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Ice BlockingIce blocking is a quasi-sport in which individuals race to the bottom of a hill sitting on large blocks of ice. It is most popular among students and is sometimes recommended as a good activity for dating or scout camps. As of 2005, within the U. S. it is regional, with ice-blocking occuring primarily in the Pacific NW and parts of the Southwest. Ice blocking is already a very prominent industry in Australia, particularly Tasmania, due to climate. The only equipment needed is some large blocks of ice and thick, preferably padded clothing. Hessian sacks have been recommended to sit on. Enthusiasts have been known to make "customized" ice blocks by freezing ropes into them to act as handles, and mixing colouring agents into the ice prior to freezing. Falls, bruises, and getting covering in mud are hazards, and the bottom of the hill be a wide area free from obstructions. Short grass is reported to give the best experience, due to lower drag and hence higher speed. Generally it is an informal activity not done on a competitive basis but at least one university has held an ice-blocking contest. http://www.ugf.edu/Lumen/studentlifebrings.htm This activity can damage the grass and is often banned or restricted by park authorities and groundskeepers. For example, the city of Mesa, Arizona has four sites where it is permitted in rotation, depending on the judgement of the management. (http://citydoc.cityofmesa.org/stellent/groups/public/documents/meetings/PRB_PDF_Minutes2003Sept18.pdf or http://64.233.183.104/search?q=cache:pECVXF4CmeUJ:citydoc.cityofmesa.org/stellent/groups/public/documents/meetings/PRB_PDF_Minutes2003Sept18.pdf+%22ice+blocking%22+banned+grass&hl=en) Ice blocking was featured on television on the MTV series Jackass.
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