Hoverboard-esque

Posted on by scott

Many years ago, I saw an electric-powered skateboard in a sporting good store. I never saw such a thing again, but the image stuck in the back of my brain. Maybe it was still there when I dreamed up the hoverboards in Uglies.

I’d actually forgotten all about it, until I ran into this:

The company is called E-Glide, and it makes powered skateboards with the following specs:

0-20MPH in 4 seconds
10-15 mile range
about $500
about 40 pounds (18KG)
wired remote control
California attitude

So should I get one?

PROS
Would look like this video (warning: turn volume down if in school)
Save money on cabs
Save environment
Live life to fullest
Would write hoverboard scenes better
I need it

CONS
Expensive
Probably illegal in New York
Hard to bring on plane
Would have to grow soul patch
Last skateboard owned decades ago
Probable death

Please tell me what to do.

73 thoughts on “Hoverboard-esque”

  1. Hm that’s a tough one… I think you should go for it! Thou can not live life to the fullest with out probable death.

  3. that is amazingly cool. i would certainly die if i had one (i seriously have fallen down my stairs three times in the past eight months)…but i would say go for it. you’d have to post video of yourself using it, though!! 😉

  4. that looks insanely amazing. You should so get one, and then send it by mail or something to your home in australia instead of carrying it on the plane ^.^ I hope they arent illegal there! But i think it sounds like fun, *in authoritative voice* but be sure to wear you helmet and knee-pads scott *end of authoritative voice*

  6. If i had the money to buy one, i would but i definately say to get one. It not only looks fun but it’s good for the environment also! And do live your life to the fullest.There’s the thing also that you neeeed it, so get it.

  8. Personally, I’ve always thought the real problem is the sound these things make. It’s like you are crusing the streets atop an indignant, electrified bee.

  11. Ha, that thing looks awesome! I’d buy one if I had money to spare. Which I don’t. I would get a job, but my daily existence is plagued with physics and various other evil subjects…

    Anyway, go for it. Or save your money and hold out for hoverboard. They got to invent them sooner or later… hopefully…

  12. I think you should go for it. I like skating, so that is like, MEGA skating! It would make the hover board scenes totally realistic. Plus major coolness points. You are going to die someday, might as well have fun while doing it!

  16. I say go for it! Totally agree with all of thee above. But wait……………..you said it would help you write more hoverboard scenes! Does this mean your writing more books about Tally-wa! Or at least something realting to that? I’ve been dying to read more about my favorite character Tally! Kind of off topic lol. COnsider it though!

  19. They actually have anti-motorized skateboarding laws in NY?

    I think you should only get it if you can find a proper cape too. Can you imagine yourself zooming down the streets on that with a cape waving gallantly behind you?! I think that’s the only way to ride. You’d be like some crazy super hero.

  21. Personally, I vote for no death. Those look pretty lame compared to hoverboards. And no wrist thingies to save your butt when you launch off the ‘board. Hold out for the real thing, that’s my advice.

  22. I think you should do it. Because, as you said, you need it. However, do try very hard not to make that probable death bit come true, because then what would we do?

  23. I think that you should not get one. If you die, I’ll cry, and there will be a shortage of good books to read. Then I’d probably go out and skate around on my good old fashioned one. And hope I don’t die. And by “die”, I mean “break my arm”. And by braking my arm, I mean getting a boo-boo. And that would suck.

  25. Dude, you only live once. You can hang it on the wall or something… This could enable you to flee quickly in case of apocalypse. You should get J one too.

  26. You should get one for all of the previously stated reasons, especially Gwenda’s about the apocalypse. It doesn’t hurt to be prepared, and just think how many zombies you can escape on one of those. Oh, but Katerate is right, you need a cape.

    If you do get one, practice riding it in some alley somewhere before you actually do take it out on the road, because A> you will not be made fun of when you fall. and B> There is less chance of getting hit by an irate cabbie.

    On the other hand, bring your cell phone, so you don’t end up bleeding to death in said alley.

  27. You should hunt down someone who has one, wait till they pause for a break, tap them on the shoulder and do that whole “Oh my god, what is THAT?” while pointing behind them. When they look the other way, steal their skateboard and have zany, madcap romps around town until the charge is all gone. Then go to their house and leave it outside with an apologetic note on top.

    Small window of time in which you play with it = smaller window of potential death time. I’m thinking.

  28. I say you buy it and wear every kind of protective padding imaginable while riding it: (football) helmet, kneepad, elbowpad, wristpad, gloves, baseball catcher’s gear, maybe some soccer shin guards… You can’t die on us, now!

