Chris Neal thinks there's a better way to skateboard, so he built one.
Who says that play has to be just play? Why can it be something more? Well, ask this kid, who invents cool stuff in his spare time. It’s pretty clear that Chris Neal is one of those kinds of people that always thinks there’s a better way of doing things. What’s really cool is that he’s 9 years old and invents based on those ideas. Witness his fan powered skate board …
Doing it for an elementary school science fair (of course), Neal outfitted a skateboard with a small motorcycle battery and a large fan which pushes the rider of at a maximum of 5 mph.
Says Chris – “… you get tired riding a skateboard (but) with this one, the fan pushes it so you don’t have to push it all the time with your leg.”
The requirements for the science fair, which had an invention theme to it, was that kids had to design and build something that improves and already existing every day item. And clearly, Chris’ invention qualified.
But it also caught the attention of producers of the Ellen DeGeneres Show who not only had the boy on earlier this month, but gave him an Apple Macbook Pro to continue working on his futuristic ideas.
Chris designed the fan skateboard and spent two weeks building it in his Uncle’s garage. “My uncle owns a repair garage in Huntington Beach, so we went up there and started looking around for parts.” It seems that Chris is an old hat at his Uncle’s Garage, having taken apart vacuum cleaners and other items which have taught him much about how things work.
And it’s a good bet this won’t be the only time we see this young inventor make cool stuff for everyone to enjoy!
Hat Tip – Gizmo Watch