What Is A Ripstik Views
The motion requires that the board be flipped all around so as to slide either just the back foot or both the front and back feet side to side, essentially pushing the board forward at the outside of the movement, before the foot is brought back in the other direction. In principle, the act is similar to what is required to propel one who is riding inline skates forward, as opposed to how skateboarders push with their legs. To ride a caster board, you need to use a twisting motion of your hips and legs much like dancing with a partner where each step and movement is a carefully calculated movement.
The means by which a rider or casterboarder gains speed is attributed to the fact that each wheel is mounted on a 30° slant on the bottom of each individually rotating truck. When each truck is pushed to the side, it causes the board to be pushed upward by the wheels' rotation against the gradient of the mounts. This creates potential energy that is then released because of the board being forced to move back down under the rider's weight and its own combined. The weight pushing the board back down causes the wheels to want to turn to face straight again. The wheels can only face straight again by being able to roll, so the forward motion is created. While riding on a caster board, the increase in height is barely noticeable unless the rider twists the board along the vertical axis too hard, causing stability to be momentarily reduced. There are many types of caster boards; RipStik[1], The Wave[2], LA Vigorboard, Swaveboard, AXIS Casterboarding and more.
In order to steer properly on a caster board, the front foot must lean into the curve while the back foot leans out of the curve. By leaning the front foot in and the back foot out, the front wheel, which will have its front facing inward, is forced to form an arc with the back wheel, which will have its front facing outward. This arcing allows for very sharp turning, but can be exercised for making wide turns as well. While attempting to turn on the board at a higher speed and/or using a tighter arc, the rider leans his/her center of gravity into the turn to keep from falling from the board. However, like all vehicles, there is a limit to the combined sharpness and speed of turning on a caster board without it becoming overturned. It is possible to propel the board while turning by making weaving motions that are typically smaller than what you would make moving in a relatively straight trajectory.
As you will soon discover if you decide to purchase a caster board such as the Ripstik you will find that no longer do you need to step on to it with one foot and push off with the other to gain momentum. But rather what you need to do is stand on it and then begin to twist your body in a certain way and this will then provide the board with the momentum that is required in order to get it going.
What Is A Ripstik Images
