SPORTING-SAILS - Downhill Skateboard, Longboard, SUP, Ski & Snowboard Body Sails, Parachutes, Wingsuits, Kites for Long Distance Skateboarding, Surfing, Skiing, Snowboarding - Sport Sails SPORTING-SAILS - Downhill Longboarding, Skateboarding, Skiing, Snowboarding Sail

SPORTING-SAILS
Mill Valley, CA 94941
United States

sales@sporting-sails.com

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Video - SPORTING-SAILS - Documenting inspirational & experimental field-tests highlighting SPORTING-SAIL deployment techniques and disciplines for downhill skateboarding, Buy the original SPORTING-SAIL body sail parachute and try something for the first time. Experience air-braking and what wind has to offer. Long Distance Skateboarding - Downhill Skate, Ski, Snow Body Sails, Parachutes, Capes & Kites - Bird Man Longboarding Wing Suits, Longboard Wing Suits - Nick & Billy Smith - As Seen On LegalZoom TV Commercial!  Downhill Skateboarding, Longboarding, Skiing & Snowboarding Body Sails, Parachutes & Kites - The Original Downhill SPORTING-SAIL by Sukrafte - Downhill Skateboard, Ski & Snowboard Body Sail, Parachute, Cape & Kite - The SPORTING-SAIL by Sukrafte is a downhill body sail for Long Distance Skateboarding on Longboards, Skateboarding, Skiing and Snowboarding (even longboarding). The SPORTING-SAIL can also be described as a Skateboard, Ski or Snowboard Sail, Suit, Chute or Kite used as an alternative way to manage speed, stability, style and safety on downhill Skate, Ski, Snowboard and Longboard runs where traditional methods of hand-sliding with gloves, power-sliding on all four wheels and foot-braking. Skateboard braking, longboard slides, longboarding with slide gloves, slide jam, slide fest, downhill pre-drifts, power slides, hand-sliding, colemans and foot-braking, what are the best slide gloves, how to slide on a longboard, how to perform a coleman on a longboard, where to buy longboards and how to ski and parachute.skiing & snowboard

SPORTING-SAILS - Buy Skateboarding, Ski/Skateboard Wingsuit Body    Sail Parachute Adam Colton, Downhill Longboarding, Long Treks on Skate Decks, LongTreksOnSkateDecks - Testimonials & Reviews SPORTING-SAILS - The Downhill Body-Sail for Skateboarding, Skiing    & Snowboarding

H W Smith Jr. (grandfather of Nick and Billy Smith, Co-Founders of SPORTING-SAILS) having fun with his "Ski-Klippers" (circa 1980s). - Photo by Patsy Smith

Adventure Journal/Steve Casimiro - Former National Geographic Adventure West Coast editor, Powder Magazine editor, Bike Magazine editor

Click here for full review - "Edna Mode doesn't approve, but Sport Sailing takes off!"

"Sport sailing proves the point that the line between genius and ridiculous is as fuzzy as a lollipop dropped on shag carpeting. It’s impossible not to look at sport sails and assume that a kid pretending to be a superhero mistakenly attached his cape to his ankles, but the fact is that sport sails provide both an unconventional and effective braking system to skateboarding and a boost to your snow-related airs.

In this snippet hosted by climber extraordinaire Timmy O’Neil, we get a glimpse into the origins of the sport sail as well as the aesthetics. It’s impossible to judge unless you’ve tried it yourself, but watching Timmy bail about 30 feet into his descent makes me feel better about the yellow streak running down the middle of my back. Having snapped my arm in two places flying off my skateboard, I’ve never quite gotten my need for speed on asphalt back and anything that lets me slow down more effectively than a 40 mph one-legged foot drag is A-OK in my book. Braking is better than breaking, as it were."

