Yeah it must be your char that determines skill level... Im a lvl 17 Half-Orc Necromancer and my learning skill is level 1191... All my other skills are huge as well
Sorry for the double post but to answer KingUbuntu's question... to do tricks you use keys 1 - 5... Its explained in the tips bubble on the hilltop choice menu
If you complete a jump, when the page comes up that shows you what you got for the jump instead of pressing continue go up the top and press return to hill top over and over again and you keep getting money... Good glitch if you get bored of the game but want to see it end