Video: Scarpar off-road powerboard absolutely must go commercial

Hoverboards? Too complicated, too far out and too expensive. What the world really needs is the Scarpar. Said device is an off-road powerboard that just moved on from the concept stage to engineering. Its creators have thrown together an absolutely sick video (after the break) which showcases all the possibilities, and now all that's left is for those very folks to procure a good bit of venture funding to get things moving. Take it from us, VCers -- hit these guys up, now.

Gallery: Scarpar off-road powerboard absolutely must go commercial

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[Christian Martin @ Apr 8th 2009 12:35PM]

Recession antidote!

[Super-sic @ Apr 8th 2009 12:38PM]

Yes please engadget!!! May I add that Christian Martin and I are the winners too?

[TomTom2007 @ Apr 8th 2009 12:45PM]

Why the hell not, it's the internetz, everybody wins!

[AbuckittOpudDin @ Apr 8th 2009 12:50PM]

SWEEEEET!!!

[eddie @ Apr 8th 2009 1:29PM]

this was invented several years ago. this video is from 2006

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7dE3SMKgQs

[Christian Martin @ Apr 8th 2009 1:40PM]

@ Eddie:

Thank you for your anonymous Internet opinion and fact-finding abilities. However, we regret to inform you that this fact was already mentioned - several times in fact.

I as well as many others don't care when it was 'invented;' rather, we are more interested in its production. I refer you to the description of the video linked on this page:

"This is a promo video we did of our last prototype before the design for manufacture phase we are in now."

To me, this infers that the company clearly admits the video is slightly aged.

While you may personally feel that because it was clearly not dreamed up fifteen seconds prior to your post and may feel an air of superiority upon realizing that you knew of this thing's existence before many here, please note that no one cares. Proceed forth to die in a Scarpar fire nao while I get in my car made so so long ago in 2007.

[Bill @ Apr 8th 2009 2:53PM]

You made me look "Na0" up.

[Agnostic Penguin @ Apr 9th 2009 9:03PM]

@ Christian Martin

And thank YOU for illustrating how to be a long-winded, quasi-intellectual, jerk when replying to a throwaway comment made by someone on the internet. He was merely pointing out that the video is a few years old, I see nothing on this page to support that it was "already mentioned."

"...die in a Scarpar fire..." Do you really think that he deserves to die for that? Nice...

[Christian Martin @ Apr 9th 2009 10:17PM]

Hmm, looks like someone got stood up...

[sully @ Apr 8th 2009 12:36PM]

The funny thing is, with the immense amount of traffic Engadget gets, you've almost undoubtably just guaranteed that a VC firm does in fact contact the inventors.

You should start charging a referral fee.

[KilgoreTrout @ Apr 8th 2009 2:24PM]

Well, I really hope so, coz I really want this thing, no, I need it, NOW!!!!

[Brendan H @ Apr 8th 2009 6:34PM]

Eh, I could make the same thing out of two belt sanders and a two-by-four!

[Jorge @ Apr 8th 2009 12:40PM]

I would love to take that thing through sand dunes.

[Jorge @ Apr 8th 2009 12:44PM]

Oh, and the controls need to be wireless. That cord can easily snag on a tree going through a trail.

[Tonicboy @ Apr 8th 2009 12:55PM]

Doesn't really look like it has the torque to pull you around sand dunes. Anyway, I'd rather have a BushPig - http://www.bossbi.com/skate/wheelman/wheelman.php. Wheels are more maneuverable and turn better.

[urmomFTW @ Apr 8th 2009 1:10PM]

Wireless technology just isnt quite where it needs to be for boards. I have an E-glide Powerboard and I much prefer its wired controller as wireless controllers easily lose contact with the mainboard and /or get interference from other radios...and believe me...you dont want someone elses gadget telling your board to hit the brakes hard when you're going 25mph...