Adam Colton - Loaded Boards & Paris Trucks Team Rider, Photographer, Climber & Adventurer
"Guess what, we LOVED THE SAILS...hahaha at one point we had a gnarly tail wind and if I can remember we did some 25kms with the sails pulling us, hahah it was nuts, we were going I would say 30mph being pulled by the sails at times on flat chip-seal roads, if it was a smooth paved road we would of been going hahah so scary fast...The sails made these crazy chip-seal mtn roads so much more manageable slowing us down. Paul and Aaron used the sail for pack covers as well. My shoes would of been dead if it was not for the sail bud. Tis scary footbraking all fast with a backpack and your board vibrating all crazy under your feet from the chip-seal with the bonus big semi trucks coming up the hill at you. Sails made it a lot more enjoyable. Big Hug!"
Kevin Hochtl - Professional Ski Racer, Instructor & World Record Holder in the 100 Meter Nordic Skiing Speed Skate & Resident of Vail, Colorado
"I have never charged down the back bowls with more control and stability...and I grew up skiing and training here!  These sails make any day of heavy, spring skiing conditions the best day ever.  They give you just enough "lift" to float on top of all the crude and plow through the bumps with ease.  Oh, and did I mention they are FUN...who can deny FUN!?!?  I can't wait until next winter to share these with my friends and take the SPORTING-SAIL to new heights!"
Troy Bilbrough - Skateventure (3,500km Long Distance Skate Across Southeast Asia)

"SPORTING-SAILS are essential for distance. They can be deployed downhill and also be used to get propelled forward with a tail wind. I also use my SPORTING-SAIL as a blanket at night and sometimes even as a rain shelter. I'll never go on a distance skate without one..."

*To see Huw Jon and Troy Bilbrough of Skateventure in action, click here & click here.

Best Made Company - Be Optimistic

Best Made Product Test: The Sporting-Sail

"In June 2010 Best Made enlisted photographer Nate Bressler and skateboard luminary and fabricator DeWitt Cannon to put the Sporting-Sail to the test on the steep and winding hills of Malibu, California. The results were spectacular. DeWitt, a longboard downhill rider had never deployed a Sporting-Sail and Bressler was there to capture the proceeding magic in the unmistakable California light.

We got the pictures in and discovered just how much the Sporting-Sail, like our axes, can not only serve a valuable purpose (and look good), but it gets you back out with mother nature. You run your hand out the window of a moving car, or intercept a gust of wind in your jacket walking down a busy street: either way we all know what fun it can be to just catch wind. And now you don’t need a fancy rig, a sailboat or a surf kite to make this happen. You can guarantee we’ll be packing the Sporting-Sail along for the ride on all our adventures from now on."

Daily Grommet - Fresh Finds, True Stories

"Ride the Wind, catch the wind and soar on your board with Sporting-Sails by Sukrafte!"

"Sporting-Sails are a descendant of Ski-Klippers wearable sails, which were originally invented in the 1970s by avid skier H.W. Smith Jr. The sails wrapped around a skier’s wrists and ankles, allowing the skier to harness the wind while carving down mountains, creating enhanced control, stability and a little freestyle elegance.

In 2006, Smith’s grown grandsons who are outdoor adventurers, Nick and Billy Smith, rediscovered Ski-Klippers in the attic of the family’s Vail home.  They realized that with some modification, the sails were perfect for not only skiers and snowboarders, but also skateboarders and longboarders. So they patented their grandfather’s idea and their sport sail business was born.

Skaters love Sporting-Sails because the wind resistance slows them down, making gnarly roads more manageable. Previously, the only way to create drag was with a skater’s hands (ouch!) or feet, ruining many a good pair of shoes along the way.

The sails weigh only 8 ounces, and are easily folded and transported in a compact sack. The simple design is perfect for no-nonsense adventurers and bright reflective tape adds extra safety. So, strap on a Sporting-Sail and reinvent your descent!"

Inhabitat: Design Will Save The World -  Are Wind-Catching Sails the Future of Skateboarding?
We love innovations that keep people out of their cars and using alternative methods of transportation, so we were intrigued to hear about the Sporting Sail. This $79 kite-like device purportedly lets skateboarders harness the wind to control their speed. The idea for the kite came when its inventors, a pair of brothers in Mill Valley, California, stumbled upon a prototype sail in their grandfather’s attic. That sail was intended to help downhill skiiers catch wind. So the brothers added on some nylon, velcro, and reinforced stitching, and patented the idea. It’s a pricey add-on for a sport that tends to attract teenagers (not the wealthiest market), but the inventors insist that the Sporting Sail pays for itself in sneakers that aren’t ruined by being dragged along the street to slow down. The Sail can also be used for skiing, snowboarding, and even as a hammock. And if that isn’t enough to persuade you, the thing looks like a whole lot of fun, to boot.
LongTreksOnSkateDecks - Adam, Paul & Aaron (LongTreksOnSkateDecks 2000km skate across Morocco)

"Scary chip-seal pavement does not go well with going fast downhill wasting away your shoes.  SPORTING-SAILS saved our shoes and made going down this road a lot more fun.

