Today, I wanted to introduce you to an article on learning to ride an electric skateboard. This article covers 10 essential tips to help you get comfortable riding an e-skateboard. From getting the right gear, to mastering the basics and beyond, these tips will give you the knowledge and confidence you need to become an electric skateboarding pro. So whether you're a complete beginner or just looking to refine your skills, give this article a read and you'll be shredding the streets in no time!
1. WEAR A HELMET
Helmets are the most important protective gear you can have. Road rash will heal and broken bones can be fixed, but head injuries are no joke. It only takes one random gravel patch for you wake up in the hospital without recollection of how you got there. Worse yet, head injuries often cause long term problems that persist for years.
The best helmets are hard foam helmets. I suggest the brand S1 Helmets, because they thoroughly test their helmets in a laboratory setting, and then publish their results and video footage.
2. HOW TO STAND ON YOUR ELECTRIC BOARD
Finding balance is key for learning how to ride.
Stand sideways on the board, with your feet a little wider than shoulder length. Your toes should not be pointing forward. Imagine you are picking up a large heavy box where you would have to have a strong stance to lift the box with your knees bent.
3. LEAN FORWARD WHEN ACCELERATING
When you accelerate on your esk8, the force will push you backwards. Prepare for this by leaning forward when pressing the accelerator... and don't forget about you back foot. You will need to stabilize yourself with your back foot while also leaning forward. You back foot stops you from falling backwards, while your front foot controls the steering.
4. LEAN BACK WHEN BRAKING
When you go for a hard brake, it is important to prepare by leaning back and applying pressure to your front foot, which will hold you in place. Before breaking, make sure you are ready for the forward momentum and know where your front foot is and prepare to hold yourself back with your front foot. If you have ever don a grass ride on a regular skateboard the feeling is similar.
5. WHEN SKATING AT SPEED LOOK AHEAD OF YOU
Normally in skating you will be looking down at your feet or at the obstacle you are trying to skate. With an Electric board you need to constantly be scanning the road/path in front of you for anything that might be in the way. The sooner you can spot an obstacle the more time you have to avoid it.
6. WHEN GOING FAST CENTER YOUR WEIGHT AND PUT A MORE WEIGHT ON YOUR FRONT FOOT
The faster you go the more weight you need on your front foot. Leaning on your back leg at higher speeds will cause speed wobbles and a possible crash. Initiate turns at speed from your front foot by leaning on the heal or toe. The faster you go the more you need to control the skateboard like a car and turn using the front wheels allowing the back wheels to follow.
7. DON'T RIDE IN THE RAIN
Wheels lose grip in the rain and this can easily cause an accident by slipping and falling. Water also can damage the electric components of your electric skateboard. Even though most electric skateboards are built to resist water infiltration its not wise to risk it.
8.WEAR SOME REFLECTIVE GEAR
The more people who can so you the better. Make yourself known by getting some reflective clothing or reflective tape. Don’t skate at night time in all black with no lights. If people and cars cannot see you then they cannot avoid you. If you don’t have reflective clothing wear bright colors and let people know you are there.
9. LEARN TO PUSH AND RIDE ON A REGULAR BOARD OR ON THE ELECTRIC BOARD WITHOUT THE POWER ON.
Learning and understanding how to balance on a normal skateboard will improve your Electric skateboarding ability. You might be surprised if you have never stepped on a regular skateboard just how different they feel. Learning to carve and balance without power will improve your riding skills with power.
10.LEARN HOW TO FOOTBRAKE
Electric boards have brakes but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t learn other stopping skills. Foot barking is fundamental to skating and if you don’t have brakes its the safest way to stop. If you have never tried it before here are some simple tips.
Balance on the board with your front foot and lift your back foot off the board. Practice this until you are comfortable lifting you back foot off the board and its not scary anymore. Bring your back foot up next to your front foot hangin off the side of the board. Slowing out your foot down onto the road. In the begging let you foot drag on the road gently without a lot of pressure. Slowly add more pressure over time until you begin to be able to slow yourself down. You don’t want to slam your foot on the ground this will cause your foot to skip on the ground and you will not slow down and might loose you balance. Practice foot braking at slow speeds and work your way up. Ease into the footbrake and don’t press down so hard in the beginning gradually ease into putting more weight on your stopping foot
Knowing how to footbrake can save you if something ever goes wrong and you need extra stopping power.
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