Notes Design

No one would blame you for calling it the SpringBoard, but the SoulArc Board is a brand new skateboard with a rigid top and below-deck composite spring that provides the action and feel of surfing (and shredding). A result of a class project at Kendall College of Art and Design, the board is the brainchild of Mitch Mulder, who partnered with Salvaore Vilardi to bring the board to market. It'll be introduced in a couple weeks at the Action Sports Retail trade show in San Diego at the Surf Expo in Orlando. (The name comes from the surfing expression "soul arch"--being one with the wave.)

Comments Mulder, "I've been making boards for 8 years and got sick of riding planks. With this board, you can ride in places you typically can't ride." And what does it really feel like? "You've gotta ride it to really understand it," answers Vilardi. Well, that Core77 address is easy to ship to, guys.

Here's the official word:

At the heart of this revolutionary design is the SoulArc performance spring. The performance spring absorbs and transfers energy in a manner similar to carving a wave. Extensive adjustments to size, shape and material selection have produced this latest generation of the SoulArc performance spring. The smoothness and feel of this ride is unmatched, as each directional movement interacts with the spring to provide a corresponding and complementary reaction. The end result is a board that provides a uniquely exceptional ride.

Then some of the rigor:

Each performance related variable was considered. Extensive ergonomic testing was performed to determine the optimal board height. Quantifiable variables included ground distance, lateral flex and vertical flex. These quantifiable variables were then analyzed and compared to qualitative measures that included ride feel, torque response and general overall ride ability.

First samples of the device are going out right now. If you want to try to get your hands on one, hit the website.

Tons more pics and video of the board in use after the, uh, jump.