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GroundSurf Electric Skateboard, Controlled by a Bluetooth Phone
Posted by Charlie White at 2:02 AM on November 14, 2007
GroundSurf is a three-wheeled skateboard with an unusual twist: You can control it with a Bluetooth phone. It's driven by an electric motor between the two front wheels, and you can either remotely control its speed with your Bluetooth phone or lean forward to accelerate, backward to slow down or brake. But its designers, Paris-based company Ratleads, say it's not a skateboard at all, but a surfboard.
One of the inventors of GroundSurf, Stephane Pelletier, says GroundSurf gives you "that surf feeling," but on the ground. He explained, "It's been tested and developed with professional surfers. The back is a very specific truck that moves in different dimensional ways. Compared to a skateboard, it's not moving the same way at all. You really have to try it to believe it."
The GroundSurf will first roll out in 2008, distributed by California surf brand Gordon & Smith for retail price of between $1770 in $2040. [GroundSurf, via BlueTomorrow]
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
Kaiser-Machead
Posted 12:36 PM 13/11/07
Yet real skaters will never buy this shit, not when they can just get oodles of standard boards and lots of high quality trucks to swap and replace as the wear them out or break them.
Kaiser-Machead
Townie
Posted 12:00 PM 13/11/07
When you start designing and making a product you always have to consider who's your target group. I mean no cheap ass surfer can buy this shit, and people who actually do have the money, break their hips with it.
Good thinking guys....
Townie
nutbastard
Posted 11:59 AM 13/11/07
@flyboy:
of course it wont feel exactly the same since you dont have the "ground" dropping and lifting dynamically from under you .
nutbastard
flyboy
Posted 11:22 AM 13/11/07
how can the fixed wheels (sideways wise) translate into true surf.
I am not very good at surfing but hey that is one hell of an impression to recreate...
flyboy
txturbo930
Posted 11:14 AM 13/11/07
great.....two batteries to charge... have to admit it looks cool though... but that price.... yikes.
txturbo930
nutbastard
Posted 10:48 AM 13/11/07
@EMoShunz:
seconded. on both things.
$2k for an electric skateboard? did Dean Kamen make it or something? no? ok, well i work it with my cellphone, right? so it'll be just as responsive as cell-phone Rainbow 6? I dunno, i can risk a virtual life over a shoddy control interface, but not my real knees.
nutbastard
EMoShunz
Posted 10:38 AM 13/11/07
@MalzyWheels: manuverability and traction are better with this set up. but it does look backwards.
EMoShunz
MalzyWheels
Posted 10:32 AM 13/11/07
Not being much of a skateboarder or engineer...I thought the two drive wheels were the back of this thing. I mean it doesn't seem that you'd have optimal traction or stability if you had to focus on the uni-wheel being the back wheel.
MalzyWheels
xint
Posted 10:24 AM 13/11/07
How about this...?
Speed + Mid-Trip Phonecall = skin on pavement?
LOL!!
xint
EMoShunz
Posted 10:14 AM 13/11/07
distance, speed, battery life?
EMoShunz
toyotaboy
Posted 1:45 PM 13/11/07
Would you like to pair with this bluetooth device? error.. Retry?
Jane!! get me off this crazy thing!
toyotaboy
LastAndLeast
Posted 4:04 PM 13/11/07
Where exactly are the batteries?
LastAndLeast
mikeysnipa
Posted 3:15 PM 13/11/07
cool idea... but.. for 2 grand.. i'll buy a shitty car... or maybe a moped.. or dirt bike.. maybe a new computer.. shit... how about i just save the 2k and dont buy this dumb toy.. lol
mikeysnipa