Ripstik Vs. Skateboard: The Battle of the Boards Decoded!
Do you know what’s more agile and flexible than a skateboard? It’s a ripstik.
Yes, in a Ripstik vs. skateboard competition, a ripstik always performs better because it has only two wheels (a skateboard usually has four).
Plus, a ripstik has more capability of maneuvering and more degree of freedom than a skateboard. However, this is not the only difference between a ripstik and a skateboard.
So, in case you’re interested in knowing more about the topic “skateboard vs. ripstik”, I prepared an in-depth guide below for you.
As a professional skateboard enthusiast, I experimented with ripstiks for a long time and came up with some interesting data that you should take a look at.
Therefore, stay tuned to the end!
What Is A Ripstik?
A caster board or “RipStik” (trademark of Razor USA LLC) is basically a two-wheeler ride that you have to propel with your legs. Just as you do when you ride skateboards. But, you can also propel it by “wiggling” your toes and feet.
Now, in terms of body construction, a ripstik does not have a “Popsicle Shaped” deck. Rather, it has a “dumbbell-shaped” deck.
Here, you will have two different slabs to place your two feet, and these two slabs will be connected in between. Plus, you’ll be able to freely twist these two slabs in independent directions.
Features of a Ripstik
As you can already guess, the features of a ripstik are massively different from other boards.
I. Two-wheelers:
A ripstik is generally a two-wheeler vehicle. However, double ripstiks can have four wheels as well. And, the thing to know about ripstiks is that their wheels are inlined in a single axis similar to the wheels of rollerblades.
II. Dumbbell shaped:
As I have already indicated above, the slabs where you’ll be placing your feet on a ripstik are somewhat dumbbell-shaped. Yes, 2 elliptical slabs are joined together by a torsion bar to form the main board of ripstiks.
Plus, the two slabs can rotate independently of each other, which is not possible on a skateboard.
III. Wheel rotation:
Each wheel of a ripstik can rotate on its axis at 360° freedom. As a result, you can easily turn in any direction at any moment when you are riding a ripstik.
IV. Self-Propulsion:
When riding a ripstik, you don’t only have the option of propelling the ride with your feet in a forwarding direction. But, you can also propel it by doing a somewhat “wiggling” motion.
That means that you have to try to twist the slabs of the ripstik in opposite directions. As a result, you’ll gain motion by alternating the pressure on the two slabs using your toes and heels.
Pros
- A ripstik has more enhanced maneuverability than other types of riding boards
- It does not require linear propulsion performed by pushing the ground backward
- Ripstiks have more freedom of movement
- It can travel forward and go sideways as well
The wheels of a ripstik can independently rotate in 360-degree rotation. Consequently, you can suddenly change direction and turn your ride at any moment.
Cons
- Learning to ride ripstik is relatively harder
- Due to more freedom of movement, the wheels of ripstik may wear relatively quicker
What Is A Skateboard?
Britannica.com tells us that skateboards are four-wheeled rides that have narrow boards for the rider to stand on. And, you have to propel this type of board with your legs by pushing the ground backward.
Plus, the wheels of skateboards are generally connected to the board through metal trucks and axles. In terms of construction material, the decks of skateboards are generally made of maple wood or polyurethane plastic, according to Wikipedia.
Features of a Skateboard
The features of a skateboard are pretty straightforward. Here, take a look:
I. Popsicle Shaped board:
The shape of the decks is generally nearly rectangular (it has rounded corners).
II. Four wheels:
These boards have four wheels. One pair is used as front wheels, and another pair is used as rear wheels. The front and rear wheels are connected by metal trucks.
III. Propelled against the ground:
In order to propel a skateboard, you must push your leg against the ground and push the ground backward.
IV. No rotation of wheels:
The wheels of a skateboard are fixed in their position. That means that they don’t have the option to rotate at all. For this reason, this type of board goes straight all the time, and you have to flip it to take a turn.
Pros
- Learning to ride a skateboard is straightforward
- The wheels generally wear down much slower than ripstiks
- They are safer for newbies
- These can easily pull off long rides
Finally, a skateboard’s motion is always easier to figure out relative to ripstiks.
Cons
- The freedom of movement is more restricted for skateboards
- These boards have less maneuverability than ripstiks.
