There’s a revolutionary new technology sweeping the world of board sports, and it’s all powered by one wheel.
If you’re not familiar with Onewheel, originally introduced via Kickstarter in 2014, think back to the hover board concept popularized by the Back to the Future movies of the 1980s. This is about as close as modern technology has come to actually creating one of these futuristic devices.
If you have any sort of board sporting experience whatsoever—whether it be snowboarding, wake boarding, skateboarding, etc.—you’ll feel right at home atop a Onewheel.
Powered by an internal hub motor, this board owes its intuitiveness to an advanced system of gyroscopes, accelerometers, and other sensors strategically placed on the tip and tail of the board to automatically balance the rider.
The hub motor within the board is powered by a fast-charging (think 30 minutes or less) lithium ion battery that, when fully charged, can provide anywhere from 5 to 7 miles of range depending on the steepness of the terrain you’re riding on.
In order to accelerate, the rider simply shifts his or her weight forward on the front of the board. To slow down or reverse, just lean back, and to steer, shift your weight from side to side, much like the motions used to steer a snowboard through deep powder.
Since it was introduced in 2014 by a company out of Santa Cruz, California called Future Movement, the Onewheel has gotten even better thanks to a series of upgrades.
New for 2017 is the Onewheel+, featuring a redesigned hub motor with breakthrough technology allowing the rider to reach speeds of 19 mph.
It’s popular not only with recreational riders but with commuters looking for a portable, low-impact form of transportation to and from the workplace.
“People are using Onewheel in all kinds of ways we never imagined” says Onewheel Inventor and Future Motion CEO Kyle Doerksen.
“Based on what we’ve learned so far, we’ve made Onewheel+ a significantly more refined, more capable product that’s approachable for first timers and delivers progression for advanced riders.”
After testing the Onewheel ourselves, we can attest to the quality of the upgrades and the intuitive nature of the board in general, but don’t take our word for it. Come out and test one for yourself at an exciting new event in Asheville, North Carolina.
Hosted by Asheville-based Southern Raft Supply, the most popular retail location for Onewheel in the Southeast, the Floatlife Fest will be an entire weekend dedicated to Onewheel enthusiasts fromm all over the country.
“The Onewheel culture has really taken root here in Asheville,” says Justyn Thompson of Southern Raft Supply. “We’re thrilled to be hosting the Floatlife Fest.”
Attendees to this event will have the opportunity to compete in Onewheel races, win prizes, mingle with sponsors, get in on group rides, and much more.
To find out more about Onewheel and the upcoming Floatlife Fest, happening October 13 through 15, click here.
