Ollie

This trick is the fundamental base of skateboarding

Easy

Position

Quick start

Bend on your knees

Push your back foot down and jump

Slide your front foot up the length of the board

Use the edge of your foot to stick to the board

Lift up your back foot

Bend your knees as you land

Sensation

Your weight should be even on both feet, and your body has to be centered

Interactive skateboard diagram for learning Ollie

Tips

Bend your knees before popping. Don't feel afraid to exagerate this movement

1 / 10

Keep your eyes on the board the entire time, as soon as you start the trick

2 / 10

Push hard as you pop but do not use all your strength, make the board snap on the ground

3 / 10

Pop with your toes to have more straight and better acuracy, not flat footed

4 / 10

Rotate your front foot anckle and slide it, upwards and towards the nose

5 / 10

Focus on bringing your front foot up rather than forwards, it will naturally move forward as well

6 / 10

Find the right timing for the actions of popping with your back foot and sliding with your front foot

7 / 10

Take the impulsion for your jump from your board, not from the ground, right before you pop, almost at the same time

8 / 10

Lift your back foot as well, but with a slight delay. Lift it up to get more height, and towards the nose for better control

9 / 10

Bend your knees when landing to absorb the impact and avoid bouncing on your board

10 / 10

Mistakes

'The ollie just doesn't work'

'You haven't found the right timing for your feet yet. It takes time to get a feel for it. Also, make sure your tail touches the ground when you pop.'

1 / 4

'My ollie tends to rocket'

'You are not lifting your back foot enough. When your board sticks to your feet, the only way to level it out is to raise both feet to the same height.'

2 / 4

'My ollie turns frontside'

'You are turning your shoulders, either because you are facing the direction you moving, or because you are throwing your front arm in a circular motion, slightly backwards.'

3 / 4

'I struggle to ollie higher'

'Put your front foot a bit more towards the tail (centered rather than near the bolts) to raise the nose faster, and lift both feet, more especially the back foot. Shift them slightly forward while in the air for better control.'

4 / 4

Helpers

Pop exercice

Stand behind the tail of your board, pop on the tail with your back foot and grab the nose with your back hand

1 / 4

Specific module

Take some speed on a curb, make a short manual as you reach the end and drop on the ground

2 / 4

Grass simulation

Try the ollie on grass. This helps if you are scared of the trick. The feeling is not quite the same as the real trick because you will miss the scoop. On the other hand, you will have a better balance without moving.

3 / 4

Hold a rail

Practice the ollie while holding onto a handrail for support. This allows you to spend more time in the air, and helps keep your shoulders square. This also prevent you from falling.

4 / 4

Variations

Once you feel comfortable with static ollies, practice them while rolling instead of stationary. Try them in different contexts

Transition

Putting your front foot on the bolts will help you get a better balance and have less to slide, but you will ollie lower