How to Ollie: Step by Step Guide to Finally Landing It

I’ve been skating for over twenty years, starting in the early 2000s. Today, I’m sharing my tips on conquering the holy grail of skateboarding tricks: the ollie. It’s essentially my guide on how to land the perfect ollie.

The Ollie: The fundamental skateboarding trick

An ollie is a skateboarding trick where the rider and board leap off the ground without using the rider’s hands. Essentially, it involves popping the board’s tail down while simultaneously sliding your front foot forward to get the board off the ground.

Fun fact: The Ollie’s origins

The ollie was popularized by the legendary Alan “Ollie” Gelfand in the late 1970s. This dude revolutionized street skating, and we’ve been popping ollies in his honor ever since!

I still remember my first attempts at an ollie like it was yesterday. I always have them down pretty badly, meaning I never really got them down until I learned to slide my foot fully forward, but we’ll get to that.

Breaking down the ollie: Four easy steps

Alright, let’s break it down. Here’s how you can join the ranks of ollie-poppin’ pros:

1. Step 1: The Setup
   • Start in your regular stance (if you’re confused, read the goofy vs regular guide).
     • Your stance will not be the same as when you ride down the street. You need to position your feet more perpendicular to the board, not parallel.
   • Place your front foot near the middle of the board.
   • Place your back foot on the tail.
2. Step 2: The Pop
   • Slap your back foot down on the tail. Give it a good snap; it’s not a slam.
3. Step 3: The Slide
   • As soon as you hear that satisfying tail snap, slide your front foot up toward the nose of the board as far as you can. This levels you out and keeps you from doing a “rocket ollie” (more on that embarrassing mishap later).
4. Step 4: The Landing
   • Bend your knees as you come back down to earth. Think of yourself as a shock absorber – the softer you land, the smoother you’ll roll away.

Tip: Master Your Front Foot Movement

Sliding your front foot forward aggressively after the pop is essential. This action levels out the board, preventing it from going straight up and ensuring a smooth, controlled ollie.

Common mistakes and how to dodge ’em

We’ve all been there. You think you’re about to land the ollie of the century, and instead, you end up with a board shooting out from under you. Here are some classic blunders and how to avoid them:

• The Hippie Jump: This happens when you don’t get any pop and just jump into the air. It looks silly. Commit to that pop so you actually look like you’re trying to do an ollie. Otherwise, you’re just jumping into the air.
• The Rocket Ollie: When your board goes straight up like it’s auditioning for NASA. The culprit? Not sliding your front foot enough. Remember, it’s a dance between both your feet – they both need to do their part!
• The Ghost Ollie: This is when you pop, but your board stays firmly on the ground while you jump off. The fix? Commit to that pop! Really drive your back foot down and jump with purpose.

Pro tips

1. Warm-up: Warming up to make a huge difference, psychologically and physically. If you warm up, your muscles will be less stiff, you’ll be looser, and you’ll find it easier to pop.
2. Don’t stay stationary: Try practicing while moving. I know this may sound intimidating, but personally, I find it easier to do it while leaving. I get it; I have some more experience. But still, if I try to do it stationary, I just find it a little more challenging for some reason. So don’t be afraid to give it a try.
3. Practice Over a Curb: Find a nice, friendly curb and practice ollying over it. It gives you a stable target and helps build your confidence.
4. Focus on Front Foot Movement: I can’t stress this enough – the key to a solid ollie is moving your front foot forward as hard as possible. This motion levels out the board and prevents the dreaded rocket ollie.
5. Film Yourself: Yes, it might be embarrassing at first, but watching your attempts can help you spot what’s going wrong. Plus, you’ll have some hilarious blooper reels for later.
6. Stay Persistent and Patient: Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither is a perfect ollie. Keep at it.

Final thoguhts

Learning to ollie is a rite of passage in the skateboarding world. It’s frustrating, it’s challenging, but it’s incredibly rewarding. That first successful ollie? It’s a feeling that’s hard to beat.

I’ve gotta ask, what’s the one aspect of the ollie you find most challenging? And did I cover everything you wanted to know? Let me know in the comments section below. I read and reply to every comment. If you found this article helpful, share it with a friend, and don’t forget to check out my full blog for plenty more skateboarding tips and tricks. Thanks for reading.