CHASE BOARDS LLC ACQUIRES EXKATE®
Private investor group of skaters, surfers and action sports enthusiasts acquire electric skateboard assets and patents
Lake Forest, CA: Chase Boards LLC, a private investor group, acquired the Exkate brand and U.S. patents for wireless electric skateboard technology, popularly known as "powerboards." Exkate operations will continue out of the new office in Orange County, California.
"It's an exciting time for powerboard technology," said Taylor Landry, the new head of R&D and product development for Chase Boards. "Powerboarding is not just an exciting addition to the surf, skate and snow riding experience. Gas price has made it a form of eco-friendly, economical transportation as well. We've got some new products in development under the new "Altered™" brand that will take the electric skateboarding experience to exciting new levels."
Originally launched in 2000, Exkate pioneered the use of wireless, hand-held remote controlled electric skateboard products worldwide. Known popularly as "powerboards" the current line-up offers a range of models, with the most popular adult versions being the 4.0 and the X-24. Both easily transport a 250 pound person distances of seven to 10 miles on a single battery charge at speeds around 15 miles per hour. Battery technology now in development will extend the range even further.
"I'm excited for the new ownership team and the new opportunities for Exkate," said Dave Kaplan, owner of Exkate since 2002. "I'm confident Taylor and the new management team will bring the Exkate brand and product line to the next stage. It's a good time to be a powerboarder."
"Powerboarding is all about fun," said Peter Pohl, an investor/manager of Chase Boards. "Our first goal will be to re-introduce the brand to the core action sports shops around the country. Given the growing popularity of long boards, Exkate powerboards should prove especially popular with older board riders - that is, anyone over 18.
"I'm pretty excited about the new management team. said Jim Shores, Exkate operations manager for three years. "They bring a manufacturing and marketing expertise that's sure to accelerate our future growth - and these guys really believe in a 'win-win' approach to business. I think our dealers and customers will really like what the new Exkate owners have in store."
Longboard Popularity Wave Pushes Powerboard Sales
The new management team sees a strong connection between the rising popularity
of longboard skateboarding and the surge in powerboard interest.
"Ask any core board shop how longboard skate sales compares today with a year or two ago," said Landry, "and I'm sure you'll hear about a big rise in sales. Powerboards tie right in, allowing riders to carve up hill as well as down. Our patented truck technology brings a whole new dimension to street riding. Like Surfing Magazine said (Feb 07 issue), our powerboards offer the closest thing to wave riding available on pavement."
The new Exkate team also plans to "aggressively defend" is patent protection claims. "Customers have a right to receive the all the quality and technology they're paying for in powerboards," according to Toby Schriber, another Chase Board investor/manager. "By enforcing our patents we'll ensure that every powerboard product sold in the US comes with consistent levels of the high quality and service we intend to deliver with every product of the Exkate brand."
About Exkate and the Electronic Skateboard:
The electronic skateboard was invented and patented by Louis Finkle, in Long
Beach, California in 1996 after nearly five years of perfecting the invention
and launched under the brand name of Exkate. Since then "powerboarding" has
undergone several transformations and is catching on with the mainstream. The
hand-held remote offered gradual acceleration and braking, and uses a very low
frequency signal technology that virtually eliminates the possibility of the
board getting any kind of signal interference from other nearby Powerboarders.
In November 2002, David Kaplan took over the manufacturing of the Powerboard and moved the operation to Sausalito in Marin County, California until he sold the patents and other company assets to Chase Boards, LLC in October 2006.
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Contact: Taylor Landry
Office: 949-951-9500
admin|at|exkate.com
Exkate/Chase Boards, LLC
26212 Dimension Drive, Suite 160
Lake Forest, CA 92630
USA