of DC with breathtaking pink and white petals.

Unfortunately the spectacular scenery attracts a huge crowd and the lack of good transportation nearby makes getting around very difficult... for most.

Power stilts change the equation! Now the 4 miles around the area and up to the subway passes with the greatest of ease. The crowd becomes a moving slalom course and every unobstructed view overlooks the heads of those around.

Not to mention the fun of running and jumping in a beautiful place to the amazement and shock of lots of people. Please visit the DC Power Stilts Flickr Photo Stream for the photos I took or were of me on this fine Sunday afternoon.

Since it worked out so well, I think next year I'll organize a group of us to go down together. Mark your calendars and come to DC for the National Cherry Blossoms.

Announcing Lower Prices!

Good things come to those who wait! Thanks to increasing popularity, Poweriser USA has announced permanent lower prices. The popular Poweriser Advanced is now priced $100 less than yesterday. The Poweriser Kids has been increasingly mass produced can now be purchased for $50 less than before. Based on past history, these prices should last about two years. The Poweriser Classic is the same price as before and is still the most affordable set, and they are sharing more and more upgraded parts with the Advanced level of stilts.

If you have been on the fence about ordering, I suggest taking a look at the Poweriser Advanced. It's an amazing value at $399. The DC Power Stilts Web Shop has been updated and is ready for your order.

Dogs on Stilts

Don't just walk you dog, now you can bock your dog! Dr. Zancos, a circus veterinarian, was out behind the big top, when he noticed an acrobat on stilts going for a walk with the clowns' dog! As the leashed dog struggled to keep up with it's owner on stilts, the doctor decided that the dog needed an even playing field. After much testing and modification, Dr Zancos was able to fit a pair of Poweriser Kids and a two small peg stilts to fit the dog comfortably. After some initial reluctance and further training, he found that the dog with power stilts was capable of running faster and jumping higher than their tiger.

Next Dr. Zancos is going to be working with the tiger, named April.
Fools in the circus:

New: Become a DC Power Stilts Affiliate!

DC Power Stilts is currently seeking people who love bocking and enjoy sharing the fun with their friends and communities to join our new affiliate program.

Earn while Powerbocking
There are many benefits, but the main things are that you get paid, you get discounts, and you can give discounts to others. All you have to do is promote the sport, show off your power stilts and tell the people in your community about a professional, bocker-run, bocking business. When a DC Power Stilts customer uses your code, you earn a commission fee.

Build up a community or start a team
The affiliate program is a great way to help your friends or your team get discounts and affiliation with DC Power Stilts opens the door to working together for programs and events that will build up your community so you can enjoy bocking with others.

Click here to learn more about the program and how to apply

(You must be 18+ or have your parent's permission to join the program)

Google: More Fees Coming

Just got a note today saying that Google is planning to up the online transaction fees on all small businesses by 50%. After going through the process of programming them into the DC Power Stilts Web Shop, this unexpected change is going to take more off-the-top.

All I need to do to keep the current transaction rate is to process $100,000 worth of business per month.

Lucky for you, I'm a nice guy, and I'm not planning to up prices over this... but if you want to help, get your orders in by April 30, before the fees go up. Thanks :-)

Beautiful Bocking Weekend

Wow! Saturday and Sunday with nice 70 degree weather in Washington DC. AKA two great days for bocking :-) Yesterday, here in Friendship Heights, I demonstrated the power stilts and taught a doctor to have a higher perspective. Today I worked on a video project for the National Parks and Recreation Magazine, and then met up with a friend in Dupont Circle. Since he was running a little late, I decided to get some exercise and bock around for a bit. I was pretty thirsty from the video project, but I had a Gatorade stashed in my car. However, Just as I finished putting on my stilts, a Red Bull truck pulled up with free samples... It was fun. As my friend and I headed to brickskeller for a brew, I was putting something in my car when I ran into a fellow who had just finished dinner with a bottle of wine, and wanted an impromptu lesson.

After a brief lesson on my demo stilts (originally $499), he taught me & my friend how to use his $5000 Segway. I think we need to have a power stilts vs segway polo match. Amazing device, but I'll take ten pairs of stilts and some excersize with my transportation. Bocking was enjoyed and hopefuly a few more people can say they have seen power stilts in action. Thank you beautiful weekend :-)