Caster board

Casterboarding
The bottom of a typical casterboard

A caster board or vigorboard is a two-wheeled, human-powered land vehicle. It is somewhat like a snakeboard. Other names are waveboard and RipStik, both associated with commercial interests.

A caster board has two narrow platforms known as "decks" that are joined by a "torsion bar", which consists of a metal beam, usually coated by rubber, that houses a strong spring. One polyurethane wheel is mounted to each deck with a caster so that that each wheel can steer independently, and each caster has a steering axis that is tilted about 30° back from the vertical.

Movement

Because of the construction of a caster board, riding one (or "caster boarding") is more akin to snowboarding or surfboarding than skateboarding. The stance is perpendicular to the board, and the feet do not need to leave the board to propel it. While riding, one can also carve back and forth, making heel-and-toe side turns (see steering). Initially, one places the front foot (depending on preference) on the front of the board, which is generally unidirectional. Once on the board, and riding, the independent motion capabilities of the front and back of the board allow it to twist along the lengthwise axis. This lets the rider turn or even propel the board forward without removing his or her feet from the board.

The motion requires that the board be twisted back and forth so as to move 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 feet on the ground. Riding a caster board requires using a twisting motion of hips and legs.

A rider or "caster boarder" gains speed because each wheel is mounted on a 30° slant on the bottom of each deck. When each deck 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 moves back down under the rider's weight and its own combined. The weight pushing the board back down causes the wheels to turn to face straight again. 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.

Demonstration of usage

Caster boarding has been introduced into many school curricula as a means of teaching the basic movement principles that govern board-sports. The success in its ability to engage with pupils not interested in sport was assessed in a 12-week, 6 secondary school case study in the UK carried out by Curriculum Ex.[1]

Foot placement

As in skateboarding, riding with the left foot leading is called "Regular stance". Riding with the right foot leading is called "Goofy stance".

Foot placement is critical on a caster board because one wheel rests under each foot while in use. In order to start with proper foot placement, it is necessary to have the front foot above the center of the front caster and to allow the back foot to give a good push of speed that will allow the board to keep proper balance. Attempting to place the back foot too quickly will make it even more difficult to achieve a desirable foot placement, so it is best to give that foot a maximum of two seconds for it to properly set itself on the board. More experienced riders will be able to place their back feet more quickly. A manual is performed by putting the rear foot on the back end of the rear deck without letting it come off and gently lifting the front foot.

If the user is already riding the board and the user recognizes that the foot placement is slightly undesirable, he/she could replace both feet simultaneously without interrupting his/her ride that is already taking place. This is done by the rider first making sure that he/she is riding at a normal speed and that the riding surface ahead is stable for riding on, then jumping with both feet at a minimal height that allows both shoes to separate their treads from the grips of the caster board. The rider may continue to "hop around" the board until a most desirable foot placement is achieved and for as long as a proper speed is maintained. Hopping around may even more easily produce better results than getting off the board and getting back on again. A much more difficult means of replacing the feet while riding is when the rider attempts to correct only one foot at a time, increasing the risk of shifting his/her weight too far forward or backward and falling to the ground.

Steering

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 those of a relatively straight trajectory.

The wrong way to turn on a caster board is to lean both decks in the direction of the turn, which will cause the board to move away from the leaning direction in a parallel-sliding fashion.

Safety

A helmet, elbow pads, knee pads, gloves, and shin guards are recommended when using a caster board.[2] Falling is common for inexperienced riders.

Tricks

A variety of tricks can be done on a caster board. They are coping and ledge[3] tricks, manuals[4] and flips.[5] The various flips tricks include: Kickflip, No Comply Impossible, Double Kickflip, Fakie Kickflip, Switch Kickflip, Fakie Bigspin, Nollie Kickflip, Nollie Heelflip, Nollie Frontside 180 Bigspin, Varial Kickflip, Varial Heelflip, Backside 180 Kickflip, Frontside 180 Heelflip, Frontside 180 Kickflip, 360 Kickflip and the Frontside 180 Double Kickflip.[6][7][8][9]

Skatepark

The Hachioji city skatepark prohibits all non-traditional types of skateboards.

Casterboarders can ride in skateparks as with other types of skateboards. However, some skateparks have prohibited caster boards. Planet Park (Hachioji city) skatepark in Tokyo, Japan allows only skateboards with four wheels and a single deck.[10] The Japan Skatepark Association claims that if a caster board rider falls, it can be difficult to predict which direction the board will travel, constituting an unpredictable element of danger that may interfere with other skateboarders, inline-skaters and BMX riders in the park.

Exercise

The Vigorboard's ability to combine fun with a full cardio-vascular workout has prompted St Helens council to promote the boards in all of its high schools and some of its primary schools, seeing it as a method of inspiring children who wouldn't normally take part in traditional team sports to take regular exercise.[11]

The Vigorboard is proving a valuable weapon in the fight against childhood obesity, with some teachers at the schools currently trialing the boards also reporting drops in truancy, with pupils not wishing to miss school should they miss their Vigorboard session.[12]

An independent study conducted by the University of Salford found that vigorboarding resulted in an average increase in heart rate of 227% and a 535% increase in energy expenditure. The study also concluded that vigorboarding results in a 233% greater energy expenditure (407kcal/hr) than walking at 3 mph (174.5kcal/hr).[13]

In its conclusion, the authors of the university study went on to say, 'Vigorboarding may be a useful alternative to increasing physical activity levels and energy expenditure, especially for individuals that do not wish to participate in the usual sports or activities performed by adolescents.'.[14]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Caster boards.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.curriculum-ex.com/what-we-offer/case-studies/
  2. ↑ http://www.ripstik.com/us/support/
  3. ↑ RipStik USA Trictionary - Coping and Ledge Tricks http://www.youtube.com/user/ripstikusa?blend=1&ob=4#p/u/7/4b38n-cAHCY
  4. ↑ RipStik USA Tricktionary - Manual Tricks http://www.youtube.com/user/ripstikusa?blend=1&ob=4#p/u/6/NBQpd4dmnqQ
  5. ↑ RipStik USA Trictionary - Flips http://www.youtube.com/user/ripstikusa?blend=1&ob=4#p/u/9/1PV4FCZs4vE
  6. ↑ As seen in RipStik USA's Tricktionary video
  7. ↑ RipStik USA Tricktionary - Manual Tricks http://www.youtube.com/user/ripstikusa?blend=1&ob=4#p/u/6/NBQpd4dmnqQ
  8. ↑ Axis Tutorial 360 Spins - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAAjz-3XfBE
  9. ↑ Axis Tutorial Nose Spins - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4FU9D_FARo
  10. ↑ Skatepark self check sheet(Japanese)
  11. ↑ St Helens Council Project
  12. ↑ New Skateboard Project Esclates
  13. ↑ Salford University Study Results Summary
  14. ↑ Full Salford University Report
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