[Taylor. Yes, Taylor. @ Apr 8th 2009 1:44PM]

@urmomFTW

Wireless technology isn't there? Yes it is, most people would just rather cheap out on a controller than make it work well. Cell phones work miles from towers (I only ever lose calls when a tower has too much traffic or if I'm really far from a tower), mercedes uses wireless keys in their cars, our cordless phones at work never miss a beat. I think 3 feet from a board, there will be some good way of doing wireless.

The important thing is building safety systems, such as a low battery shutoff that slowly turns off the entire system when the wireless unit is getting low, but not dead. A high bitrate is helpful too so dropped packets can quickly be replaced. An intelligent failure system that safely applies the brakes is good too. That and a warning to people not to drive anything like this near a cliff - wireless or not, failure is just too risky of a possibility.
-Taylor

[shompol @ Apr 8th 2009 3:37PM]

Caterpillars, hanging wire, full suit of armor? BushPig (see link above) seems like a more practical alternative. Not to mention sexy lady in their video does much better marketing than a helmethead :)

[CHILL_down @ Apr 8th 2009 6:26PM]

Yeah, in Dubai!

[pete @ Apr 8th 2009 6:37PM]

@ jorge

"Oh, and the controls need to be wireless. That cord can easily snag on a tree going through a trail."

ide rather be able to pick it up from the wire than drop it on the trail and lose it forever. can't do much without controls.


and come on engadget, "absolutely sick video"? the guy is basically skateboarding in a straight line over dirt and grass. the only reason he "turns" at the second to last shot is because he hits a bank and it forces the thing around the corner.

[urmomFTW @ Apr 9th 2009 12:24AM]

@Taylor. Yes, Taylor.

Okay...well...how bout I speak from experience where as you do not....I understand we got cell phones and all sorts of wireless stuff now. However, the radios that go into these boards for wireless are not much different than the ones on RC cars basically. You know like the ones where if your friend has the same car then you better hope the car has a switch on it to change frequency? Yeah..that...now if a better implementation can be made then sure why not, but still I would rather have a wired controller that way I dont have to worry about the batteries in my controller dying or when something messes up trying to figure out if it the wireless controller or the wireless receiver, etc.

And as for those worried about a tree snagging the wired controller...at least for my e-glide, the hand controllers have a quick release cable so if something grabs it then it just releases. Its not hard wired into the hand controller in other words. It has helped me on quite a few occassions.

[Russ @ Apr 8th 2009 12:43PM]

I want to see what happens when you hit a bump larger then a few cm...

[mykie @ Apr 8th 2009 12:45PM]

I'd imagine that's why the first syllable of this thing's name is "SCAR"

[Niraj @ Apr 8th 2009 12:52PM]

I was wondering the same...could you get flung off it because you hit a stick on the ground? And what kind of impact can it withstand? Will it break if you rode it off the edge of a sidewalk curb? Regardless, the video is awesome and it'd be worth finding flat terrain to ride that thing around.

[tandaz @ Apr 8th 2009 12:54PM]

Did you not see him go over the tree?

[MattNico @ Apr 8th 2009 1:36PM]

Watch the freakin' video. It will answer your question.

Think before you post. Or if you refuse, at least read the whole thing and watch the videos.

[JWC @ Apr 8th 2009 12:43PM]

I don't go in for that whole "extreme sports" thing, but that is flippin cool.

[peshue @ Apr 8th 2009 12:44PM]

Looks like a really fun way to get hurt.

[JustFrozen @ Apr 8th 2009 2:42PM]

this looks far more safe than most extreme sports. i'm hesitant to even call it extreme. doesn't seem to be going too fast and seemingly can't really do any crazy tricks

[Andrew @ Apr 8th 2009 12:45PM]

What, a bicycle is too hard to use?


Last thing I want to see in the woods.

[PeteC @ Apr 8th 2009 12:53PM]

You butt naked, grinning inanely from a bush is the last thing I'd want to see in the woods. People on motorized skateboards of death are more than welcome, though preferably also fully clothed!