  29. That is awesome. I would say get it…but New York isn’t really the best place for one, hm? I guess the pro/con comparison points to getting one, minus the “probable death” part. You should practice first, somewhere with padding. See if the local mental hospital has any free rooms… Haha, I can just imagine that encounter: “Hi, welcome to Bellevue.” “Thanks, can I borrow a room to practice skateboarding in?”

  31. i like hezza’s plan of action…. but im kind of a scaredy cat so…. just be carefull please scott!

  33. although death is a factor, you just cant beat a motorized skateboard. i mean, come on. can we spell cool? although, i agree, new york probably isnt the best place. it would be good in australia though. having toured the country continent duo earlier this year, i can safly say that having one there is a must. go for it. wear a helmet.

  34. Buy it, post a vidoe, and mail it back and forth, who cares if it’s possibly illegal and could kill you, it’s FREAKIN AWESOME!!!

  35. Oh, and avoid death, there is no replacement for you and I need reading material. But i would go for it if I had any coordination and/or money… Just wear a helmet because my little life wouldn’t be the same without reading your books and blogs and stuff. So there.

  36. I think it’s funny that the reading material always overcomes your actual wellbeing. Hahaha.

    Just kidding.

    But seriously. The board freakin rocks.

  39. Hey! I bet you can take it off your taxes! How can you possible write about such futuristic devices if you don’t try it out?:) However, I’d wait for the model that doesn’t have a cord. Better yet, get your publisher to buy a few…you keep a couple…and give away the rest to your readers!:)

  41. Oh yeah, get one. Hey, on the subject of hoverboards, mountainboards are another possibility. They’re not motorized or anything, but they’re like a skateboard with bike tires and they’re really good for off-road. But they’re kind of expensive too, so I haven’t managed to get one yet.

  42. Not what I would call envionmentally friendly – it still takes electricity, which means somewhere down the line a power plant has to burn some more coal to run your skateboard.

    Why not just buy one of those Razor scooters instead?

  43. it still takes electricity, which means somewhere down the line a power plant has to burn some more coal

    Given that the E-Glide weighs about 100th of what a car weighs, it’s a more efficient form of transport.

    Yes, it’s not fuel-free like scooting/walking. But I’m thinking of this for intermediate distances, where those aren’t an option. You can’t do 20MPH on a Razor, and bicycles have to be locked up with massive chains in this town (and even so, they still disappear).

  44. omg! you should sotally (so totally) get one! … screw death.. its too overrated.
    btw, im new to this site, and i looooove the ugllies / peeps/ so yesterday books. aweosme. yeah.

  45. You should get it. Now if it were me, I would also invest in some high quality pads and a helmet, maybe have my loved ones buy life insurance on me. But hey, do what you gotta!

  46. You should get it, but wait awhile. Practice on a regular skateboard for awhile so you can get used to it again.
    Of course life requires risk-taking, but death is a good thing to avoid. Wear a helmet- everyone needs some kind of crash bracelet.
    And maybe by the time you’ve re-adjusted to life on the board they’ll have made one of the bluetooth-esque versions Anna mentiond before.
    Good luck and have fun!

  47. I’d say go for it… definitely

    But see if you could test drive one first, then gauge how probable this “probable death” may be

  49. u may need some life ensurance though. or some pads. and a helmet. or maybe there is a suit that is full of padding. one big knee pad…

    hmmm

  50. Scott,
    Can you answer the question we all want to know? How will this help you write hoverboard scences if the uglies series is over?!??! Please say you writting another book! I’m dying to know. Please if i don’t read more about Tally-wa I’ll die!

  52. If it runs on electricity and not oil or hydrogen, Bush will cry. Then I’d laugh. ‘Cause I’m an awsome democrat.. Wait… Should I have capitalized democrat? Oh well.

    Sorry if any of you are republicans (Republicans? I’m gonna need to figure this out). To each his own.

  53. I think the whoel point of a skateboard is to move it on your own. Electric powered kind of defeats the purpose.

  54. AWESOME.
    I now need to get one of these after watching the video.

    Go for it, definitely.
    Just like, sell your soul or something for the money.

    Who needs a soul anyway?

  57. Dude. Expensive much? But, it would totally be worth it. Think of the petroleum you’re not using with one of those! It’s like a bike, only with less wetsuit-esque clothing! And there’s no excercise involved! You will be the hip-hoppin’-est, fo’ shizzlest, skaterest author ALIVE!

