Brooks McMahon, one of the founders of Midwest Onewheel and the WinMan Enduro, remembers the first time he took his Onewheel off the pavement and onto the trail.
“I probably rode like 15 miles before my Onewheel touched a trail,” says McMahon. “Then the feeling of it on a trail. Some people love riding pavement, but for me, when you’re on the trail, it just is a whole different feeling.”
Originating on the West Coast, Onewheeling involves riding a self-balancing electric board with a single large wheel in the center. Riders control their movements by shifting their weight and adjusting the tilt of the board.
Onewheel rider Kyle Arn knew when he said one of his friends riding a Onewheel that he needed to jump on too.
“I talked to my wife and I was just like, I got to get one of these things,” says Arn. “And we made a deal that if I quit smoking cigarettes she would get me a Onewheel, and four years later I’m still not smoking cigs so it worked!”
Midwest Onewheeling is more than just a recreational activity – it’s a way for individuals to connect with their surroundings, challenge themselves, and build a sense of community.
For Zak Gruber, Onewheel was not only a way to find community but also a way to discover a calming or Zen.
“Everyone should try it at least once,” says Gruber. “A lot of people might be scared to death of it and the Onewheel might not be the way to get into your flow state or your Zen, but for a lot of people who try it, it seems like it definitely is.”
