How long does it take to learn a Manual?

Most skaters land their first manual within 2-6 weeks of consistent practice.

Is the Manual hard to learn?

The manual is a beginner trick.

beginner // manuals

Manual

Also known as Manny, Wheelie

Riding on only the back two wheels by balancing with your weight over the tail. The skateboarding equivalent of a wheelie.

The Manual is a beginner Manuals trick. Most skaters land their first one within 2-6 weeks of consistent practice.

Spec

Difficulty: beginner
Complexity
Learn time: 2-6 weeksⓘ
Category: Manuals
Stance: regular

Your progress

Steps

1
Approach at medium speed
Too slow and you'll stall; too fast and you lose control. A comfortable rolling pace is ideal.
Force
●○○○○
Direction
forward
Weight
centered
TipSlightly more speed is better than slightly less — momentum helps with balance.
2
Shift weight to your back foot
Gently press down on the tail to lift the nose. You're not jumping, just shifting your center of gravity backward.
Force
●●○○○
Direction
back
Weight
back
TipThink about it as 'sitting' slightly onto your back foot, not stomping.
3
Find the balance point
The nose should be 2–3 inches off the ground. Use your arms for balance — they're your counterweights.
Force
●●○○○
Direction
back
Weight
back
TipIf nose starts dropping, straighten your front knee slightly. If tail drags, bend it.
4
Maintain and roll
Hold the balance point as long as possible. Your eyes should look forward, not down.
Force
●●○○○
Direction
forward
Weight
back
TipPick a spot in the distance to focus on — staring at the board kills your balance.
5
Set the nose down
Gently shift weight forward to bring the nose down level. Don't slam it — a controlled return is a proper manual.
Force
●●○○○
Direction
forward
Weight
centered
TipCommit to a clean exit. Bailing by stepping off ruins the landing.

The blueprint

Showing foot placement · motion arrows.

Shown for regular stance

Common mistakes

Wobbles and falls

What: The board wobbles side-to-side and you can't control it.
Why: Your feet are too close together, or you're overcorrecting each wobble.
Fix: Keep your feet shoulder-width apart for better lateral leverage. Make smaller, earlier corrections.

Nose drops immediately

What: You can't hold the nose up for more than a split second.
Why: Not enough weight shift back, or front knee is locked straight.
Fix: Make sure you're genuinely shifting your center of mass over the back foot, not just pushing the tail down.

Tail dragging

What: The tail scrapes the ground as you try to manual.
Why: Too much weight on your back foot — you've gone past the balance point.
Fix: Reduce the angle. The nose only needs to be a few inches up. Practice the minimum angle needed.

Common problems

I fall backward off the back of the board immediately

Why: Too much weight on the tail — you've past the balance point.
Fix: Find the pivot point (just before the tail would scrape) and hold it. Micro-adjustments with your front foot keep you balanced. Think of it as standing on a scale that tips — tiny corrections.

My manual only lasts 2-3 feet

Why: You're not maintaining active balance — you hit the point and then freeze.
Fix: Keep your arms out for counterbalance and stay active throughout. Look ahead, not at your feet. The board should feel alive under you, not locked.

I can manual but can't get into it from rolling

Why: Shifting weight back while rolling feels different from stationary. The momentum changes the balance point.
Fix: Start rolling slowly and gradually lean back until you find the balance point. Don't try to pop into it — just shift weight backward smoothly.

Track your progress

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Why this works

The mechanics behind the trick

Board: The manual works because the deck acts as a lever with the tail trucks as the fulcrum. Your body weight behind the front trucks lifts the nose.
Feet: Your back foot does very little — it's just resting. All balance adjustments come from subtle shifts in your front foot's pressure, which acts as a fine counterbalance.
Weight: You need just enough weight over the tail to lift the nose, but not so much that the tail drags. It's a constant micro-adjustment around a narrow balance point.

Frequently asked

How long does it take to learn a Manual?: Most skaters land their first manual within 2-6 weeks of consistent practice.
Is the Manual hard to learn?: The manual is a beginner trick.

Keep going

See where this sits in the skill tree

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Steps

Approach at medium speed

Shift weight to your back foot

Find the balance point

Maintain and roll

Set the nose down