|
What is the
easiest way to learn to ride a Dirtsurfer?
-
Find a suitable grass hill with a
gentle grade for learning.
-
Always
check the course first to ensure it is safe. i.e. ensure the hill
is a suitable grade for your skill level, that there are no holes or
obstacles on the course and that there is a smooth run-off area in
which to stop.
-
Start on
a gentle slope and have a friend support you the first time so that
you can start with both feet on the board.
-
Start
rolling and when underway without support, look only where you want
to go (DO NOT look down at the front wheel), bend the knees and
maintain a relaxed surfing position. Keep weight forward rather
than back.
-
Once you have got the feel after a run or two, try starting
by yourself. Place your rear foot against the rear foot stop and
over the brake button so that the dead man's brake is released.
‘Lock’ your rear foot/ankle firmly to maintain the board in a steady
upright position, push along with your front foot until moving at a
suitable pace (a few ‘paddles’) and then place that foot up onto the
board and you are underway.
-
To brake, just bend down slightly
and back to engage the calf-operated brake as required.
Back to top
Can you "skate" a Dirtsurfer on flat ground?
Dirtsurfers skate on the flat faster and with less energy than a
skateboard but you have to practice the technique first. Virtually
anyone can ride a Dirtsurfer successfully within a few minutes by
starting on a grass hill. However, skating them on the flat takes
more practice but once mastered, they become a great means of
transport around town.
Back to top
Which foot do you push with to "skate" a Dirtsurfer?
You have to push with your front foot because the frame is slightly
lower at the rear and they feel really weird to push with the rear
foot. Also, the dead man's brake button HAS to be under the rear
foot. It's not as difficult as you might think to get used to the
'old style' skate pushing.
Back to top
Does the front wheel turn or
pivot? How do they turn?
Mechanically, the front wheel turns via a swing arm, pivotally
mounted to a low, forward-mounted, double-bearing pivot point.
However, the action of turning is initiated simply by the rider
leaning. When you ride a skateboard you just lean to turn and you
never think about the trucks moving. The Dirtsurfer is exactly the
same in that you never think about how it turns either, it just does
so by leaning. It's just that the mechanical 'truck' system is
completely different. Also, because it has
two wheels, a lot of the turning is achieved by the lean of the
board itself rather than the wheel actually turning much. i.e. like
a motor cycle turns without the front wheel really turning much
either. So, all you have to do is lean and it automatically turns.
Dirtsurfers travel faster than skateboards and have a longer
wheelbase so they therefore have a larger turning radius on roads
than skateboards. It's all just relative to speed. You can't
execute a 90 degree turn inside a meter if you're doing 60kph, nor
would you want to ! Dirtsurfers really carve down roads super well
but they're traveling quicker so the carves are longer. Don’t
forget that a Dirtsurfer has the only hands free braking system
available and you can pull up as quick as a bike if need be. However, off-road the turning radius thing is a little
different because you can slide them to decrease the turning radius.
Also, they are less susceptible to ruts etc than a four wheeler
because you can pick a path thru ruts rather than be forced into
them.
Back to top
How
difficult is it to ride a Dirtsurfer?
Although they've only got two wheels, Dirtsurfers are deceptively
easy to ride thanks to their patented steering geometry. As soon as
you apply weight, the front wheel stabilizes and only turns when you
lean. We have plenty of people riding Dirtsurfers easily without
snowboard or surfing experience. If you start on a grass hill you
should be riding the board successfully within a few minutes. To
get really good on them obviously takes practice but just to ride
them initially is much easier than learning to snowboard or surf.
Back to top
How do you stop?
To compliment the speed and performance of the revolutionary
Dirtsurfer, a patented new braking system has been developed that
removes all limits to where the boards can be ridden. The new 2001
model brake is simply operated by the rider leaning back slightly
and applying rear leg pressure to a vertical, mudguard-style lever.
The pressure on the lever activates a bike style V-Brake, offering
progressive yet powerful braking.
Additionally, if a rider were to accidentally apply too much brake
pressure against the guard/lever such that the rider started to be
propelled forward, this action in itself automatically reduces brake
power, maintaining control for the rider. Dirtsurfers also have a
dead man's brake (button under the rear foot) which activates when
you fall off to stop the board rolling away (the Dirtsurfer ‘leg rope’).
Back to top
Can
you use a Dirtsurfer with a kite or sailboard rig?
Dirtsurfers work really well with a sailboard rig ! Just bolt the uni into the 8mm hole in the foot plate. Your front foot goes
straight in front of the uni and the board is really stable at speed
with a rig and handles beautifully. Skywings Wingsurfers are also
wonderfully compatible with Dirtsurfers plus Kiteboarders have
finally found a perfect land based board to replicate their on-water
rush. The in-line design produces that ‘wakeboard type edge feel’
and the Dirtsurfers unbeatable high speed stability instills the
confidence needed to go for it.
Back to top
How fast can
Dirtsurfers go downhill?
The current unofficial Dirtsurfer downhill speed record is 105 kph
(65mph) and that was set on standard dual purpose tires.
However, the speed limit is purely dependent on the hill and so the
top end achievable with narrow slicks on a REAL mountain is anyone's
guess. Suffice to say it will be extremely fast ! The real difference between downhill skateboards, luges, etc
and Dirtsurfers is that Dirtsurfers remain solid-as-a-rock stable at
high speeds without the speed-wobble stuff because of the gyroscopic
stability provided by the two large wheels.
Back to top |
