Kick scooters are used to perform freestyle tricks in the extreme sport of freestyle scootering (also known as scootering or scooter riding). If you’ve ever been to a skateboarding park, you’ve probably seen this in action. Following the Razor craze in the early 2000s, freestyle scootering became popular after Micro Mobility Systems invented the foldable aluminum scooter in 1999. A lot has changed in pro scooter design since then, and many companies have devoted themselves solely to producing trick scooters around the world.
Freestyle Scootering History
The adventure sport of freestyle scootering is not that old. It all began in the 1990s, when Gino Tsai’s Micro Mobility Systems and the JD Corporation worked together to make the first scooter. In 1999, The Sharper Image was the first company to sell these scooters, and it didn’t take long for them to catch on. Razor Images was started in California, USA. When these scooters became popular, the company’s sales went through the roof, and within a year, Razor Images started making its own scooters under the name Razor Scooters.
In the year 2000, Razor Scooters made its own team and put out their first video, which was called “Razor Evolution.” At that time, the scooter revolution had just started in the US, and it was growing like crazy. In 2006, the first Freestyle Scootering tournament was held in San Diego. It is still the biggest scooter tournament ever held in its short history.
At about the same time, TSI Scooters entered the market and made the “One Piece Deck.” This was a folding mechanism made from the headtube, which was welded directly to the deck of the scooter.
Since then, scooters have been updated over and over again, and new technologies have started to be added to them. There is a new generation of Scooter Riders, and there are also new ways to do Freestyle Scootering.
Scooter riders call the current time of Freestyle Scootering the “maturation of scootering,” and they expect it to get bigger and stronger in the coming days.
Parts of the Scooter
Deck/Base
The base is the most important part of a scooter because without it you have nowhere to put your feet. Since the scooter began, it has been greatly innovated because it began with a very weak and heavy metal base and ended with bases that last a long time thanks to Resistencia and new welding techniques. Bases vary by skating style.
- Street: Residents base their necks by the highest part and the back wheel.
- Park: They’re tougher in the front and center, where they take the most hits.
Big Bar / Handlebar
4130 chrome or 6061 aluminum is used. Original Razor folding bars have been replaced by welded and one-piece bars because they bend easily. Bars come in many styles and angles, such as “T” Bars. Skaters can choose the best-sized bars for their skating style. Proto, TSI, Raptor, Tilt, Lucky, Ethic, Raw, Fise, and Sacrifice are good handlebar brands.
Fists / Grips
Classic razor scooters had rubber foam strips for freestyle cuffs. With the need for the strongest and most durable parts, companies like ODI (longnecks) and Animal now use BMX-style parts in scooters (Edwin). Most cuffs have rod ends to prevent uneven bars from cutting a fallen rider.
Fork
Original razor forks were easily bent by a single impact. Andrew Broussard, owner of Proto Scooters, created the Superior Proto Fork in the mid-2000s. Many companies make one-piece forks today. Most forks have scs (compression system), which grips the scooter’s handlebars with a clamp and a screw glued in half of the scs and screwed to the fork. This prevents the scooter from moving and the handlebars from moving.
Wheels
The first scooter wheels were made of plastic and urethane. These often broke, leading to today’s metal wheels. Newer metal core wheels are made of machined aluminum and urethane.
Break
Freestyle scooter riders have many brake options. These often rattle, so the Flex-fender type brake system was invented, which is just a flat or curved piece of metal that, when rubbed, slows the rider down. When you apply the brake on a freestyle scooter, the wheel wears out irregularly and faster than a good rider knows how to brake unnecessarily.
Scootering: How to Play?
Scootering involves a lot of different skills. In this section, we’ll talk more about these methods.
Pogo
Pogo is a skill that only people with a lot of experience can do. This method is not for beginners because the rider has to hold down his brakes and hop on his back wheel at the same time.
This is something that the more experienced players used to do because they knew how to do it. For beginners to get good at this method, they have to do a lot of work. Even the best players need to keep practicing this method because it is tricky and dangerous.
Hippy Jump
Pogo was hard to do, but hippy jump is simple. This trick is so easy to do that anyone can do it. The trick is that the player only needs to jump off the deck and leave his wheels on the ground.
