Ess-Board

Last weekend, I moved one step closer to being able to relate to my students on their level by learning how to "Ess-board." The Ess-board is extremely popular with Korean children, and some adults also use it as an exercise tool. It's a little bit like a skateboard, a surfboard, and a snowboard combined (none of which I've ever ridden before), and yet it's completely unlike any of those things. A Korean company, Decolee, began marketing the Ess-board to the growing customer base of the Korean leisure industry in 2003-2004. However, it's originality is questionable as it is remarkably similar to the Wave Board and the Ripstik caster board, both of which may or may not have been developed before the Ess-board, it's difficult to determine which came first. Essentially, all three consist of two oval shaped platforms connected by a shaft in the middle. The two platforms can move independently of each other and pivot back and forth along the shaft's axis. Each platform has one wheel attached to the bottom of it, which can also pivot 360 degrees. The rider's momentum is maintained by twisting the platforms back and forth with one's feet. It's actually much more of a workout than it seems! One of my waygukin friends, who is still a child at heart, purchased one about a month ago (at 150,000 won they aren't exactly cheap) and has been learning to ride ever since. He was gracious enough to give me a lesson, and although my first few attempts were failures I soon got the hang of it. It's definitely a lot of fun, and I can't understand how it hasn't taken off all over the States, except that the skateboarding industry is probably actively working to suppress it's introduction. I can't do any tricks, but I can make a complete circuit of the exercise track in Daundong, where my friend lives, which is an accomplishment as far as I'm concerned.

Apparently, the Dutch are avid Ess-board enthusiasts as well and have been developing all sorts of new tricks. Here's a promo video for a Dutch Ess-boarding collective.