Make a Handheld Skating and Snowboarding Sail !

These unique portable folding sails are used in conjunction with skates and boards of all types by kids and adults of all ages. From summer In-line skate sailing to winter Snowboard sailing, discover the fun of using the power of the wind for free, ecological (green) energy. Other possible modes of transport include Skateboards, Mountainboards, Skate shoes, Snow skates, Ice skates, the possibilities are endless. Other skate sails cost hundreds of dollars and are rigid. This sail design folds down in seconds and weighs only a few pounds.

Snowboard Sailing on Lake

At the Beach

An example near the water

Sailing on Parking Lot

On the Snow

With a snowboard

Here Are the Steps So You Can Build Your Own Handheld Sail

These are the steps I took to build my first dozen or so skate sails.

Materials:

1. For the sail part you will need a tarp about 8' X 10' (~$4.99), duck tape (~$2.99) and clear plastic material (the kind old ladies cover the furniture with)that's about two buck for a square yard. These can be found at a Walmart near you, the clear material being found in the fabrics section.

2. The 3/8" fiberglass shock chorded poles can also be found at that store or a large camping store (Dicks, Gander etc.) They run about $6.99 for 4 sections, and since you need six, unfortunately you need two packages.

3. Finally you will need about two feet of plastic tubing about 3/8" inner diameter and some zip ties. These will be used to keep your sail affixed to the tips of your poles. They can be found at Lowes, Home Depot etc.

Building the Sail

So, your tarp already has the grommets to attach to the poles so all you need to do is make your windows. You can pick any size or shape but I found triangles to be most friendly in case you want to just eye-ball it.

1.Cut the desired shape out of your tarp with blade or scissors. Then place the plastic window underneath to cover your hole. At this point duck take the window to the tarp by overlapping the tape over the tarp and window.

2. Flip your contraption over and cut the excess window around your hole. Now duck tape that side in the same manner as the other side.

The result: a tarp with a nice window that is double duck taped.

The Shock Corded Poles

Assemble the poles as per the instructions except use three sections per pole instead of four. You'll want your actual rubber cord to be nice and taught so your pole sections spring back nice and strong.

At this ponit you can cut your plastic tubing into 1 inch pieces. You will need eight pieces for final assembly

The result:

Two 8 foot long fiberglass poles.

Final Assembly

Ok, we are almost there. The idea here is to affix the four corners of the sail to the tips of the poles. The way I have found to do this is as follows:

Slide a piece of plastic tubing into each pole tip about three inches in. Then slide the corner grommets to each tip. The plastic tubing prevents the grommet to slide all the way down. Then slide another piece of plastic tubing to each tip towards but not touching the grommet (it should be loose). Your tent poles came with plastic tips which can then be inserted to the tips as shown on the diagram.

The sail assembly is pretty much complete. Wrap zip ties around the plastic tubing pieces. This secures them to the poles so they don't slide anymore.

That's pretty much it for your new sail!