Wintersports
Skiing
Mastering the art of the ollie on skis
Similar to an ollie on a snowboard or skateboard, you'll use the tails of your skis to pop off the ground and catch air.
Any time you’re preparing to learn a new ski trick, showing up is half the battle. Freeskier Birk Irving explains in Red Bull’s Train Like a Pro series that, often, the biggest challenge is simply getting over the fear.
Birk Irving at Red Bull Cascade 2022 at Winter Park, Colorado
© Red Bull Content Pool
“For me, it’s all a big mental game,” Irving says. “For 90 percent of the tricks, it’s a lot scarier than it is difficult. …Your body knows what to do, but it’s just so scary and hard to wrap your head around.”
Although even the best skiers get nervous about new tricks, there’s little to fear when learning the ollie. This fundamental freestyle skiing move is simple to pull off as long as you’re willing to put in the effort. Read ahead to take your freestyle skills to the next level and learn how to ollie on skis.
01
What is an ollie on skis?
An ollie on skis is performed a lot like the trick of the same name in other extreme sports. Similar to an ollie on a snowboard or skateboard, you'll use the tails of your skis to pop off the ground and catch air. In a discipline that’s all about putting on a show, the ollie is a precursor to many of the craziest freestyle ski tricks.
One of the most important freestyle skiing tips for beginners is to set reasonable goals for yourself. Learning how to ollie is often the first milestone in your training journey since it’s freestyle 101. Ollies are how you pop over all the fun obstacles at your favorite terrain park, and they improve your overall ski timing, balance, and control.
02
How to ollie on skis: a step-by-step guide
Markus Eder performs at Taufers Castle in Taufers, Italy
© Harald Wisthaler / Red Bull Content Pool
Body positioning
Find a spot away from the crowds where you can focus on nailing the ollie’s foundational details. Keep your feet close together for this move — your ski stance should be at most shoulder width apart. If you’re running into balance issues, try putting your feet together.
The ollie starts out with a squatting motion, so practice bending down and putting weight on your heels to warm up. Try using the momentum of this motion to get the nose of your skis off the ground while working your way up to the ollie.
Takeoff
In a smooth, wave-like move, you’ll push your weight forward for leverage, then roll back as you drop your hips over your ski tails. Keep your knees bent and slide your feet forward to transfer your weight toward the back of your skis. When you’ve fully loaded your pressure on your ski’s tails, push off in one explosive move as your knees extend. Your upper body plays a huge role in the power of your pop, so lean your shoulders forward while raising your arms.
In-air maneuver and landing
Once you’re fully in the air, move your hips forward to take you through the landing. This will help you stay centered as the nose of your skis land first on the ground. Keep your eyes on the spot where you want to land instead of looking directly down. Once you’re fully back on the ground, ride away and keep practicing until the ollie feels natural.
03
Tips and common mistakes to avoid
Participants at Red Bull Homerun in Sochi, Russia
© Denis Klero / Red Bull Content Pool
One of the most common errors first-timers make when trying out the ollie on skis is jumping straight up instead of popping. Sure, unlike a skateboard, your skis are attached and can go up with you. However, the results will be pretty clunky if you jump directly upward while going for an ollie. This is why practicing that wave-like rolling motion before adding a pop will really help you out.
On a similar note, keep everything fluid when you’re shifting your weight to your heels. You want the pressure from your heels to give you the momentum you need to push upward. If you focus too much on pushing all your pressure toward the ground, you’ll find it more difficult to lift off.
The best way to perfect your ollies is through consistent practice. That said, there’s also some training you can do off the snow to give you a leg up. Namely, your ski boots and equipment are heavy enough that moving gracefully through your first few ollies can be a challenge. That’s why, if you continuously increase your overall strength through activities such as lifting weights, your ollies will get smoother.
It all starts with the ollie
Just like learning to ski, the ollie becomes easy after enough practice. It’s also an essential part of building a freestyle skiing repertoire. Master it, and before you know it, you’ll be moving on to more complex tricks and forming your own unique skiing style. When you’re popping off obstacles during your next terrain park adventure, look back at where it all began, and you’ll see your very first ollies.
