Shreddin' with Razor
Monday, November 15, 2010 Note: I'm giving away a ton of stuff this month. If you are new to this blog, I don't often do this. If you are a repeat reader, wow. Just wow. You're still here. Hey, we're creeping up on the holiday season and that means there are a ton of companies out there who want to get your attention. Which makes me the gatekeeper of cool. If the product makes it here onto these pages, that means I deem it awesome. And most likely it'll come with a giveaway. I get free stuff, you get free stuff. I got your back and stuff.
Last month, Fury and I were invited on a play date thrown by Razor USA. You may know them as the guys who brought you the Razor Scooter. If you don't know what I am talking about, you are one of the 8% who possess zero brand recognition for the product, which means you probably wear a tin foil hat to keep the aliens away. And live in a bunker.
Razor took over a local park and we spent the day trying out their latest products:
This is the E100 motorized scooter. All of the scooter, none of the effort! Hey, it could be worse. He could be watching Netflix.
This is the GroundForce Drifter. All the street racing goodness of The Fast and the Furious, without all the pesky car decals. Here's the trouble with this thing: it totally rocks. This becomes a problem when your kid cannot stop asking Santa Claus for it. And you have to make up excuses about how elf unions operate and how they called for a strike in the motorized products division due to protests over shipping 30,000 North Pole elves' jobs to China.
Isn't he... pretty in pink. This Sweet Pea is the "closest thing to a motorcycle I ever rode, dad!!" So frilly handlebars be damned, full throttle ahead.
During lunch, Fury made sure to touch base with Razor USA founder and President Carlton Calvin. This is where Fury informed him that if you turn the RipRider 360 too sharply, the wheel rubs your calf. If I see a RipRider with a longer front fork next season, Fury will expect a developer's credit. Or at least a GroundForce Drifter.
That there is a Team Razor rider evoking panic reactions that made it totally obvious the audience was full of parents.
What did I spend my time doing? Mastering the RipStik. This is a skateboard-like contraption that sits on 2 caster wheels and resembles something an intelligent 38 yr old man should simply admire from afar if he valued his tailbone at all. If I learned anything at all that afternoon, it's that intelligence is overrated, and it's best to ride next to soft patches of grass.
Razor sent Fury and me a RipStik and RipRider 360 after the event because it's awesome watching a grown man eat pavement while his son rides along next to him. But you know what? This old guy still has some shred left in him. Check out our video test drive below.
Also, I've saved the best for last. You can actually win a RipStik or RipRider360 right here simply by leaving a comment below (and letting me know which drawing you'd like to be entered in. I won't sweat you if you say "both."). I will draw 2 winners Wednesday the 17th at 9pm PST. Just don't leave a lame as comment like "Enter me in the contest." Because I totally won't.
Razor Scooter, RipRider 360, RipStik
Reader Comments (53)
I just want to point out that sometimes the Leap Of Faith ends up with you doing a triple backwards aerial summersault and breaking your left butt cheek. Not that my husband knows ANYTHING about that.
Also, my kids still can kick your butt on a ripstick.
That said, I am totally entering for the ripRider 360, because ohmygodcool.
My six year old would DIE for that ripRider360. Absolutely shit himself with joy. Enter me for that one!
He's totally rocking the Sweat Pea...
Why not both sticks...
Oooooh please enter me (I mean my 6 yo son) for the RipRider!! I was going to say he would shit himself if he won it but somebody already said that. Seriously, that's what I was going to say.
Please enter us in the contest for the RipRider. It would be perfect for my 6 year old, and the 11 year old gets nothing because he has lost his skateboard for a year. You know why. I am the meanest mom, ever.
At least the little guy is adamant about wearing his lid.
I started reading your blog recently. I'm so glad I found it. Please enter me in the drawing for both. Girls should be able to play with this stuff too.
Sam borrowed a RipStik from a friend recently and fell in love. So you should totally let me win it (come on random.org!) so that he will shut the hell up about santa Claus. He is too old to fall for the old Elf Strike thing, really. And, um, is it okay that I TOTALLY laughed at the video?
I mean, you totally didn't SUCK, but it still made me laugh.
The RipStick would be amazing for my 8 year old. That child will ride anything with wheels that could potentially land him in the ER. It's his bliss.
I have removed my tinfoil hat (and panties) to do as I am told and leave a comment. There is no doubt, whatsoever, that I should win the Rip Rider 360 for the sole reason that my kids seeing their 300+ pound, shaved head, tattoo covered dad in such a contraption would make their year. Just sayin.
