The ollie is one of the most basic tricks that nearly every snowboarder learns quickly. It’s the foundation for many other tricks and an essential part of learning how to freestyle snowboard. It also applies to many different situations on the mountain.
I’m a lifelong snowboarder who is also a certified instructor. I’ve helped teach many people how to ollie successfully, and I know the best ways to make this happen easily and effectively.
This post will show you how to ollie on a snowboard. I’ll provide you with a few tips and tricks to help you out and give you some advice that I’ve learned through years of experience riding and teaching.
Time to get started.
Contents
Is it Hard to Ollie on a Snowboard?
Learning how to ollie on a snowboard isn’t that difficult. Everyone will have a different experience with it, but generally, it’s a trick that can be learned in a few days with a good instructor or even on your own.
Ollieing takes a certain amount of athleticism, but if you are snowboarding, you have what it takes to ollie. You might be able to ollie higher if you are in better shape, but even newbies or kids can learn how to do it.
How to Ollie Snowboarding
Here are some steps to help you learn how to ollie on your snowboard. These are simply tips and suggestions, and there is more than one way to go about it.
Step 1: Start on Flat Ground
The best way to get a feel for an ollie is to start on flat ground. You can make your first attempt right after strapping into your bindings off of the chair lift.
Once you stand up, all you need to do is jump up with your board attached to your feet. Bend at your knees, throw your arms back a bit, and explode up. You can bring your knees toward your chest if you want to try to get a little more air.
Jumping is what an ollie is at the most basic level. When you understand that, it becomes a little easier to get off the ground when you are moving. But learning how to do it on flat ground is just as important.
Step 2: Get Moving
Once you have attempted an ollie on flat ground, you can try it on the move. Pick a gentle slope at first, so you aren’t going too fast. Get a little momentum and gain a bit of speed. Basically, just start snowboarding.
Once you are in motion, you’ll want to jump up in the air, similar to how you did it on flat ground. Bend your knees, engage your core, and throw your hands back. Then explode up and bring your board off the ground.
You don’t need to try to go huge at first. Any amount of air is an ollie. So just get comfortable with the feeling before you try to go higher and higher.
Step 3: Working Towards Jumps
You can start working towards jumps after you are comfortable with ollies going downhill. When you ollie right at the lip of a jump, you will be able to get more air than simply going straight of it. It can help you stay in control and give you more momentum for tricks.
The same process applies here, but the technical side is that you need to time your ollie right. As you approach the jump, bend at the knees and get ready for an ollie just as you did in the other steps.
Then as the lip of the jump approaches, you can jump up into an ollie. Remember not to jump up too late or too early. You need to time it just right for the best effect. This can take some getting used to, but practice makes perfect.
How to Ollie 180 on a Snowboard
If you want to take things to the next level, you can try an ollie 180. You need to spin your body 180 degrees and land switch as you jump up into the air. That’s really all there is to it, and the best way to get better is to get on the snow and practice.
You can also practice the 180 without a snowboard on if you don’t have any experience with spinning. Nearly everyone has a preferred shoulder that they like to spin over. Figure out which shoulder you prefer first.
Then get into a normal snowboarding stance on some flat ground without any obstacles in the way. Jump up in the air and spin your body 180 degrees to come down with the other foot facing forward.
Once that feels natural, you can try it with your board on. You’ll be surprised at how much easier it is when you’ve practiced.
FAQs
Here are a few quick answers to some commonly asked questions relating to how to ollie snowboarding.
How do I improve my ollie on my snowboard?
Practice makes perfect. The more time you spend following the steps mentioned here, the quicker you will improve. Taking a lesson with a good instructor can also help out a lot.
How do you practice snowboarding Ollie at home?
You can practice a snowboarding ollie at home by strapping on your board and jumping. You’ll want to do this on a carpeted surface, so you don’t damage the board or your house, but it’s an effective way to practice.
How to ollie higher on a snowboard?
Getting stronger is one of the keys to jumping higher. And when you can jump higher, you’ll also be able to ollie higher. Doing strength training or jump-specific exercises such as plyometrics can help you ollie higher.
Conclusion
Learning how to ollie on your snowboard isn’t that difficult. All you really need to do is jump up off the snow. You can practice this on flat ground and then start trying it while you are moving. Most people can pick it up in a few days.
About Lorraine