How to ollie

Almost every street trick starts with an ollie. Kickflips, shove-its, grinds, getting up a curb: they all lean on the same pop and slide. It's worth getting this one really solid.

How the ollie works

The ollie looks like the board is stuck to your feet, but it's two moves working together. Your back foot snaps the tail down so the board pops up. Your front foot slides up the grip and drags the board higher and levels it. Then you lift your legs out of its way.

Foot placement

• Back foot: ball of your foot on the tail, near the middle or slightly toward the toe edge. Your heel hangs off the back a bit.
• Front foot: just behind the front bolts, roughly straight across the board, maybe angled slightly.
• Shoulders: in line with the board, not twisted.

The motion

1. Crouch. Bend your knees low, like you're about to jump. Keep your weight centered between your feet.
2. Pop. Snap the tail down hard with the ball of your back foot. It should hit the ground and bounce up.
3. Slide. As the board pops, drag the side of your front shoe up the grip toward the nose. That's what pulls the board up.
4. Lift and level. Bring your knees up toward your chest so the board can rise. Push your front foot forward slightly at the top to level the board out.
5. Land. Come down with both feet over the bolts, knees bent to soak it up.

The pop and the slide happen almost at the same time. Popping without sliding just hops the tail; sliding without popping just scuffs your shoe.

A practice plan

1. On grass or carpet, standing still. The board won't roll away, so you can focus on pop and slide.
2. Stationary on smooth ground, holding onto a rail or a friend's shoulder if you need to.
3. Rolling slowly on smooth flat ground.
4. Rolling at normal speed.
5. Over something small, like a line on the ground, then a stick, then up a curb.

Film a few tries on your phone from the side. You'll see right away whether the board's leveling out.

A worked example: fixing a back-wheel ollie

Leo's ollies only lift the front of the board; the back wheels barely leave the ground. He films one from the side and sees his back foot staying planted on the tail after the pop. He changes one thing: after the pop, he lifts his back knee up as high as his front one. The tail comes up with him, and the board leaves the ground level.

Fixes for the usual problems

• Board doesn't get high: pop harder and slide your front foot further up toward the nose.
• Board shoots out in front: your weight is too far back. Keep your shoulders over the board.
• Nose doesn't come up: your front foot isn't sliding. Drag it, don't just lift it.
• Landing on the tail or nose: you're not leveling out. Push the front foot forward at the top.
• Feet come off the board: you're jumping away from it. Jump up, not forward.

Why the front foot does so much

New skaters often think the ollie is all about popping hard. The pop gets the board off the ground, but the front foot decides where it goes. The friction of your front shoe sliding up the grip is what lifts the nose and pulls the board up with you. If your ollies stay low, it's usually a front-foot problem. Try exaggerating the slide: drag the side of your shoe almost to the nose, and let your front knee come up high.

Getting up a curb

Once your ollie is solid on flat ground, a curb is the classic next step:

1. Roll toward the curb at a slight angle, not straight on, so you can see it.
2. Pop a little earlier than feels natural; you want to be at the top of your ollie as you reach the edge.
3. Level out and land with all four wheels on top.
4. Keep your weight over the board as you land so you don't slip back off.

If your back wheels clip the edge, pop earlier and lift your back knee higher.

Common mistakes

• Leaning back. It's the number one cause of the board flying away.
• Looking at your feet the whole time. Look forward to stay balanced.
• Stiff legs on the landing. Bend your knees.
• Rushing to roll fast. Get it stationary first.

FAQ

How long does it take to learn?

It varies a lot from person to person. Practicing a little often helps more than one huge session.

Should my back foot be in the middle of the tail?

Ball of the foot on the tail, near the middle or toward the toe edge. Find what pops best for you.

Is a "No Comply" an ollie?

No. A no comply is a different trick where your front foot steps off.

Should I learn to ollie while rolling or standing still?

Standing still first, on grass or carpet, then rolling slowly. The motion is the same; rolling just adds balance.

Next: How to pop shove-it

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