The lure of wheels--from skateboards to Ripstiks
Up and down any street where children live, and you are apt to see one riding a
Ripstik or a Wave. What are they? These are caster boards, meaning funky,
articulated boards with two casters for wheels—loosely described as
inline skateboards.
It's quite a challenge to balance on a moving board where you can move your feet
individually on what look like two paddles connected by a four inch bar, all
while keeping balance over two wheels. I know this for a fact because the first
time I tried one I wound up looking up at the sky, laid out flat in the middle
of a street.
My youngest received one for his birthday and spent the better part of an
afternoon learning to ride it. Fully padded up, he fell, got back on and tried
again. The board would shoot out from under him; he'd fall, and try again. He
persevered and now rides up and down our street – sometimes tentatively
– but he can stay up, not to mention his turns are getting tighter and
tighter. He can also ride over the lip our driveway without coming off the
board.
The other two boys are improving, as well. They compete to see who can go faster or
turn on a dime. You can also be sure that dad gets a turn, too. In fact, these
things are just as popular with moms and dads as they are with children. As
strange as it sounds, that might be because they are easier to ride than
old-fashion skateboards. But once you get the hang of it, you progress quickly.
All you do is swivel your hips and the motion works with the castors to propel
you forward. Way easier than conventional skateboards.
Several of my childhood friends had skateboards, but I never did. For some reason it
was something I could never learn to ride, let alone master like some of the
guys who could hop curbs or slide along handrails.
On a recent trip out of town, we saw teenagers and twenty-somethings doing stunts
and tricks with skateboards all around a town square. There are probably
similar things you can do with Ripstiks, although I haven't seen anyone doing
them out on the street or on Extreme Sports. However, there is heady
competition 'round these parts.
It came to my attention that certain adults were bragging about their skills, thus
challenges have been issued and some met. There's nothing like seeing two men
in their mid 40s riding Ripstiks down the street, wiggling like a couple of
stiff geezers as they race to the end of the block and barely hold their
balance in the turn.
The kids are entertained and cheer on their particular parent--sometimes
running along side the dueling pair. They grow impatient; then knock us off
because it's their Ripstiks we commandeered in the first place.
Copyright 2008 by David Falloure
