You're standing on a wooden plank with four wheels, staring at a curb or maybe just a crack in the pavement. You want to jump. Not just a hop, but that magical, gravity-defying suction where the board sticks to your feet like glue. Honestly, learning how to do an ollie is the ultimate gatekeeper in skateboarding. If you can’t get off the ground, you’re basically just riding a very loud scooter.
Most people think it’s a jump. It isn't. Not really.
It’s a rhythmic snap followed by a violent, calculated slide. If you try to jump with both feet at the same time, you'll just end up standing on a stationary board while it rattles beneath you. Or worse, you’ll slip out and end up with a bruised tailbone. I’ve seen it happen a thousand times at local parks from Venice Beach to the rougher concrete spots in Philly. Beginners get frustrated because they watch a ten-second TikTok and think their muscles will just "get it." It takes weeks. Sometimes months.
The Physics of the Pop
To understand how to do an ollie, you have to respect the lever. Your back truck is the fulcrum. When you slam that tail into the pavement, you’re creating a sudden burst of kinetic energy. According to basic Newtonian physics—and any skater who has spent time analyzing slow-motion footage—the board only goes up because the ground pushes back.
If you’re on grass or carpet, your pop will suck. It just will. The soft surface absorbs the impact, deadening the "snap" you need. You want concrete. You want that crisp clack that echoes off the brick walls of a nearby school building.
Foot Placement is Everything (And Also Personal)
Don't let anyone tell you there is one single "correct" spot for your feet. Everyone’s center of gravity is different. However, for a starting point, keep your back foot on the "sweet spot" of the tail. This is usually the very tip or slightly toward the pocket. You want your toes in the center of the width, not hanging off.
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Your front foot? Put it a couple of inches behind the front bolts. If you put it too far forward, you won't have enough room to slide, and the board will barely leave the ground. Put it too far back, and you’ll find the board verticalizing—basically rocket-ing into your crotch. Nobody wants a rocket ollie. It’s a bad look and it hurts.
The Secret is the Front Foot Slide
This is where the magic happens. After the pop, your front foot has a massive job. You have to roll your ankle—literally turn it so the side of your shoe is touching the grip tape—and drag it upward toward the nose.
Think about the friction. That sandpaper-like grip tape is designed to grab the suede of your Vans or Nikes. As you pull your foot up, you are essentially "pulling" the board into the air with you. Rodney Mullen, the godfather of modern street skating, refined this motion in the early 80s by realizing that the leveling out phase is what actually creates the height. Without the slide, the board just stands up and falls back down.
Why You Keep Landing on the Tail
If you find yourself landing with your weight all on the back of the board, you aren't jumping "with" the skateboard. You’re popping and staying stationary while the board moves. You have to commit. Your shoulders need to stay parallel to the board. If you open your chest to face forward, the board will rotate, and you’ll do a weird, accidental 45-degree turn.
Keep those shoulders in line. It feels unnatural at first. Our brains want us to face the direction we might fall, but in skateboarding, that’s a recipe for a "slip out."
Common Mistakes Beginners Make When Learning How to Do an Ollie
Let's get real. You’re going to mess up. You’re going to get "shinneries" (where the board whacks your shin). It’s part of the tax you pay to become a skater.
- The "Ghost Pop": You jump, but your back foot never actually hits the tail against the ground. You're just hopping over the board. You need to hear that snap.
- The Stiff Leg: If you land with straight legs, you’re asking for a blown knee or a broken board. Absorb the impact. Be like a spring.
- The Fear Factor: This is the biggest one. People are afraid of the board moving under them. To fix this, try holding onto a fence while you practice the motion. It takes the balance variable out of the equation so you can focus on the mechanics of the feet.
Static vs. Rolling
Should you learn how to do an ollie while stationary or while moving? This is a debated topic in the community. Some purists say you should only learn while moving because the physics change. I disagree.
Get the muscle memory down while standing still on a flat piece of pavement. Once you can get the wheels off the ground consistently, start rolling at a snail’s pace. Then faster. The momentum actually helps level the board out, but it adds a layer of "consequence" if you fall. Take your time.
Troubleshooting Your Height
So you can get off the ground, but it’s only an inch or two? You want to clear a curb. You want to jump over a fallen branch.
To get height, you have to tuck your knees. Your board can only go as high as your feet allow it to go. If you pop the board but keep your legs extended, the board hits your feet and stops. You have to suck those knees up toward your chest. Watch a pro like Tyshawn Jones. His ollies are legendary because he has insane "pop," but also because he brings his knees up to his chin. It looks like he’s floating.
The Importance of Good Shoes
Don't try to learn this in Converse All-Stars or running shoes. Running shoes have too much foam and no "board feel." They also shred in about five minutes against grip tape. You need suede. Leather works too, but suede grips the best. Brands like Etnies, Es, and Vans spend millions of dollars researching how to make rubber compounds that don’t disintegrate when they rub against sandpaper. Use them.
Taking it to the Streets
Once you've mastered the flat ground, the world looks different. A manhole cover is no longer an obstacle; it's a target. A sidewalk gap is a challenge.
When you first try to ollie over something, you will probably "chicken out." This is where you land with only one foot on the board. It's a mental block. Your brain is trying to protect you. You have to override that instinct and tell yourself that even if you fall, the ground isn't that far away.
The Timing of the Obstacle
The biggest mistake when transitioning to "real world" ollies is timing. Beginners usually pop too late. If you’re trying to go up a curb, you need to initiate the pop a few inches before you reach the edge. If you wait until you're right on it, your front truck will hit the curb and send you flying.
Actionable Next Steps for Mastering the Ollie
Stop reading and go get your board. But before you do, keep these specific drills in mind for your next session:
- The Tail Snap Drill: Just stand off the board with one foot and practice snapping the tail against the ground as hard as you can. Do this fifty times. Get used to the sound and the force required.
- The Carpet Slide: If you’re inside, put your board on a rug and just practice the front foot slide. Wear your skate shoes. Roll that ankle over and drag it up. You want to see the white marks on your shoes from the grip tape.
- The "Slow-Mo" Jump: Practice jumping off the ground without your board. Focus on pulling your back knee up first, then your front knee. This mimics the airborne phase of the ollie.
- Record Yourself: This is the most important one. Use your phone to film yourself in slow motion. You might think you're sliding your foot, but the video will show you're actually just lifting it straight up. The camera doesn't lie.
- Focus on the Back Foot: Once you pop, you have to get that back foot out of the way. If your back foot stays heavy on the tail, the board can't rise. Think of it like touching a hot stove—snap and retract.
The ollie is a foundational movement that unlocks every other trick in skateboarding, from kickflips to 50-50 grinds. It isn't a "set it and forget it" skill. Even pros spend time warming up with basic ollies to check their "pop" for the day. Be patient with yourself. Some days you'll feel like you've got it, and the next day you'll feel like you've never seen a skateboard before. That's just how it goes. Keep your weight centered, keep your shoulders straight, and keep snapping that tail. Eventually, the physics will click, and you'll find yourself soaring over that first crack in the sidewalk.