But don’t fret, as we at Tech Advisor have been riding hoverboards for over two years, and here’s our advice on how to ride a hoverboard (with extra tips!). If you haven’t already picked up a hoverboard, take a look at our selection of the best hoverboards of 2017/2018.
Step 1. Standing on the hoverboard
Before you even attempt to stand on the hoverboard, make sure that it’s both fully charged and powered on. Do not try to stand on the hoverboard when it’s switched off as you will fall almost immediately. Power on the hoverboard (most have a silver button on the rear of the board) and, if your hoverboard offers it, select the appropriate beginner riding mode. Start by placing one foot on the hoverboard, using your foot to keep the hoverboard in an upright, level riding position. When you’re balanced and ready, lift your other foot off the ground and step onto the hoverboard. Try not to overthink it – it’s a similar motion to walking up stairs. Try and place your feet as far to the side of the hoverboard as possible while still being comfortable, as a wide stance and bent knees aids stability. The beauty of most hoverboards is that they are designed to electronically balance you once you step on, but you may still wobble a bit while you find your centre of gravity. If you’re nervous about balancing, try using the hoverboard near a wall or something to hold onto if you lose balance.
Step 2. Going backwards and forwards
Once you can stand still on the hoverboard without wobbling, it’s time to start moving forwards and backwards. Making the hoverboard is easy, but there’s definitely a learning curve – especially when it comes to speed and braking. The concept of movement is simple – you lean forward to move forward, and lean back to slow down and reverse. Make sure you bend your knees to get better control of the speed, and remember to slow down with plenty of time – the last thing you need is to hit an obstacle and go flying off!
Step 3. Turning left and right
Turning your hoverboard is a similar process to moving forwards and backwards – it’s all about pressure and balance. Each side of your hoverboard is somewhat independent of the other, allowing you to twist each side. To turn left, push your right foot forward, and to turn right, push your left foot forward. It’s best to start off with slow, gentle movements before moving up to quick spins as it’s easy to lose control while rotating. It’s a lot of fun once you get used to it though!
Step 4. Getting off the hoverboard
As well as stepping onto the hoverboard, there’s a knack to getting off without falling. The key is to make sure you step off the hoverboard backwards instead of forwards. Stepping off forwards causes you to put pressure on the front of your foot, which could make the hoverboard shoot forward and cause you to fall. Of course, it could be argued that the same could happen when stepping backwards, but it seems to happen much less often when stepping off from the back. Congratulations! You now know everything there is to know about riding a hoverboard – now, get practising and show off your crazy hoverboard skills. Lewis Painter is a Senior Staff Writer at Tech Advisor. Our resident Apple expert, Lewis covers everything from iPhone to AirPods, plus a range of smartphones, tablets, laptops and gaming hardware. You’ll also find him on the Tech Advisor YouTube channel.
