When i was younger my wife would sit on the beach while I rode. Then we moved and had kids and I quit riding for a few years. Finally I am riding my ski again. So I don't have to leave her at home while I ride I bought a spark for my wife to ride while I ride my ski. I rode it for the first time the other day and I think y'all are wrong with the first time rider issue - this thing has brakes. I have ridden a few couches that would go 60 and if you let off the gas at that speed there is no more steering - you just go straight ahead. Being a stand up guy I know that it takes gas to turn so no big deal, but I think this bites a lot of new riders. That's why they end up in the parking lot, but the spark with brakes is amazing how fast it stops. By the way it was fun to ride .... for about 5 minutes then I wanted back on the stand up.