How to Nose Manual (Guide and Video)

The nose manual is a trick that will impress any skater if you can hold it long enough; it is very similar to a tail manual, but you will fly off the board if you lean too much forward.

You can make your lines look more connected by adding manuals and practicing your board control simultaneously. You will need good balance and focus if you want to perform this trick, but that is something you can train by practicing it.

The difference between a nose manual and a tail manual is that you balance on your front wheels and leg instead of your back wheels and leg. It doesn't sound too different, but learning one of them does not mean that you can do the other.

What you need to know before practicing nose manuals

You are probably eager to start practicing immediately, but it is important to get the proper foundation to ensure you don't practice the wrong technique. Luckily there is not much to think about before starting, so let's get into it.

Head position

Your head should be almost directly above your front foot; it is easier to keep your front leg static when you have the correct head placement. Your back foot is there to adjust the weight, but the front foot should be stable, make sure your head stays above your front foot to make this easier for you.

Feet Position (Stance for Nose Manuals)

The feet' position is basically the opposite of a regular manual. Your toes should be placed in front of the center of the nose, and your back foot should be on the hardware.

Some people like to have their front foot further from the edge of the nose, and some like to have them closer; you need to try out both the see what is most comfortable for you.

Find the Right Pressure on the Board

There isn't a set position for everyone since people have different heights, weights, and shapes, but the way to find them is the same.

You should practice at a slow speed when you start. Get in the correct stance and gently put more weight on the front foot; losing your balance backward onto your wheels is much better than falling forward and getting the nose on the ground.

If you shift your weight gently, you can practice without falling and hurting yourself. However, don't be afraid to commit to the trick when you feel like you are in a position with control; you need to use your back foot to keep that position.

Use Your Back Foot to Balance

Having your arm out will help with balance, but your back foot will contribute the most. If you practice on perfectly smooth flat ground, you can find the perfect balance and hold the same position, but most surfaces aren't that nice.

You need to adjust your balance point when bumps or upward/downward angles appear, and you can do this by raising or lowering your back foot. For example, if you go upward, you need to raise it and lower it when going downward.

The balance point shouldn't be the center of your skateboard but the center of your feet.

Look Further Ahead

It is OK to look in front of the nose when you start learning nose manuals, but as you progress and start to master it, you need to look further ahead. You make it easier to do tricks and manual to a destination when you look further ahead; you have more time to think about what you do this way.

How to Practice Nose Manual

You can practice nose manuals anywhere; this is why I love manuals. My favorite way to practice manuals is to cruise around the city, and when I see a different patch of asphalt, I manual over it. So let's look at how you can learn to nose manual longer distances.

Set Distance Goals

Start by marking up a short distance with objects or just spots on the ground that you can see clearly. Put all the tips together and continue trying until you can nose manual from your starting point to the finish.

Always try to push further than your goal, and move the mark further away when you can get to it constantly. There is no need to make it more difficult before you can do it consistently; it is much more fun to be able to see your progress.

Practice on Different Surfaces

The best place to start is on a smooth flat surface; this way, you won't need to adjust your weight much, and you will achieve your goals faster. In addition, this can give you the confidence you need and make it easier to learn the basics.

Practice on rough asphalt as well. It will be much harder to balance since there will be bumps and cracks, but it is essential to master adjusting with your back foot.

The last place you need to practice is up or down hills. If you are in a skatepark, you can practice this by starting on a flat surface, then going into a slanted part. You must learn to adjust quickly to keep your balance, but this will become easy with enough practice.

Conclusion

Practicing nose manuals is almost the same as a regular manual, but be more careful since you can suddenly fall forward.

It is important to have the right stance and head position. Get into the position gently when you practice, and as you get more experience, you don't need to ease into it anymore.

Practice the nose manual on smooth and rough surfaces. When you have learned to do it on flat ground, try to manual down and up small hills.

Set small distance goals to measure your progress, and increase the distance when you can make it consistently. It is important to use safety equipment, especially when learning new tricks; it is easy to lean too much forward and fall, so make sure you are protected and know how to fall correctly.