Most of the advanced tricks professional skaters do originate from the fundamentals. That means the challenging stunts at the parks are always achievable.
If ollies are basic skateboard stunts, repeatedly doing them will most likely help us improve and prepare better for advanced skills. So, let’s learn how to ollie higher and move on to more challenging tricks on our list.
In this article, we will not only go over ollies as a fundamental skate skill. Instead, we’ll try to understand what other skating movements it will support in the long run.
Table of Contents
What to Prepare
- A skateboard for tricks – We need to get more pop on a skateboard for this tutorial. So, prepare a tricks skateboard with around 8″ in width. It should also have 52mm to 54mm 99a wheels and sturdy trucks.
- An open skating space – It’s always fundamental to be in a safe place when practicing skateboard tricks. The spot can be a less busy street or a less crowded skate park.
How to Get Higher Ollies
Let’s divide this tutorial into two primary parts: going over the basics and working on the height.
- Going over the basics
Doing ollies on a fingerboard VS in the true skate are substantially different in many aspects. If you have not been doing an ollie consistently, I believe it’s best first to train your muscles to get used to this fundamental skill before trying to get more height.
Here’s how to do it.
Step 1: Foot placement
Perhaps, a majority of skateboard tricks have identical foot positioning. But to ensure we’re on the same page, let’s discuss ollie footing here.
So, begin by identifying your dominant or front foot. It doesn’t matter if you’re a regular-footed or a goofy skater. Place your board in front of you.
If you are a regular-footed skateboarder, your left foot should be on the side of the nose.
The ollie position will require your front foot to be set at the middle of the deck or near the front truck bolts. So step on the skateboard as described, and follow up by placing your back foot on the tail. Remember that your shoes’ tips should align with the board’s edge.
Step 2: Snapping the tail
The next thing to recall is snapping the skateboard’s tail on the ground. Unlike ollies on a tech deck, pops on the skateboard actually need strength from the legs. Note that we need not be in motion yet to review this skill.
So, still in the appropriate foot position, press the deck’s tail against the ground. By nature, the front part of the deck will lift up when you do this, as will your front foot. At this point, you’ll feel like you have a tilted stepping surface.
Keep repeating the movements until you get used to lifting the deck’s nose while keeping your body stable.
- Working on the height
Unlike a wakeboard, where a motor pulls you on water, we’ll do ollies while moving on the ground. Be mindful of the thing below, which will help make your ollie better.
Step 3: Doing the ollie
Ride your skateboard in a straight line in an open space and in the least risky direction. As soon as the wheels get their momentum, perform the footing position described in the first step.
Once you’re ready and positioned, snap the skateboard’s tail as you jump with both feet.
Land on the ground with both feet on the board.
Step 4: Increasing the ollie height – Jumping higher and sliding further
Have we reached the ollie peak yet? No. Now, this part is where we can increase the ollie height.
Put yourself in the same situation as in the previous step, but we’ll jump higher this time. Try to put more effort into flicking the skateboard and jumping off it.
You should also assist your movements by pulling your knees closer to your chest and raising your arms.
When jumping, we shouldn’t only focus on lifting the front foot. Let’s pick both feet up high enough to support the skateboard’s upward motion.
Not everyone notices it, but sliding the front foot towards the tip of the skateboard increases the height of an ollie. So, once the board lifts off the ground, slide your front foot closer to the deck’s nose.
Moving your front foot slightly to the middle of the deck at the initial footing can also help you ollie high on a skateboard. When you do this, there will be more room for the front foot to slide, and the board will go higher.
What’s Next After Higher Ollies?
Essentially, ollies are like a preparatory skill for more complicated skateboarding tricks. So, here’s what Reddit users and others suggest we do next after getting used to a higher ollie.
- Speed up – We understand that not all skaters adapt to speedy rides instantly. But if given appropriate skating conditions, try to gather more momentum before doing an ollie. It will increase the trick’s height and elevate the skill in the process.
- Set a goal – An elementary ollie won’t require you to jump over anything except a flat surface. But as they say, one of the most efficient ways to train for higher ollies is practicing jumping over objects. You can start with shorter obstacles until you can hop over traffic cones.
In all these skills, the best way to keep them is through continuous practice. No progress happens on the first try. So, keep going.
Other tricks you may also like: Steps to Nollie Heelflip on a Skateboard
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can’t I ollie higher?
Maybe you’ve asked this more than once, “why can I not increase my height on ollie?” Don’t feel bad. Here are a few reasons your ollies don’t yield as much height as others.
- Not crouching sufficiently low.
- Not moving the feet high enough.
- Not getting enough pop on the board.
Can you ollie higher than you can jump?
Unfortunately, we are not on Skate 3. You can only ollie as high as you jump. But on the bright side, you can still achieve the highest ollie possible by finding a perfect spot to do the trick and working on the additional steps we discussed.
What tricks to learn after ollie?
Ollies make way for new and more complicated tricks. Here are the best upskill combinations you can do after mastering the patterns of ollie braille.
- Shove-it / Pop Shuvit
- The 180
- Fakie Ollie
- Kickflip and Heelflip
- Ollie over objects
Conclusion
In skateboarding, it’s not about how fast we master a skill. Sometimes, we won’t get the same results we imagined before trying a trick. But with constant practice and learning from our experience, we’ll eventually improve.
And like a beginner, learning how to ollie higher calls for strengthening the basics. So, remember to jump and pop higher, pick your feet up, and raise your arms to take your ollies to new heights.
Then, you can do something more challenging in your skating journey.
Hi, I am Charles Harris. I opened this site to write as much as I can about my biggest passion – skateboarding!
I started as a clumsy yet passionate rookie 10 years ago to now a still passionate yet much better skateboarder! But I have to tell you, the whole journey has always been fun and rewarding, indeed not without hardship.