How to Ollie Trick Tip

This is the basis of skateboarding and without it you can't do anything. I suggest you take lots of time learning this trick because it's used in everything you do.

1.) Find an area that's smooth and easy to roll on. Now crouch down and put your front foot in the middle of your board and your back foot on the tip of the tail.

2.) Snap the tail down hard and jump up, sliding your front foot up sideways on the board. This makes your shoe grab the griptape and pull the board upwards.

3.) Bring the board up with you bending your knees.

4.) Extend your legs and land the Ollie.

Tip: Sometimes it's easier to try the ollie when you're not moving. I find it works best in some grass because the board won't move at all and you can concentrate on sliding your foot up the board and getting good height.

Well, the flatground ollie was invented by none other than Rodney Mullen way back in the 70's. It was a flatground variation of the already existing aerial ollie, done in pools and ramps. The purpose of the ollie is to get all four wheels, essentially your entire board along with your body, off of the ground without using your hands. The ollie is arguably the most basic "trick" in skateboarding and is used as a base for almost all advanced tricks in street skating. Since most later tricks include the ollie in some way, shape, or form, the learning and mastering of it is an essential tool.

Once you have learned the basics, ie. regular/goofy, mongo/non-mongo, nose/tail, fakie/nollie, find which things you are most comfortable with. Ride around on the street for a bit to get used to the feel of your board and skating. You should learn your tricks, for the most part, moving and not stationary. If you really can't learn them moving then try them stationary. However, I will stress that learning them moving is better in the long run.


Foot Positioning and Motion of Ollie:

You should check around for pictures and such of the position because I will not explain it, merely add to it. Remember to line your toes up with the edge of your board. Once your feet are in position there are a couple things to remember. While you will pop with your toes, be sure to keep both feet flat on the board in such a way that you can instantly shift your weight to your toes. For those uncertain of what the ollie motion is, i will give you a comparison. Stand on the ground with your feet shoulder width apart and and parallel to each other. Now raise the heel of your back foot (the one on the tail) off of the ground slightly (about an inch). Stand on your back toes and then jump, that is a representation of the pop. Get both you feet flat again. Now take your front foot and bend the ankle so that the bottom of your shoe is kind of facing your back foot. While bent, raise your whole foot off of the ground about a foot and a half. Remember this position. Take your skateboard and tilt it onto it's tail so that everything but the back truck and tail is off of the ground. It should look like this... rest of board--> \_ <--tail. Now put your foot on the tail, it may already be on to hold the tilt. Take that weird tilted position that you had your front foot in and put that around the front bolts of your board. Your back foot should now be on the tail and the side of your font should should be scraping along the griptape near the bolts. Note that the bottom of your front shoe should not be touching anything. Now slowly slide your front foot up the board until you meet the nose. That represents the slide.


Execution:

1. Get to a comfortable speed.
2. Bend your knees to about the same height you would if your were jumping up to reach the cereal.
3. Now start to "jump" back up. As your body rises, shift your weight to your back foot and pop down. (You'll want to put the weight on the top part of you shoes, from the ball of your big toe to the tip. While you want to put your weight on your toes, keep your entire foot flat on the tail until the very moment you pop.)
4. Let the board pop, then slide your foot up the board. (You'll want to aim for the nose) While sliding, make sure your back foot is also coming up. Otherwise, it will prevent the board from leveling out.
5. With your back foot out of the way, make sure you use enough pressure with your front to level the board out. Try to slightly push down when your front foot reaches the nose. When you level out the board and as your falling back down, slowly extend your legs and land. Be careful not to extend too fast or you will "push" your board into the ground. (Make sure you bend your knees upon landing to absorb the shock and to prevent the board from shooting out under you.) simple, eh?

Note: I have always said that the "pop" is just a one-footed jump into the air. Your back foot is resting on the tail. When you bend down, the tail goes down as well. When the tail reaches the ground you are simply shifting your weight and jumping with your back leg. At this point, Newton's Laws kick into effect and the board shoots into the air. Keep this in mind whenever i say the word "pop".


Common Problems:
My board keeps shooting out in the air. Problem Areas: Step 3
The problem is that you're leaning slightly (or more so) towards your back leg before your pop. Try to keep your weight balanced directly over the board as you bend your knees. Only as you're going back up do you shift your weight to you back legs. Do NOT lean back to shift your weight, just push down with your back leg. If you can, try to pop down while leaning forward to get used to not leaning backwards.