*To see LongTreksOnSkateDecks in action with their SPORTING-SAILS during their 2000km skate across Morocco, click here & click here.

Peter J. Weinrauch's Product Review in collaboration with The Skateboarder's Journal - Surf-Rodz, GFH Boards Team Rider & PhitPhactor Clothing Designer

Click here for complete video of the review!

"Remember when you were a little boy or girl, and you wanted to fly; just jump, and float, and be caught in the wind, sailing to another place far away? The SPORTING-SAIL is an original, yet old school product that can take all sorts of sports to another dimension; longboarding will be the focus of this review.

After only a short amount of time riding with and using these sails, riders will quickly realize that adding a simple device to an already beloved sport and hobby can make it even more fun and worthwhile. There are several other “performance enhancers” that can add to a boarding session, however, there are few that actually transform the type and feel of riding that will take place. Normally, giant hills are straight down bombing, corner drifting, and foot braking speed runs; the SPORTING-SAIL turns those same hills into slopes of creativity, breaking the hill up into a pattern of choice. Riders can carve or tuck from fast to slow on the steepest and roughest areas that road has to offer, all by throwing up his or her arms, sort of like when your favorite American football team scores and the fans do the “TOUCH DOWN!” (You know… with the arms in the air?)

SPORTING-SAILS has taken a simple concept and perfected a product through highly detailed and quality craftsmanship, all delivered in an attractive package that avid riders and new comers can appreciate. On that note, I literally mean, too, that the packaging itself is very unique and very noticeable; it adds to the overall value of the Sail itself. One can tell that the effort put into this product was one that goes above and beyond, not skimping out on the areas that some groups have in the past or continue to do.

The SPORTING-SAIL is a truly enjoyable product, one that won’t get old fast. However, it’s also one that can be thrown in its bag, taken out after a month without use, and then put back into action for more fun than ever. Check out the SPORTING-SAILS and enjoy the feeling of flight once again. Go back to that simple fun, because that my friends, lasts forever!

Jason McCaffrey - Director of Surf - Patagonia, Inc.
"Lets feature those in the FCD Surfboards brochure and Patagonia surf catalog."
Timmy O'Neill - Patagonia Climbing Ambassador, Friend and Comedian

"SPORTING-SAILS are the bellows of the intrepid soul; they focus the wind towards the embers to keep the fire hot. Deploy and Enjoy people."

Necessary Cool - The Premier Guide to All that is Cool by Jef Price

"What is a Sporting Sail? Well its many things, to start with you can use it to slow your run when boarding downhill, or as a make shift sail for surfing or even kayaking, Skiing or snow boarding. The Sporting Sail is best described as a device that’s limited in its use only by your own pursuits. If you choose to do so, you can use this device as an impromptu shelter, we even saw a picture of a gentlemen leaping from a cliff with on of these strapped to his back.

Needless to say this has become on of our new favorite toys, and we were all too eager to test it out. So we made contact with our friend Billy over at Sporting Sails and the adventures began.

While we found that leaping from the top of a 25 foot tree wasn’t nearly enough room for the Sporting Sail to do its thing, we did find that it worked well for carrying Cullen away from the accident scene (We’re kidding of course, we left him there to recover while we moved on to the next test).

Skateboarding was a blast, as when you picked up some speed you were able to simply slow up by deploying the Sporting Sail. The simple to use system uses wide velcro strap you fasten to your legs or ankles, and two grips for your hands. The whole system only weighs about 1.15 oz and is highly compressible coming in its own compression sack.

And of course in true NecessaryCool form, no test would be complete without Jef trying to break the product by doing something completely ridiculous. For more Sporting Sail action keep checking back, as Jef is still doing some crazy stuff in his and will be making additional posts later.

For our testing we used the Sporting Sail as a shelter in a mild rain storm, skating, and of course jumping from a tree, the last of which ended with Jef curled up on the ground shouting “That was an awful idea, let’s try it higher up next time.”

Our results? The Sporting Sail is a blast, easy to use, has a lot of uses, and is like nothing else out there. This deserves a spot on your gear shelf. It’s not hard to want to do something crazy when this thing arrives in the mail."

