We tested mountainboard (MTB) from German manufacturer NEXT, model Earthquake. Testing took place at the end of April.

Surface – mostly untended, mown meadow in autumn.

Wind – gusty 3 – 8 m/s

Weight of riders: 65 kg and 90 kg

NEXT Earthquake is a mountainboard with 9-inch wheels and a 99 cm long Canadian maple board. It is equipped with lightweight trucks and is designed for riders weighing up to 100 kg.

The nine-inch wheels, with a nice tread pattern on the tire, will go over rougher terrain and have proven to be a big advantage on meadows that aren’t exactly golf turf. The board works nicely underfoot and handles more challenging terrain. At faster speeds and on flatter surfaces, the board is stable and comfortable.

The NEXT Earthquake of course has tightening trucks and is thus adjustable to different weights. In terms of the weight of the board itself, we would classify it as a medium-weight mountainboard. It is therefore suitable for riding and lighter landkitng freestyle riding.  

Its 100 kg load capacity was tested on a 90 kg rider and the MTB hardly knew it.

The binding looks massive and is Velcro fastened. It is very comfortable and the shoe fits perfectly. Here we can say that it fully replaces the ratchet binding. We can set different angles of the bindings at the mountainboard, depending on how it suits the rider. The shoe stands on a solid and high quality grip, we do not have to worry that our foot will fall out of the binding even at higher jumps.

The board is medium hard and will suit riders from about 60 kg to 95 kg. The board has a “traditional” shape and a novel design.

The board comes with a manual and a tool kit. All nicely and neatly packed. In the box you get the mountainboard, like other NEXT boards, practically already folded. Just mount the bindings, put on and screw the wheels, inflate them and in a few minutes you are riding.

With an excellent price/performance ratio, this board ranks at the top and outperforms even many more expensive pieces. We definitely recommend the NEXT Earthquake because it is one of the most versatile boards on the market.