The 3 types of wheelchair wheelie, and how to do each one.

A wheelchair wheelie is the skill of balancing a manual wheelchair on its two rear wheels with the front casters lifted off the ground. There are three types: the bunny hop, the high wheelie and the back-wheel balance. Each one has its own technique and real-world uses.

How to pop a wheelie in a wheelchair.

To pop a wheelie, place your hands at about 10 o'clock on the handrims. Roll back slightly, then push both handrims sharply forward to 2 o'clock. Your front casters will lift off the ground. These tips make the difference between finding the balance point and missing it:

• Keep a loose grip. You feel the balance point through your hands. Grip too tight and you can't feel it.
• Use a backward rock. Roll back slightly first, then push forward straight away. It takes far less effort than pushing from a dead stop.
• Let your weight go back. On take-off, resist the instinct to lean forward. Settle your weight into the seat.
• Start with a spotter. Have someone stand behind you. You get confidence and safety at once.
• Check your tyre pressure. Soft or uneven tyres make the pop sluggish and the chair unpredictable.

The 3 types of wheelchair wheelie.

Not all wheelies are the same. Think of these as a progression, with each one building on the last.

Type 1: the bunny hop.

A quick, small lift of the casters to clear a crack in the pavement, a doorway threshold or a low kerb. You're not holding a balance point. You pop up and land back down in one fluid motion.

This is the entry-level skill and the one you learn first. The bunny hop is the basic pop, applied with purpose.

When to use it: uneven pavement, door thresholds, small raised edges, and stones or twigs that would catch the casters. Use it for anything that needs a brief lift rather than a sustained balance.

Type 2: the high wheelie.

The technique is the same as the bunny hop, just more of it: more lean, more force, more height. The casters come up higher, and the front of the chair is briefly in the air before it lands.

You're still not holding a balance point. This is a pop with more commitment.

When to use it: standard kerb heights, dropping down a step or raised surface, and obstacles too high for a bunny hop.

Type 3: the back-wheel balance.

This is the full wheelie. You're balanced on the rear wheels with the casters completely off the ground, and you can hold it. You're not limited to a second; you can stay there for as long as you need.

It takes the most practice and gives you the most back. Everything above leads here.

When to use it: slopes, rough ground, grass, gravel, descending kerbs and carrying items hands-free. Use it anywhere the front casters would catch, sink or drag.

Work through the three types in order. The bunny hop teaches you the pop, the high wheelie teaches you the height, and the back-wheel balance teaches you the hold.

Which wheelie type should I use?

If you're not sure which wheelie fits the situation, use this quick reference.

Real-world uses of wheelies.

Once you've mastered all three types, you'll use them every day.

How to wheelie up a kerb.

This is the high wheelie applied to real terrain. On a very low kerb, a bunny hop is enough.

Approach at a slow roll, not from a dead stop. Pop the wheelie just before your casters reach the kerb edge so they clear it completely. Keep rolling: your rear wheels meet the kerb face and roll up. As they climb, lean forward slightly to bring the casters down gently on the upper surface.

The timing takes a few goes. Start on very small kerbs, 2–3 cm, before moving to standard kerb height. The technique stays the same; only the force of the pop changes with height.

The most common mistake is popping too early. If the casters come down before your rear wheels reach the kerb, you've lost the lift and the momentum. Time the pop so the casters are up as the rear wheels arrive at the kerb face.

How to do a moving wheelie.

A moving wheelie uses the same technique as a stationary one, but it feels different. When you're already rolling, momentum does part of the work. You need less force to lift the casters, which also makes it easier to overshoot.

How to do it:

1. Build up a steady, moderate rolling speed. You don't need to go fast.
2. Start with your hands at about 11 o'clock, slightly further forward than from stationary, because you need less force.
3. Make one firm push from 11 to 2 o'clock. Your momentum carries the front end up.
4. Find the balance point the usual way, with small adjustments between 12 and 1 o'clock.

When to use it: when you're already rolling towards a kerb or rough ground. Stopping to set up and popping from stationary breaks your rhythm and adds effort. Popping on the roll means you arrive at the obstacle already in position. The same applies before a slope: roll towards it, pop into the back-wheel balance while you're still on flat ground, and arrive at the drop already balanced.

How to wheelie down a slope.

Get into the back-wheel balance on flat ground before the slope starts. Keep your weight settled back as the ground drops away, and use small hand movements to control your speed. As the ground flattens at the bottom, lean forward gently to bring the casters down.

This is where the back-wheel balance earns its keep. On a steep slope, if the casters drop, gravity takes over fast. Your weight shifts forward, the chair speeds up and you lose control. The back-wheel balance keeps your centre of gravity over the rear axle, so you manage the descent with small hand adjustments instead of fighting the slope.

The most common mistake is waiting too long to get into the wheelie. Once you're rolling downhill, it's much harder to tip back into position. Get into the hold before the slope, not on it.

Steps for a controlled downhill wheelie:

1. Find your entry point. Pick the flat ground just before the slope starts. This is where you get into the hold.
2. Roll at a controlled pace. Don't stop completely. Rolling slowly into the wheelie is easier than starting from stationary at the edge of the slope.
3. Pop into the back-wheel balance on the flat. Make sure you're holding it before you reach the drop.
4. Test the hold. Spend a second or two making small hand adjustments on flat ground before you commit.
5. Roll forward onto the slope. Let the rear wheels move onto the incline while you keep the balance point.
6. Keep your weight settled back. The slope will pull you forward. Resist it.
7. Use your hands to control speed. Push forward slightly to let the wheels roll, and pull back slightly to slow down. Keep the movements small.
8. On steep slopes, use light brake pressure. A brief squeeze on the handrims between hand movements reduces your speed without disturbing the balance point.
9. Bring the casters down at the bottom. As the ground flattens, lean forward gently, land the casters and carry on rolling normally.

