Pro Skater Ross McGouran Rides Hoverboard in Lexus' Custom Skatepark

The future has arrived—sort of.

Lexus’ hoverboard, the “Slide,” is the real deal, and pro skater Ross McGouran took it for a ride at the company’s custom-built park in Barcelona, Spain.

Here's the thing: The Slide only works there.

CNET’s Tim Stevens explained why and also broke down how it functions:

"

Called "Slide," it is a skateboard-like device that floats a few inches above the ground, promising the ultimate in futuristic, personal travel. To pull off this seemingly impossible feat, the thing contains a series of magnets and superconductors cooled by liquid nitrogen. The board is real, and it exists exclusively for the purpose of elevating the Lexus brand image.

…

The levitation effect of supercooled superconductors has been known for ages now, but deploying it on such a scale requires some serious effort. Namely: lots and lots and lots of magnets built into the ground. The company has built a custom skate park in Barcelona, Spain, upon which its prototype hoverboard can be used.

"

According to Jeremy Korzeniewski of AutoBlog, “Lexus has said it does not intend to sell a production version of its hoverboard.”

Sigh.

At least we can still watch in awe, dreaming of the day when we can cast wheels aside in favor of hovercraft technology.

[CNET, YouTube]