Electric Skateboard Competition Hits All-time high

Get ready for a full line of Raptor Series powerboards from Exkate to be released in the next few weeks. The Raptors are Chinese imports designed as an in-company rival to Exkate’s top selling X-24 powerboard, the granddaddy of electric skateboards long considered the “most expensive in the world.”

The Raptor Extreme 4.0 is manufactured by Exkate in China and sells retail for an exceptionally reasonable $499.99, or about half as much as the X-24. It is essentially the same board (40-inch longboard, fully proportional wireless remote control for acceleration and braking and a 400-watt motor, with a cruising range of 10 miles on a charge and speeds up to 15 miles per hour) but now the price is expected to make this board affordable to a mass market.

The Raptor line consists of four new boards: The 4.0 Extreme, Raptor 3.0, Raptor 2.2 and Raptor for Kids with retail prices ranging from $499.99 to $199.99. The two larger models (4.0 and 3.0) are available for purchase through www.slide4less.com and are suitable for use by adults. Contact us at 1-800-659-8731 for more information.

Slide4less has long supported technological innovations and market competition in motorized skateboard development. We can now offer the consumer a chance to select just the right board from a multitude of models, styles and prices and purchase it easily and directly from us on-line.

“The 4.0 and 3.0 will be out within the next 30 days and are carried by independent dealers, while the two smaller ones are in department stores,” said Exkate Owner Dave Kaplan. “All the Raptors are imported from China. This was purely about price because the market at $1,000 is really limited. At between $200 and $500, there is a huge market there.

“These boards now have a battery gauge built into all the models, which is a nice addition,” Kaplan said. “The two things people didn’t like about the older line of boards was price and weight and with these it’s a whole different animal. For example, the 4.0 weighs only 52 pounds and the 3.0 is 28 pounds. Portability was key, so you can pick it up, put it in a locker, carrying into a store…it fits everywhere.”

Kaplan noted the 3.0 has all the same electronics as the 4.0, with a variable throttle and brakes. The adult models have Exkate’s cool regenerative braking, meaning the remote trigger stops the board when pushed in reverse.

“They work very well and we went through a lot of testing to get to this point,” Kaplan said. “You know what happens when somebody gets on one of these? They come back smiling with that feeling of freedom only these powerboards can provide. People are already excited about it and they have a passion for this product. Before, our market was 25 to 40 year olds because that is who can afford to X-24. Now we’re going to have everybody riding these things.

“We’re still shipping the X-24 as well,” he added, “because people still want the super performance.”

These and other board styles are featured exclusively on a website devoted entirely to electric longboards: www.electriclongboards.com and are also available via www.slide4less.com.

All board designs offered for sale by Slide4less represent cutting-edge developments in electrical, remote-operated and compact vehicles. These are the only electric skateboards in the world to offer truly effective remote operation, a necessity for rider safety.

“Motorized boards will likely become the world’s most advanced vehicles with innovations that rival any other vehicle,” says Steve Steinberg of Slide4less and Segway of Oakland. “They are inherently dangerous, but sophisticated acceleration, braking and board control are key to making these machines effective for extreme sports enthusiasts.”

Steinberg notes that riders assume substantial risks with motorized boards, as with any other extreme sport. (Could that be a factor in the board’s wildly expanding popularity? Decide for yourself.)

“Remote, hands-free boards require a unique frequency and a handset system which uses the rider as the exclusive antennae in an attempt to eliminate interference, which can jeopardize a rider's ability to maintain balance and control,” he explained.

Given this, Steinberg predicts that “these extreme machines will offer a higher level of fun and excitement and the incredible precision-crafted electronics make them a reality for serious riders and extreme individuals.”

Stock Exkate X-24 boards feature a cruising range of 12 miles on a single battery charge, with custom, high-power Lithium battery packs available for purchase separately. The boards offer an out-of-box, blistering top speed of 22 miles per hour.

“These are the only vehicles in the world to give you a functional and safe wireless remote throttle and braking system, right at your fingertips,” says Slide4less and Segway of Oakland partner Darren Romar. “These skateboards are designed to emulate the feel and responsiveness that snowboarders and surfers love. This is an extreme sport that does not require waves, snow, wind or hills. People in the flatlands of the Midwest can have just as much fun on these boards as those living in hilly Sausalito, Calif. Maybe even more!”

Powerboards are one of the most environmentally friendly vehicles available on the market, with strikingly silent operation and zero emissions. It is snowboarding with no lift line, wakeboarding without a boat and skateboarding without your feet ever touching the ground. You just step on and accelerate! With the X-24 motor specially built to suit the powerboard, you can blast away to top speed in under four seconds. The extreme torque will easily pull you and a friend up the steepest hills, and the revolutionary longboard truck eliminates speed wobble while providing for an astonishing 10-foot turning radius. The unique bushings are formulated for the powerboard to absorb road shock while keeping you in firm control via the wireless hand controller.

Slide4less offers all new powerboard models and also pre-owned or refurbished boards for less. We carry natural-color decks and highly customized board styles including black, white and blue with blue tires; black, white and red with red tires; and natural wood with either red or blue tires.

All of our electric skateboards can be easily maneuvered through a crowd, yet can attain very high speeds. These are cutting-edge, hand-made electric vehicles with no expense spared. All parts are engineered and machined specifically for the board and not “adapted” from existing skateboard and electric vehicle parts.

You can test ride an electric skateboard for free. Contact us at 1-800-659-8731 for more information. And most importantly – Have Fun!

Warning: These electric skateboards are designed to be high-speed, extreme machines and should be operated with extreme care. Interference from overhead high-voltage wires can interfere with operation under certain circumstances. We recommend operation in a wide-open area that has limited signal interference. Motorized skateboards are illegal on many public roads. Owners of these boards assume all risks of operation. Helmet, gloves, and leathers are highly recommended!

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