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faction:iromakuanhe:sky_boarding

Sky Boarding

Skyboarding is an Iromakuanhe sport, traditionally Eyr Ranr, in which participants use small Grav-Electric boards in order to have such contests as acrobatics, racing, and other competitions of skill. Considered to be an easy sport to learn, as it is relatively inexpensive and safe compared to some other Iromakuanhe sports, it is nevertheless difficult to reach a high level of skill in, and can be deadly to novices who make mistakes. Skyboarding is generally practiced at low altitudes, between 5 and 500 meters, and is very prominent in urban areas, where the small boards can also be used as an effective mode of travel.

There are two main types of Skyboards: Liftboards and Dropboards.

Liftboards

Liftboards are generally larger, and contain more/more powerful GE lifters in their construction. Liftboards are built for speed, and have the capability to completely lift themselves and their riders, essentially flying. Liftboarding is especially popular as it can be done anywhere, regardless of the conditions, although wind can become a decisive factor.

The main competitions held with liftboards are races, ranging from altitude races at 500 meters or sometimes higher, to distance races that are closer to the ground but require great stamina of both rider and board.

A Typical Liftboard is two to three meters long, and contains anywhere from three to five GE lifters. Some racing boards also have thrusters for increased speed or to augment their manueverability, but these are generally expensive and uncommon.

Dropboards

Dropboards are generally small, and have a much smaller following than their larger cousins, but tend to be more popular in urban settings with large buildings. Dropboards do not have very much lifting power and are designed to slow a descent rather than lift their rider. Dropboards are capable of hovering up to five meters off the ground, but this can strain their capacitors. In order to properly use a dropboard, one must jump from a platform that is at least fifteen meters above ground level, with 500 meters being the maximum legally allowed. This does not stop thrill-seekers from dropping at higher altitudes, though.

The main sports done with Dropboards are high-drop acrobatics, which is very similar to surfing on waves, and Low-level trick competitions, which use the lifters' environments to propel the board in different directions for localized tricks, such as small flips, board spins, and the like.

A Typical Dropboard is one to one and a half meters long, and has one to two GE lifters. Dropboards are highly manueverable, and can dart around quickly, but have nowhere near the top speed or altitude of liftboards. Many Drop-boards have stubby, squared off appearances, and raised edges to allow for better angles of approach on obstacles.

Safety Features

Because Sky Boarding is an inherently dangerous sport; many safety features have been developed for skyboards.

Board-integrated Safety

The simplest forms of safety for Skyboards are those that are built into the boards themselves. They can range from a simple cord to inbuilt sensors that tell when a rider has fallen.

  • Safety Cords: Safety cords are short bits of cord that are looped around the user's leg at one end, and connected to the board at the other. This works by making sure the board continues to slow the descent of the rider even if they are off. Generally, Boards will stop forward movement and descend slowly when the rider falls.
  • High-friction pads: Many Skyboards have high-friction surfaces on top. These can be as simple as sand grit embedded on paper and glued to the top of the board, all the way to specially made pads that use Lorentz Forces1) to keep the rider on their board.
  • Safety Protocols: Some Skyboards have protocols that will prevent them from going certain speeds at certain altitudes, and that will slow or halt movement in the event of a dangerous combination of commands. Competition boards often lack these, but everyday boards have them to keep novice boarders from killing themselves.

External Safety

Not only do the boards themselves have safety features, but many Skyboarders prefer wearing safety gear over getting injuries. Safety gear can be as simple as foam padding, and as sophisticated as GE liftpads worn on the body.

  • Helmets: the most basic form of safety gear is the Helmet. Helmets vary from cheap plastic domes with foam inserts and straps to hold it in place, to metal helmets with full face masks and advanced cushioning materials. Most however use Solanii-made helmets due to their affordability and safety.
  • Padding: Chest, knee, elbow, shin, and wrist padding provide mild safety against injury during a crash and are relatively inexpensive and easy to obtain. these are sometimes one-time use, and must be replaced after an accident, but can be made quite durable and long-lasting.
  • GE Suits: for the wealthy rider, Grav-electric suits are available. These suits work in one of two ways, depending on the model. The first way is, when in proximity of a solid object while moving above a certain velocity, they will repulse it, causing the rider to bounce in the opposite direction gently, instead of hitting it. The second method is simply giving the rider themselves lift when they fall, slowing descents and keeping them from injury.
  • Parachutes: A lower-tech method of providing safety at higher altitudes is the parachute. A large piece of thin, light, and strong fabric which cathes the air and slows the descent of the rider. Parachutes come in all shapes and sizes, and are worn as a backpack by the rider, activated by either a ripcord or a sesor that can tell if the rider is on their board or not.

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faction/iromakuanhe/sky_boarding.txt · Last modified: 2023/12/21 00:59 (external edit)