Tron Carter

Hi all,

I have been lurking the forums since December. This is my first season snowboarding and I have been to the local ski resort about ten times. I think I have my carving down, for the most part. I am able to shred down the mountain fairly well without falling on my arse. I am itching to catch some air, but could never get the ollie down. I have watched many videos, read many article instructions, but... I could never get it down. I can jump with both legs, but that is no ollie. Please help this newb out so that I can enjoy the sport much more.

Snowolf

Sure thing...

It`s good you know the difference between popping off the snow with both feet and a true Ollie, that is half the battle. As you know, to Ollie, you spring off the tail of the board. To do this, begin on the flats without moving. Start this in a relaxed stance centered between your bindings as though you were riding. Start the maneuver by shifting your weight forward onto your front foot. Briskly, throw your weight all the way back onto your rear foot. As you do this, flex the rear leg; bending your rear knee. At the point all of your weight is as far back as it will go, your rear leg should be fully flexed. The nose of the board should be coming up off the snow as though you were doing a tail press (butter) Now, extend that rear leg as fast and hard as you can in the same way you do when jumping with both feet; only now it is only on the rear leg. What will happen (or will happen once you get your timing and weight shift dow) is as you come up off the ground, all of your weight will be in the tail of the board and the springiness of the board will help bounce you up off the snow. As you become airborne, shift your weight back to be centered between the bindings and get your board level. Avoid shifting too far forward, too fast or you will end up in a nose low attitude.

Once you have figured out this on flat ground, unmoving, begin trying small Ollies while moving on gentle, well groomed terrain. In your regular riding, find things to ollie over. It could be a track in the snow, a fallen branch, even a shadow. Just keep working it and you will get better at timing your Ollies to clear stuff acurately and you will also gain height from your Ollies. When you start doing these while moving, keep your body over your board. If you lean toes side of heelside, you will loose your balance in the ollie. Also, watch out for unwanted shoulder rotation as it will pivot the board in flight. Keep your front shoulder directly over the top of the nose of your board.

Have fun with these, it is a fundamental movement that helps you in lots of freestyle maneuvers such as jumping off natural terrain features that have a flat top and you want to get some air off of them. Rollers are ideal for using the Ollie to launch off of. I advise against using the Ollie when hitting man made features (or Natural) that have a very steep ramp as it really sabotages your forward momentum and can get you landing on your ass from unwanted backwards rotation. Go off steep ramps flat without the Ollie.

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alf

If I may resurrect an old thread...

This is (as usual) a great write-up by Snowolf. I've got one miscellaneous question: When I try ollies from standing still on flat ground, I land a few inches to the rear of where I take off. Conversely, I can move forward a bit by nollie'ing. Is that normal, or indicative of bad form?

I'm definitely not satisfied with the height my ollies so far --- I'm thinking it is because I tend either get the weight shifting right, or make a good push, but not both at the same time.

thelowerclass

Moving back in a still ollie is normal, since when you throw your weight to pop you will naturally slide a little, this shouldn't happen while you're doing them moving however.

As for height, just keep ollieing over things, you're more inclined to get high if you need to get over something, just make it something that can fall or tip without you killing yourself.

Snowolf

That is completely normal and indicates that you are actually doing a correct Ollie. It is the momentum of your upper body shifting briskly rearward that causes you and your board to move rearward. This is why AASI discourages teaching new park riders to Ollie when learning to jump. They tend to have trouble carrying enough speed to clear the table as it is and the Ollie, while giving the rider extra height, spoils forward momentum enough to cause them to land short of the knuckle. For a more advanced rider who is comfortable carrying enough speed to easily clear the knuckle with room to spare, it`s pretty much a non issue unless the takeoff ramp has a very vertical slope to it.

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alf

Cool, thanks guys. Can't wait 'til next season to dial it in!

BadMojo

Its certainly possible to do an ollie on any board, but it will be easier on some boards. What are you riding?

alf

I've got an Atomic Exeter, I think '05 or '06. I assume 155cm because that's the shortest size on Atomic's website and I only weigh 130lbs. (Board was a gift from the pops.) It's wide, twin shape, directional flex and some set-back.

Snowolf

Atomic Exeter is good board, I am a huge fan of Atomic. At 130, it is a bit long for you, but I am assuming you have some more growing to do so it will be great with another 20 pounds! The Cold Smoke and Radon are kick ass all mountain rides and the Hatchet and Alibi are serious park demons. That board has good pop for ollies. A stiff board requires more effort to Ollie, but the spring and power of the Ollie is greater than more flexible boards.

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alf

Hah, actually I'm 23 and don't really expect to put on weight soon -- just a skinny dude

I'm able to make pretty quick turns on it anyway, and even "hook" the nose a bit if I get too aggressive or forward-leaned on toeside, so I think the flex is good for me.