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beginner // manuals

Nose Manual

Also known as Nose Manny

The reverse of a manual — balancing on the front two wheels with the tail lifted in the air.

The Nose Manual is a beginner Manuals trick. Most skaters land their first one within 3-8 weeks of consistent practice.

N

Spec

Difficulty
beginner
Complexity
Learn time
3-8 weeksⓘ
Category
Manuals
Stance
regular

Your progress

Steps

  1. 1

    Approach and set up

    Roll at a comfortable speed. Place your front foot over the nose bolts and your back foot near the middle of the board.

    Force
    ●○○○○
    Direction
    forward
    Weight
    centered
    TipHaving your back foot slightly more forward than a regular stance helps with control.
  2. 2

    Press onto the nose

    Push down on the nose with your front foot to lift the tail off the ground.

    Force
    ●●●○○
    Direction
    forward
    Weight
    front
    TipUse a controlled push — not a stomp. The tail should rise smoothly.
  3. 3

    Balance and roll

    Find the narrow balance point with the tail about 2–3 inches up. Use micro-adjustments in your back foot to prevent nose-diving.

    Force
    ●●○○○
    Direction
    forward
    Weight
    front
    TipLean very slightly forward to maintain the angle.
  4. 4

    Exit cleanly

    Shift your weight back to bring the tail down level.

    Force
    ●●○○○
    Direction
    back
    Weight
    centered
    TipThe exit is harder than the entry. Practice just the exit motion first.

Common mistakes

Can't get the tail up

What
You press on the nose but the tail doesn't lift.
Why
Not enough commitment — weight isn't actually over the nose.
Fix
On flat ground, practice pressing the nose down deliberately until you feel the balance point.

Nose hitting the ground

What
The nose slams into the ground mid-manual.
Why
Lost back foot counterbalance — too much weight on the front foot.
Fix
Keep your back foot active as a counterweight at all times, not just resting.

Common problems

The tail slams immediately — I can't even get to balance

Why
Too much forward lean — you're past the nose balance point before you find it.
Fix
Shift weight forward incrementally. Find the tipping point just before the tail lifts completely and hold there. Your front foot pressure controls everything.

I can nose manual but can't get in or out cleanly

Why
Entry and exit require weight shifts that break the nose manual balance.
Fix
Practice stationary first — just hold the nose manual. Then work entry/exit separately. Getting in: ollie slightly forward. Getting out: pop the tail back down with a small ollie.

My nose scrapes every time instead of staying up

Why
You found the balance point but the scraping means you're right at the edge, not on top of it.
Fix
Find the balance point half an inch further back from where the nose would scrape. Use the sound as feedback — scraping means you're too far forward.

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Why this works

The mechanics behind the trick

Board
The nose manual uses the nose as the fulcrum. The front trucks bear all the weight while the tail lifts. Your back foot is the counterbalance that prevents nose-diving.
Feet
Your front foot controls the angle of the nose — more pressure lifts the tail higher. Your back foot is the crucial fine-tuner that prevents the nose from slamming into the ground.
Weight
This is harder than a manual because the balance window is narrower — the nose plate is smaller than the tail, giving you less margin for error.

Frequently asked

How long does it take to learn a Nose Manual?
Most skaters land their first nose manual within 3-8 weeks of consistent practice, once you can manual consistently.
What should I learn before the Nose Manual?
The nose manual builds on Manual. Get that consistent first, since the nose manual reuses the same pop, balance, or flick.
Is the Nose Manual hard to learn?
The nose manual is a beginner trick. It gets much easier once you can already manual.

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