Ripstik Caster Board
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List Price: Our Price: $55.99 Category: Sports See more product details |
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Description of Ripstik Caster Board
The new Ripstick combines all the fun and excitement of surfing and snowboarding and puts it on wheels. Inspired by the classic shape and design of a skateboard, the Ripstick looks like something out of the future. Instead of the traditional four-wheel skateboard, this amazing board can make smooth, quick 360-degree turns on just two wheels. Just stand on the sturdy traction plates and subtle movements propel the Ripstick even up a hill! The front and rear flexible panels are controlled by a spring-oriented bar located on the top of the wheels. The rugged polyurethane wheels are 77mm/85A with ABEC-5 bearings. Separating the two traction plates is a padded rubber carrying handle. Measures 33.5" long x 10" wide. Weighs 8 lbs. Wear helmet and pads for safety. 90-day warranty.Best described as a cross between a skateboard and a snowboard, the Ripstik caster board is the perfect ride for kids looking for the next big thrill. The board is distinguished by its pivoting deck and 360-degree inclined caster trucks, which offer a snowboard-like carving ability. A simple weight transfer lets you turn or accelerate without pushing, just like when you're carving down the slopes.
 The Ripstik's unique twisting motion moves you forward with out ever pushing off the ground. |
Key Features:
- Inclined caster trucks
- Concave deck platforms
- Traction plates
- Kick nose
- Kick tail
- Rubber-padded handle
- Torsion bar
- 76-millimeter polyurethane wheels
- High-performance ABEC-5 bearings
- For ages 8 years and older
- 220-pound rider weight capacity
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Sports reviews of Ripstik Caster Board
Customer Review: Awesome ride - even for an 'old woman'
Sport shop rating: 5 Stars
So, I always loved skateboarding but never really rocked at it, and let it languish as i got older.
Then I saw one of these - and my man said 'that's a death stick, are you nuts?"
I'm over 50. I'm a University Professor. I LOVE THIS BOARD. Now my students all want lessons.
If I had a place to do it out of the rain, I'd do it every day.
It wasn't easy for me to figure it out - and I watched all those youtube videos, but no one really gave a good explanation of all the different ways there are to ride it. That's what I love, once you get your rhythm going, you can do small movements with either foot and you get different speed and rhythm -- or you can wiggle your hips and do large movements for your core - all very zen, like the best of snowboarding.
I prefer a flat smooth surface -- the smoother the run, the easier the wheels work and the faster you move. If the ground is too bumpy, the resistance slows you down too much.
It's not a transport board because going up hill, while it works, can be slower than walking. And for me, if the downhill is too steep, you need enough width to carve, which isn't always available. Straight fast downhill works, but it's not really the joy of the ripstik - for me it's the rhythmic movements that make is so much fun.
I went to a skatepark and all these kids borrowed it. And immediately said 'this is easy' - but that was all about brute force and bragging - they needed to practice. It did take them time to work out the rhythm. It's worth the investment. It rocks.
To learn, you definitely need a friend to hold onto, just to get the hang of the balance on the two wheels. Then it's just choosing which foot/ or feet/ wiggle or pressure gives you the smoothest ride.
Next stop -- ripstik/scooter hybrid.
Customer Review: Insane design and very fun product
Sport shop rating: 5 Stars
I read some of the reviews before buying this for my son. He said it would be fine and all of the reviews that were bad were just because someones child or the buyer was hurt. My son is writing the rest of this review.
I already knew how to ripstik because my friend has a ripstik and sometimes lets me ride it, now I have my own.
The first ride is very short but actually not the most dangerous. To start off i put my left foot on the front of the board.(Some people balance better with their right foot on the front instead of left). So my left foot is on the front of the board. I push off with my right foot still on the ground and put my right foot on very quickly making sure that it lands on a good balancing position on the back. then you attempt to gain speed. After about five minutes of trying you can ride in a straight but wobbly line and then jump off.Make sure that your feet are in positions so that the board does not want to fall over.
Here comes the Dangerous part, the turning and gaining speed.
