Air Trecks

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Air Trecks (or AT for short), are a fictional brand of special motorized inline skates featured in the anime and manga franchise Air Gear. Air Trecks are different from inline skates: they have motors and air cushions in each wheel, which lets the users do things that are normally impossible with actual inline skates.

[edit] Details

Air Trecks can be generalized as "high-end, customizable, motorized inline skates". They are composed of three major components: Wheel Motor, Hydraulic Cushion System, and Power Injection System. A Braking System is incorporated with most, equipped with a power-lock switch built on the outer sole of the skates. This overrides the acceleration system and enable Air Trecks to operate as normal inline skates as well. However most Riders (Air Treck users) use a Spin-Turn Stop technique, instead of a regular deceleration system to come to rest. However, the speed of Air Trecks are generated proportional to the power of the user's leg; the assist motor accelerates based on the force of a kick.

Generally, Air Trecks are very expensive (running normally ¥100,000 a pair), requiring regular maintenance and tuning. Each pair is installed with a special data support network via a program called READ, which allows Riders to access performance data on another Rider from the data stored on the memory card inserted inside the AT.

The biggest "thrill" of Air Trecks is the precisely calibrated air cushion system, which gives these self-propelled trick skates their juice, allowing the Riders to "fly". This aspect is the major theme of the Air Gear story.

[edit] Customization

Air Trecks are fully customizable in every aspect, from the skate's design, to the wheels, and even down to the screws. By combining various parts, one can truly make their own unique Air Treck. Most standard-issue parts are available at sporting goods stores, but the rare parts must be purchased at specialty shops (such as Grand Slam, which comes to Tokyo every once in a while), which tend to be hidden or always on the road. Rider team members often have identically customized ATs. The standard Air Treck has two wheels, but it is also possible for 4 wheels on each Air Treck, and even using spheres instead of wheels. A notable specific customization is of The Eight Kings of the Road, they all have specialized Trecks known as 'Regalia' which are the mark of each King.

Being customizable, many skaters have customized their own Air Trecks to suit their own style; changing with various combinations of parts, even screws and/or readjusting the balance, altering the speed and performance of their Air Trecks tremendously.