“How to Ollie” is one of the first questions any new skater should be asking. This is the first major skateboard trick and is the base of nearly every other trick in flat ground street skateboarding. Being one of the first it can be extremely frustrating and give a person so much trouble.
My task here is to simplify this trick so that you can learn it well and progress through it. So you can move into the rest of the skateboard tricks that you want to learn.
Where did the Ollie come from?
First off, a little history lesson. The Ollie was originally done by Allan “Ollie” Gelfand in 1976. The first ollie was actually on transitions and ramps, and used it to get above the coping by popping his back foot.
Street skateboarding legend Rodney Mullen was the first to bring it to the streets in 1982. He would do an ollie, but land on his back tail and go into another freestyle trick. Because he applied science and physics to skateboarding, he was able to turn that into the ollie that we know and love today. In fact, most of the skateboarding tricks that we know really did derive from this. If you want to know more, we made a video about it.
How Do You Do the Ollie?
The Ollie is done by a series of movements that require coordination and lots of practice. One way I like people to think about it is as a separate series of movements. Each of these steps you can practice on their own and then put it all together.
If you watch some Ollie’s and then you try the whole series of motions all at once, it’s very difficult to develop the muscle memory necessary to learning each separate motion. It’s this style of learning that makes Braille’s “Skateboarding Made Simple” tutorial series so extremely effective along with learning the tricks in the proper order. I will list out the series of motions and how to best put them all together but before you get started on this trick there is an earlier step.
Before the Ollie
Before you get to the ollie, you have to learn to ride your board really well. In my opinion this is the most skipped step for new skateboarders and with this step not properly learned it gives them the most trouble in all of their future tricks. So ride your board to school to the store and to your grandmas house. Spend a good amount of time just riding your board. No tricks yet, just simply riding and pushing your board.
Good so now that all the warnings are out of the way let’s get to the Ollie 🤙
The steps
These are the steps to the ollie. Make sure you spend enough time on all of these. They’re all very important, and each step is there to put enough emphasis. Here’s a list of all the steps:
- Foot Position
- Popping the tail
- Sliding the front foot
- Kicking the front foot
- Putting it all together
- Land!
Foot Position
Put your feet in this position with your front foot straight on the board just down from those front bolts on the skateboard. Your back foot is on the tail with the ball of your foot on the center edge of the tail. While you’re on the board, your shoulders should be square with the board and not turned and your head looking straight forward. Your legs generally follow your upper body so being aware of what your upper body is doing can help a lot in learning the proper techniques.
Popping the tail
Bend your front knee and push down on your back leg. Your back ankle bends and the ball of your foot pushes the tail of your board to the ground. You have the most speed and power in the motion of your ankle so repeating this motion with your ankle rather then your whole leg is important to learn well here. Push your tail down repeatedly until you feel very comfortable with this step. If you don’t get this step down well, like all the steps in this tutorial, you won’t be able to move on and actually learn the trick.
Sliding the front foot
Now with your tail to the ground and all of your weight on your back foot we are going to work on the motion of your front foot. This is the hardest and most uncomfortable step for a new skater. This practice step right here is the make break of your Ollie. It’s an unnatural movement for your ankle which is why I think it’s the hardest for new skaters to learn. Your front ankle rolls forward putting the sole of your foot vertical on the board.
The front top of your foot will be in contact with the grip tape and that part of your foot is going to then drag up the grip tape. It’s important to understand which part of your foot slides on the grip tape and how to quickly move your foot to get it into this position.
It’s a fast roll of the ankle on the board dragging it up the grip tape. This step is where the magic of the Ollie comes in. Your front foot drags up the board pulling your board into the air. Repeat this practice step many, many times.
If you ever have trouble on later steps always come back to this step and practice the movement of your leg and foot. By doing this, you are building the muscle memory necessary to putting all these steps together.
Kicking the front foot
There is one key step after dragging your foot up the board to create the lift and that is to push your front foot forward. You can do this step standing still just to get the motion down but as this is a coordinated piece between your front and back legs you cannot truly learn it until you are popping your board in the air.
So drag your front foot up and push it forward over the nose. Now let’s get to the coordination of putting this masterpiece together.
Putting it all together
After those first 2 steps are mastered, you essentially are putting those steps together. This is all about timing and coordination. Drop your back leg and ankle, popping your tail on the ground with the ball of your back foot while you simultaneously bend your front knee, lifting your front leg up and rolling your front ankle so the front part of your foot can grab that grip tape and pull the board into the air.
