You might have recently come into possession of a hoverboard, tried to ride it, and fell right off. The truth that no one tells you about riding a hoverboard is that you need to practice and learn how to ride it. In this article, we will be explaining how to ride a hoverboard.
Almost no one automatically knows how to ride a hoverboard.
Some people say that learning to ride a hoverboard is similar to learning how to ride a bike. Once you learn how to ride a hoverboard then it stays with you.
The good news is that it only takes practicing a few times to be able to master riding a hoverboard.
We’ll guide you through every step you need to take in order to learn how to ride a hoverboard confidently and safely. Once you master knowing how to ride a hoverboard, then you can focus on what tricks you can do.
What Is A Hoverboard?
Before you learn how to ride a hoverboard it is important to know what you’ll be riding. Hoverboards sound very futuristic, but they are not nearly as intense as they might sound.
Hoverboards are often seen as an alternative to riding a scooter or a skateboard. You might also have heard them being called a self-balancing scooter.
Hoverboards are a two-wheeled electric device that is able to transport you from one place to another as you ride them.
You might be confused as to why hoverboards have wheels since the term ‘hoverboard’ has often been used to refer to a board that can float above the ground. Well, we have quite mastered that technology yet, so for the time being, hoverboards have wheels.
The way that hoverboards work is like a skateboard in terms of design. It is a board that you stand on, that moves without any help from a handlebar.
Although, instead of having four small wheels underneath the board, hoverboards have two larger wheels at the side of the board. You also don’t need to push off of the ground for the hoverboard to start moving, like you would with a skateboard. Instead, hoverboards are automatic, so they do all the moving for you.
How Do Hoverboards Work?
Another thing you’ll need to know before learning how to ride a hoverboard, is how hoverboards work. After all, the best way to learn how to ride a hoverboard is if you have a basic understanding of what makes them work.
Essentially, the person riding a hoverboard is able to stand up and stay steady on the hoverboard. Then the hoverboard moves the ride forwards and backward. We’ll go into more detail about how the rider controls this later.
Most hoverboards will have four main parts. These are the motor, battery, gyroscope, and microprocessors. The motor is what gives the wheels the power to move and keep the rider balanced.
The battery is what stores the power for the hoverboard. The gyroscope is what helps keep the hoverboard balanced by tilting it. Lastly, the microprocessors are what control the amount of power that goes to the wheels.
What You Will Need To Ride A Hoverboard
The last thing you need to make sure you have before you start learning to ride is safety equipment. Falling off of your hoverboard is almost guaranteed to happen when learning to ride one.
After all, it is about balance which can catch us off guard at times. So to help to break the fall, there are a few things you should wear when learning to ride a hoverboard.
The first and most important is to wear a helmet. Just like when you learn to ride a bike, a helmet is a necessary part of the process. You need a helmet so you can learn how to ride the hoverboard without worrying about falling off and hurting your head.
The next thing you want to make sure you have is knee pads or guards, along with wrist guards. You should also have elbow pads or elbow guards.
These will help to cushion the areas you are likely to land on and hopefully prevent as many bruises as possible.
If you want to go the extra mile then you could also get a tailbone pad or guard. This will help prevent bruising your tailbone when you land on it. Trust us, this might happen a few times.
As always, safety is important when it comes to learning to ride anything. It is better to be safe than sorry.
How To Get On And Off The Hoverboard
The first thing you’ll need to learn in order to master riding a hoverboard is how to correctly get on it.
Properly getting on a hoverboard will be the difference between success and falling flat on your face. So follow these simple steps and you’ll be riding the hoverboard shortly.
Step One
Make sure that your hoverboard is on a surface that is flat and even. What we mean by this is that there are no dips or dents on your floor. That way you can start on the right foot, rather than having to face an avoidable obstacle.
Then turn on your hoverboard. Don’t attempt to stand on your hoverboard without turning it on. The self-balancing technology won’t work and you might fall.
Step Two
The next step is to put one foot on the hoverboard as close to the wheel as possible without touching the wheel. It doesn’t really matter which foot you put on first, go with the foot that feels right to you.
Step Three
This is the hard step. The next thing you have to do is put your other foot on the hoverboard as close to the other wheel as possible.
This will ensure that your feet are spread as wide as they can be. Having your feet as wide apart as possible will give you the best chance to balance properly.
Don’t worry if you fall off here, just try again.
Now you are on the hoverboard, stay still and start to get comfortable with the balance. To quickly learn how to ride a hoverboard, it is best not to try to move straight away.
Let’s learn how to get off of the hoverboard.
Step One
To get off of the hoverboard you are essentially going to reverse the steps you took to get on the hoverboard. So the first thing you need to do is move so all of your weight is on your dominant foot, or the foot you feel comfortable keeping on the hoverboard.
Step Two
Now that you have your weight free from one foot, use that food to step backward off of the hoverboard. Do this slowly so you don’t move your other foot.
Step Three
Once that foot is securely on the ground, make sure some of your weight is on the foot that is on the ground. Then with the foot that is still on the hoverboard, step off and backward.
That is how you get on and off a hoverboard.
How To Ride A Hoverboard
Now you know how to safely get on and off of your hoverboard, let’s go through how to move on it.
Forwards And Backwards
Once you are on your hoverboard, ever so slightly lean forward or backward. Lean forward if you want to move forward and lean backward if you want to go backward.
The trick is to keep your body straight, from your waist up. Only let your ankles move. This will make sure you stay balanced on your hoverboard.
Left And Right
Now you are aware of how to move forward and backward, let’s change the direction.
To turn right, you want to push your left toe forward so that the weight shifts off of your right foot slightly. This might seem confusing at first so if you are really struggling with this, lean a little to the right.
To move to the left, it is the same thing. Push down on your right toes and you will move to the left.
Going Faster
To go faster on your hoverboard is all about leaning. The longer you lean forward your hoverboard will pick up the pace. Although when it comes to going fast, your hoverboard might warn you when you need to slow down.
Stopping
To stop your hoverboard you simply have to stop leaning in the direction you were going. Make sure you straighten up your body so you are no longer leaning, this will slow the hoverboard down and stop it.
If you need to stop a little faster, then lean ever so slightly in the opposite direction of the way you were going, not enough that you start to move in the direction though.
Tips For Riding Your Hoverboard
Here are some things you need to make sure you are doing in order to be successful when riding your hoverboard.
- Look up so you can see your surroundings and stay balanced.
- Keep your knees straight to help with your balance and weight control.
- Stay on a smooth surface until you become a better rider and are more confident.
Final Thoughts
That is all you need to know in order to successfully ride your hoverboard. Remember that the key to riding a hoverboard is taking your time to learn. Don’t attempt any tricks before you are ready.
Hopefully, you feel more confident learning how to ride a hoverboard after following this guide!
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