    But, no soul patch. Some skate shoes and dreads should suffice. XDD

  58. Okay so I know this is completely random but I really wanted you to know how great this trilogy was! I was kind of weary about reading it because I wasn’t sure I liked the style but after reading Midnighters I just had to buy Uglies. After reading these books (3 books in 2 days, i have a habit of reading) it really made me sit down and think. I don’t know if you meant for some messages between the lines or what but I found so many inspirations just out of your books in the trilogy of Uglies. I posted a bulletin on Myspace.com to all my friends telling them to read these books and I thought I would share with you what the bulletin said…

    UGLIES-PRETTIES-SPECIALS)

    ive come to some conclusions about life…these books were about the author challenging the preconceived notions of beauty…Uglies Pretties and the specials…everyone underwent surgery once they turned 16 to become ‘pretty’ and in this book pretty meant looking and acting just like everyone else…i mean yea apparently they reshaped bones and really made an ‘ugly’ look amazing but at what cost…at what cost do we decide to change our appearances so much that we lose ourselves in the process…man is willing to starve themselves to death for the notion of beauty that was instilled in our brains since early childhood…these books also brought to life the issue of how Rusties (which in the book means man/humanity as it is now because the whole setting takes place THREE CENTURIES from now) destroy the earth because we are greedy and hungry. okay seriously i will be the first to admit that i’m FAR from an environmentalist, thats not what this is about…these books just make you think…can i think for myself? can i rewire myself to believe that i don’t have to be beautiful according to the notion we are force fed as littlies (littlies=children *again another phrase from these books) is it possible for us not to depend so much on oil/natural resources? let me explain to you that in this trilogy, rusties (us) destroy themselves because of their dependency on oil…someone released a strain of bacterium that interacted with the oil creating flammability as soon as the oil hit air…their whole lives wiped out because they wanted to drive around all the time…again i’m the farthest person that should be talking about driving too much cuz i drive everywhere but these books really make you think…they also bring to light how easy it is to betray a friend…how easy we are minipulated. because lets face it…if you and your best friend shared a secret that no one knew, for instance in this story a girls best friend runs away because she doesn’t want to go through with the operation that will make her pretty AND airheaded…but you stay because you WANT to be that person becuase thats what youve always wanted…what if someone said to you ‘give up your friend or you will never be pretty..” what would you do.? would you be the best friend that keeps your mouth shut and lets your friend live the life she always wanted, or will you be the person to betray her and give her away just so you can be a pretty airhead. i know that most of my friends don’t read…especially not half as much as i do but you should REALLY check these books out because it will give you a different perspective on life…granted its pretty farfetched because there are things like ‘hoverboards’ and rooms that give you everything you want…but the messages between the lines really say something…you just have to really read them.

    Much love and respect,
    -C

  59. YES!!!! I wan’t one too! Now all I need is $500… Well, I can dream about getting one. But you should definetly get one! That would be awesomer than awesome! Yes, Yes!

  60. i say go for it! as for the probable death, wear a helmet 🙂 bit pricey but if it helps the writing process im sure its worth it. but isnt the series over now? hmm…anyways i love your books. ive read so yesterday, peeps, and uglies. in order. im going to have to get to a walmart to get pretties next.
    much love and keep up with the awesome writing
    Bre
    p.s.
    maybe a soul patch would make you look a bit like enrique iglesias…?

  61. GET IT! Live life to the fullest, it’s the closest to hoverboarding you’ll get in the near future. But if you die, we shall all be horribley mad at you becuase we want Levithan, and all the other ownderful books you have yet to write.

  62. you HAVE to get one. i am married to a skater. he’s been skating since the 70s, and he is a much happier man when he’s been in the pipe. treat yourself. you deserve it!

  64. maybe instead you want something else. i was cruising the internet when i saw this futurestic type skatebaord thing called a scarpar, an all terrain motorized board at a website called TechEBlog under 10 strangest gadgets of the future, #8

  65. Scott you have to buy it how else will you make another awesome book with awesome hoverboard sequences if you don’t know some experience of how it may feel? You are going to continue on after Specials right? I mean come on you can’t just end it like that we all need to know if Tally makes a difference in the world or not!!!!!

  66. p.s. you did say write more hoverboard scenes so this means there are going to be more books!!! Scott don’t disappoint your fans!!

  70. i’m going to have to give this one a thumbs down to me it just looks like a more expensive version of a skate board for people who can’t skate. but thats just my opinion

  71. Oooh, get one. But you have to send in pictures of yourself skating. (Or your arrest forms if it turns out those really ARE illegal in New York.

  72. definately get one!!!!! they’re soooooooooooooooooooooo flawsem!i want one!but dont die. that would be terrible. death isnt good i like hezaa’s idea– lots of safety stuff!

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