Give a good push with your free foot, and off you roll — that’s about all there is to this newest fad to move into the area.

It’s skateboarding — a kind of surfboarding on dry land for those who can’t hit the beach — and its lots of fun.

Quite big in southern California, where the ocean surfing originated, skateboarding may have gotten its local start from 16-year-old Steve Smith, who last year packed his board and moved with his parents from Redwood City, Calif., to Montoursville R.D. 2

Like the yo-yo and the hula hoop before them, skateboards are catching on across the nation — and with Steve’s friends. The Loyalsock High School senior said he knows of a few boards at Lycoming College. South Williamsport youngsters have been using them on Sylvan Drive, and the Williamsport Recreation Commission has designated a spot for skateboarders in Brandon Park.

The average board is simply a piece of polished wood about two feet long and 7 1/2 inches wide, supported by professional roller derby wheels and weighing three to four pounds. There are larger sizes.

Steve’s crew helps make them and sells them for $12, which Steve calls the average price. The boys have sold nearly two dozen locally and another dozen in surf shops in Ocean City, N.J.

A local lumber company fashions the white maple boards for the boys, who then mount fore and aft the plastic roller derby wheels.

The boys do their work whenever convenient, often at garage at the residence of Dave Mennem, 17, of 1859 East Third Street.

In business with Steve and Dave are Bill Grimberg, 15, of 1217 Shiffler Avenue, Stan Lundahl, 14, of 2768 Blair Street, and John Crawford, 17, of Montoursville, R.D. 2.

The boys call themselves the Kai Skateboard Company, Kai, said one of the 4 boys, is Hawaiian for sea.