Skateboarders around the world undoubtedly know what an ollie is. It’s the most fundamental trick in skateboarding that every beginner and professional skateboarder must master. The ollie is the foundation of many other tricks, such as kickflips, heelflips, and more complicated aerial maneuvers. If you’re a beginner skateboarder, learning how to ollie will be one of your major milestones. In this article, we will discuss the steps to perform an ollie on a skateboard and answer six subquestions to help you understand this trick better.
What is an Ollie in Skateboarding?
An Ollie is a basic skateboarding maneuver that involves lifting the skateboard off the ground and into the air without using your hands. The Ollie was invented by Alan Gelfand, aka Ollie, in 1977, which he claims was an accident while he was skating a pool. Ollie was practicing surf-style maneuvers, and he was able to jump and lift the skateboard’s nose and kicktail, resulting in the board sticking to his feet as he landed.
The Ollie is an essential trick for many skateboarding styles, including street skating, park skating, and vert skating. The Ollie is a foundation move for more complex skateboarding tricks like kickflips, heelflips, and 360 flips. It’s a basic trick that every skateboarder must learn before they can move on to other aerial tricks.
What are the Steps to Perform an Ollie?
Now that you know what an ollie is, you’re probably wondering how to perform one. Follow these steps to execute an ollie correctly:
Step 1: Position Your Feet
Position your feet on the skateboard to prepare for the ollie. Place your backfoot on the tail of the skateboard and your front foot behind the bolts on the deck’s nose. Your feet should be perpendicular to the skateboard, with your toes hanging off the edge of the deck.
Step 2: Crouch Down
Start crouching down by bending your knees and preparing to jump. Keep your back straight and balance your weight evenly over the skateboard.
Step 3: Jump
Jump forcefully off the ground by straightening your legs and pushing down with your back foot. You should use your back foot to snap the tail of the skateboard down, which will create the pop you need to lift the deck off the ground.
Step 4: Slide Your Foot
Slide your front foot up towards the nose while simultaneously sliding your back foot towards the tail. The purpose of this sliding motion is to level the skateboard in the air. Your front foot should reach the top of the nose while your back foot stays level with the tail.
Step 5: Level the Board
Level the skateboard out in mid-air by using both feet to make small corrections. Your feet should be level with each other, and the skateboard should be parallel to the ground.
Step 6: Land on the Board
Finally, land back on the skateboard with both feet. Keep your knees slightly bent, and your balance centered to avoid a wipeout. Rolling away on your skateboard after landing the trick is a great feeling and a sign of progress in your skateboarding journey.
How to Practice an Ollie?
The key to mastering an ollie in skateboarding is practice. The more you practice, the better you’ll get. Start by practicing an ollie without moving on flat ground. Once you’ve mastered your stationary ollie, practice while moving at a slow pace. Gradually increase your speed and try to ollie over small objects like cracks, manholes, or sticks in the beginning. As you progress, try jumping over larger obstacles like trash cans and concrete blocks.
What are Common Mistakes to Avoid when Performing an Ollie?
Learning an ollie takes time and patience. Here are some common mistakes to avoid when practicing:
– Not sliding your front foot enough.
– Not popping the skateboard correctly with backfoot.
– Not engaging both feet equally during the jump.
– Not keeping your shoulders level while in mid-air.
– Not jumping high enough.
– Not leveling the board when in mid-air.
How Can I Improve My Ollie?
There are a few exercises that can help you improve your ollie:
– Practice jumping and landing off the skateboard to improve your balance.
– Incorporate core and leg strength training exercises to improve your jump height and power.
– Film yourself performing an ollie or ask a skateboarding friend to watch you; these will give you tips to improve your technique.
– Visualize yourself performing an ollie correctly.
How Long Does It Take to Learn an Ollie?
Learning an ollie varies from person to person. Some people can learn an ollie within a few days, while others may take weeks or even months to get it right. It depends on factors such as age, athletic ability, natural talent, and consistency. Skateboarding is not an easy sport, so you must commit to practice regularly to improve your skills.
Conclusion
The ollie is the foundation of skateboarding and a crucial maneuver every skateboarder must learn. It takes time, patience, and practice to master the ollie, so don’t get discouraged if you can’t do it right away. By following the steps outlined in this article, you’ll be well on your way to executing a perfect ollie. Remember to practice, persevere, and believe in yourself, and you will soon be doing amazing things on your skateboard.
