What the Heck is a Ripstick?

The Ripstik is a board that is designed very differently then any board you have seen on the market. The board has only two wheels, which rotate 360 degrees. The wheels are placed underneath two decks connected together by a spring loaded rotating bar. The decks twist opposite of each other to create the motion needed to move forward. This is why you can be propelled without your feet touching the ground. Ripstik wheels are designed to be able to ride for a long time. A typical wheel would wear down extremely fast on the Ripstik because the ride never steps off the board when riding. With the contour wheel design the Ripstik wheels last longer. The wheels are sized at 76mm and 85A, and the bearings are ABEC5. The Ripstik wheels keep you riding longer before you need to change them.

The decks are made out of high quality and very strong ABS plastic. You can ride you board for a long time before you will notice a difference in riding ability. Although the board is slightly heavier then most board types, it really has less effect with this board when cruise the streets. On top of the decks are the face plates and grip. The outer grip gives your foot a nice hold around the entire perimeter of each deck. Therefore if your feet slide for some reason the grip will grab your shoe and hold you on the board. In the middle of the top of each deck are the grip pads. These grip pads are small sections of grip to grab the larger portion of your shoe to the deck. On top of the Ripstik decks are the interchangeable deck plates. There are silver, green, blue, red, and pink decks that can all be put on any Ripstik. Customize your Ripstik by interchanging the deck plates with each other. Try putting a blue deck and a green deck together, or a combination of two other colors. Incorporate the wheel colors as well and your design possibilities are endless. On the underside of the board is where the screws are located to remove a deck plate and change it.

The two ABS decks are connected be a spring load rotating bar. This is the technology of the Ripstik that makes it different then say a normal skateboard. This rotating bar is what allows each deck to twist individually to produce the motion you need to propel yourself without pushing off the ground. The free swiveling 360 degree wheels twist and turn as your feet swivels each deck. The correct motion is an “S” shape with your shoulders and hips and it is this movement coupled with the technology of the Ripstik that propels you forward. When you get good at the Ripstik you are not going to think of how it works. It just becomes so natural, and you will be able to balance like you are walking. Hopefully understanding the technology and how it works will help get you started and more comfortable on your Ripstik.