Dude! This is so cool that you're giving away stuff. I would love the RipRider 360 for my son. He would flip out over that. AND it kinda looks like a Big Wheel which is awesome because I was the Big Wheel Queen around my house. Oh and I'd love to win the RipStik too. My husband stepped on one this weekend at a kid's birthday party and almost busted his ass. I'd totally love to get that on video if I had one of my own. Not that I would post it on youtube or anything.
I'm pretty sure that no one in my house has the coordination to ride either of the items, but we'd love to try. Please put me in both!
I love how you're willing to try anything. The ripstick looks a little iffy (we have coordination issues and gravity currently hates us), but my son would love the RipRider 360. Truly awesomesauce. :D
Enter me in both please - I can imagine the fun at family get togethers watching each of us biffing it.
I'd love me the pink racer. Or anything else that's free. I promise to Not share with my kids
If the force was with me, you'd also be giving away the Sweet Pea. Because OMG, Zoë's been asking for a pink motorcycle for two years now.
Lemme preface this by saying I've NEVER won a contest! It's sad really. And though I would most definitely bust my ass on a ripstick and probably never fit on the riprider, I do have a son who loves all things that make ya go "weeeeeee". I loved my big wheel as a kid and would love to share that joy with him so please pick us for the RipRider360! p.s. if I win ill totally make a vid of myself squishing my big mama booty into that tiny seat so I too can go Tokyo drifting! "Weeeee!" :)
Dude, in case no one has ever told you, your posts are hilarious. And I'm not just saying that because a scooter would be a lovely Christmas gift. Your CSI -esque post about the diaper blow-out had me in stiches, just a few days before I had a similar experience of my own with my niece.
Anyway, sign me up for both, and thank you for being my weekly dose of humor!
As a paternal grandmother, of a 2yr. old female whose parents are undergoing a sometimes rocky divorce, it is quite educational for me to receive guidance on what things are "cool" today and equally educational in some way... I would like to request that my granddaughter's name be entered for both vehicles.. she is without fear and is just as curious and smart as any male her age ... her father only has visitation one day a week, thus far... but I have witnessed his wisdom in encouraging her to do what she is able , for her self..it could be tempting to "do"" for her, instead of allowing her to master skills , as she is ready.... one of MY big mistakes, when raising my son (her father)... it is SO easy to see your mistakes 30 years, later... I will continue to consult your blog for increased "namma" wisdom... thanx so much for your blog.. Donna Kurtz
Being how our neighbor a few doors down shattered his wrist this summer on the RipStik, I'm all in for the RipRider 360.
Also, I could really use these instructional videos for everything. Thx.
Both look like a blast, but I'm afraid I'm too big for the riprider and too uncoordinated for the ripstik
Oh man. You both look totally cool. Marcus totally handles that! and I remember big wheels. I had one. and compared to that .. it was uber plastic lameness. How sad. My childhood. crushed. BUT the ripstick would be pretty cool. Since I'm all like totally in shape and like my knees, elbows, shoulders and lower back have miraculously healed. HA! but really .. Ripstick looked pretty RAD, dude.
RipRider please-'cause a 48 yo mom librarian should not have skinned knees and a broken tail bone :)
I would like to be entered into the Razor 360. Interestingly enough, my son broke both arms last year while on a friend's homemade version of the 360. My dumb teen tried showing off and riding it while standing...down a hill...they spin....yeah....broken arms...
Dude, my girls and I would love to give either one of those things a shot. We just moved to a new state, and don't have a lot of people to hang out with yet, so what better way to spend our lonesome time than zooming around on the street and getting skinned knees?
Ok, first of all, were you trying to go for a Resevoir Dogs type intro in the video? Because you totally pulled it off (or at least Fury did).
Second - good call having your baby interview you. I don't think she's old enough yet to start asking the pressing questions. Soon though. So I wouldn't do it for too much longer.
Third - Will you please enter us in the RipRider360 drawing, pretty pretty please. With a Millenium Falcon on top. Because I can't imagine my prissy little girls riding the rip rider stick. But they might be able to.
So heck, enter us in that one too.
Ok, that's all. Props for being the cool dad who takes his kid to place where he gets to play with cool new toys and meet Tony Hawk. and Chuck Liddell.
That RipRider360 is sweet, it's great to see such a creative improvement to the bigwheel that we all grew up riding and repairing.
Please enter me for both.
I could definately win Aunt of the year with one of my nephews with either one of these. I already have Mom, Daughter, and Grandma of the year all sewn up so it's only Aunt of the year to go.
I have two nephews who I know would really enjoy have one it really looks pretty cool and interesting
My son is Fury's age. He would go bonkers for the RipRider 360. I would even give it a spin. In stilettos, if I win!
that riprider bigwheels thingy is awesome! I want one! (just to goof around with fury, who as always is just too cool and cute) I don't need to be entered in that ripstick thingy since I'd like to keep my teeth the way they are. But if you ever give away that scooter...dude, I'd commute on that thing everywhere! It's gotta be faster than driving on the 405.
