About Gary King

I’m a writer, speaker and lover of all things that raise the heartbeat and tickle the senses. If there is one thing that I’ve learnt from my years of extreme sport and adventure travel is that life is for living - not spectating.

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Welcome to Gary King's Extreme Sports Blog

Mount Everest Official Height Agreed by Nepal and China

by Gary King on 09-Apr-10 08:10

everest

China and Nepal have at last agreed on the height of Mount Everest. Or is it that they agree to disagree? As reported in The Daily Telegraph.

Filed under: Mountains

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Ben Saunders Postpones North Pole Speed Record Attempt Until 2011

by Gary King on 06-Apr-10 13:53

Ben Saunders has decided to postpone his expedition to become the fastest person to travel the 478 miles from Ward Hunt Island to the Geographic North Pole in the high Arctic.

Read about his decision to do so on his personal journal.

Filed under: Adventure Polar

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Question Mark Hangs Over Ben Saunders' North Pole Bid

by Gary King on 30-Mar-10 13:06

As reported on Explorers Web

Ben said over the weekend, “Two plastic five-litre fuel containers in the back of my sledge broke, at some point on Wednesday [March 24], contaminating nearly all of my food bags with Coleman fuel.” He has started on March 22.

He is back in Resolute Bay after the pilots had to wait some time at Eureka for the weather to clear before they could pick him up.

Ben said he had two options, “to have an airdrop of more food and fuel, a decision that would mean my expedition would become “supported”, a fundamental compromise that I was unwilling to make on this trip, or to be picked up and to restart the expedition at a later point.”

He continued with his options now, “The earliest I can go again from the north coast is on Tuesday (30th March), a date that is at the absolute end of the safe window for starting from the Canadian coastline, and that coincides with the full moon, the highest and lowest tides, and therefore the highest chance of dangerous ice conditions at the outset of the journey.”

“And with gale-force winds forecast in Resolute in the next 24 hours, it’s likely that my drop-off flight could be punted into early April. None of these factors bode well for success.”

“The other option is to postpone by forty-nine or so weeks and come back stronger, wiser and better-equipped in 2011, but this leaves me a year to second-guess my decision, stewing in regret (the attached photo is a self-portrait taken at the end of my retreat back to land, bitterly disappointed) and the chance of even worse ice conditions next year.”

“It’s the toughest decision I’ve had in yonks.”

Filed under: North Pole Expeditions

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O'Neill Surfing Cold Water Classic Tasmania 2010 - Highlights

by Gary King on 29-Mar-10 19:06

Australian Stuart Kennedy beat Brazilian Wiggolly Dantas to take top spot at the O’Neill Cold Water Classic in Tasmania.

Kennedy’s two wave final total of 18 out of a possible 20 was the highest of the event and he won the final emphatically with Brazilian Wiggolly Dantas a distant second on 12.57.

Stuart Kennedy

Stuart Kennedy in action.

Filed under: Water Surfing

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Extreme riding and skiing

by Gary King on 26-Mar-10 23:59

Awesome!!!!

Filed under: Snow / Ice Snowboarding Skiing

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Mark Webb BMX Rider Extraordinaire Interview

by Gary King on 26-Mar-10 07:05

"My grandmother bought me my first bike second-hand when I was 13," says Mark Webb. "It was a terrible bike really when you look back, but at the time it was the best thing I had ever seen. A beautiful chrome BMX."

Eleven years on Webb, 24, is one of the best freestyle riders in the country and has won numerous events across the world, including the BMX Masters 2008 in Germany.

In competition, Freestyle BMX is performed over ramps and rails, with each rider judged on the complexity and execution of a series of tricks.

When Webb is in full flow his performance is astounding; as man and machine twist, twirl and spin it's like watching two-wheeled aerial ballet, albeit with a loud soundtrack.

He started riding at his local skate park in Southsea in Hampshire and it wasn't long before his talent shone.

"A guy was filming some pro riders in the park," Webb explains. "He asked me if I would do a couple of tricks so that he could video them."

The film-maker, Steve Bartholomew, was so impressed he invited Webb to join his BMX team, propelling him into pro riding. When performed correctly, his seamless stream of jumps and turns is spellbinding. But there's a vast amount of practice that goes into creating this fluidity.

"I've broken my wrists, collar bone, legs and knocked myself out. In 2007 I broke my back," Webb says.

With injuries like this it shows mettle to get back on your bike. Webb has the same attitude when competing: "Rather than trying to simply do a trick better than somebody else I try to push the boundaries."

Webb, who has a huge following, offers sage advice for youngsters: "Ride for the right reasons and keep it fun. It's not about getting a sponsor, it's about enjoyment. And keep practising until you feel at one with your bike and then the tricks will come."

Don't let the lack of a good bike put you off either. If you haven't got one, you could ask your grandmother.

Eleven years on Webb, 24, is one of the best freestyle riders in the country and has won numerous events across the world, including the BMX Masters 2008 in Germany.

In competition, Freestyle BMX is performed over ramps and rails, with each rider judged on the complexity and execution of a series of tricks.

When Webb is in full flow his performance is astounding; as man and machine twist, twirl and spin it's like watching two-wheeled aerial ballet, albeit with a loud soundtrack.

He started riding at his local skate park in Southsea in Hampshire and it wasn't long before his talent shone.

"A guy was filming some pro riders in the park," Webb explains. "He asked me if I would do a couple of tricks so that he could video them."

"I've broken my wrists, collar bone, legs and knocked myself out. In 2007 I broke my back," Webb says.

Don't let the lack of a good bike put you off either. If you haven't got one, you could ask your grandmother.

Mark Webb in action

Filed under: Snow / Ice Snowboarding

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Xavier De Le Rue Wins the Men's World Freeride 2010 Snowboard Title

by Gary King on 24-Mar-10 10:12

Filed under: Snow / Ice Snowboarding

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Peetu Piiroinen Takes Second Swatch TTR Snowboard Championship

by Gary King on 22-Mar-10 10:27

Peetu Piiroinen celebrating his historic win. Pic by Laura Austin

Stratton, VT – March 20th 2010: Peetu Piiroinen (FIN) has carved his name into the history book of snowboarding by becoming the first snowboarder ever to win two consecutive Swatch TTR World Champion titles. As if re-claiming the most prestigious award in snowboarding was not enough, he also secured it a week before the last 6Star event, the Burton US Open. Piiroinen took an unassailable lead in the TTR World Ranking List with a win in the slopestyle at the 6Star Oakley Arctic Challenge in Norway, Oslo on March 8th, 2010. Along with the title, the 22-year old Fin has earned himself another $50,000 USD and automatic invites to all major TTR events for the 2010/2011 season.

Fin Rider Peetu Piiroinen has carved his name into the history book of snowboarding by becoming the first snowboarder ever to win two consecutive Swatch TTR World Champion titles. As if re-claiming the most prestigious award in snowboarding was not enough, he also secured it a week before the last 6Star event, the Burton US Open. Piiroinen took an unassailable lead in the TTR World Ranking List with a win in the slopestyle at the 6Star Oakley Arctic Challenge in Norway, Oslo on March 8th, 2010. Along with the title, the 22-year old Fin has earned himself another $50,000 USD and automatic invites to all major TTR events for the 2010/2011 season.

Filed under: Snow / Ice Snowboarding

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