In recent years, electric skateboards have grown in popularity as a fun and efficient way to get around. Are you new to the electric skateboard world, or just looking to improve your skills, this guide will teach you everything you need to know.
We’ll cover the basics, such as how to get on and off the board, how electric skateboards work, how to ride them, and some tips for staying safe on the road.
So whether you’re an experienced Boarder or just getting started, read on for all the info you need to start cruising the streets on an electric skateboard. So read on, and learn how to master this awesome mode of transportation!
How Do Electric Skateboards Work?
An electric motor attached to the underside of a skateboard, along with a battery and controller, provides all the power for riding. The rider controls the board using standard skateboard foot placement. One foot acts as the brake to stop or slow down, while the other is used for pushing off or riding.
How to ride an electric skateboard
Now that you know how an electric skateboard works, learn how to ride one. The process of getting on and off is very similar for any type of skateboard; the only difference comes when you start riding.
How To Get On An Electric Skateboard
1. Your first step should always be to make sure your board is turned off before getting on.
2. Position the board parallel to the ground, with one end close to you and the other near a curb or another obstacle you might need to step over.
3. Place your back foot (heel) next to the front of your board, where there is usually some space between the deck and motor. Your toes should be pointing down the deck towards the front.
4. Place your front foot on top of the front truck, between the width of the wheelbase.
5. Use your weight to situate yourself over the middle of the board, between both wheels, before using your hands to push off and hop onto any part of the deck.
6. Lean forward slightly before using your feet to push yourself up onto the board, and stand normally on the front of the board with both feet planted firmly.
7. Once you’re in position over the board, turn it on by pressing a power button or slider switch near your front foot (often located under the grip tape).
8. Lean forward slightly to get into an upright riding position, and learn how to use your remote control.
9. To learn how to brake or stop the board once you’re moving, lean backward with both feet pressed against the front of the board (again, under the grip tape). This will slow down or halt your motion.
10. To learn how to accelerate and go forward once you’re moving, press the throttle on the remote control so that it points towards your back foot.
This will cause the board to go forward at a reduced speed unless you apply more power by pressing down with your front foot as well. If you do this, you can learn how to go very fast.
11. To learn how to brake or stop the board, press the throttle on the remote control so that it points towards your back foot. This will cause the board to go forward at a reduced speed unless you apply more power by pressing down with both feet as well which makes you learn how to brake smoothly.
How To Charge The Battery On Your Electric Skateboard
There are multiple ways to charge an electric skateboard, depending on the make and model, but they mostly involve using a charger cord (similar to what you would use for your phone) to plug the board into an outlet.
If your board uses a battery pack, learn how to take it off and put it back on properly. If you’re not sure how to do this, learn more about the battery system and contact customer service for further instructions.
How To Brake On Your Electric Skateboard
If you’re new to electric skateboarding, learn how to brake before you learn how to accelerate and go forward.
When riding forward, learn how to slow down or stop the board by applying pressure with both feet (using your front foot for power and pressing your back foot down) to press the brake button on your remote control.
If you do this, learn how to apply pressure with one foot while simultaneously pressing the other foot down to learn how to brake without power. This is the method most commonly used.
How To Ride An Electric Skateboard Uphill
Playing near hills or mountains for the first time requires learning how to ride your board uphill.
By shifting your weight towards the front of the board, between both wheels. This will cause the motors to work harder and help you to go uphill faster.
How to Make Sharp Turns On Your Electric Skateboard
Just like with any board, learn how to turn by leaning your weight over one direction or the other. Lean forward slightly on turns if you want to learn how to turn quickly. Lean back slightly on turns if you won’t learn how to turn slowly or stop in place.
How To Learn How To Do An Ollie On An Electric Skateboard
An ollie is a classic skateboarding trick where you jump off the ground with both feet. If you’re new to electric skateboarding, learn how to ollie on a normal skateboard before learning how to learn ollie on an electric skateboard.
- Get your footing right at the edge of the board with your weight spread evenly.
- Shift your weight slightly forward so that you learn how to jump off the front of the board.
