Hang Five

also known as: Hang 5 · One-Foot Nose Wheelie

balance freestyleflatground difficulty 3/10

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roll yaw pitch body

Shown for a regular-footed rider. Teal ring + arrow = the rider's facing direction; teal band = the tail; a dot is where a hand holds the board - bright yellow for the front hand, amber for the back one, which is the whole difference between a mute and an indy. Board and rider rotate independently - each follows its own component. Drag to orbit.

How it works

A one-footed nose wheelie, surfing's hang five translated to pavement: the front foot alone stands on the nose over the front axle while the back leg extends behind or beside the body as a living counterweight. The free leg is the balance mechanism - extending it further back shifts the combined center of mass rearward, raising the nose, and drawing it in does the opposite - so the rider trims the wheelie with leg position as much as ankle pressure. The extended-leg silhouette is one of freestyle's most photographed shapes.

Step by step

  1. Roll at an easy pace and place the front foot centered on the nose.
  2. Shift the hips forward over the front axle until the tail floats up.
  3. Lift the back foot off and extend that leg behind you as a counterweight.
  4. Trim the pitch by sliding the free leg in and out and flexing the standing ankle.
  5. Hold the line, steering with subtle hip and shoulder lean.
  6. Bring the free leg back over the deck, set the tail down, and roll out.

Body mechanics

Front footAlone on the nose directly over the front axle, its ankle making the fine pitch adjustments.
Back footAirborne counterweight: its extension distance is the coarse trim for the wheelie's balance.
ShouldersLevel and square over the standing foot, resisting the twist the extended leg induces.
ArmsSpread wide, the leading arm pointing down the line, closing the balance loop with the free leg.
GazeForward at the run-out; the board's pitch is felt through the standing foot, not watched.