Riding a hoverboard has long been your dream, and now you finally have a super cool and shiny hoverboard to yourself. You are excited about your first experience with this amazing scooter, but at the same time, you feel a bit hesitant because you don’t know how to ride a hoverboard yet.
The good thing is riding a hoverboard is a skill that you can learn, and it’ll get easier as you practice more, just like learning how to ride a bike. Check out this article for a detailed step-by-step tutorial on how to ride a hoverboard for your best experience.
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Essential Preparation Before You Ride a Hoverboard
Either you are new to a hoverboard or already have experience with it, it is important to prepare yourself before the ride carefully.
To begin with, you have to carefully read the hoverboard manual to understand the product before you use it. The instructions usually come together with the hoverboard, or you can find more information on the website.
Secondly, the most important thing to keep in mind is ensuring that the board is fully charged, and the power is always on. You can find the power button on the backside and check if it’s working properly.
Please do not attempt to step on the hoverboard before you are sure it’s on and fully charged. It is because the hoverboards have a self-balancing functionality to keep them upright and balanced at all times. Attempting to stand on a hoverboard in off mode will likely make you fall off and hurt yourself.
Now that you’ve made sure your hoverboard is ready for the ride, it’s time to prepare the protective gear for your safety. Helmet and pads are a must to prevent any injuries in case accidents might happen. Whether you’re still practicing or already confident with your skills, safety is always the top priority.
Furthermore, if you plan to ride the hoverboard at night, please bring lights with you so others can notice you in the dark. It is not only for your safety but also for the sake of others.
Finally, the last thing you need to prepare is to pick a place for your riding. Since not all hoverboards are the same, you should learn what kind of surfaces your hoverboard can handle so you can plan your route. For example, some boards are perfectly functional on dirt trail or grass, while others can only run on flat surfaces like paved roads.
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How to Ride a Hoverboard
Step 1: How to step on a hoverboard
It’s time to get the real experience with your hoverboard by taking the first baby step. Again, remember to turn on the vehicle before you step on it. Some kinds of hoverboards already have the starter mode for beginners, so make sure to check and activate it if you need to.
First of all, you should position the board on a flat surface. If you’re afraid of falling, you can try this on grass to lessen the pain. However, remember to check if your hoverboard can run on grass first.
Now place your dominant foot on the board. Try to relax because the hoverboard is basically a self-balancing scooter that can automatically stabilize you on its own.
Set your other foot on the board like you’re stepping on a stair. The best position is to stand in a wide stance to gain stability.
In case you feel the board shaking a bit, don’t worry because the technology is doing its work. If you’re still overwhelmed, it’s totally okay to step back and try again, or you can get a little support from a wall or a table.
Step 2: How to move forward and backward
When you feel comfortable and confident enough while maintaining balance on the hoverboard, it’s time to start learning how to move forward and backward.
The first few times trying to move backward or forward might be intimidating, but don’t hesitate because practice makes perfect. All you have to do is shift your body weight in the direction you desire.
To move forward, slightly press your toes down, or lean your heels to move in the opposite direction. Your body will automatically shift from the upright position to a slight angle in a forward or backward posture, and the hoverboard will move as you wish.
However, remember that you shouldn’t intentionally lean your whole body too much (no more than 10 degrees) because it will make you lose balance. Keep your feet wide apart, maintain your weight at the center, and keep practicing until you ace it.
Try to keep the speed in control, and don’t be eager to move fast immediately so you can ride consistently and slow down when you need to stop.
Step 3: How to turn or spin the hoverboard
Turning your hoverboard is pretty much the same as moving it forward or backward. The key point is just about how you control your feet and the shift of your body weight.
As the monitors for the two sides of a hoverboard can move independently, you can turn or spin the vehicle by pushing down only your left foot or only the right one.
For example, you need to push your right foot to turn left and press your left foot more if you want to turn right. It might be confusing at first, but after a few practices, you will certainly get the hang of it.
Remember that you can make a normal turn while the hoverboarding is still moving. If you try to push your foot while the board is in position, it will make a full spin. The harder you press, the faster it’ll spin.
When you start, try to slowly adjust the pressure so you can turn with the angle you want. It might be not easy at first but keep going, it will eventually become natural for you to turn whatever angle you want.
Step 4: How to step off the hoverboard
Finally, the steps to get off a hoverboard are quite similar to when you get on it, but they’re actually in reverse. To safely stop the hoverboard, make sure you slow down your speed first. A sudden pause can make you lose your balance and fall off.
The key point when you try to stop the hoverboard, keep in mind to dismount backward. When you’re moving forward, gently push the back of your feet until the board stops.
If you push too hard, especially when you try to dismount forward, it can trigger the board to move unexpectedly. Therefore, it is safer to dismount backward, and through practice, you’ll learn how much pressure you need to stop the hoverboard.
After you’ve successfully stopped, step your non-dominant foot backward to get off the hoverboard. It’s crucial to keep your straight position even when getting off the hoverboard to maintain your balance.
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Useful Tips For a Safe Ride
Once you’ve learned the basics of riding the hoverboard, there are a lot of cool and advanced tricks you can pull off. But as amazing as it may be, it is still the top priority of all time to ensure safety for yourself and others.
Firstly, you shouldn’t charge your hoverboard overnight. Some of you might have left your board charged while you sleep so it can be ready the next morning. In fact, the batteries for hoverboards are not like smart devices, so leaving them plugged in over a long time will drain the batteries or even cause explosions or fire hazards.
Normally, it would take two to four hours to charge a hoverboard fully, so make sure to unplug when it’s full to ensure safety and sustain battery life.
Secondly, LED lights are super useful when you want to ride a hoverboard at night. The pretty lights on your hoverboard are not only for decorating, but they also help you see the road and make you visible to others at night. Regardless, it’d be best if you wear something bright or reflective when you ride at night so that other people can notice you easily.
Finally, you should know where you can legally ride your hoverboard. Of course, hoverboards are such convenient vehicles on the street, and you can ride it in the neighborhoods without problems. Yet in certain places in New York City or the UK, for example, have banned the use of hoverboards in public property, so do your research to avoid getting fined.
Conclusion
Learning how to ride a hoverboard, from the most basic moves to all kinds of advanced tricks, is a whole journey that will bring you a lot of precious memories and experience. All you need to do is follow each step, control your speed, and steadily practice until you ace it.
We hope this tutorial will be helpful in your journey with the hoverboard. Thanks for reading!
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