Okay, so I finally decided to nail down the ollie. I’ve been skating on and off for a while, mostly just cruising, but I really wanted to get this basic trick down. It’s like, the foundation for everything else, right?
Getting Started
First, I watched a bunch of videos. So many videos. Everyone makes it look so easy! I got the basic idea – front foot slides up, back foot pops the tail – but actually doing it was a whole different story.
I started by just practicing the motions without the board. Just standing on the ground, mimicking the foot movements. I felt silly, but I figured it would help build some muscle memory. I did that standing many times.
On the Board (and Falling)
Then came the real test. I grabbed my board, found a nice smooth patch of concrete, and… well, I mostly just stood there. Getting my feet in the right position felt super awkward at first. I kept feeling like I was going to fall before I even tried to pop.
My first few attempts were pathetic. I barely got the board off the ground, and I mostly just stumbled around. I fell a couple of times, nothing major, but it definitely shook my confidence. I almost gave up, Seriously.
Figuring Out the Timing
The biggest problem was the timing. Everyone talks about the “pop” and the “slide,” but nobody really explains when to do them in relation to each other. I was trying to do everything at once, and it just wasn’t working.
So, I started experimenting. I focused on the pop first. I practiced just getting the tail to hit the ground and the board to come up a little. I did this over and over, trying to get a feel for the right amount of pressure and the right angle.
- I tried really slamming the tail down.
- tried barely tapping it.
The “Aha!” Moment
Then, I started working on the slide. This was tricky. I kept catching my front foot on the grip tape and either stopping the board dead or launching it out in front of me. I had to find that sweet spot where my foot would slide smoothly, but still have enough grip to level out the board.
And then, it finally clicked! I don’t know exactly what I did differently, but I popped the tail, slid my front foot up, and for a split second, I was in the air. It wasn’t pretty, and it wasn’t high, but all four wheels left the ground! It was like, the best feeling ever!.
Practice, Practice, Practice
I’m still far from perfect. My ollies are still low and inconsistent, but I’m getting there. I’ve been practicing every day, even if it’s just for a few minutes. I’m starting to get the timing down more consistently, and I’m slowly getting more height.
I even tried them with one foot now.I can already feel the difference. And landing with one foot on the board it’s a good practice and feeling.
It’s a slow process, but it’s so rewarding. Every time I land one, even a bad one, I feel like I’ve accomplished something. And it’s just plain fun! I can’t wait to see how much I can improve with more practice.
