Skateboarding
Skateboarding
How to manual on a skateboard: A step-by-step guide for beginners
Read ahead for tips on how to manual on a skateboard. Once you become a pro at this vital building block for skateboard tricks, virtually anything is possible.
There’s nothing quite like the excitement of learning a new trick on your skateboard, from grinding down a handrail to mastering the perfect kickflip. As Red Bull skateboarder Zion Wright explains, “Skating is a feeling you can't really describe.”
However, before you can try complex tricks like the 180-degree spin of a frontside air, you need to get comfortable with the fundamentals. One of the most important beginner tricks to practice is the manual. As you shift your weight to one end of the board, you learn to balance with just two wheels on the ground. It's essential for finding your footing and your confidence so that you’re in control when it’s time for more complicated maneuvers.
Read ahead for tips on how to manual on a skateboard.
Red Bull Manny Mania 2022 in Brooklyn, New York
© Lanna Apisukh / Red Bull Content Pool
01
Preparing to manual
The manual is often compared to popping a wheelie on a bike since the focus is staying upright with half your wheels off the ground. If you’re learning how to manual, the right setup can make your first try go a lot smoother. Here’s what you need when getting ready to do a manual (or manny, for short).
Gear
It’s quite common for first-timers to take a few falls when trying to manual. After all, learning how to balance on only part of your board takes time. Think about it like this: Even the pros probably had their board slide out from under them during their first manuals. That’s why it’s so important to pick the right equipment. Coming in with the right gear makes it easier to brush yourself off and get back on the board.
Your choice of skateboard also makes a big difference. In a perfect manual, your nose or tail shouldn’t touch the ground, but you know that perfect takes practice. Pick a skateboard that you feel comfortable on and try to prioritize durability. Keep in mind, your first couple of tries may scratch the nose or tail of the board, but that's normal.
Location
You’ll want a nice, open, flat surface free of any obstacles for your first manual attempt. This will give you plenty of space to get comfortable, and if your board escapes from under you, it should be easy enough to retrieve. Just like for new drivers, an empty parking lot might be the perfect place to practice your manuals. You can even use the parking space markings as your guide to see how far you can hold your manny.
Shredmaster Keith at Red Bull Manny Mania 2022 in Brooklyn, New York
© Jared Sherbert / Red Bull Content Pool
02
Getting into the manual position
Now, it’s time to get those wheels off the ground. The most common way to perform a manual is to put your weight toward the back so that your front wheels hover above the pavement. Here’s what to know for getting into the right stance for liftoff when performing a regular manual.
Roll ahead
Performing a manual requires momentum. You’ll start in your typical skateboarding stance as you move forward. This is where all that open space in your chosen location really makes a difference. Once you’re moving at a reasonable speed, it’s time to get into position.
Find your footing
Next, you need to get your feet in the correct place. If your goal is to achieve liftoff with the front wheels, your weight will shift toward the back. Place your back foot on the tail, or back end of your board, so it’s covering the edge of the board’s tail. At the same time, bend your knees slightly, with your front foot over the board’s front trucks. Then, you’ll work to steadily shift your weight toward the back. Your center of gravity should remain over the board’s center so that you don’t tilt backward.
Tips for keeping your balance
Your upper body plays a big role in helping you stay balanced on the board. If your foot is on the tail of the board, you can curve your upper body toward the front of the board to achieve stability. Keep your shoulders even as you do this. Your body’s balance also depends on cues from your neck and shoulder muscles, so level shoulders can help you maintain your center of gravity. Your eyes also send important signals to your brain that help maintain balance, so you should keep your vision focused too.
Joey Brezinski performs a fakie manual in New York City on June 22nd, 2019
© Jonathan Mehring / Red Bull Content Pool
03
Maintaining the manual
Once you’re balancing on two wheels, the trick is to keep it up until it’s time to land. Here’s some advice for sustaining your manual.
Make small adjustments
As you become attuned to balancing in a manual, you may need to make changes to your weight distribution. If you feel yourself starting to lean back, as is common with beginners, moving your weight forward can balance things out. That said, you don’t want to change your stance too much and end up toppling over in the other direction. Small, subtle adjustments are key to finding your balance.
Don’t lock your knees
Slightly bent knees are your best friend when performing a manual. This bend helps you both maintain your balance and make minor adjustments as you go. From balancing out to steering with your back foot, it’s all much easier if your legs aren’t locked. In other words, it’s all easier with bent knees.
04
Ending the manual
As the saying goes, what goes up must come down. Here’s what to do when you’re ready to wrap up your new trick.
Red Bull Manny Mania 2022 in Brooklyn, New York
© Lanna Apisukh / Red Bull Content Pool
Land safely
Landing on a manual involves lowering the elevated part of your board back down to earth. The trick is to always keep your balance as you change your position. As you shift your weight toward your front foot, a slight bend in the knees makes everything land smoothly. You’ll want to bend your front knee a bit more than the back one, but again, subtle adjustments are better than big moves.
Go again
Once you’ve landed safely, it’s time to try it all over again. The only way to become a pro at manuals is to practice, practice, practice. As you get used to regular manuals, you can expand to other variations of this classic skateboard trick. For instance, a nose manual applies the same balancing concepts. But you’ll shift your weight toward the front so that your rear wheels lift off the ground.
After you get the hang of a typical manual on either end of the board, you can really start to show off, like starting to ollie or kickflip into a manual.
Lay the groundwork for jaw-dropping tricks
If you want to work your way up to skateboarding tricks that turn heads, you have to start with a solid foundation. The manual is a primary part of building that solid base. Learn to master balance and control with a manual, and there’s no limit to what you can try next.
