Any lover of skateboarding will tell you that ollie is the fundamental trick of skateboarding. In fact, it is probably the first technique you will learn on the board, ideal for overcoming obstacles, for repositioning yourself on the skate or simply to impress those who look at you. Learn the right foot movements on the board and, with a little practice, you will be able to perform the perfect ollie!
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Practice the Right Movements
Step 1. Start on a soft surface such as grass
The two most important aspects of ollieing are learning the right moves and having confidence in your possibilities. Start practicing on a soft surface like grass or a carpet. This way, the board will stay still while you practice and, if you fall, you won't get hurt like on concrete.
If there are no lawns nearby and you can't practice indoors, find a crack in the sidewalk to rest the rear wheels on. This way, the board will stay still while you train
Step 2. Place your front foot near the center of the board
During the movement, that foot should be your center of gravity, so you should keep it in the center of the skateboard. Place it behind the front wheels, in the center of the board, parallel to the tip.
- The position of the front foot changes the height of the ollie. If it is further back, you will jump higher, but it will be more difficult to perform the movement correctly. If you put it further ahead, you should be able to perform a small jump rather easily. Start with the front foot near the center and move it towards the tail as you become more confident.
- Try to get on the skate alternating the foot you put in front, in order to find the position that you find most natural. There is no single correct technique, so adopt the one that is most congenial to you.
Step 3. Put your back foot right on the tail of the skate
Line up the side of that foot with the end of the board, so it's as far back as possible. You will use it to kick the tail of the skate and lift the front of it. The further back on the board, the more leverage you will be able to leverage and the easier it will be to ollie. Many skaters only wear half of their back foot on the tail of the board when jumping.
Make sure you put most of your weight on your toe, rather than your heel. This will make it easier to kick the board down
Step 4. Push down with your back foot to practice lifting the front of the board
Hold it in place by using the toe of the rearmost foot to push down the end of the skate. As you do this, lift your front foot along with the board, until the tail hits the ground.
This is one of the most important movements to ollie, so you should practice until you can complete it easily and confidently
Step 5. Get used to sliding your front foot along the entire length of the board
Once you have perfected the lift of the front of the skate, use the back foot to hold the position. Slide the other foot towards the front of the board as you rotate it. The side of the shoe, just below the toes, should scratch along the board, until it reaches the top.
- You shouldn't touch the skate with the sole of your shoe as you slide your foot up. Contact should only occur between the board and the side of the shoe.
- Practice this movement until you can do it perfectly, without thinking too much. This is the second key part of an ollie, so you need to be able to complete it perfectly.
Part 2 of 2: Perfecting the Ollie
Step 1. Stand on the board and bend your knees
Stand on the skate with the front foot in the center and the rear foot near the edge of the tail. Bend your knees slightly to prepare for the jump, keeping your shoulders almost parallel to your feet. Make sure you stay balanced at this stage, otherwise you will be unbalanced throughout the trick.
Try to lean on your toes as you lower yourself. If you push yourself too far on your toes, the board will rotate away from you as you jump
Step 2. Jump with your front foot first
Once you have lowered yourself, you need to return to the top to lift the weight off the board and allow it to come off the ground. Jump, trying to put your weight on the front foot first and then the back foot.
It may be easier to do the movement if you plan on jumping with the rear foot. Lift the front shoe first, then remove the other one as well
Step 3. Kick the tail of the board down as you jump
Use the same technique you tried earlier to push the back of the skate with your back foot. Try to complete this movement as you feel your weight lift off the board, so you only have to lift the skate and not yourself!
- Knowing the right moment to kick down is key to ollieing. Don't worry if you can't do the trick on the first try, just keep practicing.
- The board should just touch the ground at the moment of the jump. If you drag it too far along the ground, you will slow down and lose the speed needed to perform the trick.
Step 4. Slide your front foot as soon as you start jumping
Use the same motion you tried earlier: bring the shoe that is further forward towards the edge of the board, just as you jump and hit it with your back foot. The front of the skate should rise as you slide your foot and you should hit the toe at the top of the jump.
Remember that you must perform this step at the same time as the jump. By sliding your foot too early, you won't get a very tall ollie; conversely, if you are too late, you will not return the board parallel to the ground at the highest point of the jump
Step 5. Pull your knees towards your chest
The skate can only go up to foot height, so you have to bend your knees as you jump. The exact distance you need to lift them depends on the height of your ollie, but with a little practice you will be able to easily figure out how much you need to lift your feet.
Step 6. Kick the front of the board to bring it back parallel to the ground
When the tip of the skate reaches the highest point and the foot approaches the edge, push it against the board. In this way, you will bring it back down, simultaneously lifting the tail, straightening the entire skate.
- Rotate your foot slightly as you perform this movement, so that you land flat-footed when the skate returns to the ground.
- It can take some time to figure out exactly how much you need to push with your front foot. If you use too much force, you may not complete the trick, while if you don't push hard enough, the board will not return to parallel to the ground and landing will become more difficult. Keep practicing until you can find the right intensity.
Step 7. Extend your legs just before landing
When the board returns parallel to the ground and you notice that you are about to finish the jump, start stretching your legs, then place them on top of the skate carts. This will help you keep your balance better and will be able to bend your knees slightly upon landing to absorb some of the impact.
If you land with your front foot in the middle of the board, you risk breaking it in half. Likewise, by loading your weight too close to the ends of the skate, you risk breaking the tip or tail. For the best landing, keep your feet above the wheels
Advice
- You have to move with the board! Don't expect him to just be able to jump without your help.
- The more force you use to push the board at the start of the movement, the higher it will go. The more you keep your rear foot close to the edge, the easier it will be to lift the skate off the ground.
- The grip can help you, because it allows you to carry you around the board.
- In some cases, it's easier to think about jumping and taking the board with you. This will make it easier to overcome an obstacle with an ollie, because you will focus on the leap needed to climb over it.
- Try experimenting with foot movements. You may find a new technique for ollieing.
- Make sure you tighten the wheel carriages before doing an ollie.
- Always try to slide your front foot as far forward as possible, as if trying to bring it right on the tip of the board.
- Avoid trying to get over an obstacle with an ollie right away. If you want to practice jumping over something, draw a line or square with chalk on the concrete so that you have a target to jump over.
- Keep practicing! It can take time to ollie perfectly, but once you get the hang of it, you'll be able to do it without any problems.
- Always start practicing standing tricks, progressively increasing your speed as you become more experienced.
- The board will lift off the ground when you lift your knees. As soon as it climbs, slide your foot towards the toe and don't forget to push down to make the skate return parallel to the ground.
Warnings
- Make sure you keep your balance as you lower yourself; otherwise, you will lose control of the board and fail to ollie.
- Do not overdo it. Don't try to kick-flip or jump on a half-pipe if you're new to skateboarding.
- Always wear protective gear when skating. The helmet, knee pads, wrist pads and elbow pads will help you stay safe if you fail a trick.
