Best Electric Skateboard for Canada: ONSRA Buying Guide for Canadian Riders

All-terrain tires on loose gravel: the setup most of our Canadian riders ask about. ONSRA photo, shot outside Canada. It is not a statement about where riding is legal in Canada.

Buying an electric skateboard in Canada is a little different from buying one in California. You are choosing a board for a shorter, sharper riding season, for wet coastal falls or salty eastern springs, and, honestly, for a legal situation where most of your riding will happen on private land rather than city streets. That changes which board makes sense.

This guide walks through the ONSRA line-up with Canadian conditions in mind, then covers the practical stuff: how ordering from onsra.com works from Canada, what the prices look like, and what the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) says about duties and GST. Specs come straight from our product pages; tax and customs facts come only from official CBSA pages. We do not guess at numbers.

What Canadian conditions ask of a board

• Rough ground. Gravel farm lanes, forest roads on private land, frost-heaved driveways, grass. Pneumatic tires win here.
• Wet. Coastal drizzle and spring melt. All our current boards list IP 65; the Challenger 2.0 and VELAR 2.0 S enclosures are sealed with an O-ring. Details in our waterproof buying guide.
• Cold. Our battery guide says cold can cut range by up to 30%, so a bigger pack gives you more margin in the shoulder seasons.
• Hills and mountains. From the Rockies and the Coast Mountains to the Laurentians, climbing torque matters.
• Carrying. If the board lives in a condo and rides at the cottage, weight and size matter as much as range.

Challenger AT off-roading up the Swiss mountains (English). Filmed in Switzerland on terrain much like what our B.C. and Alberta riders ask about.

The ONSRA line-up, Canadian edition

VELAR 2.0 S: the big-terrain board

ONSRA VELAR 2.0 S

From US$2,990 (prices shown in USD)

Carbon deck, fibreglass enclosure sealed with an O-ring, CNC channel trucks, suspension trucks and 200 mm pneumatic all-terrain tires. This is the board for long days on private trail networks, bumpy farm roads and bike-park access roads where the owner allows e-boards. The 1036 Wh battery is the biggest in our line-up, which matters when cold weather eats into range. The trade-off is weight: 18.4 kg is a lot to carry up three flights of stairs. Without suspension: the VELAR 2.0 Gear Drive (US$2,690).

• Battery: 1036 Wh
• Range (product page): 60 km
• Top speed (product page): 62 km/h (max. 70 km/h)
• Weight: 18.4 kg
• Deck: 92.3 × 28.3 cm
• Water rating: IP 65

See the VELAR 2.0 S

Riding to the top with the ONSRA VELAR (English). Filmed outside Canada.

Challenger 2.0 All Terrain: light, short, kicktail

ONSRA Challenger 2.0 All Terrain

From US$1,450 (prices shown in USD)

The shortest deck in the line-up (90 cm), with a kicktail, belt drive and 155 mm pneumatic HOTA tires. At about 10 kg it is the easiest board to throw in the trunk, carry into a cabin to warm up, or store in a small condo. Range is shorter on AT tires (24 km listed), so it suits shorter loops. There is also a Street version (US$1,390). Check the product page for current availability.

• Battery: 432 Wh
• Range (product page): 24 km (AT wheels) / 38 km (street wheels)
• Top speed (product page): 48 km/h (max. 52 km/h)
• Weight: 10.1 kg
• Deck: 90 × 27 cm
• Water rating: IP 65

See the Challenger 2.0 All Terrain

ONSRA photo, shot outside Canada. It is not a statement about where riding is legal in Canada.

BLACK Carve 4: the carver

ONSRA BLACK Carve 4 Street

From US$2,090 (prices shown in USD)

A flexy bamboo deck, the new gear drive and a 14S battery with ECO 50 km and BRUTALE 40 km range listed. If you have smooth private pavement, a long private road or a paved track that allows boards, this is the purest carving feel we make. The BLACK Carve 4 AT (US$2,190) adds all-terrain wheels for mixed surfaces.

• Battery: 14S3P
• Range (product page): ECO 50 km / BRUTALE 40 km
• Top speed (product page): 62 km/h (115 mm wheels)
• Weight: 15.5 kg
• Deck: 102 × 27.5 cm
• Water rating: IP 65

See the BLACK Carve 4 Street

ZENO: the travel board

ONSRA ZENO

From US$990 (prices shown in USD)

Our lightest board, with a 99 Wh battery option designed with air travel in mind, and a 259 Wh pack for more range. Great for a weekend at the cottage or a trip, less so for long rough trails. The values marked * come from our ZENO article.

• Battery: 14S, 99 Wh (carry-on friendly) or 259 Wh
• Range (product page): approx. 17.6 km (99 Wh) / 25 km (259 Wh)*
• Top speed (product page): up to 45 km/h*
• Weight: approx. 6.5 kg*

See the ZENO

Testing our lightest electric skateboard on a mountain climb (English). Filmed outside Canada.

Side by side

Values from the product pages (ZENO values marked * from our ZENO article). Real range depends on temperature, terrain, rider weight and riding style, and is lower in the cold. Prices change; the product page is always the current reference.

ONSRA photo, shot outside Canada. It is not a statement about where riding is legal in Canada.