Jack Smith - Founder of The Skateboarder's Journal & Skateboard Pioneer
"How cool is this!  I'm 53 years old and still discovering new things in skateboarding. A big thanks for developing the SPORTING-SAIL."
Silverfish Longboarding Product Review - 4.9 out of 5 Stars!
"This thing is great for people who just wanna cruise and not are about going too fast. Slows you down big time which is great for if u wanna just go down a hill slowly carving and all. Its nice and simple. Also, if there a wind pushing u, pop it out and use it as a sail!"
"2 or 3 Things I Know" - A great post about the SPORTING-SAIL for Earth Day


For more media & press related coverage, click here
Reinvent the Descent (On Snow or Cement): SPORTING-SAILS are hand-made, downhill trajectory decelerator wing suit parachute body-sails for skateboarding (longboarding), long distance skateboarding, skiing, SUP and snowboarding. The SPORTING-SAIL can also be described as a skateboard, ski or snowboard sail, wingsuit, sport chute, drag-brake, parachute or kite foil used to manage speed, increase stability, heighten visibility and provide safety for downhill skate, ski, snowboard and longboard runs. The SPORTING-SAIL allows riders of all disciplines to pioneer new concepts of progression and fun through various deployment techniques. We encourage riders to explore different downhill scenarios and experiment on all types of ski or board set-ups. Experience something for the first time...enjoy what wind and air has to offer. Get down, get inspired, get the original SPORTING-SAIL. For more, click here. Skateboard Braking, Longboard Sliding, Longboard Sailing, Longboard Sliding with a SPORTING-SAIL Parachute Body-Sail for Extreme Fun and Safety. Use the Best Slide Gloves in the World with a SPORTING-SAIL and Never Foot-Brake Again! Watch Adam Colton, Paul Kent and Aaron Enevoldsen of LongTreksOnSkateDecks deploy a SPORTING-SAIL parachute on their Longboarding Trip across Morocco. Parachute Air-Brake on Speedboards and Longboards while Skateboarding Downhill and Sliding.
Beyond the Sail: The SPORTING-SAIL has proven to work time and time again for long distance skateboarding on longboards. Longboarding across countries with the SPORTING-SAIL allows riders to experience a new sense of control in addition to increased visibility and stability for safely descending mountains with 30+ pound backpacks. Using the SPORTING-SAIL for long distance skating adventures, such as LongTreksOnSkateDecks, Surf2theSurf, The Big Wild & Apatalongo Ϫ, has helped riders be seen, stay safe and save on wheels, shoes and skin; ultimately saving on weight, money and time. With field-testing and feedback from riders such as Adam Colton, Marion Karr, Paul Kent, Aaron Enevoldsen, Jack Smith and Raul Serrano Cervantes and support from companies like Patagonia, FCD Surfboards, Best Made Co. and Loaded Boards, we look forward to many more adventures with the SPORTING-SAIL! With the innovation of Tarp Surfing and success of Skate Sailing coverage by Fox News Channel 11.  Tarp Surfing - Skate Sailing - Buy a SPORTING-SAIL Downhill Body Sail Parachute for Skiing, Snowboarding, Long Distance Skateboarding and Longboarding to experience some thing for the first time. Use it for extreme downhill longboarding or to slow down.

Long Distance Skateboarding - Downhill Skate, Ski, Snow Body Sails, Parachutes, Capes & Kites - Bird Man Longboarding Wing Suits, Longboard Wing Suits - Nick & Billy Smith - As Seen On LegalZoom TV Commercial!SPORTING-SAILS - Charlie Donalson Artwork Original Artwork by Charlie Donalson

Downhill Skateboarding, Skiing & Snowboarding Wing Suits, Body Sails, Parachutes, Kites & Chutes - The Original Downhill SPORTING-SAIL - Skateboard, Ski, Snowboard Wingsuit, Body Sail, ParachuteSPORTING-SAILS is a member of 1% For The Planet © 2007-2015 Sukräfte, LLC (Surf + Skate = Sukrafte) - A California Company - All Rights Reserved - Patent No. US D613,316 S - Deploy & Enjoy!

SPORTING-SAILS
Mill Valley, CA 94941
United States

sales@sporting-sails.com

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