Gas powered off road skateboards were introduced in 1975 and have become synonymous with riders looking for that extra adrenaline rush you get with higher speed.
Much like regular off-road skateboards, riding a gas-powered off-road skateboard has rules. You have to pay close attention to the basics as well as safety.
If you are in the market for a gas-powered off-road skateboard and are interested in getting the most out of it, here are some tips that will give you a better idea of how to ride a gas-powered off-road skateboard and enjoy it to the fullest.
What is a Gas Powered Off Road Skateboard?
Let’s look at what a gas-powered off-road skateboard is and how you can use it to its maximum potential.
As the name suggests, a gas-powered off-road skateboard is an off-road skateboard powered by gas. It’s very similar to a regular off-road skateboard, with the stark difference being that you don’t have to rely on the normal kick-push leg action to gain momentum.
Depending on the kind of gas-powered off-road skateboard you buy, you have a wide array of power options at your disposal. For the most part, you will find that a typical gas-powered skateboard has most, if not all, of the following components:
- Centrifugal toe-clutch
- A chain (it’s also chain driven)
- Single-cylinder (air-cooled)
- 52cc 2-stroke engine
This is enough power for the rider to cruise along at a reasonable and controllable speed.
See also: our pick of the best electric skateboards
How to Ride a Gas Powered Skateboard?
Riding a gas-powered off-road skateboard is a lot like riding any skateboard, with the single exception that a gas-powered skateboard can achieve a high speed and requires a bit more control. If you are going to take on this challenge, there are a few things you need to know about riding one of these speedsters.
How to Accelerate
One of the biggest differences that you will notice about a motorized skateboard is that acceleration doesn’t require you to kick and push. Nor does it require the rider to tuck in their body when they want to pick up speed. It is more like riding a motorcycle. To accelerate, you only need to press the handheld trigger throttle.
The trick is to practice doing this before going at full speed. It’s advisable to ease into the acceleration as well as speed. Don’t be too eager to see how fast your skateboard can go. Instead, take the time to learn the speeds and how to control the skateboard at different speeds and different settings.
As you would expect, there will be some adjusting as your body learns to cope with the changes in speed from start to full throttle. Take the time to learn when your skateboard picks up speed and when it slows down.
See how your body reacts and find a way to make these transitions smoother before you can get from start to full throttle immediately. The trick is to start slowly and ease into the speed.
Learn How to Brake
Learning how to brake is crucial since this kind of skateboard travels at a much higher speed than what you might be used to. Note that on most gas skateboards, the hand-held brakes work almost instantly. That means that if you are traveling at 25 mph and you clamp down on the brakes, you will come to an almost instant stop, which is most likely going to throw you off the skateboard.
Learning how to brake on these boards takes practice. You must learn the distance between the time you hit the brakes and when your gas skateboard comes to a complete stop. Once you have that, you need to learn how to give yourself enough distance to brake comfortably.
Giving yourself enough braking room will bring you to a slow and steady stop, which is much smoother than coming to a sudden stop, which could result in a wipeout and cause problems on rough terrain.
Ride Relaxed
Riding a skateboard, any skateboard, is all about remaining relaxed and fluid. Both your mind and your body need to remain relaxed. If you are tense, you are more likely to make sudden and jerky movements that interrupt the smooth motion of riding your skateboard and might lead to wipeouts.
Learn how to keep your mind and body relaxed throughout the entire experience. This way, your body will guide the skateboard in a fluid and smooth manner.
Even as you do so, remember to stay focused on the road so that you can anticipate any turns or when you need to accelerate, decelerate, or even come to a complete stop.
Hold the Correct Posture
Just as it’s important to ride relaxed, holding the correct posture is also quite crucial to having control over your board. The right stance calls for you to stand with your lead foot almost at the front of the board, while your back foot should be square with your hips. Both feet should be about shoulder-width apart.
Wear the Right Protective Gear
Protective gear is essential when skateboarding. You must wear protective gear, and it is even more important when riding a gas-powered skateboard that can go way past the 25 mph mark on rough terrain or gravel. Your protective gear should include:
- A reliable and sturdy helmet that fits snugly
- Knee pads
- Elbow pads
- Shoulder pads
- The right kind of footwear (fully covering your feet)
Finally, there are other tips and tricks, such as learning how to fall off your gas skateboard, because falls are inevitable. Riding a gas-powered skateboard isn’t that difficult to learn.
The principles are pretty much the same as when riding a traditional or electric skateboard, except that this one is much faster, and you don’t need to kick and push to accelerate.