- Right before you learn how to jump, lean back slightly with your weight on the back foot (the one behind you).
- At the same time ollie up, or jump off the board with both feet.
- Your front foot ollies up and lands back on the board with both feet at the same time.
- Your front foot to come off the board so that you learn how to continue stepping forward with your front foot, which will push you to ollie up and jump off the board again.
- Continue this motion until you’re where you want to be!
How To Use The Remote Control On Your Electric Skateboard
The remote control is where you learn how to increase or decrease speed, learn how to brake, learn how to calibrate the board in case it’s acting up to do tricks. It’s what you hold in your hands when riding that communicates with the board through a radio transmitter.
The remote is simple to use. It has a power button, speed controls, and some other features which you learn as you get more advanced. From the beginning though here’s all you really need to know:
Power button – Turn on your board by pressing the power button on your remote once. The light on the remote will blink blue three times, which confirms that the board is on and ready to learn how to ride.
Separate power button – To turn off your board, hold the power button down until the light stops blinking. This turns it off completely. It’s important not to simply let go while riding because you could lose connection with your board and a safety feature will take over and break automatically.
Speed controls – Learn how to place your foot on the right spot before starting or while riding so you learn to accelerate and decelerate smoothly. The placement of the speed controls will differ from model to model, but they’re always positioned in a comfortable reach for your learning how to ride.
Calibrating accelerometer – To calibrate your board’s ride in case the remote is not responding.
Riding position – Standing still on the board before learning how to ride it. Keep your center of gravity low and centered between each ride while keeping your feet shoulder-width apart until you get more advanced.
The ride may be turned on or off. To turn it off, keep the power button pressed until the ride stops blinking. If your remote isn’t working, you can turn your ride off or on by pressing the power button on the side of the board.
Tips For Beginner Electric Longboard Riders
- Choose the right skateboard for your needs
- Start by practicing in an open, empty space
- Get comfortable with balancing on the skateboard before moving on to anything else
- Learn how to stop – this is an important skill that will help keep you safe
- Be patient and take your time – don’t try to do too much too soon
- Signal your turns and stops so that drivers know what you’re doing
- Stay visible to drivers by wearing bright colors and using lights when riding at night
- Wear the proper safety gear, including a helmet, knee pads, and elbow pads
- Practice braking in a safe area, such as an empty parking lot, before hitting the streets
- Get comfortable on your bike before trying any tricks or stunts
Electric Skateboarding Tricks – Learn Some New Moves Today
Boarding on an electric skateboard is just like boarding on a regular skateboard. However, there are some tips you should learn before taking off to ensure that your ride is enjoyable and safe.
Electric skateboards are designed to be easily rideable. They feature hub motors that provide smooth acceleration without jerks or sudden movements which can throw you off balance.
However, this doesn’t mean that they are foolproof to learn on. You will still need some practice before you learn how to carry the board on your shoulder, jump over curbs, and learn some fancy tricks.
To learn how to carry the skateboard with one hand, place your dominant foot on its nose and allow it to roll a few inches forward. Grasp the tail of the board firmly in your non-dominant hand and lift it off of the ground until you can comfortably balance it on your shoulder.
Below is a list of tips for getting on and off the board, as well as how to learn some basic boarding techniques to impress your friends!
- Push + Turn: Push forward with your back foot, and turn the front of your board towards you as you push (this should feel like pushing a shopping cart).
- Kickturn: Done like a regular ollie, but rather than lifting your back foot off the board once you’ve ollied, kick it back down to turn around (it should almost feel like kicking a door closed behind you).
- Bunny Hop: At speed, lift both feet off of the board and place them back down in quick succession (again, it should feel like kicking a door closed). Then place your front foot back on the board and ride away.
- 180: At speed, lift your front foot off of the board and turn 90° in either direction (it should feel like turning around in a chair). Your tail will now be facing in the opposite direction.
- 360: At speed, lift both feet off of the board and spin it once around its vertical axis (it should feel like turning a steering wheel one full turn). Your tail will now be facing back where you came from.