[http://www.gordonandsmith.com]
[./page_1.html]
[./contact.html]
[./products.html]
[./services.html]
[./company.html]
[./index.html]
[mailto:contact@ratleads.com]
[./page_1.html]
[./page_3.html]
[Web Creator] [LMSOFT]

History
Birth of Ground Surfing !
  

In 2003, Stéphane Pelletier set himself a challenge, an idea that would take four years of his life to bring to fruition: to design an “asphalt” board that would give you the genuine sensation of surfing, every day and in the city. To begin with, he built a prototype around an entirely new concept, a board, a single fixed front wheel and two rear steering wheels. Even at this stage, the surfing feel was there. And already, “a problem”! Where to go with this invention? It’s a no-brainer, Gordon & Smith! Next stop, www.gordonandsmith.com, which gives a phone number for Debbie Gordon.

A few minutes later, Stéphane is on the line with Debbie, who is actually the daughter of Larry Gordon and president of Gordon & Smith! He says he’s achieved the real feel of ground surfing. Her reply: “If you reckon you’ve found it, here’s my address: 1135 Garnett Avenue, San Diego. Come as soon as you can!”. Next stop, San Diego. Debbie looks at the concept and becomes a believer. She immediately sets up a meeting with two of her riders, to test this “so-called” GroundSurf. After a five-minute try out, they reckon it’s the real deal! It’s a wrap (see video of the test), Debbie confirms her intention to market the board as soon as possible… But Stéphane isn’t ready to stop there. He convinces her to wait for the motorised version, because for him, the real invention of ground surfing is about the combination of four essential technical features:

 

  
1 • Being able to vary your speed by shifting your body weight forwards to accelerate and back to slow down, like in surfing.

2 •  Being able to steer by shifting your body weight sideways, like in surfing.

3 • Engine torque and power adjusted to reproduce the push of a good wave (which means that the engine is not an add-on, but essential to creating the sensation of “asphalt” surfing).

4 • The question of the leash if you fall off...

To produce the version of the GroundSurf that you’ve met, Stéphane put together a team of ultra-specialist engineers (working for some of the biggest European companies), all big board sports fans. Now, after four years of R&D, Ratleads Team has created high-tech urban surfing. The GroundSurf fulfils the four big technical requirements:

  
San Diego, April 2008.

1 • A system of sensors mounted directly on the board lets you accelerate or slow down by shifting your weight forwards or back.

2 • A 3D rear truck enables the board to tilt 45° when carving.

3 • A front wheel motor specially designed to reproduce the push of a good wave.

4 • If you fall off, the presence detection system acts like a virtual leash and automatically stops the board less than 2m from the rider.
Stéphane Pelletier and Laird Hamilton in Anglet, April 2007.
GroundSurf by Ratleads