Best Ripstik For Beginners

I am happy to see we share the same love for cool Ripsticks!

Here at TSL, I especially love all things skates & wheels. Mountain boards to inline racing skatings.

And today, we will be going through the best ripstik for beginners as well as for intermediates.

Ripstiks are fun & stimulating, and I love them! So I’ll be only glad to assist you with purchasing one of your own.

What Is A Ripstik?

A ripstick is essentially a Caster board (or a vigor board) designed and developed by Razor. 

So this term technically belongs to them, although many people call it ‘Ripstick’ with the c before the k. Don’t ask me why!

These caster boards are also called vigorboards, maybe because of all the vigorous wiggling action required to propel the thing forward (okay, I’m kidding). But All caster boards, including the cool Ripsticks, have a very similar if not the same anatomy.

Parts Of Ripstik

It consists of two decks (which act as the platform for your feet) and a torsion bar (that links the two decks together). If you flip the board upside down, you can see it is fitted with one wheel on each deck, housed on casters that allow it to rotate independently. A Ripstik’s wheel can turn 360-degree, allowing it to deliver snowboarding-like agility and carving.

The rear is called the tail, and it has an incline at the end called kicktail (for doing tricks). The front is called the nose. Each deck has traction pads that ensure your feet remain safely on the decks at all times.

How does a Ripstik work?

As mentioned earlier, the thing is a hybrid of a skateboard, so you’d expect it to behave like one. 

How do you move forward while on a traditional skateboard? You either push with your feet or do carving (also pumping) – This works with caster boards too.

But what makes them unique is: The distinctive pivot decks. The unique pivoting is all thanks to the torsion bar, which allows the signature wiggling/swiveling motion that only caster boards have!

The reason Ripsticks are way cooler than Skateboards is because of this. Once you’re off to a decent start (speed wise), it is relatively simple and hugely satisfying to pick up the pace by merely swiveling the decks. You do not need to take your foot off the board.

By twisting your hips, you may do continuous and simultaneous swivel motions – something which could keep propelling the board forward for all of eternity. 

This is why the best ripstik can sometimes be more fun than the best skateboard you can get your hands on.

But it is not all fun and games. It is genuinely harder than a skateboard; I realized this from learning both. But if you’re already an experienced skateboard-er, then it will be a piece of cake. An enjoyable piece to be accurate and specific. 

The working and the learning process of Ripsticks will be including below. Keep reading!

Ripstik Buying Guide

Purchasing your brand new ripstick would be reasonably straightforward than buying a traditional skateboard. They come in all shapes and sizes with all sorts of variations offered by a plethora of brands. Ripstiks, however, are made by a single brand making our jobs a lot easier.

All the models in razor’s lineup, both the original & latest models, are built with utmost precision and care. 

In this lineup, the types of ripstik will not overwhelm you as the products all follow the tried and tested formula of the pivoting deck magic. But options are indeed there! You can get anything from a kid ripstik to pro ripsticks! There is even a custom ripstik section that will showcase limited-edition variants of the popular models.

Why buy a ripstick?

If you clicked on this article, it is pretty apparent that you’re interested in buying one. But let me tell you – you should be super pumped about it!

Ripstik for adults, and kids, provides a super stimulating experience that not many recreational activities offer.

Assuming you already know the basics of skateboarding, the moment you push off on a ripstick, you will feel something is very different. And once you get the hang of the whole swiveling thing, then you’ll never hope on to a traditional skateboard ever again.

Just the sheer fun factor of caster boards like these is soo damn high that it is almost a no-brainer to invest your money in one of these. Something that you’ll never regret.

And if you do not have any prior skateboarding experience, then you need to learn the basics a bit, which I will cover in this next section.

Difference between Ripstiks and Skateboards?

I want to say it is similar to a street skateboard’s learning curve but a little more challenging. Let me explain it in a few words real quick:

Ripstik to a skateboard is what Inline skates are to quad skates.

I don’t think I can phrase it simpler (Maybe my partner here at TSL can). 

If you’re a skater, then you know this. The regular roller skates feel tremendous and fun until you try inline skates. They might handle a slightly challenging in the first ten seconds but then realize how much sheer fun you were missing out on.

That is the same case with Ripstik vs. Skateboard.

Skateboard has four wheels (two on each side); balancing is almost not a thing there.

But a Ripstick only has two (one on each deck), making the balance the critical factor.

So They are indeed more challenging than Skateboards.

But these cool ripstiks are so fun because of this unique out of the box design!

Trust me, you’ll always pick these waverboards instead of the traditional skateboards for a short commute or recreational activity.

Who needs four wheels when you can do the same with two, that too, with more amusement!

How to ride a Ripstik

You read the subheading. I am going to, very briefly, explain how we learn and ride the awesome Ripstik.

Pro tip: A small ripstik is always a better choice if you’re a beginner

If you’re a skateboarder, then understand this: while you lean your body to turn on a skateboard, in a caster board (like the Ripstik), you merely twist the board to turn. Make the nose pivot left, and the whole board goes left. This can enable sharp turns.

Quick Fact: Ripstick does no require foot pushing or peddling to move forward.

Twisting hips to swivel the decks is only required to keeping on moving.

If you’re NOT a skateboarder, then the first thing you need to do is get used to a skateboard. Well, this is not the advice most people give, but it works. If you can’t get your hands on one, consider learning how to balance it on a Ripstik. It can prove tricky since there are only two wheels.

Try getting used to standing and rolling on the caster board slowly, with the help of a wall (or a very kind friend willing to help you out). Once you’ve done that, you can proceed to the next steps.

The Essentials 

Get on the ripstick: Place your back foot on the back deck first and push, shortly following that, by placing the front foot on the front deck as you slowly move forward.

Moving forward: Wiggle the nose and the tail simultaneously by twisting your hips and shoulders back and forth. This swivel motion can produce the forward moment and is almost exclusive for caster boards like Ripstiks!

Alternatively, you can also carve like on a regular skateboard.

Turning: Shift the weight of your foot (whichever is on the front) to either side to change directions. You’ll go in the direction the front deck is rotated in.

Alternatively (again), you can also carve like in a regular skateboard.

Stopping: The simplest method is to jump off the Ripstik merely. Pretty convenient and straightforward. Take your dominant foot off the board, followed by your non-dominant foot.

If you intend to learn anything more sophisticated (hey, it’s a good thing!) You can: Going in a circle (by sharply turning the nose) and leaning back, so the speed decreases and side scrape the surface and board halts to a stop.

Safety first – You don’t want to hurt yourself!

Like every other outdoor recreational activity on wheels, this one too requires the rider to wear some sort of safety equipment. Remember: even the Pros wear helmets.

And especially if you’re starting on your Ripstik adventures (a beginner), safety gear is a must. Be safe and learn confidently. A bruised knee never speeds up your learning process.

Also, read Skating protection pads & gear for your safety.

Products

Razor RipStik Caster Board – Blue

Razor RipStik Ripster Caster Board

RipStik Brights

RipStik Air Pro Team

RipStik DLX Mini – Red SMU (MC2)

RipStik Electric

FAQ

Is RipStik easier than a skateboard?

No, they are not. Skateboards have two wheels on both sides, whereas a caster board like a Ripstik only has two wheels in total. So the balancing alone makes learning the ripstik a little more challenging.

What can I do to improve my balance?

Continuous practicing would be your best bet. One simple tip is to see how long you can move forward on your Ripstik without losing balance and then trying to increase that duration. Slowly you’ll improve your balance.

How do I move a ripstick forward?

For the initial momentum, you have to push forward with your feet. Once you’re moving, then you can wiggle the board to propel yourself forward. The swiveling action produces forward momentum. 

How do I wiggle faster and more accurately?

The key is to do shorter wiggles – the shorter they are, the faster you’ll pick up the pace. Just practice twisting your hips at a faster rate to produce a more prominent swiveling action. Also, the more you practice, the more control you’ll have over the board.

Which Ripstik is the best?

The RipStik DLX Caster Board – Black is an excellent Ripstik from Razor. It is fitted with 76mm urethane wheels and high-performance bearings that deliver a fantastic performance. Just make sure to ride it on a smooth surface.

How much money is a Ripstik?

You can get a standard Ripstik for about 90 Dollars. If you wish to go the affordable route, then the RipStik Ripster is an excellent choice for a $60 price tag. If you prefer a premium alternative, then might I suggest the 120 dollars Ripstik Air Pro.

What is the difference between a Ripstik and Ripstik mini?

As the name suggests, the major difference lies in the dimensions. Also, the supported weight changes a bit too, but it is mainly the size difference. The Ripstik is 34 inches long, whereas the Mini is 27 inches long. The shorter one will always be more maneuverable. 

Which ripstik is best for beginners?

The Ripstik mini is an excellent choice for beginners. It is small (as the name suggests), and it pretty nimble – which makes it more maneuverable and beginner-friendly. The shorter wheelbase makes it less intimidating for turns and general handling. 

Is RipStik a good workout?

Even though they don’t provide the most fabulous cardio, they are indeed a good workout since to propel yourself forward by repeatedly twisting your hips to create the swiveling motion enables the deck to pivot independently, producing the forward movement. 

Are Ripsticks safe?

Even though they are not considered very easy to learn, Ripstik is pretty safe to ride as long as you balance two wheels figured out. Once that is done, take the safety measures you’d take on a regular skateboard and have fun.

Are ripstik skateboard?

Ripstiks are not skateboards. They are not even a type of skateboard. They are a kind of Casterboards, and they are made solely by this one brand called ‘Razor.’ In fact, the term ‘Ripstik’ belongs to them.

Are ripstik easy to ride?

They can be a bit challenging, especially if you are not a skateboarder in the first place. The main concern will be balancing on the only two wheels fitted in the caster board. Once you’ve figured that out, then advancing would be reasonably straightforward.

Can ripstik go uphill?

 It is almost the same case as that of the skateboard. If you have enough momentum, you can technically go uphill. Plus, a ripstik can generate momentum by the swiveling movement, so it only helps in scenarios like this.

How to ripstik like a pro?

First of all, I’d recommend you to get all of the basics covered. Get a great deal of confidence in balancing on the Ripstik even at very low speeds. And then slowly advance by learning tricks. Once you can get really comfortable with the caster board, you’ll quickly advance to an expert level. Just don’t stop practicing.

When did ripstik come out?

Ripstiks came out more than a decade ago. They were invented in 2007 and are now sold exclusively by Razor. Their lineup includes multiple caster boards include the Ripstik mini and the Ripstik Ripster – both of which are excellent products that are available in their store.

Where to buy razor ripstik?

You can purchase your brand new Ripstik caster board from Razor’s official online store or from major e-commercial sites like Walmart or Amazon. You can check out their Amazon collection here: Amazon.com: Razor Ripstiks