Your back foot jumps up off the ground as soon as the board pops and your front foot begins the drag up the grip tape. Once your board has reached the peak of the Ollie, keep your back foot moving up while you push your front foot forward and this will level out your Ollie in the air. Getting that step down well will greatly increase the height of your Ollie.
Preparing for the landing
Now that you are magically floating above the earth ready your landing gear by extending your knees slightly more. You don’t want to land with your knees fully extended or bent but in between. Your feet should be in a relatively similar position to the starting point with the exception of your front foot being possibly closer to the nose at this point. Bring your feet down and let your wheels roll.
Now get extremely excited, scream yell and shout as you just landed your first Ollie! Film it and post on Instagram tagging @brailleskate and #brailleskate. Let me know what step on here helped you the most so I can highlight that and we can get more people skating.
I hope this helped you and that all the rest of your skateboarding tricks will come easier from here out.
Common problems and solutions
Here are some of the most common problems you might run into when attempting the Ollie.
Not rolling your front foot

Your front foot needs to actually roll up the board. Your front foot isn’t supposed to be sliding flat. It has to roll to the side of where your pinky toe should be in your shoe. If the front side of your shoe isn’t getting teared up, then you’re not rolling it right.
Not popping enough on your back foot

When popping with your back foot, you can’t just stomp it down and leave it there, otherwise the board doesn’t go anywhere! When popping, the action is actually in your ankle. And it actually leaves the board for a split second so the tail can come off the ground.
Take a look at the photo above. You see you how my foot rolls on the ankle, and then blasts off the tail? That’s what gets the height and allows you to really have a successful ollie.
Thank you very much for reading! We hope this helps you master the Ollie so you can keep progressing and learning on your skateboard.
Hello. And Bye.
Didn’t help at all I tried so many times but just give up
You just have to keep practicing!
Is it normal to slide your backfoot up the board a large amount, and if it isn’t how can I fix it?
Here’s some advice don’t pop and slide your foot up at the same time as soon as you pop the board up then you want to slide your foot up that’s what helped me a lot.
you guys have helped me so much
It’s really hard for me because my left foot is upfront although my right foot is more dominant than my left foot so it’s not easy for me to go 90 degrees and then drag it cuz my left foot isn’t that dominant so it’s a whole bunch of weird and confusing for me
try riding goofy
Thank you Arron Kyro and the Braille team I can do the Ollie now
Awesome!! Keep up the great work!
I have been trying for so long to but I cant get the back wheels off even my shoe has a hole
I am not the best at ollies but I am atleast going to try to help you with this.. Record yourself in slowmo to where you can see if you backfoot is leaving the board in time while your front foot is sliding.
Me too
Don’t give up! Keep on trying. If you give up you’ll never get it.
don’t give up keep trying
Ya u r right just don’t give up. Last time while I was doing pivot, I keep failing that. But I keep thinking of never give up. Until now, I finally made it. I know it was an extremely easy trick, but if u never give up on anything u will actually making a lot of progress.
It worked for me
I tried and in 1 month I got it
Amazing!! Well done!
remember do it slow take it slow look at what your doing wrong and improve yall got this
Too I Ollied just a little off the ground I really need ur help so if u could just fly us out much appreciated
Man – that would be so cool if we COULD fly you out! Unfortunately we can’t do that, but keep practicing! You will get it!
Nice keep trying
i can ollie everytime i try but i can just ollie over like a little botle of water and i can’t go higher can you help me but i’ll keep skateboarding until i’m pro
Hey! Check out this video – https://youtu.be/VtyY4x-tW6g
I’m getting better at Ollie also your channel is the first skateboard channel I first watched
same
Helpfull
Your the best
I do my best but it is not possible to drag my foot over the plate
Keep pushing. You will get it.
I had the same issue when I was starting. I
I realized, I have to drag my foot up not straight. Easily, you can jump with both feet, the one on the tail jumps last, and your front foot will by itself drag.
I know it’s not really a smart move but I started out with a cruiser board. Is it still possible to ollie with it? I can ride it fairly well and I don’t want to buy another board yet.
When I Ollie the board flys away, idk what is wrong
Video yourself doing some attempts on Instagram. Tag @aaronkyro and @brailleskate and DM both accounts
After watching how to Ollie made i did my first Ollie in less than 30 minutes
That’s awesome! Glad it worked for you!
Keep up the dedication!
Can I hang with you guys?
Hey Martin,
Maybe someday at our Open Skate House Parties!
You have a party?
it really helped me ALOT! thank you so much!!!
i can ollie but when ever i do… i cant get very high. is there a way to get higher with my ollie?
