The most common question we get before a first tour isn't about the route or the scenery — it's some version of "what do I actually need to do to get ready for this?" If you've never stood on a board of any kind, here's exactly what to know, wear, and expect.
What to wear
Closed, comfortable shoes. Trainers are ideal. Sandals, flip-flops, and open-toed shoes of any kind aren't safe on a moving board and most operators, us included, won't let you ride in them. If you only bring one pair of "activity" shoes on your trip, this is what they're for.
Clothes you can move in. You don't need technical or sporty clothing specifically, but anything that restricts bending your knees or shifting your weight will make balancing harder than it needs to be. Jeans are fine; anything very tight or very loose and flowing is less ideal.
A light jacket, even if it's warm when you start. This matters especially for mountain routes, where temperature and weather can shift quickly with altitude. Layers you can take off are safer than being caught out with nothing to put on.
Sunscreen, applied before you arrive rather than packed to apply later — you'll be outside for the full duration of the tour, often at a time of day when it's easy to underestimate sun exposure.
What to bring
- Sunscreen (see above)
- A light jacket or layer
- A water bottle, if your tour doesn't provide one
- Your phone, if you want your own photos in addition to the guide's — though most tours, ours included, provide GoPro photos and video as part of the package, so you're not required to film yourself while learning to balance
What not to bring
Leave heavy bags, large cameras, or anything you'd be upset to drop behind, or ask your guide before the tour whether there's somewhere secure to store them. You need your hands and attention free, particularly during the training portion.
What actually happens if you've never stood on a board before
This is the part that puts most first-timers at ease once they hear it clearly: you are the normal customer, not the exception. Most guests on a guided electric longboard tour have never stood on a skateboard, longboard, or anything similar in their lives. Every properly run tour opens with a training session on flat, quiet ground specifically because of this — you're not expected to arrive already knowing how to balance.
The training typically covers:
- Getting comfortable standing on the stationary board — finding your foot position and centre of balance before anything moves.
- Learning the remote — how much pressure translates to how much speed, and how the brake feels.
- Slow, controlled movement on flat ground, with your guide right next to you.
- Building up speed gradually, only once you're steady, before the group moves on to the actual route.
Because the board is remote-controlled rather than push-powered, the learning curve is closer to a Segway or hoverboard than to traditional skateboarding — you're managing balance and steering, not propulsion, which is the part that normally takes people the longest to learn on a regular board.
What if you fall?
It's uncommon, specifically because tours start on flat ground at low speed and build up only once you're steady. But falls can happen, which is why full protective gear — helmet and pads — should be standard on any tour you book, worn from the first minute rather than treated as optional. A properly run tour also keeps the group pace matched to whoever is least confident, so nobody feels pushed to go faster than they're ready for just to keep up.
The night before
There's genuinely not much to prepare. Sleep normally, eat normally, and don't overthink it — the training session exists precisely so you don't need to arrive with any skill already in place. Show up in the right shoes, bring a light layer, and let the guide do the rest.
Ready to book?
We run two private electric longboard routes out of Funchal — the Coastal Tour and the Mountain Tour — both open to complete beginners, with full training included and groups capped at 3 people.
About the author
Diogo Gomes is the founder and lead guide of Eboard Madeira Adventures. He runs the training session for every single guest personally, beginner or not.