What happens when you introduce rocket science to skateboarding? A new carbon fiber skateboard that will revolutionize skateboarding. Ryan Olliges, a student at the Viterbi Engineering School at the University of Southern California, created the first affordable carbon fiber skateboard. 121c takes scraps from rockets and turns them into premium carbon fiber skateboards.
Ryan started working at the USC Rocket Lab in his freshman year. As an environmentalist at heart, he thought that all the scrap carbon could be recycled into something better. He combined his passion for engineering and skateboarding into the ultimate skateboard.
This is a revolution in skateboarding. It is tough and durable; it was spotless after a car ran over it and is also bulletproof. The project raised more than $44,000 on Kickstarter and now, the carbon fiber skateboards are in production.
What's Driving This Trend
- Rocket Skateboards
- Upcycling rocket parts into carbon fiber skateboards presents an opportunity for environmentally-friendly sports equipment and creative design.
- Sustainable Manufacturing
- Using materials that were previously deemed as waste to create high-performance sporting goods highlights opportunities for sustainable manufacturing practices.
- Customized Skateboards
- Creating skateboards from upcycled rocket parts allows for customized and unique design options that could appeal to a niche market.
Who This Affects Most
- Sporting Goods
- Upcycling rocket parts into carbon fiber skateboards provides an opportunity for innovative product design and environmentally-friendly manufacturing practices.
- Aerospace
- Repurposing leftover materials from rocket production presents a new approach to resource management and waste reduction within the aerospace industry.
- Sustainability
- The creation of a skateboard from upcycled materials fits within the wider push for sustainable and circular manufacturing processes.
