When reading “How to Ollie,” you imagine yourself performing the steps to complete an Ollie. What reading strategy are you using?
a.
visualizing
c.
previewing
b.
skimming
d.
summarizing
How to Ollie
Learn how to ollie with these trick tips. Before you start learning how to ollie, make sure you're comfortable
riding around on your board. You need good balance before you start learning how to do an ollie.
An ollie is jumping with your skateboard. Learning how to ollie is the most fundamental skill of all skateboard
tricks. You can learn how to do an ollie while stationary, while riding down the street, or on/off of obstacles or
tricks. Read these steps carefully and you’ll learn how to ollie in no time!
How to Ollie
1. Get comfortable with standing on and riding your skateboard before you learn how to ollie. You might want
to tighten your trucks so you’ll be able to balance better.
2. Put your back foot on the tail and your front foot in the middle of your board and the front bolts. Put the ball
of your back foot in the middle of the board so when push the tail down, you feel pressure on the balls of your
foot.
3. Next, bend your knees and crouch as you prepare to jump. You must be able to balance your crouch! Do not
bend out your back too much or stick your but out too far. Keep your shoulders square and level with your
feet.
4. Pop down the tail of your board with your back foot. Immediately after your board makes contact with the
ground, drag your front foot toward the nose. The friction and dragging motion from your front foot and the
board will cause it to rise off the ground.
5. Be sure to jump forward. Immediately after you pop, drag your front foot up and “jump forwards.” This will be
tough at first, and you’ll have to practice to get the timing down.
8. After you get off the ground, you want to level out. You can do this by sucking up both of your legs.
9. Land with both feet at the same time, preferably with front and back foot as close to the bolts trucks as
possible.
10. Ride away with a smile on your face. Congratulations, you just learned how to ollie!
How to Ollie Tips
1. Learn how to ollie stationary at first to get comfortable with the basics of the trick. Once you feel comfortable
with the motions, you can start trying the trick moving, and then start jumping off of or onto things.
2. The most difficult part of the trick is timing when to pop the tail, when to jump, and how to suck up your legs
quickly. You’ll discover that it's actually all done at the same time! Learning how to ollie will become easier
when you do everything faster.
Trick Tips: Flatground Ollie
Background:
The ollie was invented by Alan Gelfand in 1976. He originally used it as an aerial trick. Back then, it was known
as the “no-hands aerial.”The actual flatground ollie was invented by Rodney Mullen. This trick is the basis for
all flatground tricks. So, it’s important that you learn it. The ollie is usually the first trick skaters learn.
Setup:
Your back foot should be anywhere on the tail where it’s comfortable. Your front foot should be on the center of
the board with your toes hanging slightly off.
The Trick:
If this is your first time trying this, start stationary. You’ll be able to do it rolling when you get better at it. Once
you’re ready, bend your knees down far. This will help with the force of the ollie. Now use the force to pop the
tail down hard with your back foot. As soon as the tail hits the ground, slide your front foot up the board
towards the nose and lift your back foot up. Now you should be gaining descent height. But you want to level
out your ollie. You need to shift your weight forward as soon as you slide your foot up. It also helps when you
give the nose a slight push up with your toe. This helps to gain a bit more height. Once you’ve reached your full
height, slowly bend your knees back and land with ease.
Troubleshooting:
Q: I can’t even get off the ground.
A: Make sure to bend your knees far and pop hard. You have to jump up as soon as the tail hits the ground.
Q: I can’t get height.
A: Remember that ollies take time. You can’t have the greatest ollie in the world overnight. It takes practice and
practice and practice. You could also shift your weight forward and lift your back foot up more.