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Riding a 'hoverboard' in heels was way harder than I thought

Don't scoff, ladies and gents. Staying upright takes more muscle work than you might expect.

Jessica Dolcourt Senior Director, Commerce & Content Operations
Jessica Dolcourt is a passionate content strategist and veteran leader of CNET coverage. As Senior Director of Commerce & Content Operations, she leads a number of teams, including Commerce, How-To and Performance Optimization. Her CNET career began in 2006, testing desktop and mobile software for Download.com and CNET, including the first iPhone and Android apps and operating systems. She continued to review, report on and write a wide range of commentary and analysis on all things phones, with an emphasis on iPhone and Samsung. Jessica was one of the first people in the world to test, review and report on foldable phones and 5G wireless speeds. Jessica began leading CNET's How-To section for tips and FAQs in 2019, guiding coverage of topics ranging from personal finance to phones and home. She holds an MA with Distinction from the University of Warwick (UK).
Expertise Content strategy, team leadership, audience engagement, iPhone, Samsung, Android, iOS, tips and FAQs.
Jessica Dolcourt

This is me riding a "hoverboard" (as we're calling it even though it doesn't actually hover). In heels. And guess what? It was way harder than I thought.

About 10 minutes before he snapped this photo, my colleague Sean Hollister (aka Hoverboard Wiz) took me and the wheeled gadget to CNET's basement level, where I kicked off my 2.5-inch shoes to master the basics of mounting, dismounting and moving around without going splat.

In general, it took some ankle and ab work to keep still when I wanted, and to control my speed and direction when gliding or spinning around. Like most movement, you think about what it is you want to do, and your body makes it happen.

When I got cocky enough to zip my 2.5-inch heeled shoes back on, I noticed an immediate difference. The balancing act was immediately harder, my weight weirdly and uncomfortably spread out in either my heel and my toe -- rather than my whole foot. I was slower, shakier, and my body had to work harder to go where I wanted.

It makes sense when you think about it: I went from a whole foot for weight shifting to just two points for weight shifting.

Well, the balls of my feet and heels still feel smooshed from the 20-minute ride around the office, but it was worth it for the fun of spinning in circles and zig-zagging backwards. Next lesson: Taking the thing outdoors.

But maybe this time in flats.