Longboardstroller, the coolest invention for adventurous new mothers is here.
Parents could soon be able to take their toddlers out on skateboarding trips with them – as a pushchair has been invented that combines the two.
The wacky contraption consists of an elongated skateboard, known as a longboard, which has the seat section of a child’s buggy attached to the front of it.
Children between the ages of nine months and 4-and-a-half years old can comfortably sit in the buggy while their parents can hop on the back and propel it along.
The bizarre product dubbed the Longboardstroller has also been enhanced with a brake at the back and handlebars for steering behind the seat section.
The baby buggy will also mean parents will be able to take their children out on much longer “walks” they can with a normal stroller.
The product has been created by design studio Studio Peter Van Riet in Antwerp, Belgium, for buggy brand Quinny.
Longboardstroller, the coolest invention for adventurous new mothers is here
Inventors behind the Longboardstroller hope it will be an environmentally friendly alternative to travelling in cities and that parents will choose it over a car or bus.
Around eight prototypes of the product have been invented and it is currently being tested and evaluated for health and safety measures.
Peter Van Riet, 42, owner of Studio Peter Van Riet, said: “Last year we were approached by Quinny and they had an idea to make a stroller you could stand on.
“We met with parents o talk about it and came up with the idea of a stroller combined with a long board.
“With just a stroller alone you can travel maybe half a mile and this offers a solution to go further without having to use a car or another form of transport.
“It’s also environmentally friendly which is one of the main points behind it.
“To make the prototype we used part of an existing stroller and had a longboard made out of wood and fibreglass to make it stronger.
“It can hold children from about nine-months-old up to four-and-a-half years, with a maximum weight of around 35 lbs.
“Adults stand on the back and use the handles to steer or they can lean from side to side which also changes the direction.
“We are currently thinking about safety features such as what kind of brake it needs, how to attach the children and board sizes.
“It is difficult to say how much it will cost as it is not for sale yet but a good longboard costs up to £300 [$500] so it will be a bit more than that with the extra parts.”
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Six months pregnant Kate Middleton is said to have told a group of Army wives at a recent drinks reception in Aldershot that she has bought a Bugaboo pram in light blue, which some have taken as a clue to her unborn baby’s gender.
It’s been quite a week for Kate Middleton’s baby shopping: not only has she bought her pram, but she’s also chosen a white wicker Moses basket, which she purchased with her mother Carole from luxurious nursery furniture shop Blue Almonds, in South Kensington.
Made by a Dutch company, the Bugaboo quickly became a status symbol for yummy mummies, and, despite a price roughly the same as a small family car, they became a common sight on the streets of Notting Hill and Chelsea.
The top-of-the-range model comes in at just over $1,900.
Popular models such as the Bugaboo Cameleon, which starts at $1,250, even hold their value second-hand.
Kate Middleton is said to have told a group of Army wives at a recent drinks reception in Aldershot that she has bought a Bugaboo pram in light blue
“A pushchair is no longer something you use to push a child from A to B,” said Jo Studholme, who runs online magazine Pushchair Trader.
“They’ve become a status symbol. There are pramaholics out there who snap up the latest models just as they probably bought handbags before they became pregnant.”
While stores such as Mothercare and John Lewis still have a good selection of own-brand prams at the far more reasonable $390, it’s the designer brands that make most money.
Even without Kate Middleton’s endorsement, the rise of the Bugaboo has been meteoric.
What started out as Dutchman Max Barenbrug’s graduation project at design school in 1994 has turned into a global business.
With two daughters, Max Barenburg wanted to come up with a pram that men and women would be happy to push.
Bugaboo employs 800 staff and sells its products in more than 50 countries. The company’s annual revenue has grown from $2.8 million in 2001 to $97 million at the last count.
While sales are undoubtedly boosted by celebrity endorsement, chief marketing officer Madeleen Klaasen insists that quality is the true benchmark of the brand.
“If your product doesn’t perform, you’re gone after the first-year hype,” she says.
Bugaboo fans insist the pram is well-designed and therefore well worth the price-tag – even though it seems to be universally acknowledged that it doesn’t fit into the boot of a small car and is pretty difficult to work out how to open and collapse them.
There are several YouTube videos attempting to show Bugaboo virgins how to fold and unfold them.
“There was a big buzz about which buggy Kate would go for,” says Jo Studholme.
“I think there will be some disappointed manufacturers out there.
“The Bugaboo does have a high price-tag, but it is well-made and is good quality. The customer service is also excellent, so it’s not a surprising choice. But many had hoped she would go for a British brand, like the iCandy, instead.”
