To know how to ollie higher on the skateboard you must already be able to perform a basic ollie, which means knowing how to lift ("suck") the board upwards, slide the front foot forward and then crush it ("stompare").”) Down and resume the skate. To go higher, you will need to have full control over the jump and the work the foot does, and of course practice as much as you can. Read on to immediately start learning how to “soap” higher.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Mastering the Technique
Step 1. Perfect the footwork
To improve the ollie, you must first place your feet on the skate correctly. Following the classic setting, you should place the front foot near the center of the board and the rear foot over the tail (curved back of the skateboard). For a correct position, do not leave the rear foot dangling on the edge of the tail, instead place it in a stable way towards its center, in order to have maximum control and maximum adherence to the grip of the board. The front foot should instead be just behind the last two screws on the front of the skate, parallel to the latter. Always remember that you will still need to be able to successfully close a normal ollie before you start thinking about how to go higher.
Step 2. Move your front foot further back
Now, don't put it too far back or your skate will simply rise vertically, without lifting off the ground; but when you are fully in control of the normal ollie, you can begin to move your front foot more towards the center of the board. What makes you lift up is in fact the sliding forward of the front foot, consequently the more space it will have to slide and the higher the board will go, and you with it. You can begin to move your foot back even a few centimeters if you are more comfortable.
Step 3. Slide your front foot more onto the board
Once you have learned how to close your base ollie well, you can do higher ones by sliding your front foot more on the board, up to the end of the nose, which is where the skate begins to bend upwards. This way your foot will be locked when it starts to lift, and as it will no longer be sliding forward, if you keep moving it will drag the board up. Remember that even if you manage to bring it higher, you will still have to rebalance it on the same plane in the air by pressing it gently, always with the front foot.
Step 4. Jump higher
Jumping higher is exactly what will help you do taller ollies. To climb higher, you will have to "suck" (raise) the board stronger and more decisively, pull up your feet together with it and jump higher than usual, trying to bring your knees up, almost to your chest. You can also lift your arms a little higher to help you go that little bit higher. Remember that you will need to feel fully comfortable and have all the movements of the ollie under control in order not to have problems lifting the knees and keeping the body so high when jumping.
Step 5. Bring your feet higher
In addition to jumping higher, one of the problems you may encounter could be that you are not dragging your feet high enough. If you want to be able to carry them high enough, you will need to have your shoulders well centered and keep your weight well centered on the board to stay stable, avoiding arching too much. When you snap your back foot, you really have to drag both feet right up. Some just focus on raising the front foot high enough, but it's really important to do the same with the back foot as well.
Step 6. Keep your ollie as smooth and clean as possible
You can fully focus on every single aspect of the technique, but the most important part will definitely be putting them all together. The movement must be as fluid and continuous as possible, so as to pass from the foot work in the jump to the resumption of the skate in a natural way, without any kind of weird or disjointed movement. Whenever you try to learn or perfect a movement, remember that everything is based on the right timing, perfect timing makes the movement just as perfect.
Part 2 of 2: Practice the Smart Way
Step 1. Keep practicing
It may seem obvious, but if you really want to get those taller ollies to come, you need to keep practicing and putting your best effort into it. However, don't keep repeating a technique or exercise in the same way, or you will also keep repeating the same mistakes over and over again. If you are perfectly able to have full control over foot work, jump higher, bring and drag both feet and board higher, perform all the other techniques we've talked about so far, then keep practicing. it will make your ollie just perfect.
Step 2. Get more speed
While many people prefer to practice ollie starting from a standing position, you can try giving yourself a couple of pushes to gain momentum and jump higher. It is more difficult to jump high if the force needed for the jump you are using is only that of the muscles of the body, a little speed and inertia help a lot. So once you have managed to close the ollie while standing, you can try to do it on the go and also go a little faster to get the momentum needed to jump higher. Many people are starting to try ollies already in motion; if you are one of these, you can simply try to go faster and faster as you keep practicing, especially if you are jumping over obstacles.
Step 3. Practice jumping over obstacles
Start with the small ones, such as a simple water barrel, and then move on to increase the height with a cardboard box or other object that can be easily knocked over without hurting you. Once you have managed to jump over obstacles of that height, you can try to increase it with two cardboard boxes or other taller objects. Making eye contact with the obstacle before jumping over can give you the motivation and drive to go higher. Setting concrete personal goals like this can definitely help you progress and raise your ollies more and more.
Step 4. Use a new board
If you use an old board or one that is not in the best condition, you will not be able to make the most of your potential. A new board with an uncut grip can help you a lot both to keep your foot attached to the skate, and to make it rise up with you when you jump; therefore, if you really want to ollie taller consider getting a new board.
Advice
- As you lift your back foot up, try to keep your knees up until they almost touch your chest.
- Jump over obstacles (cardboard boxes, tubes, various objects, balls, toys, etc.) to make higher and longer ollies.
- Remember that you will be able to ollie as high as the jumps you can perform.
- Keep moving off the board as well to feel the "feel" of the ollie.
- The faster you go, the taller and longer your ollie will be.
Warnings
- Wear a helmet! It may seem like a loser, but if you fall and hit your head you'll regret not having one on.
- When you try this trick, do it on flat, dry ground.
