---
title: Ollie
image: ollie.mp4
image_source: https://youtu.be/ZXFV_dfHzBM
image_credit: AM Skateboards
image_credit_url: https://www.youtube.com/@amskateboards
image_title: "How To Ollie In Plain English (No Skateboard Jargon)"
image_clip: https://youtu.be/ZXFV_dfHzBM?3:40.2-3:44
skill: jump with the board, getting all 4 wheels off of the ground using just my feet
switch: true
prerequisite:
- introduction
- picking-a-skateboard
- regular-or-goofy
- pushing
- tic-tacs
- hippie-jump
authors:
- ManVsBoard
updated: 2026-10-21
---

The Ollie is the act of getting all 4 wheels of the skateboard off of the ground using just your feet! It is the basis for most street tricks and the first one most people try to learn! 

## Before you try it

Get comfortable riding on your board and doing hippie jumps.

## How to do it

1. **Back foot on the tail** of the board, front foot just below the front bolts

2. **Jump up** from the balls of your feet
3. **Flick your back foot** down to bounce the tail of the board off of the ground as your body and legs move up out of the way 
4. **Bring your back foot up** towards your body as the board rises up from underneath you

Lean more here:

https://youtu.be/ZXFV_dfHzBM

*[AM Skateboards](https://www.youtube.com/@amskateboards) · [How To Ollie In Plain English (No Skateboard Jargon)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXFV_dfHzBM)*

## Common mistakes

- **Stomping the tail** - Do not trap the board between your back foot and tail as you try to jump. Flick the tail down with your back foot in a way that it is propelled towards the ground as you jump upwards!

- **Front foot too far back** - As a beginner, it is difficult to balance with your feet close together. You do not need to do this to ollie, but confident skaters experiment with foot positioning to get more height.

## How to know you've got it

Consistently and confidently off of the ground when moving and board levels off in the air.