How To Ride a Hoverboard? – A Beginners Guide

Long after they were invented, hoverboards have revolutionized the tech world. They are a great way to get around and fun to ride. However, they can prove a little difficult to ride for beginners. The good news is that maintaining a hoverboard is easy if you know the common tricks. In this post, we provide a comprehensive beginner’s guide to riding a hoverboard. We cover everything from safety guidelines and basics of riding a hoverboard to turning, spinning and getting off a hoverboard without falling.

Read the Instruction Manual

Your first lesson on how to ride a hoverboard should come from the instruction manual. While not provided by many manufacturers, the instruction manual certainly offers valuable information.

Before Getting Started

You should ensure that the swegway board is fully charged before getting on it. Consider putting on any protective gear you have i.e. knee pads, wrist guards, elbow protectors, tailbone protector and helmet. Considering hoverboards can achieve speeds of 10 miles per hour, you need all the protection you can get. Here’s a guide on best kids hoverboards.

Don’t forget to learn all the features and functionalities properly. Knowing how it works is crucial to your safety and makes it easier to learn how to ride. Be sure to capture its basic controlling system and understand its movement strategy.

Identify a spot where you can practice. It could be an empty room, perhaps a guest room or garage. It should be open and far from breakable valuables. It should be a place where you aren’t afraid to fall down.

Get on the Hoverboard

Placement is crucial if you are to get this right. Turn the hoverboard on then place it in front of your toes. You can switch on the beginner mode if there is one. Place the dominant foot on the hoverboard, ensuring that the foot remains close to the wheel. There should be ample space between the two feet, just as there should be when climbing stairs.

Put the second foot on the hoverboard, following the same rules as before. Ensure that the hoverboard is in level with the ground, and your feet are wide apart.

Jitters are normal at this time so if you have any, don’t panic. You may wobble and hit the ground, and that’s okay. Try to relax, calm your nerves and don’t consider moving until you have the nerves under control.

Go Forward

Leaning forward slightly and shifting your weight will get the hoverboard moving forward. Keep in mind that shifting too much while leaning forward will land you on the floor. Practice how to move in a straight path on a hoverboard before trying any other stunts.  This will allow you to learn how to manage speed as well.

Turning on a Hoverboard

You can attempt turning on the hoverboard once you’ve got the hang of moving in a straight path. This is simple since all you need to do is shift your body weight in the opposite direction of where you want to go. In other words, push the right toe forward if you want to turn left and vice versa if you want to turn right. As you twist one foot, ensure the other remains horizontal to avoid imbalances.

Backward Movements

Moving backwards on a hoverboard is not hard. Simply lean backwards and shift your weight. As with forward movement, be careful how far you lean your body as this may cause over pressure and a nasty fall.

Riding on a Slope

Riding your hoverboard on a slope is a whole different game compared to riding in a straight line, backward movements and turning. It is not that difficult though. Simply shift your weight to balance well on the hoverboard.

There are multiple factors that affect the degree to which your hoverboard can climb up. Most brands support an inclination of 15-20 degrees. This figure varies significantly among different models.

Spinning on a Hoverboard

The next challenge is to learn how to spin on a hoverboard. Sounds like an adventure, right? It is the ultimate trick for a newbie to show off to their friends. And while fun, spinning on a hoverboard is not for the faint hearted. The good news is that it will only take a few minutes to learn if you’ve already mastered the basic stunts. To spin, push your heels and toes in opposite directions to each other. If you want to make a right circular spin, push your right ankle and left toe. The opposite is true when making a left circular spin.

Get Off a Hoverboard Without Falling

Getting off a hoverboard is as easy as getting on it. Simply follow the instructions for getting on a hoverboard in reverse. Shift your weight to the dominant foot and step off the hoverboard, non-dominant foot first. Unless you are an expert, don’t jump off the hoverboard. You’ll end up damaging the hoverboard and yourself.

Additional Tips for Riding a Hoverboard:

• You only need 30minutes to an hour to learn how to ride a hoverboard. Overweight people may need more time.
• It’s best to practice indoors before taking the fun outside
• It is okay to ask for help from someone who’s ridden a hoverboard for a long time
• Don’t try to pull complicated stunts until you are ready
• Don’t leave your hoverboard charging overnight or overcharge it. This may result in exploding batteries or worse damages.
• When riding in public places, make an effort to be visible. Wear reflective clothing and avoid wearing white in sunny weather. Don’t just assume that everyone will see the hoverboard lights.
• Don’t try skateboard tricks when riding a hoverboard tricks. You’ll only end up with a damaged hoverboard or nasty injuries, none of which are worth the fun.

The Bottom Line

That sums up everything you need to know about riding a hoverboard. And like Rome, learning will take a while so be patient. The more you practice, the more you’ll learn about balancing on a hoverboard and performing stunts. So keep getting on the hoverboard and diving into the adventurous yet awestruck experiences it offers.