Always Say “Yes” To A Free Hoverboard - Stab Mag
816 Views

Always Say “Yes” To A Free Hoverboard

A product review on something I didn’t know I wanted, definitely don’t need and now absolutely have!

style // Nov 15, 2017
Words by stab
Reading Time: 3 minutes

Last Wednesday, something big happened. My life, as I knew it, changed. Forever. I became the proud owner of an AlienBoard Hoverboard.

(Maybe) two weeks back, I received an email from a very sweet woman named Mandy with a subject line that said, more or less, “Free Hoverboard for review.”

I was thrilled! And in my excitement, I responded with, and I quote, “Well, how can turn down a free hoverboard!?[sic]” followed by our shipping address. (I meant to type “who”, but “how” came out first and before I could be bothered to proofread my email, I clicked send.)

After I’d committed to writing this review on the Alien Wheels Hoverboard, I received a phone call from Unknown Caller – a mysterious identity whose calls I usually decline. But, I answered. It was Mandy! She asked me questions. Which I answered. Then, she spoke of colors. “Would you like a blue, black, camo, white or pink…” before she could say another, I stopped her dead in her colorful tracks.

“Uh, pink.”

It was profound. Fucking poetry. At that moment I knew, without a doubt, that I didn’t want, but was destined to own, a pink Alien Wheels Hoverboard.

Then, last Wednesday, as we were scurrying around the office like ants, trying to get 12 surfboards out of the office, a box arrived. I received. Signed. Opened.

And as I pried the pink Alien Wheels Hoverboard from the cardboard, I glowed.

“This is the best day of my life,” I stuttered into Dooma Fahrenfort’s iPhone. I took it outside, turned it on, and rolled slowly down Venice Blvd. I hovered. We all did.

And within about, er, 5 minutes, we returned to the office.

I placed the pink Alien Wheels Hoverboard beneath a desk, and returned to Stab in the Dark biz, as usual. But, deep down, I daydreamt of the next time we’d hover. A few hours later, everyone left the office for lunch, without me. I plugged the Alien Wheels Hoverboard into her (she’s a she, btw) charger. She turned on. She spoke! “Bluetooth is ready to pair!”

Bluetooth! What Bluetooth capabilities did she possess?! I immediately pulled out my phone, went straight to Spotify and played a tune.

She sang from her wheels.

I pulled her out of her charger. And. Nothing. She wouldn’t turn back on. I tried. And tried. And. Nothing. I thought, she must be tired. I plugged her back in. She turned on. She told me all about her Bluetooth again. I let her charge.

Later that night, ready to ride down Venice Blvd to my car on my new Alien Wheels Hoverboard, I cued up the Bee Gees “Stayin’ Alive”. I pulled her plug. I hit her button. And… Nothing.

The next day Stab in the Dark came and went. Hungover, I couldn’t be bothered to show up to the office Friday. On Tuesday, I broke the news to Mandy that my Alien Wheels Hoverboard wouldn’t turn back on. She replied promptly with instructions on how to fix the issue. Then yesterday, Unknown Caller rang. And Unknown Caller was sent straight to voicemail. It was Mandy. She left a message. She asked for a reply to the email. Which I did.

When the board turns back on, there will be a discount code “Stabmag20”. And for each Alien Wheels Hoverboard sold, I’ve been told that Stab will receive $20 commission.

But, let’s be honest: I did the heavy lifting here. So, instead of the money going to Stab, I’m going to have it sent straight to me. So I urge you, in the absolute most gentle and insincere fashion, to please head to Alienwheels.com, plug in the discount code “STABMAG20” and purchase an Alien Wheels Hoverboard. A pink one.

Currently, the hoverboard remains in a cabinet in our office and I have yet implemented any of Mandy’s suggested solutions to turn her back on. 

When I do, which I may, eventually, every car reflecting the cinematic sunset of that evening, will know, by the way I use my walk, I’m a woman’s man, no time to talk.

Comments

Comments are a Stab Premium feature. Gotta join to talk shop.

Already a member? Sign In

Want to join? Sign Up

Advertisement

Most Recent

World Champs And WSL President Reject Surfing’s New Olympic Qualification System, Demand Revisions From ISA

Yago Dora, Caity Simmers, Ryan Crosby and more take a stand.

Feb 21, 2026

Hemp In The Athlete Zone, Pipe Master On Hypto Kryptos, Freesurfers Monetize Loneliness

This is the new order of operations — a Q1 industry report.

Feb 20, 2026

“It Was Like the Fourth of July. The Kitchen Sink’s Shattering. The Curtains Are On Fire. I Was Just Swimming Though Black Smoke.”

Kolohe Andino recalls the Gold Coast apartment fire that almost took everything.

Feb 20, 2026

Watch: Dane Reynolds Quizzes The Reigning World Champ | StabMic Episode 02

Yago Dora on his title year, the Volcom x Dad split, EAST over SITD, CT…

Feb 19, 2026

What I Learned Shooting Stab in the Dark with Kelly Slater

These innocuous observations from 11 days working with the greatest surfer of all time. 

Feb 18, 2026

Why Aren’t There More European Freesurfers?

Charly Quivront's new film, 'Who Is Charly?,' helps explain it.

Feb 18, 2026

Ferrari Boyz: Mikey Wright’s Apocalypse-Proof Ram 3500 Mega Cab

A daily driver with a 9-ton towing capacity.

Feb 17, 2026

Kurt Van Dyke, Renowned Californian Surfer, Brutally Murdered in Costa Rica

The 66-year-old was discovered under his bed with multiple stab wounds and a knife nearby.

Feb 17, 2026

Rebuttal: Never Stop Watching Surf Movies 

Social media makes us anxious and depressed. Surf content does not.

Feb 16, 2026

How Italo Ferreira Bought His Way Into Nike, The Reality Of Fatherhood, And Embracing Global Scrutiny

The Stab Interview with the most sleep-deprived man in surfing.

Feb 13, 2026

Will A GOAT Bite On Gnaraloo’s $17 Million Price Tag?

World Champs and Hollywood circle a red-dirt kingdom that can never truly be owned.

Feb 13, 2026

Dane Reynolds On His Favorite Surfer, Storytelling Through Surf Media, And Releasing Former’s New Film

Our first official episode of StabMic is live. 

Feb 12, 2026

Watch: Episode 03 of Stab In The Dark X Starring Kelly Slater

The untold story behind the GOAT’s split from CI + a three-layer wax cake theory.

Feb 11, 2026

Why You Should Stop Watching Surf Videos*

Instagram reels and the twisted fantasy of the parasocial surfing life.

Feb 9, 2026

Breaking: Rogue Boat Plows Through Steamer Lane, Capsizes With Family Of Six Onboard

Stab writer Holden Trnka saves a kid, gives a first hand report.

Feb 8, 2026

Watch: How $13M And 70,000 Tons Of Granite Changed An Australian Surf Town Forever

A documentary on Midds Reef — the world's best artificial wave — by Rhys Jones.

Feb 7, 2026

Pipeline Was Really, Really Good Today

CT qualifications, countless nine point rides, Australian domination, and the journey of a local hero.

Feb 6, 2026

Why Chapter 11’s Doors Are Shut + Why Former’s Output Is About To Spike

Former drops teaser for upcoming feature, ‘Defect’, starring the entire frozen pea army.

Feb 5, 2026
Advertisement