As the player can change his stance by turning, different things can be seen. At the same time, the rider can do different tricks, like the Rodeo or the air walk. Rodeo is a style where the player holds the scooter with one hand and does tricks with the other.
The hippy jump is easy and that anyone can do it, but that doesn’t mean that just anyone can hold the scooter and do the trick. To do the rodeo or air walk, you need to train in a special way.
Bunny hop (Ollie, jay hop, etc.)
Bunny hop is a beginner’s guide to almost all of the scooter tricks. To do this trick, the player must pull up on the handle bar and jump while keeping both feet on the scooter. So when the job is done, the scooter’s wheels will be off the ground.
The main point of bunny hop is to jump on your scooter. This is the most important thing to learn, because if you can’t jump, you can’t get over a hurdle. Once the player is sure they can do this trick, they can try to move on to the next level of tricks.
X-Up. (Bar-to-bar)
Beginners should start with the bunny hop because most other tricks are based on it. The X-UP is one of the tricks that come from the bunny hop that is often used. To do the x-up trick, the player must first do a confident bunny hop and then twist his handlebars 90 degrees while in the air. Now that he’s about to land, he can finally straighten the handle bars.
Kick-Out
Again, people who are good at the bunny hop trick will have no trouble with this one. First, the player will do the bunny hop trick, and then he will kick his deck 45 degrees to the side with both feet. Before landing, the player has to remember to straighten out the deck.
keep the players’ toes safe, they should wear shoes.
No Foot
The player needs to do an Ollie for the no-foot technique. Then he has to get off the deck with both feet. This move looks like the “hippie jumping technique.” We can also do an air walk and a rodeo with this trick.
Grind
Grind is another well-known scootering trick. It’s very easy, but it can get the performer into trouble very quickly. All you have to do is do an Ollie, turn your board 90 degrees, and land steadily and safely on the rail. The player can then grind for as long as he wants and then Ollie off.
Manual (Wheelie)
The player just needs to lean back and balance on his back wheel to do a manual trick. After that, he has to keep riding.
Nose Manual (Endo)
There are similarities between the nose manual trick and the manual trick. But manual trick is not the same as nose manual. Using your hands is a simple trick. Here, all the player has to do is lean back and stay balanced on his back wheel to keep going. In nose manual, on the other hand, the player has to lean forward and balance on his front wheel. So players have to practice a lot to be able to do this trick.
Bar spin
Another useful trick is the bar spin. It’s hard to learn, but it can lead to a lot of other tricks. This trick is hard and can only be done by people who are both skilled and interested.
Tail Whip
It’s also hard to learn how to do a tail whip, and it can lead to many other tricks or combinations. Before the player can move on in the competition, he or she has to kick the scooter deck. To keep the players’ toes safe, they should wear shoes.
Safety in the Competition
The International Scooter Federation (ISF) may remove a competition and/or riders from the championship if they compromise safety.
- Helmets must be fastened and riders must be wearing proper footwear, clothing, and their scooters must be in working order. If you don’t wear a helmet, you can’t ride.
- It is the rider’s responsibility to maintain good health and be able to ride safely. Any rider returning from an injury may be asked to produce a doctor’s note stating that they are medically fit to compete by the event organizers.
- Riders are responsible for knowing and following the skatepark’s safety and usage guidelines.
- Riders who feel that their safety is in jeopardy may not ride and should notify the organizer of their concerns.
- Riders should never ride past their physical or mental limits. Riders should be disqualified if an organizer or ISF official believes they are not at the professional level.
- Stunt scooters must be in good working order and adhere to ISF regulations.
- In order to compete, riders must sign a competition waiver release form stating that they are aware of the rules, the code of conduct, and the inherent risks.
Conclusion
In freestyle scootering, tricks like trick jumps and flips are performed at high speeds and safety is a major concern. It’s impossible to attempt these tricks without the proper safety equipment, otherwise someone will get hurt. It’s best to focus on having a good time while also staying safe. It’s your decision whether or not to compete. You get to make the call!
While there are still challenges ahead, the future of extreme sports will be brighter with the rise of professional scootering.