The board always lands behind me. Problem Areas: Step 1,3
Two reasons here. Either you're going too fast (slow down, you're a beginner) or you're popping wrong once more. Try to pop straight down and not pop backwards in any way. You may also be trying to slide your foot before the board can fully pop. All i can say is to watch some videos and try to learn the timing.

The board keeps flipping. Problem Areas: Foot Positioning, Step 4
Try hanging your heel off of the edge more and angle your toes towards the nose a bit more too. Also remember that it is a variation of your ollie, therefore, you have to drag your foot to bring your board up higher as well as turning it. Slide your foot to increase height and to level out the board before flicking. If the board has more time before hitting the ground again, the board has more time to spin.

My nuts hurt. Problem Areas: Step 4
You're not dragging your foot. Basically, your trying to kick the nose without dragging and your missing the board. Also make sure you put a slight downwards pressure to level out the board, the last thing you want is to get nutted (or clitted, which is ten times worse girls).

I keep doing a pop-shuvit. Problem Areas: Step 3
You are pushing down and back with you back foot. Keep your foot flat, right in the middle of the tail. Pop STRAIGHT DOWN and continue with the trick. Do not set your foot on the front edge of the tail or the board will be pressured into a spin. The tip of your shoe should not pass the edge and the ball of your foot should be in the middle of the tail.

I keep doing a sexchange/my feet land one on each side of the board. Problem Areas: General
Keep your shoulders parallel to the board throughout the trick. You are not trying to turn your body, that's for a later trick.

I always land one-footed. Problem Areas: Mental
You simply aren't committing. Force yourself to land on the board and don't be afraid to fall. Visualize yourself landing it and do it. If you want, wear some pads to help you lose your fear of falling and take them off when you can do them better. Play mind games such as thinking of some extravagant reward for landing it. Also remember that the board is only and inch or two high. It's really not much of a fall, tripping at school can hurt more than a messed up ollie.

The nose always slams on the ground or out into the air. Problems Areas: Step 4
You are simply flicking or kicking the middle of the nose. Be sure to slide your foot and to drag it along to get it higher. Use the griptape, that's what it is there for. You should try to drag your foot so that the board "grips" on and follows it up. When you reach the nose, use some downwards pressure to finish leveling the board out. Don't try to karate-kick the nose.

My ollies look ugly. Problem Areas: Step 4
Practice. If you can do them then your getting closer. After you learn how to do them, the only thing left to do is practice and master them. As you get better and build more leg muscle your ollies will get higher, cleaner, and look more natural and effortless.

When I try to ollie up/down something, my board goes in front of/behind me. Problem Areas: Step 3, General
Try to keep your body equally balanced. You are either leaning too far forward and leaving your board behind when you pop, or leaning too far back and throwing your board in front of you with your back leg. Stand off of your board and do a squat, if your leaning too much on one leg then focus on fixing that.

How can i get them higher? Problem Areas: Step 3 and Inexperience
Simple here. Pop harder and adjust your foot to get a better drag. You can't expect too much when your just learning them. Just keep practicing them and they'll get better. As you gain more leg muscle and learn how to use said muscle, you will be able to pop harder and jump higher. Also remember that your ollies won't be much if your not jumping as high as you can.

I keep doing a no-comply. Problem Areas: Step 3
You are putting to much weight on your front foot when your popping. It'll feel like dead weight and just drop to the ground when you pop. Remember to shift your weight to your back leg just before the pop and continue with the trick.

I do toe-touchs when I do them. Problem Areas: Step 4
Your karate-kicking with your front foot. Similar to ollie norths, you keep sliding your foot past the nose. Try to stop before your foot passes and put some pressure to level out in the air. Be sure to drag the board with you too.



Closing:
This really is a simple trick and when you get better, you will be amazed that learning how to ollie was so hard. It's a simple enough manipulation of Physics and Newton's Laws taking place in a very short period of time. Since it happens so fast, you have to learn to be able to focus on everything your body and board is doing at any given moment. It seems hard but really becomes second nature if you practice. At one point in time, you will wake up and, for whatever reason, something will just "click". Keep in mind that it's really like a parlor trick that can be learned by any healthy person. Spend time doing them and try not to waste a lot of time between them. Hope this helps, if you read it all carefully it should. A five minute read is very worth it so don't cheat. Try reading this for more tips on the skater himself and feel free to add some.

Hey... go skate. By giantsfan7791