Where to Start
Before we discuss, what is Ollie as it may be new to the people who have never heard of the term before but it’s a technique quite popular between skaters. This term which is used in snowboarding and longboarding refers to a skill in which the jump is performed without the help of any ramp making this technique useful for avoiding obstacles. Surfers execute the feat by pressing the foot down on the tail of the board to rebound the deck off the ground. One thing that is important to note and take care of is that your longboard should have a considerably sized tail to Ollie. (See also: What Size Longboard Should i Get)
Here are seven easy steps in detail to assist you to learn this exciting stunt and enjoy longboarding to the max.
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Stand on the floor, start by jumping with your back foot and then, by lifting your legs up in the air, jump. With this motion let you understand that you need your back foot to pop the longboard correctly. And if you are a beginner just remember Ollie technique is a jump, not stomping down on your longboard knowing the mechanics will help you master it faster.
The most important thing to take care of; is the foot placement. It is crucial that your back foot is on the tail and the front foot is right in the middle or closer to the nose of the longboard after you have settled into the optimized position try to jump off your back foot, just as you did on the ground. When you master this pop and can reproduce it consistently, you should consider yourself ready for the next step.
3
Leveling Out and Getting Air
You can practice this step by standing on the tail of your longboard. Get your front foot placed right next to the nose. Your board lifts up after the initial pop due to this move then the sides of the foot slide up as well and you will have yourself a perfect Ollie. If you want to go all the way and achieve maximum height on your Ollie, lift up your back foot, make the tail rise by pushing the nose forward. At this time, you will reach the peak of your Ollie.
Of course you won’t reach the highest Ollie possible on your first try but rest assure anything can be accomplished with determination. However, with practice, you can increase the height you want to gain. The height you gain depends upon how high your Ollie is. Your board, however, can only go as high as your feet to give the maximum height to your Ollie; you should pull your knees up towards your chest, bringing your feet up to the maximum.
Once you are off the ground, the longboard should be leveled to the ground while you are still in mid-air which makes it really cool and seems like you are surfing the air not the board. It is essential to take note that on your way down, the front of the longboard should be sticking down in the ground for better landing. This technique will help you especially when you are into jumping gaps.
Now that you are in the air, you do realize what goes up, must go down. Meaning, you are coming for a landing. Its basic rule of jumping and somewhat a reflexive move is that whenever you jump, your knees bend involuntarily. The best thing to do is to center your weight in the center without leaning in any direction. It is highly recommended by the pros to try to land over the bolts if it is possible as it saves your board from damage.
Landing back on the ground is as technical as taking off because you have to land an Ollie with both feet at both ends of the board so that you can balance yourself quite easily . Also, if you land on the nose and tail, it can damage both of them. So for this, keep your knees bend while landing to absorb the shock.
These are the steps to follow if you want to learn to Ollie properly. For more detailed help and if you’re going to see it as it happens, here is a video that will help you get a clear view of the Ollie.
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Ollie Tricks n’ Tips: FAQ
Common Issues and how to solve them
I can’t pop!!
To pop, make sure you jump. For this, you have to make the ball of your foot to do the popping ,this will make it go offf more efficiently. Balancing your weight will help much as well. Do not lean forward too much and don’t jump off too heavy just remember these two tips and you will be just fine. Keeping the height lower in the beginning and getting your technique right before going for the higher jump is imperative.
The board flies out in front of me!
Make sure that you jump straight up and lean a bit more forward to compensate. It could be that you are rushing into your take off just take it slow to calm yourself down. If you want your feet to stick to the board, make sure the movement is smooth and fluent and remember don’t stress yourself, instead commit to some basic exercises until you feel ready for Ollieing. Your foot should be up to the board’s nose to prevent it from spinning because spinning is another advanced trick only learned when you fully master Ollie to a certain extent.
I land ahead of the board.
Lean a little bit back to counter this problem.
I get no height!
You are not then jumping correctly. Make sure your feet are up to your ears. Popping harder helps as well.
My board goes vertical!
Slide your foot all the way to the nose of the board to avoid this from happening and push it forward.
I can’t commit!
It’s simple. COMMIT!
I hope these will help you in your future endeavors. Forgetting the grip of this, you should try again. You fall, get up and try again! That’s the only way to go about it.
Conclusion
Every new trick you want to learn will need your commitment and patience. So will Ollie. Make sure you keep in mind all the steps and the techniques you need to apply while performing the popping, taking off or landing. In time and with practice, you will be able to Ollie with more dexterity until you master the move. Safety gear should be worn at all times. For better understanding, you can consult experts around you or the video we have provided you can help you learn the tricks needed to determine this exciting move.
