Using a hoverboard is tricky because it’s easy to lose your balance, fall over, and hurt yourself when you don’t know how to ride. Luckily, anyone can learn to steer and use these self-balancing devices. What’s more, you can learn it in as short as three hours. Here are some of our team’s helpful tips that will make you a pro with the hoverboard.
Hoverboard Tips
Read Your Hoverboard Manual
Many people don’t even bother reading manuals since we already know how to use most of our day-to-day gadgets, from phones to refrigerators. But hoverboards are an entirely new invention. They use advanced technology, and you will find even topnotch hoverboards for beginners difficult to grasp and understand.
Another reason to read your manual is that it contains all kinds of useful information. Unless you’ve owned a similar hoverboard in the past, you may be missing out on features like rider modes, different LED settings, and even Bluetooth connectivity. The manual can also tell you how to charge your board correctly and what to do when you experience common problems.
Equip Yourself with Safety Gears
Safety gear like helmets and joint pads are invaluable especially when using topnotch hoverboards for young learners. These hoverboard tips are especially critical for beginners who will probably fall very often in the beginning. Not only do they prevent injury, but safety gear can also give you the confidence to ride your board. If you have protection, you don’t have to worry about sustaining an injury if you fall.
Our team found that many hoverboards already have helpful safety features like non-slip decks. That means you don’t have to worry about high friction shoes. A helmet, knee pads, elbow pads may be enough. Some children may also need butt protectors.
Properly Charge Your Hoverboard
Hoverboards need to be properly charged for their short and long-term battery life. To charge properly and prevent having to fix a hoverboard charging issues, start by inserting the charger in the appropriate power outlet. You should only use recommended chargers [1] because anything else may damage the battery permanently.
You’ll also need to plug the connector into the hoverboard. Most boards have their charging ports behind the deck, covered by a waterproof flap. Once your hoverboard is plugged in, you should see an LED indicator light. The color depends on your hoverboard model and the light will change color once the board is full. Make sure to unplug your board at full charge because overcharging can also damage the battery.
Position Your Feet Properly
Our team realized that foot positioning is one thing that most beginners struggle with. If you don’t get it right, you’ll never control the board properly, and your riding will feel awkward. Proper foot positioning is important when using hoverboards or even premium quality skateboards. It involves placing your dominant foot first. If you’re right-handed, that will be your right foot. Ensure that the foot is as close to the deck as possible.
Next, place your other foot to mount the board completely. While standing on the board, ensure that your heels are fully on the deck. Only your toes should be dangling. Follow these hoverboard tips, and the proper foot positioning will give you more riding control.
Correct Hoverboard Moves
Hoverboards are very intuitive to ride. You simply lean forward to move forward and lean backward to move back. Because your heels are firm on the deck, you can shift your body weight easily. A common mistake with beginners is they lean too far forward when trying to move. This isn’t necessary because the board’s sensors will pick up your slightest movements.
Turing the hoverboard is a bit trickier, but it’s perfectly doable. Here’s a tip from our experts—use your right foot to turn left and vice versa. So if you want to turn left, lean your right foot forward and your left back. The board will move the wheel under your right foot and turn left. The same goes for turning to your left.
Maintain Proper Balance
For our experts, balancing on the hoverboard is a real breeze once you master the foundations. It helps to keep your knees flexed, so your center of gravity is closer to the ground. This automatically equals more balance.
Many beginners expect a familiar feeling when they get on a hoverboard. But that’s rarely the case because some boards including the Swagtron T5 hoverboard use balancing technology that’s still foreign to most people. It’s going to be like re-learning to ride a bike, but the process will be much faster. And just like with skateboards and other mobility devices, balancing on the hoverboard takes a little practice and some intuition.
Alighting Your Hoverboard
Getting off your hoverboard is possibly the most straightforward step on this list. You need to step off with your less dominant foot first — if you’re right-handed, that would be your left foot. Stepping off with your less dominant foot allows the dominant side to give you leverage as you dismount the board. Once your foot is on the ground, simply remove the other. Don’t forget to turn the board off so as to conserve battery.
FAQ
How do you ride a hoverboard without falling?
To ride a hoverboard without falling, you need to get used to controlling it with only your body weight. Balance on the deck by placing both feet as close to the wheels as you can, and ensure that your heels are firmly resting on the foot pads. Next, lean in the direction you wish to go.
Are Hoverboards hard to ride?
Hoverboards can be difficult to ride for beginners, but they get easier with experience. Anyone can ride a hoverboard with confidence after 1 hour of practice.
How do you balance on a hoverboard?
You balance on a hoverboard by placing your dominant foot first. If you’re right-handed, climb with your right foot and set it as close to the wheel as possible. Next, place your left foot. It helps to focus on standing in place for a while before moving.
Conclusion
Even though hoverboards are relatively new technology, riding them doesn’t have to be difficult. Once you master these hoverboard tips like getting on, steering, and maintaining your balance, you’ll find that they are delightful devices and all it takes is a little bit of practice.
