Skyboarding is an Iromakuanhe sport, traditionally Eyr Ranr, in which participants use small Grav-Electric boards in order to have such contests as acrobatics, racing, and other competitions of skill. Considered to be an easy sport to learn, as it is relatively inexpensive and safe compared to some other Iromakuanhe sports, it is nevertheless difficult to reach a high level of skill in, and can be deadly to novices who make mistakes. Skyboarding is generally practiced at low altitudes, between 5 and 500 meters, and is very prominent in urban areas, where the small boards can also be used as an effective mode of travel.
There are two main types of Skyboards: Liftboards and Dropboards.
Liftboards are generally larger, and contain more/more powerful GE lifters in their construction. Liftboards are built for speed, and have the capability to completely lift themselves and their riders, essentially flying. Liftboarding is especially popular as it can be done anywhere, regardless of the conditions, although wind can become a decisive factor.
The main competitions held with liftboards are races, ranging from altitude races at 500 meters or sometimes higher, to distance races that are closer to the ground but require great stamina of both rider and board.
A Typical Liftboard is two to three meters long, and contains anywhere from three to five GE lifters. Some racing boards also have thrusters for increased speed or to augment their manueverability, but these are generally expensive and uncommon.
Dropboards are generally small, and have a much smaller following than their larger cousins, but tend to be more popular in urban settings with large buildings. Dropboards do not have very much lifting power and are designed to slow a descent rather than lift their rider. Dropboards are capable of hovering up to five meters off the ground, but this can strain their capacitors. In order to properly use a dropboard, one must jump from a platform that is at least fifteen meters above ground level, with 500 meters being the maximum legally allowed. This does not stop thrill-seekers from dropping at higher altitudes, though.
The main sports done with Dropboards are high-drop acrobatics, which is very similar to surfing on waves, and Low-level trick competitions, which use the lifters' environments to propel the board in different directions for localized tricks, such as small flips, board spins, and the like.
A Typical Dropboard is one to one and a half meters long, and has one to two GE lifters. Dropboards are highly manueverable, and can dart around quickly, but have nowhere near the top speed or altitude of liftboards. Many Drop-boards have stubby, squared off appearances, and raised edges to allow for better angles of approach on obstacles.
Because Sky Boarding is an inherently dangerous sport; many safety features have been developed for skyboards.
The simplest forms of safety for Skyboards are those that are built into the boards themselves. They can range from a simple cord to inbuilt sensors that tell when a rider has fallen.
Not only do the boards themselves have safety features, but many Skyboarders prefer wearing safety gear over getting injuries. Safety gear can be as simple as foam padding, and as sophisticated as GE liftpads worn on the body.