Snakeboard
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A snakeboard is a board that was invented in 1989. It evolved from the original skateboard, and brought with it elements of snowboards & surfboards. These variants have a central board with two pivoting footplates attached at each end. Wheels are attached to the footplates via a form of "truck" as they are with regular skateboards.
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[edit] Performance
The rider of a streetboard stands with one foot on each footplate, the feet are usually fixed to the board using foot-straps, and by moving his/her feet in and out in conjunction with the shoulders - the rider is able to propel the board in any direction using only his/her body weight. This transfer of energy is called non-holonomic locomotion. The board moves in a motion similar to that of a snake, hence the sports original name of snakeboarding. The rider of a streetboard can ride the board on almost any terrain (depending on the set-up and model of board) and even propel themselves up-hill and perform extreme stunts similar to those done by skateboarders & snowboarders.
Streetboards allow the rider to gain momentum without the need to push themselves with their feet or hands like skateboarders.
[edit] History
Snakeboard is the name of the first company that manufactured boards of this kind, and since it was the only company at the time - The sport rapidly became known as snakeboarding. They also owned the patent to the sport so were the only ones to produce them. The company was later sold to MV Sports, who stopped production. The sport survives today with more advanced boards, and is known as streetboarding.
