Brakeboard
Skateboard with integrated braking mechanism for controlled stops.
The Brakeboard is a skateboard with a specialized truck that includes a braking system. Invented in 1999 by Western Australian Ben Newman, the first version went into global production and sale in 2001. Its cone brakes are housed in the rear axle assembly and can be fitted to any skateboard deck, though the design is primarily intended for longboards. A foot pedal on the board’s surface activates the brake, allowing riders to control speed on descents and stop safely. A U.S. patent protects the design, and the Brakeboard name is trademarked in both Australia and the United States. In 2010, an Australian government R&D grant funded a new iteration, released in Melbourne in January 2013. The original Brakeboard won the Western Australian Yellow Pages Business Ideas Award in 2001 and was a national finalist, and in 2006 it was a sector winner on ABC’s *The New Inventors*. Newman was also runner-up in the inaugural WA Inventor of the Year competition that same year, though the eligibility of award applications sparked some controversy.
- inventor
- Ben Newman
- year_invented
- 1999
- place_of_origin
- Western Australia
- field
- Skateboarding equipment
- known_for
- Integrated braking mechanism for skateboards
- patent_region
- USA
- trademark_regions
- Australia and USA
Lore & Background
Ben Newman invented the Brakeboard in 1999 in Western Australia. The first version was manufactured and sold worldwide starting in 2001. In 2010, the Australian Government provided an R&D grant that enabled the development of a new iteration, which was released in Melbourne in January 2013. The brake uses cone brakes contained within the rear axle assembly or truck, activated by a foot pedal on the board's surface. Although it can be attached to any skateboard deck, it is intended mainly for longboards.
Reader's Guide
The Brakeboard represents a notable innovation in skateboard safety and control, addressing a long-standing challenge of stopping on downhill runs. Its development was supported by an Australian Government R&D grant, leading to an improved version released in 2013. The device's patent in the USA and trademark registrations in Australia and the USA indicate its commercial and legal recognition. The original Brakeboard gained visibility through awards: it was the Western Australian winner and national finalist in the Yellow Pages Business Ideas Award in 2001, and a sector winner on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's The New Inventors program in 2006. Newman was also a runner-up in the inaugural WA Inventor of the Year competition in 2006, though there was some controversy about the eligibility of award applications. The Brakeboard's legacy lies in its attempt to integrate braking into skateboard design, offering a practical solution for speed control.
Did You Know?
- The Brakeboard was first invented in 1999 by Ben Newman of Western Australia.
- The cone brakes are contained within the rear axle assembly or truck.
- The brake is activated by a foot pedal located on the surface of the board.
- The original Brakeboard was a Western Australian winner and national finalist in the Yellow Pages Business Ideas Award in 2001.
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