Ordering from Canada: prices, currency and shipping

Currency. onsra.com currently shows and charges prices in US dollars. There is no separate Canadian-dollar store or en-CA version of the site at the moment. Your card issuer or PayPal converts the amount to CAD, and some card issuers add a foreign transaction fee, so check with yours.

Shipping. Canada is on our shipping list. Boards ship internationally by UPS air, and the shipping cost is calculated by weight at checkout. The checkout shows the options and the delivery estimate for your order before you pay.

Batteries. Electric skateboards ship with lithium-ion batteries, which couriers handle under their own dangerous-goods rules. That is one reason board shipping costs more than accessory shipping.

Warranty and returns. Our warranty applies to boards bought directly from our website. See also our return policy. If you have a question before ordering, contact us.

Duties, GST/HST and the CBSA

Our terms are clear that prices exclude local customs and import fees, and that these are the buyer's responsibility. Here is what the CBSA itself says, in plain language:

• Personal-use goods by courier are "casual" imports and must be declared. They may be subject to duties and taxes, and the courier can account for them on your behalf (source: CBSA, Importing casual goods by courier).
• Low-value thresholds are far below a board's price. According to CBSA Memorandum D8-2-16, courier goods from countries other than the US and Mexico get relief from duties and taxes only up to a value for duty of CAD $20. Goods shipped from the US or Mexico can get relief from duties up to CAD $150 and from taxes up to CAD $40. Every electric skateboard costs far more than that, so expect GST/HST (and provincial sales tax where it applies) and possibly customs duties.
• Duty depends on the tariff classification and origin of the goods. We do not quote a duty rate, because CBSA determines it on import.
• Courier fees are separate. The CBSA notes that clearance or brokerage fees charged by couriers "are separate and distinct from duties and taxes" and are outside its control. Ask the courier about them.
• You can self-account. The CBSA says you may refuse delivery, pay duties and taxes yourself at a CBSA office that offers public accounting services, and then show the courier your receipt. That can save some administrative fees.

ONSRA photo, shot outside Canada. It is not a statement about where riding is legal in Canada.

Which ONSRA board is right for you?

"I have access to a big property, a farm or a private trail network."

VELAR 2.0 S. The 200 mm tires, suspension and big battery are made for exactly this. If you want the lighter, more playful option, the Challenger 2.0 AT.

"I ride at the cottage and want something I can carry."

Challenger 2.0 AT, or ZENO if it mostly lives in a bag and rides on smooth surfaces.

"I love carving and I have smooth private pavement."

BLACK Carve 4 Street. The AT version if your paved loop turns into gravel at the end.

"I live on the wet coast."

Any of the IP 65 boards, plus the dry-out habit from our waterproof buying guide. A board that is easy to carry inside (Challenger) makes the routine easier.

"I want to stretch my season into winter."

The biggest battery and tires you can manage: VELAR 2.0 S.

VELAR Gear Drive off-roading (English). Filmed outside Canada.

ONSRA photo, shot outside Canada. It is not a statement about where riding is legal in Canada.

Gear worth adding

• Gloves: grip on the remote in the wet and cold.
• ULTRALIGHT armoured jacket: protection that layers over a fleece.
• Spare O-ring (US$39): cheap insurance if you open the board often to dry it out.
• Board stand: keeps the board off a wet floor.

FAQ

What is the best electric skateboard for Canada?

For rough private trails and long days, the VELAR 2.0 S (200 mm pneumatic tires, suspension, 1036 Wh). For a lighter all-terrain board, the Challenger 2.0 AT. For carving on smooth ground, the BLACK Carve 4. For travel, the ZENO.

Does ONSRA ship to Canada?

Yes. Canada is on our shipping list. Boards ship by UPS air, and the shipping cost is calculated by weight at checkout.

Are ONSRA prices shown in Canadian dollars?

No. onsra.com currently shows and charges prices in US dollars. Your card issuer or PayPal converts the amount, and some charge a foreign transaction fee.

Will I pay duties and GST on an electric skateboard ordered to Canada?

Very likely. CBSA's courier relief thresholds are CAD $20 for goods shipped from outside the US and Mexico, and CAD $40 (taxes) / CAD $150 (duties) for goods shipped from the US or Mexico. A board is far above these, so GST/HST and any provincial tax apply, and customs duty may apply depending on classification and origin. Our prices exclude these fees.

Can I avoid courier brokerage fees?

The CBSA says you can self-account: refuse delivery, pay the duties and taxes yourself at a CBSA office that offers this service, and show the courier your receipt.

Can I ride my ONSRA board on Canadian roads?

In B.C., Ontario and Alberta, electric skateboards are not allowed on public roads, sidewalks or bike lanes, and Quebec's pilot does not cover boards as fast as ours. Ride on private property or permitted sites with the landowner's permission.

Is there a French version of this guide?

Not yet. We are considering French-Canadian versions of our Canada guides.

Keep reading

• Electric skateboard laws in Canada
• Best Waterproof Electric Skateboard: Which ONSRA Board to Buy for Rainy Rides
• All ONSRA electric skateboards

Official sources (customs)

• CBSA: Importing casual goods by courier
• CBSA Memorandum D8-2-16: Courier Imports Remission
• CBSA: Increase to low-value shipment thresholds (CUSMA)