Pop harder on the tail and jump higher
Thanks so much Aaron, clear steps and instructions definitely make it easier to break down the trick! My dream has always been to become a great skater and thanks to you I’m getting closer to my dream. Merry Christmas and a happy new year! Cheers!
i can barely ollie i know how to push but cant do no tricks i like skateboarding
favorie hobbie i wach you all the time and subcribed like and push that notifalcation button.like and subcribe tell that to all your veiwers
Hi Braylan,
Thank you for commenting!
Check out these links to help with your Ollie:
1. Skateboarding Made Simple would be my number 1 recommendation which you can check out here: https://brailleskateboarding.com/learn-to-skateboard/
2. You can also check out these videos out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VasSLuFO4wY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkeOAcj8Y5k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-HY0LUq1t4
3. You can also submit a video to: https://brailleskateboarding.com/learn-to-skate/skate-support/
I hope this helps a bit. Thank you for your support!
Hey Braille I need to know how to skate
Check out Skateboarding Made Simple! Helped a lot of our viewers learn how to skate.
You can also use promo code THANK YOU to get 10% off.
PLease email us at shop@brailleskateboarding.com if you have any more questions.
is it wierd that i do my ollie with my right foot forward but i skate with my left forward
then you are technically doing a fakie ollie
Wow its weird that u learn a fakie ollie first
I’m in a bit of a situation here, Firstly, thanks to you, I do know how to ollie. But as I was practicing I realised that I get much more pop with my right foot pushing down and I progressed much quicker that way (I ride goofy) so I committed to it and now I can ollie regular which doesn’t help at all since I ride goofy. Would you recommend to get the muscle memory down for my left foot pushing down (goofy) or should I just commit to completely riding regular?
icant do it
Hi Braille I started skateboarding a year ago your videos inspired me too do it I got the basics down like pushing and power slides and kick turns but I have been struggling on the Ollie lately. What should I practice or do to get the timing right?
Hey – check out our free ollie tutorials on YouTube, but for the exact practice steps Skateboarding Made Simple will show you what to do! It is on sale through January as well! https://brailleskateboarding.com/product/skateboarding-made-simple-vol-1-basics-instant-digital-download/
Hi Braille,
I started skateboarding a year ago I have got the basics down like pushing, kick turns, and power slides but I have not done the Ollie yet. I know the steps by heart I cannot get the timing right though. Your videos are a judge inspiration to me because nobody I know skateboards. You guys are amazing thank you so much!
But maybe you could a little more in the way of content sopeople could connect with it better. Youve got an awful lot of text for onlyhaving 1 or two pictures. Maybe you could space it out better?
I can’t land a ollie because I only land front foot and my back foot will go outside and sometimes my skateboard is going to far so please help me
Pretty good post. I have just stumbled upon your blog and enjoyed reading your blog posts very much. I am looking for new posts to get more precious info. Big thanks for the useful info.
Thanks for your support! Glad we were able to help a bit.
Good luck out there!
– Erika @ The Braille Shop
i cant ollie in the grass and im too scared to do it on the road
We have more tutorials you can check out so that you can become more comfortable with ollies!
Check out this tutorial we have on our YouTube channel:
How to Ollie The Easiest Way Tutorial
We also have Skateboarding Made Simple for you to check out! You can use promo code THANK YOU to get 10% off your purchase.
The more you practice, the easier it gets. If you practice committing, the less scared you’ll be. You got this!!
I hope this helps! Thanks for commenting!
– Erika @ The Braille Shop
i wish i could do the lessons, i am a 12 year old that is desperate to learn to ollie, but i cant afford to fly to the Braille house, and pay for a lesson, wish there was a way for it to work out
Hi Owen,
We have ways around this. Check out Skateboarding Made Simple where Aaron Kyro breaks down skateboarding for you!
I hope this helps! Thanks for commenting. Use promo code “THANK YOU” to get 10% off your purchase.
– Erika, Community Manager.
Hey. I’m homechooled. And I have a board. It’s jank. I bought it at a local play it again sports. I’ve practiced all day. And I’ve gotten the trick in one day. When I pop the tail up I slide my front foot up to the front bolts and I slide my rear foot up to the rear bolts. Is that normal. And correct? Or do you keep your rear foot on the tail when landing? And to all y’all quitters out there. Keep practicing. If you really wanna be a pro skater it won’t happen over night.
Hi Wes,
Yes! That’s normal. You always want to land bolts.
Keep it up! We support his message, y’all!
I try to ollie, but my board turns 90 degrees and I can’t land it.
Hi Matt,
Send us an email to contact@brailleskateboarding.com!
Then do a pop shove-it………….
