By: Simon
So ya love skateboarding, but still haven't mastered the ollie? Having problems landing your kickflip? Why not and he'll get an answer for you.
Hey Simon,
How do I do a manual. I can't seem to balance on the back wheels without losing my board.
sk8ndude6767
Hey sk8ndude6767
Learning to manual on the back wheels of
a skateboard is a lot like learning to pop a wheelie
on a bicycle. It isn't super hard to learn - it just takes
good balance and
lots of practice.
How To Manual - Helpful Tips
Since learning to manual is all about keeping your balance, there's a pretty good chance that at some point you'll lose your balance and fall. There's also a very good chance your board will shoot out in front of you and you'll fall back and smack your head - so wear a helmet while you're learning to manual (and any other time you skateboard).
Where you place your feet on the board is one of the most important parts of manualing. You should have your back foot covering most of the tail of your skateboard, and the ball of your front foot behind your front trucks.
When you start your manual, you should have lots of flat ground to practice on. A skate park, a long smooth driveway, a flat parking lot or a long stretch of sidewalk is ideal. Just make sure the surface is flat and pretty smooth.
Get yourself going at a pretty good speed on your board and slowly shift your weight toward your back foot, while you slowly lean a little forward. DO NOT lean backward - as this will almost certainly cause you to wipe out. Lean your upper body toward the nose of your skateboard, while you shift your weight to the back foot. This is a bit tricky and you'll feel like you're losing your balance, so hold your arms out for extra balance, just like if you were walking on a tightrope.
Once your manual is done, shift your weight back to your front foot and put the front wheels down.
Once you've got your manual mastered, try seeing how long you can go for - some pros can manual for 200 feet or more! You can also try manualing with just one foot or attempt a manual off a curb. Remember: it's all about balance and lots of practice.
Do you need some cool skateboarding tips?, to Simon. He might not no everything, but he's been skating for a while and certainly knows more than your Mom does. Remember: never push mongo, and always wear a helmet.
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