[garrenteed @ Apr 8th 2009 3:02PM]

Andrew I would have loved to see your face when you got an email that someone has replied to your comment, and you read Pete's reply comment of epic proportions

[unboring @ Apr 10th 2009 1:17AM]

agreed.. . i lol'd

[Will @ Apr 8th 2009 12:47PM]

Is it just me, or does it look a little... slow?

[you @ Apr 8th 2009 12:56PM]

i concur. it needs to be fast enough for me to hurt myself. badly.

[Tres @ Apr 8th 2009 1:04PM]

Agreed, it looks like it lacks oomph. They have all this heavy metal music going on but it just seems to be trundling along and doesn't look intense at all. Maybe riding it is different though?

[brian @ Apr 8th 2009 2:42PM]

i'm with you guys 100%. its cool enough. but i'm really not seeing the wow factor that everyone else is on this post. my friends and i are ito this sort of thing. we ride quads at the dunes, wake board, and desert single track dirtbike,.... but i would not even consider forwarding this video to them.

[Cassini @ Apr 8th 2009 3:58PM]

I agree, it looks slow. They need to make it a LOT faster. And the control should be wireless. They also talk about it being agile, but in the videos I was waiting for 'em to show its agility, like swerving back and forth in between orange cones or something. Nothin'.

They also need straps for the feet so you can jump it a bit (but not like a regular board, of course), unless it's too heavy to do even that, which it might be. And maybe doing that would defeat the point of it, with it runnin' over trees and everything. Who knows?

Still a good idea. Just needs more speed.

[Oss @ Apr 8th 2009 9:02PM]

Slow? I don't think so. Check this out:
http://www.scarpar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=10

[PyRo1509 @ Apr 8th 2009 12:49PM]

be fun to try
but it would stay in my closet 99.999% of the time
just like the rest of my EXTREME gear

[Bdad @ Apr 8th 2009 1:19PM]

you mean "X-treme GEAR"

[mitt @ Apr 8th 2009 5:27PM]

exactly what I thought. great for the first day, but when is anyone actually going to use this? as far as I can see you can't do tricks on it, apart from maybe little jumps, so the most fun will be rolling down hills. and why would I want to roll down a hill really slowly on this when I could fly down on a bike? (yes I AM allowed to start sentences with prepositions)

[Andrew @ Apr 8th 2009 12:50PM]

1 ft longer and three inches taller and the speed of these things would be insane with the added stability.

Combine this with the Segway PUMA, and you get a mech warrier platform for the 21st century!

[garrenteed @ Apr 8th 2009 3:06PM]

what? Dr. Jekyll you just dissed the Scarpar like a half a page up

[pofc @ Apr 9th 2009 12:00AM]

Personally, I think it needs to be a bit faster and bit more agile. Also needs a wireless controller, like a glove with a type of "Spiderman" gesture to make it accelerate.

[Chunky Seal @ Apr 8th 2009 12:52PM]

@Russ: See the video for tree trunk and offroad portion through forest.

[absinthe party @ Apr 8th 2009 12:51PM]

I have a feeling that given the chance to ride one of these, I'd fall off and the board would maul my face. The same thing happens to me with skateboards, rollerblades, bicycles, jetskis, etc.

[Joe @ Apr 8th 2009 1:53PM]

Notice the rider had a full facemask helmet - this wasn't to look badass....

People feeling the need for speed likely haven't done 50MPH on a narrow bumpy road in the woods, and if you have, I bet it wasn't on a skateboard...

Let 'em build and market a slow (15mph) one, people will inevitably soup them up for more speed.

[swingin' dick hero @ Apr 8th 2009 1:53PM]

Woah! I understand that totally deforms once face, but a banana?

[RAQ @ Apr 8th 2009 12:52PM]

I say we get Tony Hawk on one of these, to see him do a kick-flip with it.