Wintersports
Snowboarding
How to ollie on a snowboard
Mastering the ollie eventually gives you more height, flex, and spring for other tricks.
Trying out new tricks on your snowboard is never easy, but you have to start somewhere. As Red Bull snowboarder Ben Ferguson explains, the challenge of mastering a new move can be a huge thrill.
Ben Ferguson at the 2021 Natural Selection Tour
© Tim Zimmerman / Natural Selection Tour / Red Bull Content Pool
"Learning new tricks is hard," he says. "But that's what makes it fun when you can overcome difficulties and learn something new. I enjoy the challenge."
One of the first challenges that beginner snowboarders face is learning how to ollie. This trick is a key building block for other tricks as you advance. Plus, there’s nothing quite like that feeling of catching air the first time you pull off this foundational trick. Read ahead for a guide on how to ollie on a snowboard.
01
What is an ollie?
An ollie is a simple maneuver for catching air. Much like learning how to ollie on a skateboard, this trick is all about precise timing and getting that perfect pop. Instead of trying to snap off a pair of wheels, though, you’ll use your board’s spring to lift off the snowy ground.
Why learn how to ollie on a snowboard?
Ollies are a prerequisite for high-flying snowboard jump tricks — you have to learn to crawl before you can walk, as they say. Mastering the ollie eventually gives you more height, flex, and spring for other tricks. Plus, the more you practice your snap, the better overall control you’ll gain over your board.
Ben Ferguson at 2022 Natural Selection Tour stop one in Jackson Hole
© Dean Blotto Gray / Natural Selection Tour / Red Bull Content Pool
02
Essential snowboarding gear for ollies
Before you can practice your ollies, you’ll need the right equipment first. Here’s what to pack before you head out.
- A snowboard in the right size. Snowboards are sized by weight ranges, and you’ll also find boards with different flex levels. It may seem like a softer, more flexible board will give you a good snap, but that’s not always the case. It’s just one factor — others include construction material and camber.
- Well-fitted boots. Snowboard boots are made to “pack out” (expand) as you wear them, so pick boots that are nice and snug on the first wear. This way, you’ll have better control over your ollies.
- Bindings for your board. You’ll need bindings to secure your feet so that everything stays in place when you catch air. Choose bindings that match the flexibility level of your board so you get exactly the right amount of spring.
- Apparel for the elements. Dress in layers for warmth so you can stay out and practice as long as you want. Don’t forget important protective accessories such as gloves and goggles.
- A sturdy helmet. Falls happen when you’re still learning, and that’s perfectly fine as long as you’ve got a well-fitted helmet.
03
Foot placement and stance
Before you can practice your first ollies, you need to find the right stance on your board — and this is unique to every snowboarder. Two factors play the biggest role in finding the correct stance: the width of your feet and your binding angles.
Markus Keller in Laax, Switzerland
© Thomas Stöckli / Red Bull Content Pool
You can usually find the right foot placement width by measuring your natural stance (the distance from your knee to the floor). Most experts recommend that beginners’ width between feet be their natural stance plus two centimeters to maintain balance and reduce impacts on your joints.
Once you’ve got your stance width figured out, you can work on getting your bindings in place. Each binder has a rotating mounting disc that you can adjust to find the right binding angle. You’ll have three directions to choose from. “Zero” places your mounting discs exactly perpendicular to your board. A “positive” angle points toward the board’s nose, while “negative” is aimed at the tail.
You’ll want to use different angles for your front and back foot. Mounting discs have dials ordered in three-degree increments to help guide you through this process. Experts advise beginners to set the nose angle somewhere between +15 and +24 degrees and the tail angle between +6 and -6 degrees. If this doesn’t feel comfortable to you, though, don’t be afraid to experiment.
04
The ollie technique
If this is your first ollie, it’s a good idea to start practicing on flat ground at the bottom of the slope. This will make it much easier to focus on getting the timing just right on each step of this fundamental trick.
Red Bull Homerun in Poiana Brasov, Romania on January 25, 2020
© Attila Szabo / Red Bull Content Pool
Start with your knees bent and place some pressure on your front foot, with your hips balanced above the tail. In a fluid motion, slide your board underneath you and rock your weight onto your back foot. After using your back foot to apply pressure on the tail, quickly release to pop the board into the air.
Once you’re no longer touching the ground, center your weight so your board levels out. Keep your gaze ahead at where you want to land, not down at your board. This will help you land clean and even on both feet, so you can ride away and onto your next ollie.
05
Common mistakes to avoid
For most beginners, the biggest challenge is synchronizing the precise timing and movement of the initial weight shift on your front and back foot. It’s common to do more of a hop than a rolling, wave-like motion and apply pressure on both feet at the same time. You’ll get off the ground this way, but not as high as you would with a proper ollie. If you’re struggling, you can always try slowing those first steps down and then practice shifting your weight until it feels comfortable.
The other issue you might run into is not getting enough air after popping the board. If you don’t do that quick little rock forward onto the nose before pushing on the tail, you’ll lose momentum. Again, isolating those first few steps and working to get that wavy roll right can make all the difference.
If you’re still not traveling high enough, you can use your arms for some extra help. Dropping your arms down and then quickly raising them up can give you the extra force you need to catch the perfect amount of air.
It all starts with the ollie
Learning how to ollie is one of the first steps to becoming a great snowboarder. If you want to conquer more complex tricks such as the side hit, you need to add the ollie to your repertoire. It may take some time to get the hang of it, but once you do, there’s no limit to what you can do next.
