The basic technology behind a skateboard has remained virtually unchanged ever since it was invented (some say in Paris right after World War II). That doesn’t mean that the way to use it has remained the same and many of its components have changed accordingly throughout the years to give more balance, more impact resistance and more speed. Only every new material or component used to take a long time and a lot of effort from Skateboarding companies to make its way to actual skateboarders.
Now, all it takes is a cool idea and a trip into iMakr New York, the 3D printshop that Sylvain Preumont opened after the first European outlet in London. That’s what Billy Rohan, a former pro skateboarder and brand owner of Samurai Skateboard NYC did when he decided he wanted to be able to grind on rails that instead of straight lines had the shape of a samurai katana.
The rails are those strips of plastic placed on both undersides of the board, in between the wheels. They help skilled skateboarders do longer and better grinds (when they slide on one or both axles on a curb, railing or other surface). They don’t have to be of any particular shape but apparently it’s just a lot cooler if they are personalized. When your hobby is jumping around all day on a piece of wood with four wheels, how much you make that simple source of infinite entertainment your own definitely matters.
With 3D printing is it easier done than said. All Billy had to do is skate into the iMakr store, jot down a sketch of what he had in mind and get it transformed into a CAD design. For a katana shaped rail the process, although not immediate, is definitely accessible to anyone with basic CAD skills. After that it is just a matter of sending the file to iMakr’s Cube Pro and watch it come to life. Will it help Billy do better tricks? You can check it out right here:
