A freeboard is a specialist

skateboard A skateboard is a type of sports equipment used for skateboarding. They are usually made of a specially designed 7-8 ply maple plywood deck and polyurethane wheels attached to the underside by a pair of skateboarding trucks. The skateboarder ...

designed to closely simulate the behavior of a

snowboard Snowboards are boards where the user places both feet, usually secured, to the same board. The board itself is wider than most skis, with the ability to glide on snow."snowboarding." Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Random House, Inc. 17 Mar ...

. Freeboards were developed to allow

snowboarders Snowboards are boards where the user places both feet, usually secured, to the same board. The board itself is wider than most skis, with the ability to glide on snow."snowboarding." Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Random House, Inc. 17 Mar ...

to transition to

skateboarding Skateboarding is an action sport originating in the United States that involves riding and performing tricks using a skateboard, as well as a recreational activity, an art form, an entertainment industry job, and a method of transportation ...

(as non-winter transport) without the need to adapt to a smaller deck and narrower

wheel A wheel is a circular component that is intended to rotate on an axle bearing. The wheel is one of the key components of the wheel and axle which is one of the six simple machines. Wheels, in conjunction with axles, allow heavy objects to be ...

-base.

History

Steen Strand conceived the idea for a freeboard as part of his master's thesis in product design at

Stanford University Stanford University, officially Leland Stanford Junior University, is a private research university in Stanford, California. The campus occupies , among the largest in the United States, and enrolls over 17,000 students. Stanford is conside ...

, which he expanded into the freeboard style skateboard in 1996. After releasing an ''Alpha'' series featuring kicktails and longer decks (100 – 112 cm) than his more recent versions, Strand began retailing his freeboards under the

brand name A brand is a name, term, design, symbol or any other feature that distinguishes one seller's good or service from those of other sellers. Brands are used in business, marketing, and advertising for recognition and, importantly, to create an ...

''Freebord'' in the late 1990s. By the mid-2000s other freeboard styles and brands had emerged and were developing strong retail track records in mainstream

sporting goods Sports equipment, sporting equipment, also called sporting goods, are the tools, materials, apparel, and gear used to compete in a sport and varies depending on the sport. The equipment ranges from balls, nets, and protective gear like helmets. ...

stores.

Freebord brand

After developing the freeboard in 1996, Strand released two models under the ''Freebord'' brand in 1998; the FB-112 and the FB-110. The company patented designs relating to the ''Freebord'' brand freeboards. Though other companies have since developed their own freeboards and marketed them under alternate brand names, ''Freebord'' remains one of the largest producers of freeboards in the world. By 2000, the company had sold 4000 boards. In 2005, the company signed deals to have their product distributed to snowboarding enthusiasts in Europe The company continues to produce and market freeboards under the ''Freebord'' trademark.

Features and technique

A freeboard typically has six wheels: four normal longboard-style wheels at each corner and two spring-locked center wheels. The wheels on the central axis are able to turn freely in all directions, allowing the board to "slide" laterally provided none of the four corner wheels are touching the ground. This mimics the traditional "side-to-side" motion of snowboard riding. By exerting pressure on the corner wheels, the rider is able to control the board."Who Needs Snow?"
by Anita Hamilton (''

Time Time is the continued sequence of existence and event (philosophy), events that occurs in an apparently irreversible process, irreversible succession from the past, through the present, into the future. It is a component quantity of various me ...

'', March 4, 2002) Decks are usually constructed with seven-

ply Ply, Pli, Plies or Plying may refer to: Common uses * Ply (layer), typically of paper or wood ** Plywood, made of layers of wood ** Tire ply, a layer of cords embedded in the rubber of a tire Places * Plymouth railway station, England, station ...

cross-laminated Canadian maple, although now there are

bamboo Bamboos are a diverse group of evergreen perennial flowering plants making up the subfamily Bambusoideae of the grass family Poaceae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family. The origin of the word "bamboo" is uncertain, ...

models available as well. Modern decks vary in size, but most are 7.5 to 9 inches wide and between 29 and 36 inches long. Snowboard-style bindings are used to provide more control over the board and allow the rider to exert more pressure on the corner wheels and edges. As on a

, the rider is able to perform both carve and slide turns (skidded turns). "Freeride" and "freestyle" both refer to the way in which a freeboard is used. The term "freeride" refers to plain riding with little or no tricks, usually consisting of carving and sliding. Another name for freeride can be "Downhill". A bigger board is used for downhill freeboarding or freeriding as this gives you better balance allowing you to go faster. The term "freestyle" as used in other boardsports such as

means doing tricks like skating off ramps, grinding rails, jumping, etc. Smaller boards are usually used for freestyle as not only will they be lighter making them easier to jump with, but the rider can more easily push his feet outwards so as to make sure that his feet stay in the bindings.

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Freeboard (Skateboard) Individual sports Racing Skateboards

History

Freebord brand

Features and technique

See also

References

External links