SANTA CRUZ, Calif. — OneWheel riders in Santa Cruz, California are urged to immediately discontinue the use of their electric skateboards, as there have been numerous reports of injuries and even four reported deaths. The U.S. Consumer Product Commission has issued a recall of 300,000 electric skateboards manufactured by Future Motion, a company based in Santa Cruz.
According to the commission, the skateboards have the potential to stop balancing the rider if the boards’ limits are exceeded, leading to a crash hazard that could result in serious injury or death. Reported injuries include traumatic brain injury, concussion, paralysis, and fractures. The four reported deaths were attributed to head trauma, with at least three of the victims not wearing helmets.
Local resident John Marheineke expressed sympathy for those who have been injured and affected by the product’s safety issues. Meanwhile, Olivier Guincetre, owner of the Covewater Surf Shop and a vendor of OneWheel, acknowledged the unfortunate situation, but also suggested that the incidents may be more related to rider error.
Despite the recall, Guincetre remains a supporter of the product and is optimistic about the continued support from the community. However, Santa Cruz residents who have tried the OneWheel skateboards have shared mixed experiences, citing difficulties in controlling the motorized skateboards and the potential for accidents.
The models under this recall include the OneWheel GT, OneWheel Pint X, OneWheel Pint, and the OneWheel+ XR. The commission’s report advises users to download updates for the OneWheel app, which now includes a buzz alert function to warn riders when the board is close to its limits.
This isn’t the first time Future Motion has faced safety concerns. The company was previously warned about a possible ejection hazard last year, further raising questions about the safety and reliability of their products.