How to get off a hoverboard without falling

It’s really important to learn how to get on and off a hoverboard without falling. It’s not difficult and it could save you a nasty injury. In 2015, there was a Mike Tyson falls off hoverboard story doing the rounds, when the boxer fell off the hoverboard his daughter got for Christmas that year.

The Mike Tyson falling off hoverboard incident went viral on social media – a video clip showed him riding around his house with a massive grin, until the hoverboard got caught up in a rug, which sent him flying.

Mike Tyson hoverboard spinal

Tyson slammed into the floor on the small of his back in the incident and while it looked like a nasty impact on the spine, he managed to dust himself off and emerge with nothing, but a spot of embarrassment.

How to get on a hoverboard without falling

Don’t be like Mike. Take the time to learn how to get on and off your hoverboard without taking a tumble.

Turn the hoverboard on.
Identify your dominant foot – this is the foot you’d use to strike a ball with.
Put your dominant foot on the board first. Do not place it in the middle of the board; place it close to the edge of the board, so that it touches the wheel arch.
Do not lean forward or move. Stand up straight and find your centre of gravity.
Place your left foot on the board, in a similar position to the right.
The faster you do this, the less likely it is that the hoverboard will move from under your feet.

You can watch a video here with instructions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38NR0OOcNm8

How to get off a hoverboard without falling

Getting off the board is trickier than getting on, but don’t panic – you’ll soon get the hang of it. You need to dismount from the back of the board, never get off via the front.

Bring the hoverboard to a halt.
Stand up straight and maintain your balance.
Quickly place your dominant foot on the ground, followed by the other foot.
Do this as fast as you can.

Hoverboard falls

In 2015, UK comedian Stan Boardman also fell off a hoverboard and broke his wrist at the age of 78 when he was using his grandson’s hoverboard. Perhaps the moral of this story is that adults should stay away from kids’ hoverboards!

Hoverboard falls do happen, but you can eliminate the risk by doing the following:

Don’t ride too fast
Avoid bumps, potholes etc
Only try tricks if you are an experienced rider
Make sure you are familiar with your centre of gravity and feel confident on the board before you move at any speed
Always wear protective clothing, such as a helmet and kneepads
Never attempt to ride a faulty hoverboard
Make sure there are no trip hazards if you are riding indoors

Don’t let this put you off as lots of people ride their hoverboards without ever sustaining an injury.