The future of surfing may be in the streets. Onewheel, the world's first self-balancing electric skateboard, allows you to carve the asphalt and become an inland surfer.
Onewheel is no longer a prototype. The company founded in 2013 by Kyle Doerksen is already accepting pre-orders. For $1499, you'll get the board of the future, a unique way of riding the pavement when the ocean's flat.
The electric skateboard concept is quite simple - a wooden plank, a motor powered wheel, and inertial sensors. Onewheel has a fast learning curve. Just lean forward to drive forward, back to stop and press your heels or toes to turn.
"What is amazing about Onewheel is the experience of riding it. We combine the motion sensing technology of a smartphone, and the motor and battery technology you find in a Tesla," explains Kyle Doerksen.
"Whether you're a pro or never been on a board, you can learn the basics in under a minute. And there's plenty of room to challenge yourselves by riding more aggressively or inventing new tricks."
The young start-up is also developing a mobile phone app that will enable powerful features, such as top speed limiting, tracking ride activity through GPS, locking the Onewheel, and more.
The street surfboard can reach a top speed of 12 miles per hour (19.3 km/h). It takes between 20 minutes and two hours to recharge, and weighs only 25 pounds (11 kilograms). The deck is made from high-quality Canadian maple.