My friend told me that i needed to move my back foot only but it is easier, when learning, to move both feet in opposite directions to get more speed. More speed allows you to balance easily. Then the turning comes in. The turning is very similar to snowboarding. You move your your foot that is on the back board(Back foot) in the opposite direction that you want to turn. You might want to try just tilting the board from a straight up position, to a tilted position.
I would say that 8-10 year old children should wear protective gear to be safe. I hope that my review was helpful. Buy a ripstik they are great!!!
Customer Review: A great way to get around.
Sport shop rating: 5 Stars
I got my Ripstik a few years ago as a gift, and thought it was cool. Unfortunately, the roads around me weren't smooth, so it started collecting dust.
Fast forward to college, and it is SUCH a fantastic way to get around. The agility it exhibits (especially when compared to longboards), as well as its ability to go uphill without pushing make it a blast to ride around.
I love the fact that balancing on it is exactly the same as standing: if you fall forward, push down on your toes and the board will come right back under you. It is incredibly stable: You can even be pushed from the side and not fall over, simply by reacting as if you were on solid ground the whole time.
There are only 3 issues: Moisture, bumps, and wheels.
1. The Ripstik demands large amounts of traction, and because the wheels are very hard rubber, there is little to offer when the ground is wet. Good thing that that is rare in southern California! I simply don't ride it when there's water around.
2. Ripstiks cannot handle bumps. The board just stops when it hits a bump more than 2/3 inches high, leaving you in motion without any support. It also doesn't like rolling parallel to cracks in the ground. My college campus is very flat, though, so it's not a problem.
3. The rear wheel wears quickly. However, I have learned to counteract this with better technique: Putting your weight on the front wheel reduces the wear on the rear wheel, and by sliding the board sideways instead of yawing it, you can make the wear on both wheels identical. Swapping them isn't a problem, either.
Overall, it's a great product, and I highly recommend it.
Customer Review: A masterful design for athletes of all ages
Sport shop rating: 5 Stars
I am 44 years old. I bike, I ski, I in-line skate. When I first saw a college student riding one of these, I asked him about it. He said "try it!" I almost did, but I didn't, for fear I would fall and die. I mean, only two wheels? And I didn't have my helmet with me.
I finally broke down and bought one after seeing some cool videos on the internet. After putting on my helmet, and my knee and elbow pads and my wrist guards, I took it out into the parking lot today.
The first ride is very scary, like riding a buttered block of ice, and lasts only about 1 second. After about five rides I'm up to five seconds and smiling my butt off.
For the next half hour I can't stop smiling, even when I fall off (once). After this time, I'm able to make left turns, and I can even go uphill by doing a sort of manic twist to gain momentum. My longest ride is about 30 seconds.
If you consider yourself coordinated, well-balanced, and reasonably athletic, I recommend this product to you, regardless of your age. It works perfectly, and presents a new athletic challenge that is well worth mastering. The independent steering of the front and back wheels adds a whole new dimension to the fun. The challenge of staying on the board will get you sweating without even realizing you are exercising.
The Ripstik Caster Board is a revolutionary product, just as significant, I think, as the in-line skate. Buy one before you get too old for it.
Customer Review: tyler
Sport shop rating: 5 Stars
i have had this ripstik caster board for a few years. and let me tell you, WOW! this thing is amazing. the two wheeled feels really smooth, i like the feel of riding it. im fourteen, and a little fat. but i have no problem riding this. where i used to live the roads where so bad. but that didn't stop me, i hoped on it and could ride for a long time. the only thing was with the roads being so screwed up, i had to stop after 40 minutes of riding and start walking a little bit so it didn't hurt so much. these tires are small so would get stuck and you will fall if you get stuck in a crack in the road. thats one of the only things i dislike about this, also the back wheel wears down really fast, so what i recommend you guys doing, instead of buying new wheels instantly, take your front wheel and back wheel and switch them. its fairly easy, and didn't spend a dime! my dad can even ride it its so easy. and for those people who are like i cant ride a skateboard i cant ride this or anything, i find this easier than riding a skateboard, but i never road a skateboard before so that can be why. the only thing is you need wonderfull balace, or your going down. i highly recomend this to anyone. this is one of the best things i own. heck, when im bored, i say screw you xbox, i go and ride my ripstik, plus you get attention because people don't see them much, and its a eye grabber because only two wheels.