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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The Truth About Aerobatics Plane Landing With One Wing

by Gary King on 19-Jan-10 09:16

I posted this s few weeks ago and asked if it could be true. Can a stunt plane land with one wing? Well, I went to one of the top aerobatic outfits in the UK and asked them.

This is what they had to say;

"We have seen this and the consensus is that it is a very cleverly edited

piece, with the missing wing belonging to a model, cut with footage of the

full size aircraft - VERY CLEVER STUFF. There are quite a few aircraft that

have exact replica flying models.

If the wing had come off the aircraft it would have simply spun into the ground

- big mess, lots of tears. The model is much lighter and so survived - but

very very good flying by the radio controlled guys."

So there it is. It's a FAKE. Albeit a very good one.

Filed under: Air Video

Comments (2)

Burton European Open 2010 Final Result

by Gary King on 18-Jan-10 10:22

PIIROINEN IS THE STAR OF THE BEO CIRCUS AND THE SWATCH TTR RANKING

Laax, Switzerland – 16th January 2010: It was a perfect sunny day on the Crap Sogn Gion in Laax, Switzerland for the final day of competition at the 6Star Burton European Open. The nail biting last runs of the prestigious halfpipe finals saw yesterday’s slopestyle winner, Peetu Piiroinen (FIN), take the lead from fellow Finn Ilkka-Eemeli Laari, who took second place, and Swiss rider Iouri Podladtchikov who finished in third place. The women’s title went to Paulina Ligocka (POL) with Swiss Olympic hopeful Ursina Haller in second and Akiko Miwa (JAP) in third.

The celebrating Piiroinen, who now has a hefty lead in the Swatch TTR Rankings, commented; “It was hard to imagine that I could win both contests. I wasn’t that nervous, but I just wanted to have that run so I just decided that I’m going to land it now. Because I had three runs and I had to at least land one of them.” Piiroinen is setting himself up nicely for a shot at becoming the first ever two-time Swatch TTR World Champion.

For more information visit www.ttrworldtour.com

Peetu Piiroinen on winning form on the halfpipe. Pic by Laemmerhirt.

Filed under: Snow / Ice Snowboarding

Comments (1)

Burton European Open Update

by Gary King on 16-Jan-10 11:28

BIG CHANGES IN THE SWATCH TTR TOP 10 AFTER SLOPESTYLE FORMAT OF THE BURTON EUROPEN OPEN

Laax, Switzerland – 15th January 2010

The Finns took a double victory today at the 6Star Burton European Open in Laax, Switzerland, where the circus-themed event hit full swing with the men’s and women’s slopestyle finals. Thanks to a perfectly executed last run, Peetu Piiroinen (FIN) took the title and left Mikkel Bang (NOR) in second and Gjermund Braaten (NOR) in third. On the women’s side, newcomer Enni Rukajärvi (FIN), who recently took the title of the 6Star Roxy Chicken Jam, dominated the competition from the semi finals on and was able to secure first place. Second place went to local Sina Candrian and third to current Swatch TTR Tour leader Sarka Pancochova (CZE).

For more information visit www.ttrworldtour.com

Filed under: Snow / Ice Snowboarding

Comments (1)

The Wing Walking Video

by Gary King on 15-Jan-10 10:10

Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines.

They Go Up, Tiddly, Up, Up.

They Go Down, Tiddly, Down, Down.

What fun. In fact, that's an understatement. It was rip roaringly exciting to be whisked around the sky on top of a Boeing Stearman Bi-Plane. I had the incredibly good fortune to do a wing walking display with Mike Dentith from Wing Walking UK ( see previous blog entry Wing Walking ) flying high above the Essex countryside with The Thames Estuary as a backdrop. It was a day of high octane frivolity that I'll never forget.

Many thanks to Mike and for more information have a look at the pictures in the gallery

WING WALKING or on ACTIVITIES-WING WALKING

Filed under: Air Video Wing Walking

Comments (1)

The Good Ship Plastiki

by Gary King on 14-Jan-10 14:08

This is just great.

A 60 foot catamaran made out of reclaimed plastic bottles is set to sail the pacific with a hand picked crew of aventurers, scientist and creatives. Their mission is 'to beat waste by inspiring sustainable solutions and to highlight the ecological damage being done to the world's oceans.'

Check out the hi-fi version is you have broadband because it's awesome.

www.plastiki.com

Filed under: Water Adventure

Comments (2)

Burton European Open Laax 2010

by Gary King on 13-Jan-10 08:00

The Burton European Open 2010 has kicked off on Laax in Switzerland. It's a 6 star TTR event that means it's going to have all the big names there. I went to the BEO 2009 and saw Shaun White and Kevin Pearce battle it out for the Half Pipe top spot. Pearce clinched it in the end. It was a scintillating competition. Pearce won't be competing this year as he's recuperating after suffering a head injury whilst in training in Utah. Check out their website at www.ttrworldtour.com. More news to follow as the week goes on.

Filed under: Snow / Ice Video Snowboarding

Comments (1)

Freeride World Champion Xavier De Le Rue

by Gary King on 12-Jan-10 09:58

The Freeride World Tour kicks off on January 21st in Krasnaya Polyana in Russia.

This is the same resort that will also be staging the alpine and nordic ski events of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games hosted by Sochi. Sometimes referred to as the "Russian Courchevel," Krasnaya Polyana in the Western Caucasus is the most developed ski resort in Russia.

Xavier De Le Rue is a French snowboarder and current Freeride World Tour Champion. He's pretty tasty on a board that's for sure. Check out this video of him talking about the tour. There are some great shots in it.

The event then goes onto Chamonix in France, Squaw Valley in the States and then Verbier in Switzerland.

Filed under: Snow / Ice Sport Snowboarding

Comments (0)

Dog Bites Own Leg

by Gary King on 11-Jan-10 10:22

Just get off my bone. I don't care who you are. JUST GET OFF MY BONE. Grrrrrr.

Filed under: Funny Video

Comments (0)

Stunt Plane Landing With One Wing

by Gary King on 06-Jan-10 15:46

Fact or Fiction? Is this possible?

Answers on a postcard?