7 Key Differences between Ripstiks and Skateboards
A lot of factors can be common between ripstiks and skateboards. However, there are some fundamental differences between these two as well (as you already know).
01. Users
A skateboard is a suitable ride for riders of all ages. For instance, you can use a skateboard for sports activities and also for reaching your workplace/college. That’s why kids, teenagers, and adults alike use skateboards all the time.
But, ripstiks are meant for enhanced stunts and funky maneuvers. That’s why only young adults generally use ripsticks.
02. Shape
The shape of a skateboard is similar to any other four-wheeled board. It’s a near-rectangular-shaped ride that has rounded corners.
But, as I have already indicated earlier, the shape of a RipStik is similar to what you might call a “Dumbbell”.
03. Design
Skateboards can be narrow, long, wide, and short. But, a common thing between these is that they have four wheels,
and the wheels are connected through metal trucks.
And the deck of a skateboard is a plain board with no intricate curves on it.
On the other hand, ripstiks have two separate wheels that can rotate independently of each other. As a result, a ripstik can take a turn at any point of its travel.
Plus, the deck of a ripstik is separated into two parts. The front disc/slab is for placing a single foot, and the rear disc/slab is meant for placing the other foot.
04. Propulsion
To propel a skateboard, you must use your leg to push the ground backward.
On the flip side, ripstiks have a unique design that lets them gain motion solely by “wiggling” your body.
05. Learning Curve
Learning to ride a skateboard is an easy process. Generally speaking, a rookie rider can easily master a skateboard within two to three days. So, the learning curve is pretty steep for these boards.
On the other hand, riding a ripstik is generally harder than riding other boards. Thus, it takes much longer to figure out the motion and control of a ripstik. Hence, the learning curve for ripstiks is gradual.
06. Grinding Tricks
A few common grinding tricks for skateboards include 50/50 grind, nose grind, crooked grind, hurricane grind, tailblock slide, etc.
You can do all sorts of skateboard grinds with ripstik as well. So, the grind tricks of these two rides are generally the same.
07. Jumps
You can easily do Ollie jumps with a skateboard by bending your knees and kicking the tail while you are on the ride. And the procedures for doing the jumps are just the same for a ripstik as well.
FAQs Regarding Ripstik Vs. Skateboard
In addition to the discussions above, people also ask many other related questions as below:
How Fast Can A Ripstik Go?
The average speed of a ripstik is somewhere around 5 mph. However, you can even go faster than this if you know how to generate propulsion correctly.
Can You Ride A Ripstik At A Skatepark?
Yes, you can definitely ride a ripstik in a state park because ripstiks can easily run on solid ground. So, in any spot where skateboarding is possible, riding ripstiks is also possible.
Is A Ripstik Like Snowboarding?
Riding a ripstik is indeed somewhat similar to snowboarding. However, unlike snowboarding, you have to learn to handle the wheel rotations of the ripstiks, which is much harder to do.
Is A Ripstik Easier Than A Skateboard?
As I’ve already mentioned a few times, learning to ride a ripstiks is not easier than a skateboard. However, it’s not rocket science. So, if you have the proper guidance, it’s not hugely difficult to learn to ride a ripstik either.
How Do You Wiggle On A Ripstik?
The simple trick to do a “wiggle” is to put pressure on the front slab with one of your toes and, at the same time, put pressure on the rear slab with the heel of your other leg. And, you have to do an alternating heel-toe-heel-toe sequence with your legs in order to wiggle a ripstik.
What Is The Difference Between Ripstik And Ripster?
The main difference between a ripstik and a ripster lies in its torsion bar (it’s the bar that connects the front and rear slabs of a ripstik). For a ripstik, the torsion bar is likely to be longer. On the other hand, it’s shorter on a ripster.
Final Words
Well, that’s all there’s to it, people. Now that you know everything you need to know regarding Ripstik vs. skateboard.
The final verdict I can give you here is that the difference between a skateboard and a ripstik lies in their maneuverability. For ripstiks, the maneuverability is more enhanced than on skateboards.
Plus, learning to ride a ripstik is generally more difficult than learning skateboarding. However, it’s more fun to ride a ripstik. So, give it all when you are attempting to learn riding ripstiks.
Best of luck to you. Peace out!