I can ollie a ver small amount. I know that I’m not turning my front foot but I don’t know how to. Please help me.
*very
I can ollie but my board only goes a couple of inches off the ground. I know that I’m not turning my front foot when I slide it up but I don’t know how to not. Please Help me.
Hi Ezra,
Please email us at contact@brailleskateboarding.com!
Hello. And Bye.
Hello! And hello again.
As an old poser who is two months back into skating after twenty years off, thanks to my son’s interest, I figured I’d never be able to do much more than push, but Kyro’s tutorials have me getting a few inches of lift already. I’m stoked.
This is so cool!! Well done!
This tutorial was really helpful. I learned how to Ollie with Skater Trainers, but now every time I do it without them on, I slip out. What should I do?
So glad we were able to help! We appreciate your feedback.
Just need to practice getting used to doing it without the skater trainers. You got this! Persistence is key.
So Ive been Skating for about 3 months now and im really confidient riding around on my board and wanted to learn an ollie so i watched every video on youtube including your videos i go outside everyday and i get so close but i can never get it. its cause whenever i try to pop my tail i never pop it right and then i freeze up and don’t move my feet right
Any tips?
Hi Austin,
Practice on your grass, or on a carpet first. Get comfortable and confident on your board first. It takes muscle memory, so keep practicing. You’ll progress!
I will slide my foot up and I will go in the air but as soon as it Flattens out I already came down
Slide your foot up faster You can slide your foot up before your Tail pops fully on the ground. The faster you can get that foot up is the key to getting higher ollies
I think I’ve pulled a muscle in my leg
Oh no! We hope you feel better soon. Make sure to stretch before and after skating!
quick question, as i do plan on buying #2 tutorial soon. i can land tricks at a stand still very well. it’s just the in ride motion and doing them i’ve always been stuck on. should i just push and pop out a trick? it might just be nerves but idk. and also if anyone on here is having trouble to ollie still it took me a long time to realize i just had a to pop the tail and just flick your foot against the grip. not even up or whatever 5 years it took me to realize i didn’t have to pop flick balance and all these steps i made up in my mind. thanks.
I can get up in the air but my board starts to turn (not like a kickflip more like a shuv it) and I don’t know how to fix it
Hi Zayne,
I would email contact@brailleskateboarding.com for some extra tips!
I just got my first real Ollie after having stopped skateboarding for some time.After that all my ollies are good,i just need to make them higher and on a moving board.I am so motivated, thank you so much Braille 💞💞
So amazing!! Way to go, Nefeli!
I can Ollie but the thing is it’s not as consistent as I would like
And I feel my it hard to go straight up, get foot position right, and slidin. Mainly foot position
Hi Marcos,
Practice on a grass or carpet first. Make sure your head is aligned with your body and pop confidently.
I have never skated in my life, but have watched braille for a while. I went and bought a 14.99 board from Academy and have learned a GREAT ollie and almost have heelflip down. Actually getting it to flip is the hardest part. ANd its only been a month, yall are dope
Just keep training and eventually we will all be able to Ollie👍👊
I can’t Land correctly back on my skateboard after an Ollie while moving
I can do a small ollie but i cant straighten it out or get very high. Will i get better just by practicing or is there something else i need to know ?
Hi Chloe,
Yes, keep practicing. Record yourself too! See what steps you might be missing, and watch our Ollie tutorials on our YouTube channel for some visual tips.
Hello I have been practicing Ollie’s for maybe a month and abit now and I recently started doing them while moving but when I step on my board the next day after doing them it’s like they are alien to me it feels like I am learning it again then later on i can do them but recently when I have been practicing while moving I haven’t landed them every time. Can i have some pointers please
Hi Alessio,
Have you checked out our YouTube tutorials? We get lots of feedback stating how helpful they are! You might get more of personal feedback by recording yourself going for your ollie, and compare with the video to see what steps you might be missing.
If you need more help, contact us at contact@brailleskateboarding.com
Hi i am new to skateboarding i am starting to catch on to the ollie and i just wanted some help, problem: my front foot keeps falling of my board
Hi Brady,
That’s awesome you’re learning to skate! If you have any questions about your ollie, email us at contact@brailleskateboarding.com.
Thank you my board is a speedemons my wheel are bones and my trucks are speedemons.
i cant do any other tricks
i can not even do a manual, i know its sad, i stink at it
i can’t do the jump well doing the slide
Hey guys I still am trying to Ollie. Ive been practicing with an old (but good) skateboard for an aggravating year and a half and still can’t Ollie. Ive even learned how to ride rails and curbs as well as a shove it, but I still can’t f***ing Ollie. Ive watched all the youtube videos braille has posted (I love the make it skate it) and they have helped a bit but I’m ready for professional help because I cant progress to any other tricks without the ollie part.
