Jack Smith Completes First Cross-Country Trek on an Electric Skateboard
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (January 9, 2019) – Legendary skateboarder and Guinness World Record holder, Jack Smith, recently completed the nation’s first cross-country road trip on an electric skateboard. The 2,394-mile journey was Smith’s fifth cross-country expedition on a skateboard, with his first taking place in 1976 on a traditional skateboard. The 45-day voyage wrapped up on the steps of the Smithsonian Museum of American History in Washington DC.
While this trip was one of many for Smith, it went down in history as the first ever cross-country road trip on an electric skateboard. Smith completed this journey on an Inboard M1, which is now a part of the permanent collection at the Smithsonian.
“It is definitely… interesting to be 61 and riding an electric skateboard across the country,” Smith stated. “Even though I was not physically pushing this time around, it was more difficult than you would think. Your feet and legs go numb unbelievably quickly on rough roads. It’s mentally draining as well, you have to be hyper-focused on traffic and road conditions… cracks, potholes, changes of surface, debris on the shoulder or road. It was as much a test of mental fortitude as it was about endurance.”
Smith began skateboarding in 1974 and by 1976, at age 19, Smith and a few friends pioneered the first voyage across the country on a skateboard, traversing from Oregon to Virginia. Skateboarding across America has since become a vehicle to raise awareness for causes near to Smith’s heart. In 2003, Smith’s son passed away from complications due to Lowe Syndrome and in 2013, Smith’s father passed away from Alzheimer’s Disease. Three of Smith’s trips across America were dedicated to raising funds and awareness for these causes.
“It’s been great seeing different parts of America from this unique perspective,” Smith continued. “In this journey and in my 2013 push, I had my wife, Cathy, as my support driver and pit crew. She kept me calm and was as serious about safety as I was. On my first cross-country trip in 1976, I was riding a Lexan deck with two-inch-wide roller skate trucks and 57 mm wheels. The Inboard M1 is like a starship compared to what I rode back then.” The M1 was the most reliable choice for Smith’s ambitious ride, featuring dual in-wheel motors, a lightweight yet durable wood-core composite deck and a top speed of 22 MPH. Smith is excited to have been the first man to ride across America on an electric skateboard and envisions that he will not be the last.
For more information about Jack Smith’s ride across America on the Inboard M1, visit the Inboard blog here.
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About Inboard Technology
Based in Santa Cruz, CA, with a satellite office in Santa Monica, CA, Inboard Technology’s mission is to empower freedom of movement through a new breed of high-performance, lightweight personal e-vehicles for urban transportation.
Since its launch in 2014, Inboard has sold thousands of M1 Electric Skateboards, boasting best-in-class technology and performance. Inboard will continue to challenge how people move through urban environments with its latest release, the Glider. As one of the first e-scooters built from the ground up for personal ownership, the Glider is poised to transform the next generation of “microbility”.
For more information, visit www.inboardtechnology.com.