How to wheelie on rough ground, grass and gravel.

Use the back-wheel balance. On rough ground the front casters are the problem. They catch on divots, sink into soft ground and get stuck in gravel. In the back-wheel balance, they're out of the way.

It's harder than wheeling on smooth ground, because the rear wheels have to push through the surface. But it's far easier than pushing through grass on all four wheels.

• Expect to push harder. Soft ground adds resistance, and you'll feel the extra effort from the first stroke.
• Keep the balance point slightly further back than normal. A little more tilt gives the rear wheels more clearance and stops the casters brushing the ground when the terrain rises.
• On gravel, stay loose. Loose stones shift under the rear wheels, so the chair moves around more than usual. Let your hands make the adjustments.
• Build up distance gradually. Start with short patches of a metre or two, bring the casters down, then go again. Crossing a whole lawn comes later.

How to wheelie backwards.

Get into the back-wheel balance first, then push backwards instead of forwards. Rolling backwards tends to pull you forward out of the balance, so you need to correct more actively. Keep your adjustments small.

This is an advanced skill. Build a reliable back-wheel balance going forwards before you try it backwards.

How to do a wheelie spin.

Get into the back-wheel balance. Push one handrim forward while pulling the other back at the same time, so the chair pivots around the rear axle. Keep both movements small so you don't lose the balance point mid-spin. Once your back-wheel balance is solid, a full 360-degree spin is achievable with practice.

Using the wheelie to carry things.

The back-wheel balance gives you something practical: a level lap.

With all four wheels on the ground, your lap tilts slightly forward and things slide off. In the back-wheel balance, that surface levels out. A bag from the shops, a coffee or a laptop, anything you'd normally juggle, becomes manageable.

LapStacker makes it even easier. Its retractable straps hold items securely on your lap while you roll, so your hands stay free for pushing. Once you've tried the combination, it becomes part of how you move through the world.

Frequently asked questions about wheelchair wheelies.

How do you pop a wheelie in a wheelchair?

Place your hands at about 10 o'clock on the handrims. Roll back slightly, then push sharply forward to 2 o'clock, and your front casters will lift. Use small hand adjustments between 12 and 1 o'clock to find and hold the balance point.

What is the easiest type of wheelchair wheelie to learn?

The bunny hop. It uses the same pop as the basic wheelie, but you don't need to hold a balance point. Most people get a usable bunny hop within a week of learning the basic technique.

How long does it take to learn a wheelchair wheelie?

Popping the casters takes 2–3 sessions. The bunny hop takes about a week. The back-wheel balance takes 2–8 weeks of consistent practice, at 10–20 minutes a few times a week.

Do I need to learn all three types?

Not straight away. The bunny hop gets you over most everyday obstacles. The high wheelie and back-wheel balance open up more terrain and more freedom. Work through them in order and add each one when you feel ready.

Can I wheelie up a kerb in any wheelchair?

Most manual wheelchairs can manage a kerb (curb) wheelie. Rigid-frame chairs respond more directly because they flex less, but folding chairs work too. Tyre pressure, seat position and your own technique matter more than the type of chair.

How do I stop myself from tipping on a slope?

Get into the back-wheel balance before you reach the slope, not on it. Once you're in the hold, keep your weight settled back and resist the instinct to lean forward. Control your speed with small hand movements rather than by shifting your body weight.

Is the back-wheel balance safe on steep slopes?

With practice, yes. Start on gentle inclines before anything steep. The back-wheel balance gives you far more control on a descent than rolling on all four wheels, but you need a solid hold before you take it onto serious terrain.

Can I do a wheelie in a power wheelchair?

No. Power wheelchairs are too heavy, and their design doesn't allow it. This guide is for manual wheelchairs only.

How do you spot someone learning to wheelie in a wheelchair?

Stand directly behind the chair with your hands ready at the push handles, close enough to catch but not in the way. Your job is to be there, not to help. Let the learner push, find the balance and fail without getting hurt.

When they tip too far back, step back slightly and lower the chair to the ground in a controlled way. Trying to stop the fall completely puts strain on both of you. As their confidence builds, stand gradually further back so they get used to the balance point without a safety net right behind them.

Why master wheelchair wheelies?

Mastering these skills changes more than how you move. It changes what you expect from the world around you, and what you expect from yourself. Read 3 reasons you should master a wheelie in your wheelchair.

About the author.

Adaptdefy is a wheelchair accessories and education brand founded by wheelchair users, for wheelchair users. Our mission is to solve everyday, real-world problems for the adaptive community. We believe knowledge, innovation and community can help you adapt, defy and thrive, whatever your situation.

Adaptdefy grew out of lived experience. Mike Brown sustained a T10 complete spinal cord injury in 2012, and he has spent more than a decade since building practical knowledge of wheelchair skills, adaptive techniques and the daily realities of wheelchair life.

Adaptdefy's flagship product, LapStacker, is the world's first and only patented retractable carry system for wheelchairs. Mike developed it to solve a problem he ran into every day, and it's now used by wheelchair users in more than 40 countries.

Mike has built a team of Adaptdefiers who write for the Adaptdefy blog, covering wheelchair skills, techniques, gear and independence from their own experience of wheelchair life. All in pursuit of helping you live a greater than life.