Hi there, I would recommend getting a virtual lesson: https://brailleskateboarding.com/product-category/skateboarding-made-simple/
You guys have helped me so much thank you 😀
Thank you for your support! So glad we could be of some help!
I have tried to Ollie a lot, but can’t seem to get it. I know the issue is that I need to scrape my foot but just can’t do it. I have even stood outside scraping my foot for a long time but just can’t remember to do it. Any tips?
What’s your best example of fake it till you make it?
Sometimes when I ollie I don’t get the pop is there any tips on how to get the pop more consistent
What’s the most beautiful beach you’ve been to?
It only took me a few hours practicing at the green and some tries with Skater Trainers on….fingers crossed i m going to land it without that trainers. Btw i never would have started skateboarding at age 32 if it wasn’t for you guys.
Persistence!! Woo!!
I have gotten help from some skateboarders at my local park and have whatched the video but I still can’t Ollie
Hi Leigha,
Keep on practicing! You can also consider trying Skateboarding Made Simple, or sign up for our Virtual Skate lessons. We can help. 🙂
When was the last time you felt you had a new lease on life?
Hello. And Bye.
Heyyyooo!
I DID AN OLLIE TODAY!!!!! YAAAAAAAAAY
Woo!!!!
I can’t Ollie please help me
Hey Jake,
We’ve all been there. You can email us at contact@brailleskateboarding.com for some advice! 🙂
Nice
Hello. And Bye.
I tried a lot of times, but I really couldn’t perfect the timing. I try to push my right leg out but it only goes up 1or 2 inches.
Keep practicing! Skateboard is all about that practice. Thank you for your support, we appreciate you!
Aaron I know how to Ollie moving and standing still but I can’t get it like as high as I can jump or onto a box
Please email us at contact@brailleskateboarding.com and we’ll get you some help with that 🙂
My backfoot keeps coming off the bored when i try to Ollie, what do I do?
Please email us at contact@brailleskateboarding.com and we’ll get you some help with that 🙂
Hi. I can pop well and my slide is ok but every time i land only my front foot lands on the board. The board goes in front of me and my back foot is left brhind. What can i do?
Hi there! Please reach out to us on contact@brailleskateboarding.com and we’ll get some advice sent your way!
this is the best website ever. after I read this whole article it made me do it. thanks for all u do Braille. ur fan Judah I also watch ur YouTube channel will u do an another things u see at the skatepark.
Thanks so much Judah! I will pass on your request 🙂
yes I really like this guy I have been watching him for a year! I hope I can do a pop shovel I’m been practicing for a few days but I can’t get it will u help me aran Kyro. plzzzzzzz u are the best skateboarder I know.
Hi Judah,
Here is a link to our Trick Strategy Guide for pop shove-its! We hope that helps you learn them 🙂
https://brailleskateboarding.com/how-to-pop-shove-it-2/
hi, i got the skate boarding made simple volume 1 and i still cant ollie and im getting so annoyed with myself. Aaron really helped me to carry on trying and i am a big fan of him i still cant ollie!
Hi there!
So sorry to hear about the struggles but we promise you, you can definitely learn this! Feel free to reach out to us at contact@brailleskateboarding.com and we can get you some more detailed advice 🙂
hey u should get these things called skate trainers they made me able to do it GET THEM!!!!!!
Cool, thanks for the tip Judah!
Thank you these are such GOOD videos I’m a pro now
These videos help me so much
I’ve just recently gotten back into skating and i still cannot even do an ollie or shuvit
Hi Frederik,
Glad to hear your back on the board. Feel free to check out the Learn to Skate page for pointers on the Ollie and Shuvit 🙂
Aaron’s Skateboarding Made Simple course is also available for purchase if you want to go more in depth! https://brailleskateboarding.com/product-category/skateboarding-made-simple/
I’ve been skating for two years now and I still can’t Ollie so I need help 🙁
Hi there! If you’ve been at it for two years, I’d recommend a skating lesson. We offer virtual ones on our website or you can look for a local instructor. You got this! 🙂
thanks alot before i could barely do it and now i know the steps
Hi braille, i just made a hole on my shoes, and im just frustrated with my ollies, can you please help me with it
Hey there! Aw bummer on your shoes! Search “how to ollie” on our channel and we have loads of videos to help you with this! Also, if you don’t already own Skateboarding Made Simple, I would highly recommend!