Did you ever feel slightly cheated because little kids could zip past you on Heelys while you’re still doing that boring old walking thing?
I know I did- but unfortunately I never found a pair in size 7 and I nearly killed myself using the cheaper half skates that fit on the back of your trainers. It’s especially embarrassing when the very next day the five year old girl across the road was zipping down the hill on her pair like a pro. Mine quickly got sent to the charity shop and I gave up my dreams, but I know there are others out there still waiting for their chance to shine.
Well take heed: Freeline Skates are here and there’s no way that little kids will be beating you on these bad boys.
Developed in San Francisco, they’re supposedly a cross between skateboarding, surfing and snowboarding. Apparently they’re good for both novices with little experience and pro skaters looking for something a bit different.
Personally I don’t see how they’d be a good idea for n00bs. They don’t attach to your feet for a start- you need to use skateboard grip tape to get the best results- and I highly doubt a lot of beginners would be able to stand up on them, never mind perform an olli.
The inventor Ryan Farrelly claims you can learn to use them in a day. Forums seem to suggest more like a week. For me it would probably be about a year.
But if you’re a quick learner (or not an easy bruiser) or you know what you’re doing with a board then I bet these could be fun. They’re small, lightweight and independent, so less constricting than a full skateboard.
Plus when they’re actually in use they do look incredibly cool. Used right it almost creates the illusion of an invisible skateboard (check out some videos, like this how to with the inventor, on YouTube).
Freeline skates are used in a similar manner to surfboards and snowboards. By changing your weight from heel to toe you can change direction and carve out a smooth S turn even while going down hill.
You can personalise them too with a range of different coloured wheels. I’ll bet customised foot plates won’t be far behind either.
So given time to play you could leave that snot nose brat in her Heelys eating your dust. Or you could be less petty than I and just stick to looking good at the skate park.
Fancy giving it a go? Buy a pair at Genie Gadgets