Sumit Chakrabarti

Blog – Hoverboards/Electric Skateboards Hoverboard or Electric Skateboard? Take Your Pick for Fun Rides! Did you remember the 1989 Hollywood flick “Back to the Future II,” particularly the hoverboard chasing scene when the main character was trying to get away from the bad guys? The hoverboard was floating in the air. It was a path-breaking movie that actually gave inspiration to several companies to produce hoverboards! We will come back to it later again. You may prefer skateboards over hoverboards and always watched slack-jawed, those gravity-defying flipping through the air and great control that skateboarders show on TV. As if the riders are attached to their skateboards with superglue! Remember that doing those stunts needs a lot of practice, and second, they can cause serious injuries. What about safer and more hassle-free options such as electric skateboards? Let’s take a look at both these small yet power-packed riding machines. Hoverboards Earlier we talked about hoverboards in “Back to the Future II,” and how it paved the way to some ideas. The result? Companies like Lexus and Hendo came up with hoverboards for the first time. Those hoverboards had magnets, a supply of liquid nitrogen, and magnetic track. However, it was still far from the reality. Hendo, on the other hand, made a hoverboard worked based on the magnetic levitation principle. To ride it, you non-ferromagnetic metal surfaces. Now, let’s talk about more real-life hoverboards that you can use every day. These motorized hoverboards have been a major revelation and provide a smoother riding experience than bicycles or traditional skateboards. You don’t have to push every time when riding. If you are a newbie, riding a non-motorized hoverboard is particularly difficult when riding uphill. In comparison, riding the motorized ones feels like smooth sailing, despite all the potholes, bumps, and crazy traffic on the roads. Quality hoverboards got an average speed of 6-10 mph with varying features such as LED lights, all-terrain wheels, Bluetooth speakers, two-speed settings and so on. Pick one, and you will get yourself an alternate mode of transportation to college, workplace or when heading out just for a fun ride. Electric Skateboards Skateboards or regular longboards are typically made of Maplewood along with a polyurethane coating to make them durable. Electric skateboards are the results of advanced technology, thanks to Louie Finkle, who invented the wireless electric skateboard in the 1990s. These skateboards got an electric motor and a radio frequency (RF) remote. No matter if you ride a regular longboard or electric stakeboard, for both you need to do some balancing, stopping and accelerating. Balancing is more important in the hilly areas where roads are pretty steep, or else you may get thrown off. However, the technology used in the electric skateboards can make your rides easier with handheld remote control to manage speed. Good quality electric skateboards can notch up nearly 25 miles per hour and climb hills without having you to sweat out. You can pick a quality stuff and use it as a multipurpose ride machine -- for everyday work, shopping, weekend getaway, shopping and more. With that kind of speed who need a car? When buying an electric skateboard, keep in mind a few available options such as one motor or two motors, hub motor or pulley motor, thumb or trigger remote control. If you live in a place with lots of steep roads, it’s better buying a skateboard with gear/pulley motor because hub motor can’t give you acceleration. Lastly, thumb or trigger control is about your comfort. If you intuitively use thumb or index finger for remote control, pick one that feels natural and gives you great carving experience. Closing Words Before signing off, just a few more words. If you want to go beyond your day-to-day skateboarding for work or hanging out, train well to have more control. If foot-dragging isn’t your thing, practice how to stay on the deck of an electric skateboard, and simply brake when you need to stop. When you are ready, you can test your skill by trying your hand in skateboarding competitions. There are some great competitions such as Red Bull Donner Downhill, Tampa Pro, TWS Come Up Tour, and more. Also, due to the growing popularity of skateboarding, it will be part of the Tokyo Summer Olympics in 2020. That said, amateur or pro, this action sport is always about fun rides. Keep brushing up your maneuvers, meet the need for speed, and stay safe. References: http://www.electricscootersguide.com/differences-between-a-self-balanced-electric-scooter-hoverboard-and-a-skateboard/ http://www.enertionboards.com/21-reasons-why-electric-skateboards-are-better-than-non-electric-skateboards/ http://skatedaily.net/ https://www.choosewheels.com/electric-skateboards-safe/