In this tutorial, we will show you how to create a realistic hoverboard effect similar to the one in Back to the Future using Adobe After Effects. Follow these steps to achieve this iconic visual effect.

**Step 1: Prepare Your Footage**
Record your footage riding a skateboard on the street and a clean plate of the street without the skateboard. If you prefer to use stock footage, download the footage provided in the tutorial. Import your footage into a new composition in Adobe After Effects.

**Step 2: Mask Out the Wheels**

1. Duplicate your skateboard footage layer by selecting it and pressing **Ctrl+D** (Windows) or **Cmd+D** (Mac).
2. Select the top layer and use the **Pen Tool** to create a mask around the wheels of the skateboard. This will isolate the wheels from the rest of the footage.
3. Feather the edges of the mask to blend it smoothly with the background.
4. In the timeline, set keyframes for the mask path to follow the movement of the skateboard, ensuring the wheels are masked out throughout the entire shot.

**Step 3: Remove the Wheels**

1. Apply the **Content-Aware Fill** effect to remove the wheels. Go to **Window** > **Content-Aware Fill**.
2. With the masked layer selected, use the **Content-Aware Fill** panel to fill the masked area with the surrounding street texture.
3. Adjust the settings to ensure the fill blends seamlessly with the background.

**Step 4: Create the Hover Effect**

1. To enhance the hover effect, add a slight shadow beneath the skateboard. Create a new solid layer and position it below the skateboard layer.
2. Use the **Ellipse Tool** to create an oval shape that represents the shadow. Apply a **Gaussian Blur** to soften the edges.
3. Adjust the opacity of the shadow layer to make it look realistic.
4. Animate the position of the shadow to match the movement of the skateboard, ensuring it stays directly below it.

**Step 5: Add Additional Effects**

1. Add any additional effects to enhance the hoverboard effect. For example, you can add a slight glow or futuristic light effects around the hoverboard.
2. Use **Color Correction** tools to match the overall look and feel of the scene.
3. Add motion blur to the hoverboard and shadow layers to enhance the realism of the movement.

**Step 6: Final Adjustments and Render**
Review the entire composition and make final adjustments to the timing, opacity, and effects to ensure the hoverboard effect looks seamless and realistic. Once satisfied, render and export your composition. Go to **Composition** > **Add to Render Queue** and choose the appropriate settings for your final output.

For a detailed, step-by-step guide on creating the Back to the Future hoverboard effect using Adobe After Effects, watch the full video tutorial.