My 13-year-old son and his buddies all have RipStiks. They were obsessed with it for a while, spending all their free time at our neighborhood basketball court because it had the smoothest ground surface. I was happy because they were getting fresh air and it looked like a good way to tone your core. (Yeah, you should have seen he gave me when I mentioned the latter.)
Now the RipStik has sat in the garage for months while they text about girls. I miss that RipStik.
RipStick it is. My husband is going to want to try it. He will fall and I will laugh at him and hopefully get it on video. :D
I have noticed since I have become a parent that my reaction to extreme sports (is razoring extreme? is razoring a word?) has gone from "THIS IS CRAZY AWESOME to Where the hell are these kids parents, they are going to break their necks".
We would love the RipRider 360 at our house. . . . . or a RipStik if you are feeling generous.
Although I'm not understanding how you get free stuff from companies to try out (maybe I haven't been reading long enough), I think it's bad-ass.
I would like to enter both, too. Why not? I would love it if my daughter was active and got out and played. She's a few years off from being able to be active, but I can't wait. Maybe Daddy can crash a few times, too.
There is something about mini-mid-life-crisis lurking in that tailbone comment, you realize. The reason you got on that RipStik in the first place is the same reason that I bought myself new ice skates a few months ago and started hitting the rink...literally. All I can say is, tailbone pads are NOT overrated. For whatever that's worth. (Email me if you want to know how to make one for yourself on the cheap. It's totally worth it.)
And if my son had either of those under the tree on Christmas, I would be the most popular mother in all the land. Can I pretty please be entered in both drawings?
I'd like a 360. Because I'm a giver and put my children ahead of myself.
Or, I'm a pussy and fear the rip stick with all of my being.
I've tried one of those Ripstiks in the store and it's pretty stable. Was so tempted to buy it but I do in fact value my tail bone. My son would go nuts on the Riprider360 and my daughter is old enough to use the Ripstik. Enter them in both contests please.
I'd totally love to be entered for both! My son would LOVE this! Actually, I'm working up the courage to follow your links because I think he'd love all of these (maybe not the pink one?) and I'm skeered to see the cost!
I'll throw my hat in for the 360 only because the RipStik totally scares the bejeezus out of me. I am not graceful on solid ground let alone a non-self supporting device under my feet... I mean my kids feet... Well you know...
Thanks for doing the video because the picture of the RipRider 360 looks kind of lame until you realize what it does. Sign me up for that one, please! Great giveaway--thanks!
Razor seems to produce one incredibly cool thing after another. With three children in grade school, we are all become big fans, so thank you tons for highlighting Razor's latest stuff. We would LOVE to have a RipRider 360, and will keep our fingers crossed. Thanks again, and keep up the great work!
I think fate wants to keep our families away from each other so that we can't create the greatest Star Wars Fan Boy club ever. I'm so sad that I missed this event. Ok, you gave me anxiety on that RipStik, our neighbor broke her elbow on a skateboard on she is still recovering a yr later. She's in her 30's. Seriously, Angry Kid NEEDS a RipRider360, like in a bad way. It was be like his very own Red Ryder BB Gun, right? Please say you've seen A Christmas Story, or you can no longer be my friend.
Think of the children. Angry Kid needs a RipRider360, it is his destiny. How can you mess with a child's destiny?
Either would make my kid luuuuvvv me! the ripstik would probably send us to the ER!
I would love to ride the RipRider360, but unfortunately am a little bigger than Fury :( That was always my complaint about Big Wheels... never made an adult size one... So I would probably want to enter the RipStick ... as Big Boys need cool toys too
AWESOME!! Not bad for an old man! My nephew would adore me if I won either one of them...please enter me in both.
Enter me in the contest, you commie bastard.
While you're at it, make it a double. I've got TWO boys, you know.
Are you suggesting I abandon my tin foil hat?
'Cause I have it on good authority it's the only thing saving my precious, precious mind.
Or was that suppose to be saran wrap?
Now I'm quite concerned.
My daughter would LOVE the riprider!! After just throwing out her halloween candy (with good reason I might add) I have the won hands down the meanest mom ever award. This might get me back in the good books.
My friend suggested I check out your blog, and I'm so glad I did. I'm barely in, but since I need to post to enter *both* giveaways, I was going to suggest maybe checking out Whataburger for their apple pies, if you have those there. I'm not an apple pie person, but I had the fried cherry pie there when they had it for a time, and it was nummy.