Why We're Obsessing Over The Onewheel GT
There has been a lot of buzz about Onewheels here at Boyne Country Sports, and you’re probably wondering why or what exactly a Onewheel is. Well, if you chat with one of our team members, you won’t be surprised to hear that the Onewheel is quickly becoming one of our favorite ways to spend time outdoors—and rapidly changing the game in the outdoor industry.
How It Started
Founder and CEO of Onewheel, Kyle Doerksen, spent 8 years tinkering and creating prototypes, but it wasn’t until the end of 2013 that he created what riders might refer to as “the electric joyride of a lifetime.” Doerksen left his day job, hired on a team of rad, like-minded individuals, launched the Onewheel brand and has been delivering pure-joy moments ever since.
With their headquarters located in Santa Cruz, California, perfectly situated between the redwood forests and endless coastline of beaches, these magic-makers set the stage of what it’s like to live and love the lifestyle and inspire others to do the same.
Okay, So What Exactly Is A Onewheel?
In short, the Onewheel is a one-wheeled electric skateboard. But we won’t sell the story short, because that definition simply doesn’t do it justice. If you were to ask Kyle Doerksen or someone from his crew, they might say that the purpose of a Onewheel is to bridge the gap between transportation and outdoor recreation. It is a self-balancing single-wheel electric board that is quickly revolutionizing the way people get around. Unlike its counterparts such as the hoverboard, electric unicycle, or electric scooter, the Onewheel is equipped with one large wheel in the middle of the board and your feet are pointed at a perpendicular angle to wheel the direction of your board (stance is similar to riding a skate, snow or longboard).
Easy As 1, 2, 3
So you might look at the Onewheel and think an ER visit is just waiting to happen, but you will find yourself pleasantly surprised when you work up the courage to try one out. With developments in battery technology, motion sensors and other advanced technology used to power this board, it is easily adaptable making it fun for everyone to enjoy.
If you’re a first-timer or still feeling skeptical, here are a few tips on how to ride a Onewheel:
- Turn the board on by pushing the power button on the side. You’ll see the sensor lights at the front of the wheel light up.
- Place your feet on either side of the wheel as if you would riding a snowboard or skateboard. The sensor lights will detect when your front foot is balanced or leaning too far to one side. When you are balanced, the sensor light will turn blue.
- When you’re ready to rip, slowly tilt the board forward with your front foot (you’ll feel a slight click feeling in the board – this is the board stabilizing), bend your knees, lean forward, and you’re off! The more you lean forward, the faster the board will go. To slow down, simply lean back. To turn, apply light pressure on your toes or heels or rotate your hips. To stop, slow yourself down by shifting your weight back with your hips or pushing down with your back foot and you can simply hop off.
There you go… easy peasy! Most riders can learn the basics in five minutes or so. You might feel a little wobbly at first, and your first time hopping off might not feel or look very graceful, but that’s okay! Practice makes perfect. Wearing a bike helmet, knee pads or elbow pads are always a good idea.
What Makes The GT Stand Apart
You might have seen us ripping around on the Onewheel Pint, Pint X or XR, but the GT brings a whole new meaning and feel to the flow state we all love. Some feedback from our customers included “it feels like riding a snowboard on a powder day…” or “man… this thing feels completely different. It has so much more torque on the trails.”
Compared to previous models of the Onewheel, the GT has higher voltage for more power, more range with up to 32mi/52km on a single charge and more control thanks to concave footpads, grippier grip tape, and a custom tire profile. If you take this little slayer out to shred hero dirt on your favorite trail, you'll have no trouble making it up hills, carving around berms or cruising over obstacles like tree roots and rocks.
Need to see it to believe it? Watch our Tech Talk Tuesday video with Peter as he rips through Millennium Park in Grand Rapids.
