Before we begin, I must give a disclaimer. If you happen to get hurt while trying to perform a manual, it’s your own fault. You should be wearing all of your safety equipment while practicing this trick, too.
Now that you’ve read the disclaimer, you’re ready to begin. First, be sure to put on your helmet and pads. When a new skater falls, they’re less likely to try doing a trick again. Falling can be a traumatizing experience.
You’re now ready to perform your very first trick: A Manual. Manuals are great tricks because they’re so easy to pull off. If you don’t know what a manual is, it’s very similar to what a wheelie is on a bike.
The manual is somewhat difficult to pull off – it requires a little bit of skill. You’ll want to move your front foot slightly forward on the skateboard to achieve more control. When you have your foot on the front of the deck, lean back a little bit.
Now that you’re leaning back, raise your front foot up. You should see that the board raises with your foot. Don’t raise it too quickly, or you’ll just scrape the tail on the ground.
Now all you have to do is keep your balance. Some people find that sticking their arms out helps them balance. This may or may not work for you, but it’s a good idea to try it out anyway, just to see if it works.
While manualing, you always have to adjust yourself. If you aren’t always slightly adjusting your feet, arms, and body, there’s a high chance that the deck will slip out from under you and you’ll end up on the pavement.
Another cool thing to try is a nose manual. Nose manuals are just like regular manuals, but you pick up the nose and not the tail of the deck. You can perform a nose manual by first setting yourself up properly by scooting forward on the deck.
After you’ve scooted up on the deck, you’ll want to be sure that your front foot is on the very tip of the deck, and your back foot is at or near the bolts in the rear of the board. This should be the perfect position for performing a nose manual.
Since the nose manual is exactly like a regular manual, just follow the instructions for a manual in reverse. Raise your back foot slightly while keeping yourself balanced. The best advice that can be given is this: Don’t fall off!
Now you know how to perform a nose manual and also a regular manual. Don’t forget to use your arms to balance yourself out, and also to keep adjusting your feet to keep yourself on the board. If you can follow these instructions, you’ll be manualling in no time at all!
The Author has been a skateboarder for a very long time. He loves longboarding, trickboarding, and everything in between. If you're looking for an online
skateboard shop after reading this article, feel free to check out
http://www.the-skateboard-shop.com/
