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Skateboarding

Rocket Scientists Have Built A Bullet Proof Skateboard That’s Lighter Than Wood, And Harder Than Steel

Skateboarding isn't broke, but these guys have tried to fix it anyway. What can possibly go wrong?

Photo: 121cboards.com

You know that old saying “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”? Well, these guys haven’t, so have tried to reinvent the already-quite-popular skateboard anyway.

Rocket Scientist Ryan Olliges found that, in his every day role at the University of Southern California, a lot  of surplus carbon fibre was be thrown away on a daily basis in the production of spacecraft.

Being a keen skateboarder, and having made a handful of decks in the past, Olliges struck upon the idea of combining the two worlds, and set about making a carbon fibre deck

The result is a board that’s lighter than wood, stronger than steel, and can withstand both water damage and extreme heat.

After some early success, he began refining the shape, built a press, and is now looking to produce a run of the high-tech boards.

To help fund the project, he’s taken to crowd funding site Kickstarter where, at time of going to press, he’s already raised two and half time the $10,000 he was originally asking for, with 15 days of donations left to go.

Photo: 121cboards.com

The board, named the Aileron after part of a planes wing, look pretty rad (if a little Batman), and judging by what we’ve seen, deliver on everything they promise.

Furthermore, they’re made from carbon sourced from refuse – the bits the rocket scientist throw away into landfill – so ever single board made is actually helping the planet.

However, we can’t help but feel that, in the famously stubborn world of skateboarding , a good old fashioned stack of 7ply will remain king until the end of time.

You may also like:

15 Unbelievably Weird Skate Inventions That You Never Knew You Needed

10 Hilariously Bad Attempts To Re-Invent the Skateboard

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