How do ripstiks work?

Answer 1

On a ripstik you put one foot on the tinier end. Than you push 3 times with the other foot. After 3 pushes you put you're other foot on. Than you twist or wiggle the ripstik. And there you go you're riding!! Ripstiks take alot of practice but before you know it you'll be a pro! And I suggest if you are a begginger, you wear helmet/knee pads/arm pads/ etc.

ADDITION BY ANOTHER USER:

While above is described how you use a ribstick, it doesn't address how they work.

Underneath the ribstick the wheels are mounted to a surface that is at an angle, so the wheel is pointed back. The wheel is basically a shopping cart wheel, which means that it rotates around an axis perpendicular to the surface it's mounted to. So it's "steering axis" is angled very far back.

In addition to that, the steering axis doesn't go through the middle of the wheel, so it's offset.

What this means is that if you push a ribstick straight forward, the wheels will naturally steer until they're pointed straight back and the ribstick rolls forward.

When the wheels are straight back, the "ride height" (distance between the ground and the ribstick platform) is smallest because the wheel is as high up as possible - tucked right under the ribstick platform.

Now when you ride the ribstick, you're pushing it side-to-side. What this actually does is steer the wheel and push the ribstick platform off the ground. Then when you stop pushing it to the side, it naturally falls back into going straight. It literally FALLS into place because the ribstick platform (and your weight) goes "downhill" as it lowers and as it goes downhill it also speeds up.

So moving the ribstick side to side keeps the wheel in almost the same spot on the ground, but pushes the ribstick uphill, storing energy in it, then when it slides downhill it speeds up and that pushes you forward.

I hope that makes sense. put your ribstick up on a table, get eye-level with the wheels, and push it back and forth to see what I'm talking about. Then let go of it when it's "up" and watch it fall and go forward.