We are glad that you are interested in riding an electric skateboard. It’s may seem daunting but it’s actually very easy to learn. In this beginners guide, we show you how to ride and electric skateboard.
What are the differences between electric skateboards and regular skateboards?
At first glance, electric skateboards and regular skateboards look pretty much the same. The big difference is that the electric board has one or more battery-powered motors. You use a remote control to operate the board using various buttons and a throttle to accelerate and brake. Some come with an LED display that shows important information like riding mode, speed, battery levels and more.
Because electric skateboards use motors, they’re generally much faster than regular skateboards. Today, even many of the affordable options can travel beyond 20 MPH. It’s also easier to go uphill with a motor-powered board and travel longer distances. The last main difference is because the electrical components (particularly the battery and motors) weigh the board down, most tricks are more challenging. We’ll talk about what tricks work with electric skateboarding.
How to ride an electric skateboard
Now that you know what an electric skateboard is, how do you ride it? If you already have riding experience with a regular skateboard, you’re at a big advantage. There isn’t much difference between riding a motorized skateboard and one you propel with your feet, but because of the speed and remote control, it can take a little practice. If you are brand new to skateboarding, learning will be more challenging. Here’s what to do.
Step 1: Wear the proper safety gear
Before stepping on a skateboard – electric or regular – you need to put on the right gear. That includes a helmet that fits, wrist guards, elbow pads, and knee pads. Wrist injuries are very common in skateboarding because when you fall, you most likely put your hands out to catch yourself. Head injuries can be very severe, so always wear a helmet that’s snug, but not so tight that it hurts. It should rest level on your head (don’t tilt it back), so the front part is about one inch above your eyebrows.
If you usually use a regular skateboard and don’t wear much gear, we strongly recommend changing that. Because of how fast electric skateboards can go, they can be more dangerous than a regular board. The kind of shoes you wear matters, too. Closed-toed shoes that cover your feet (no sandals) are best. Cushioned shoes can even help dampen the impact of road vibrations felt in your legs as well.
Step 2: Check your trucks and settings
Skateboard trucks are two metal parts that attach to the bottom of the deck. There’s one at the front and one at the back. If you’re a beginner, it’s a good idea to make sure those trucks are nice and tight. This will help you keep your balance better and reduce speed wobbles. As you increase your skill level, you can loosen them gradually for increased flexibility and sharper turns.
You should also familiarize yourself with the remote before hopping on the skateboard. Boards have different modes available, such as “forward, “reverse,” and speed settings like slow, medium, and fast. Start with the slowest mode until you’re sure you feel comfortable. If your board has different braking modes (like the Skatebolt Tornado II), we recommend starting in the lowest, most forgiving setting as well. Make sure the remote control is actually connected to the skateboard, too.
Step 3: Learn The Difference Between Toeside & Heelside
If you’ve skateboarded before, you probably have a natural stance you’re comfortable with already. Your snowboard stance (if you snowboard) will also work. There are two main stances: regular and goofy. Regular is when you put your left foot forward toward the board’s nose. Goofy is when you lead with your right foot. Because most people are right-handed, leading with the left foot forward is common. That said, it doesn’t mean the regular stance always feels the most natural if you’re right-handed. There’s no “right” stance, so just do what feels comfortable and stabilizes you the most.
GOOFY
REGULAR
Step 4: Choose a skateboard stance
Everyone rides differently, the important thing is that you have to be safe and good on the board. It is best to try it a few times on both sides if you are not sure. But for both types the following applies. If we talk about the Toeside this is where your toes will be located on your board. And Heelside is where your heels will be located on your board.
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Once you have a stance, think about how you feel on the skateboard. Are you stiff? You don’t want to flop around, but if your body is too stiff and rigid you’re more likely to fall. Put your arms out to balance, but don’t hold them like iron rods. Be prepared to bend your knees a little when you slowly start riding; this bending will help you stay balanced. Most electric skateboards are longer than the average regular skateboard. Taking a slightly wider stance than you would on a normal skateboard will help you control your balance and make it easier to shift your body weight forward and backward when braking and/or accelerating. Having your feet wide apart does make it a bit harder to carve and turn, so once you feel confident with a particular board, you may consider narrowing your stance back again ever so slightly to make steering easier.
Step 5: Start riding
It’s time to ride! We recommend first starting your skateboard with a kick-push, which is how you would ride a normal skateboard. It isn’t necessary (you can just start the motors with your remote), but pushing off with one foot while keeping the other on the board strengthens your balance.
When you’re ready, start the motors gradually on the slowest setting. Remember to relax your body, bending your knees for better balance, and holding your arms out before the initial acceleration. If your stance feels weird now that you’re riding, switch it up.
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Step 6: Learn how to turn
How do you turn while riding a skateboard? It can take some practice if you’re not familiar. If you are, it’s the same as turning on a regular board. There are two types of turns: heelside or toeside. If you’re in a regular stance, heelside will turn you left and toeside will turn you right. It’s the opposite if you’re in a goofy stance.
For a heelside turn, bend your knees a little, put your weight into the heel of the front foot and push your butt out as you shift your weight. You’ll feel the board turn. For toeside, bend your knees and shift your body weight forward a little while placing some weight on the toes of your front foot. If you feel like you’re going to fall forward, don’t lean back; the board will shoot out from under you. Bend your knees more and lean forward into the turn.
Kick-turns are another kind of turn that’s good to learn. To kick-turn, stand on your board and shift your weight to the back wheels, lifting the front wheels, and swing the front of your board in the direction you want to go. This is a good way to strengthen your overall balance but it is a bit more advanced.
Step 7: How to brake
Braking correctly on an electric skateboard is important. Thankfully, it’s fairly simple because you control the braking system with your remote. First, you’ll want to lean back a little since your weight will automatically shift forward when you brake. Leaning back compensates for that movement. Bend your knees a little, making sure your front foot is stable and slightly rigid. Gradually decrease your speed with your remote before braking. What about foot braking? Shift your weight to your front/dominant foot, so you’re balancing on just that leg. Lightly touch your back foot on the ground, slowly adding pressure and as you start to slow down. The harder you brake, the more likely losing your balance is, so be careful.
Most electric skateboards use regenerative brakes, which means the battery gets energy sent to it when you’re going downhill. The board can sense when it doesn’t need the motor and sends that energy to the battery.